South East Melbourne vs Brisbane Bullets NBL Game Preview

Oct 11, 2024

2 min read

South East Melbourne vs Brisbane Bullets Analysis

Two teams on long losing streaks—South East Melbourne Phoenix and Brisbane Bullets—will battle it out to break their respective slumps. SEM have dropped 8 straight games, while Brisbane are yet to win in the 2024 season. The pressure is on for the Phoenix, especially with former Bullets star Nathan Sobey now in their ranks, as they look to claim their first victory of the year at home in John Cain Arena.

Key Matchups

South East Melbourne Offence vs. Brisbane Defence Sobey, yet to hit his stride for SEM, will look to rediscover his scoring touch, while Walton Jr. has been a bright spot for the Phoenix, ranking 4th in assists with 6.5 per game. Brisban'e's defence gives up the most points and the highest opposing field goal percentage in the NBL.
Tyrell Harrison (BRI) vs. SEM Defence: Harrison’s scoring and presence in the paint, paired with young talent Rocco Zikarsky, could cause issues for SEM, especially given their defensive struggles.

Key Stats

SEM are ranked 7th in the league in scoring (86 PPG), while Brisbane rank 10th in defence, allowing 98.3 points per game.
Brisbane allow the highest field goal percentage (51.8%) and three-point percentage (40.1%) in the NBL.
SEM rank 5th in FG% at 44.4% but are struggling from deep, shooting only 29.3% from beyond the arc.

Why South East Melbourne Wins

SEM have better shooting depth and more scoring options. Despite their defensive issues, they’ve played solid defensive teams and now face a vulnerable Brisbane defence. Nathan Sobey is overdue for a big performance, and this could be the game where he puts up a big score to get SEM over the line.

Why Brisbane Wins

Brisbane’s ability to force turnovers (2nd in the league) gives them extra possessions, which could disrupt SEM's already shaky defence. If Harrison and Zikarsky can exploit SEM’s struggles in the paint, Brisbane may find enough offensive rhythm to secure their first win.

Both teams desperately need a win, but SEM’s shooting capabilities and home-court advantage give them the edge. If they can lock down defensively and Sobey finds his form, they should break their losing streak against a Brisbane team that’s still finding its feet.