Preview: Brisbane vs Illawarra - Round 15, NBL24

Friday, January 12, 2024

The Bullets and Hawks are on an equally hot runs up the standings, so who will continue their winning form?

Sunday, January 14 at 2pm AEDT | Nissan Arena

Watch: Live and free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, 10 Peach and 10 Play | International viewership details
Box scores: Download the free NBL App

Bullets star Nathan Sobey was a game-time omission from Brisbane’s win over Tasmania on Wednesday night but he will return in this clash.

Peter Hooley praised Chris Smith’s game-winning shot against the JackJumpers given the import wing is a more catch and shoot offensive threat as opposed to a shot creator on NBL Now.

The Hawks defeated Tasmania in the first double-overtime game of the NBL season. Hyunjung Lee missed two free throws with 10 seconds to go, however Anthony Drmic missed a three-pointer with two seconds remaining which would have won the game for the JackJumpers.

Scott Roth praised the organisation and discipline of the Hawks under Justin Tatum following the defeat.

The Hawks released a statement on Friday following the charging of import forward Gary Clark for driving under the influence. The matter is in the hands of the Basketball Australia integrity unit, however ESPN’s Olgun Uluc has reported BA are unlikely to hand Clark a sanction before Sunday’s clash with the Bullets.

Brisbane
80-77 win over Tasmania
101-93 win over Sydney
95-83 win over South East Melbourne

Illawarra
108-107 win over Tasmania
116-78 win over South East Melbourne
91-84 win over Adelaide.

Chris Smith
When Nathan Sobey was announced as unavailable for Brisbane’s Wednesday night win over Tasmania, who was going to step up? Across the entirety of the game the Bullets covered for their star guard by committee, but when the chips were down it was Chris Smith who stood tall.

Outside of Smith’s game-winning triple with just three seconds left on the clock, the import wing pulled together one of his best performances in quite some time, and it was the first time he scored in double digits in a home win since the start of December.

His 19 points led all comers, and it’s offered Brisbane fans a small amount of comfort that there is someone not named Nathan Sobey who can step up in those big moments.

Smith’s role and usage has fluctuated over the course of the season, but when he’s on form he’s one of the best catch and shoot threats in the NBL, and the confidence he will have likely taken out of Wednesday’s win is almost immeasurable.

“In the end Chris Smith, that’s a big time shot for a guy who’s been down in form. I think he’s scored double figures once in the previous five games. To be given the ball with Nathan Sobey out, the game tied, and at worst you go to overtime, that’s a really good feeling and confidence booster for him.” – Peter Hooley on NBL Now.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not once, but twice … <a href="https://twitter.com/_ChrisCrosss?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_ChrisCrosss</a> always comes through in the clutch ?<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/BrisbaneBullets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@brisbanebullets</a>’ import has knocked down a pair of big time shots in NBL24 ? <a href="https://t.co/ZY8zyS9OIz">pic.twitter.com/ZY8zyS9OIz</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1745242917810344076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sam Froling
The entire Illawarra side will be battered and bruised heading into Sunday’s clash with Brisbane, not least of all Sam Froling after his 38 minutes against noted physical behemoth’s Will Magnay and Marcus Lee in the Hawks’ double overtime, Friday night win over Tasmania.

Saying Froling has found his feet under Justin Tatum, is furthering his Boomers prospects, and is becoming one of the best bigs in the competition is beginning to sound a bit like a broken record, but it keeps being repeated because it’s becoming more and more true.

At multiple points with the game in the balance on Friday the Hawks didn’t elect for a quick three, they sent the ball inside to Froling who – if he couldn’t get a quality shot off – could kick it back out to an open man, because the JackJumpers elected to double him in the post on more than one occasion.

Froling has been so good, in fact, that his NBL24 metrics were compared on broadcast to Xavier Cooks’ MVP-winning NBL23 season. Now that’s high praise.

“They’re organised and they have a focus that their defence has been reeled back in … I think they’re keeping things relatively simple, guys are playing hard and in this league or any professional league half the battle in solving problems is playing hard.” – Scott Roth following the loss to the Illawarra Hawks.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Interesting comparison ?<br><br>Where is Sam Froling in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL24?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL24</a> MVP conversation ?‍?? <a href="https://t.co/bAX9DIYD48">pic.twitter.com/bAX9DIYD48</a></p>— John Casey (@JohnCasey2880) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCasey2880/status/1745740764473389307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sam McDaniel vs Tyler Harvey
Every team needs a head of the snake defender, and that’s something you can argue Brisbane has been missing in recent seasons. NBL24 is a different story though following the recruitment of Sam McDaniel to the club by Justin Schueller.

The Bullets have risen to become the second best defensive team in the NBL, and although that comes down to far more than just McDaniel, he’s been the one setting the tone for the side.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sam McDaniel is shaking and baking tonight! ?‍?<br><br>Watch his neat footwork live on ESPN! ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL</a> <a href="https://t.co/DbInUhv81f">pic.twitter.com/DbInUhv81f</a></p>— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ/status/1739948116168909269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

McDaniel will likely spend a solid amount of time on Illawarra’s Tyler Harvey given his status as Illawarra’s go-to clutch shooter, but that prediction isn’t quite as safe as it would have been last season.

The Hawks have shown a real desire to make the inside presence of Sam Froling and Gary Clark their number one option on offence, but Harvey has shown he can also be a high-level distributor when the looks aren’t going his way.

Priority one when it comes to Harvey will be to keep the ball out of his hands, and that style of defence is where McDaniel truly excels.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CRAZIEST. GAME. OF. THE. SEASON.<br><br>Tyler Harvey gets fouled on the desperation heave and knocks in all three free throws! We're going to Double OT??<br><br>Watch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL</a> live on ESPN! ? <a href="https://t.co/ThJLsoORLc">pic.twitter.com/ThJLsoORLc</a></p>— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ/status/1745764070819774646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>