Jack Toft
Years ago
Cairns v Phoenix Dec 31
The table at the moment is flatter than last year's NYE balloon. Cairns in fourth spot are 9 and 9 with SEM right behind on 8 and 9.
A win to SEM sees them snatch 4th and a win to Cairns sees them put more pressure on United for third than a millennial trying to buy a 4 bedroom bungalow in Hampton.
Cairns have been the surprise team this year. Some real chemistry is working amongst the imports and the locals and they have confidence in themselves to knock off any team. At home they are 6 and 3 and looking the goods with an average score of 93. A win in Melbourne over United last game is a mighty cannon shot across any bow.
SEM have enjoyed the benefit of kindness in their first season with trips outside of the sunny city of Melbourne have been fewer than Mitch Creek's Christmas cards to Sixers staff. Of the official 2 and 5 away games, they are only 1 and 4 outside the town, and that win was against Brisbane.
Sure as there's Hot Cross buns in Coles on Boxing Day, this will be a great game of NBL, the last one of the decade. Sure, SEM average 96 ppg on the road, but they have also given up 104 ppg. This will be a high scoring game and the battle between Creek and Deng will be exciting. Both teams have more confidence than a teenage girls with a low cut top, push up bra and fake ID, but this is Cairns's game to lose if they let SEM loose and let Madgen keep his cool.
Cairns by 5 (I'll say 98 to 93, but I think we'll see a 200 point game)
