Giant Zhou Qi hasn’t suited up for South East Melbourne Phoenix in six video games.
But, if Tuesday’s high-octane observe session is something to go by, the 216cm Chinese centre is near a return from a calf tear.
So shut that coach Simon Mitchell charges the 26-year-old — who was rattled final week when his Melbourne house was burgled — a 50-50 probability of hitting the ground on Thursday night time in opposition to Illawarra.
It would imply South East Melbourne could be again at full energy for the primary time in additional than a month.
“That’s the best I’ve seen him move this year, although he was coming in as a sub on the white team, so his reps weren’t incredibly high,” Mitchell stated after Tuesday’s session on the State Basketball Centre.
“I really like what we saw out of him today, that was the most nimble that he’s looked.
“So we’ll go through the medical staff, they’ll assess him, see what his recovery is like and we’ll operate from there.
“I don’t know for sure at this point but, on the back of what we saw in the gym, he’s a chance.
“See how he goes tomorrow (Wednesday) and hopefully he can get through another tough session.”
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Phoenix, sitting fourth, have had current points with journey, dropping video games in Perth and New Zealand, however Mitchell leans on his facet’s file of 8-2 when all starters had been obtainable (0-4 when a number of are lacking).
“It’d be fair to say that’s pretty damn consistent but there’s also a fair gulf between those eight wins and the two losses,” he stated.
“We had a bit of a meeting about it today and we’re trying to assess what’s behind those two losses.”
They received’t have to fret in regards to the journey this week. On Thursday, Phoenix host Illawarra Hawks — off the again of their first win in almost two months — earlier than backing up in a Sunday matinee in opposition to Adelaide.
***SEM Phoenix v Illawarra Hawks, Thursday, December 8, 7.30pm, John Cain Arena
***SEM Phoenix v Adelaide 36ers, Sunday, December 11, 2pm, John Cain Arena
Originally revealed as NBL23: Latest news forward of spherical 10 of the 2022-23 season
