Mike Kelly thinks he can make waves on his NBL head coaching return with South East Melbourne but knows they must first fix the "horrible" defence exposed by the team that sacked him two years ago.
The Phoenix lost 100-95 to the Cairns Taipans in the NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast on Wednesday, allowing a series of uncontested baskets in a crucial patch late in the fourth quarter.
Former NBL pro Kelly enjoyed a roller-coaster ride with Cairns in his first head coaching experience, winning coach of the year honours in between two tough seasons.
Sacked a day after finishing with the wooden spoon in 2021, Kelly went to Perth as an assistant and was also brought into the Boomers program before earning another crack in a top job this year.
He said those roles had expanded his knowledge and that his confidence remained intact despite the Cairns experience.
"There's always an edge when you play Cairns, because I loved being there and when you have to move your family it's always an experience," Kelly told AAP after Wednesday's defeat.
"I wouldn't even say there was bitterness when I left.
"Nobody likes to get fired, but if I hang on to bitterness it only hurts me, not them. My focus is not on Cairns, that's for sure."
The Phoenix finished fifth last season and have high hopes behind Australian star Mitch Creek and imports Will Cummings, Gary Browne and - in the short term - Tyler Cook.
The impressive Cook is only playing until first-choice import Alan Williams (knee) is fit again, with Kelly insisting there are no thoughts to keep both and cut another arrival.
"Never say never, but I like our guys and we just have to play better together," he said.
Swedish import Bobi Klintman (18 points) and Patrick Miller (21) shone for a Cairns team that exposed the Phoenix defence despite missing main man Tahjere McCall (hip).
"Defence is important and we need to get better at it," Kelly said.
"Our defence was horrible but our offence had some good patches."
Creek played 13 minutes before he was pulled from the game and had his calf in ice in what Kelly said was a management decision after the former NBA man was rested from the Phoenix's Blitz opener.
Cook had 16 points on five-of-eight shooting while Brown had 19 points but was one-of-eight from long range.
"We have a team that if we put it together can be good, but we'll believe it when we see it for ourselves," Kelly said.
The Blitz continues until Friday, with the Phoenix set to open the regular season against Victorian rivals Melbourne United next Thursday.
