How to watch & talking points: Illawarra v Adelaide

Illawarra Hawks v Adelaide 36ers
Friday, October 2, 7.30pm AEST
WIN Entertainment Centre

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How to watch

Watch every NBL27 game live on ESPN.

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Tickets

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How to follow & live scores

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Rosters

Illawarra

Expected depth chart:
PG: M.Doyle (IP) / Hickey / Adnam (NRP)
SG: Harvey / Narkle
SF: Swaka Lo Buluk / Grida / Blanchfield (out) / Patterson (IP/NRP)
PF: Martin (IP) / A.Doyle (DP) / McGregor (DP)
C: Froling / Maker (reported) / Peatling (out) / Macdonald (DP)‍

Adelaide

Expected depth chart:
PG: Cotton / I.White / Rasmussen / H.White (DP)
SG: Cameron (out) / Jenkins III (IP) / Williams (DP)
SF: Kuol (out) / Kenyon / Rigoni (NRP)
PF: Cheatham (IP) / Rakocevic (IP)
C: Humphries (out) / Griscti

Missing in action

Illawarra

Todd Blanchfield - Hand - TBC
Mason Peatling - Foot - TBC‍

Adelaide

Flynn Cameron - Ankle - Round 5
Isaac Humphries - Knee - TBC
Bul Kuol - ACL - TBC

>> View full injury list

Talking points

Home at last, but no relief yet

The NBL25 champions are 0-3 and sitting 10th after three road losses, with Derek Rucker labelling them "a mess" and Chris Anstey slamming their schedule complaints.

The reported signing of Makur Maker adds size, but questions remain over the lack of a pure point guard and the unfilled third import spot. Justin Tatum has promised the Hawks will change "drastically and swiftly", and their first home game is the place to start.

Rak fills the void

With Isaac Humphries sidelined by a knee injury, Nick Rakocevic has stepped up, posting 21 points and 12 rebounds in Sunday's win over Cairns.

In his second season in Adelaide, he says the group's chemistry is "just unreal", and he looms as a key matchup against an undersized Hawks frontcourt.