Cotton backs Phoenix to respond

Four-time MVP Bryce Cotton has backed a winless South East Melbourne Phoenix side to respond from their slow start to the season.  

The Phoenix haven’t found their groove yet and are under pressure heading into a must-win clash against the also winless Adelaide 36ers tonight. 

Defeat tonight will drop South East Melbourne to 0-4 and it will be fighting history to make the post-season. The last team to make the Finals from an 0-4 record was the Townsville Crocodiles in 2002/03, when they started 0-5. 

Speaking on NBL Now, Wildcats superstar Cotton praised the off-season signings of the Phoenix, which includes the likes of Derrick Walton Jr, Nathan Sobey and Jordan Hunter, and he believes the club will improve as the season goes on.

“Everybody is figuring out their kinks, especially a team like Phoenix. They haven’t got off to the best start but they have almost a completely brand new team, and I don’t think they played that many pre-season games," Cotton said.

“That’s pretty hard to figure out right away, but with the talent they have, once they do figure that out, they’re going to be a team to be reckoned with. 

“All it takes is one win to give you the momentum you need to feel like you can turn your season around."  

Adelaide and South East Melbourne clash tonight at 7:30pm AEST live on ESPN.