Preview: Illawarra vs South East Melbourne - Round 14, NBL24

Thursday, January 4, 2024

Can the Phoenix reinforce their position as a Finals team with a win over the red-hot Hawks?

The red-hot Illawarra Hawks will take on the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Wollongong in a battle for a Play-In position. It's early days in the Finals race, but this game could be huge in deciding each team's fate.

Friday, January 5 at 7:30pm AEDT | WIN Entertainment Centre

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo - International viewership details
Box scores: Download the free NBL App

Adelaide coach Scott Ninnis has backed Justin Tatum to be given the Hawks' head-coaching position beyond this season, and stated “there’s nothing interim” about the American's role.

With a record of 5-2 since taking over the top job, Tatum has completely turned the season around for the Hawks.

In Illawarra’s win over Adelaide, it was the first time Tyler Harvey has not registered 15 points or more in a win this season, showing how Tatum has leaned on his team to secure wins, not just on his stars.

Sam Froling has reached another level under his new coach, scoring 20+ points in their past five games (only having 20+ once in NBL24 prior).

Narrowly escaping suspension, Gary Browne was charged with striking during the Phoenix’s clash with Brisbane. He was initially handed a one-game suspension, which was reduced to a $1,550 fine with an early guilty plea. South East Melbourne's head coach Mike Kelly said the outburst from Browne – which led to his ejection from the loss to the Bullets – was surprising and unlike the Puerto Rican guard.

With multiple injuries affecting the rotations, Kelly has a tough task ahead of him to find a line-up that will match the Hawks' unmatched confidence going into this Round 14 clash.

Formguides

Illawarra
91-84 win over Adelaide
94-90 win over Sydney
89-100 loss to Tasmania

South East Melbourne
83-95 loss to Brisbane
85-77 win over Tasmania
75-94 loss to Cairns

Tyler Harvey
Last season Illawarra lived and died by Tyler Harvey. They were only in with a chance of winning if he played out of his skin, but the Hawks are fostered a more consistent and maintainable offensive playbook around the closer’s quality shooting ability.

Harvey scored just 11 points in Round 13’s win over Adelaide. His tally marked the first time he scored fewer than 15 points in a Hawks win this season, and was the first time he scored below 12 points in an Illawarra win since Round 16 of NBL22, when he scored eight points in an eight-point victory over Tasmania.

As Tatum has become more and more established in his role, Harvey seems more and more trusting of his teammates to hit their shots and help carry the scoring load. The import guard was at his best under Brian Goorjian in a side that featured weapons like Justin Simon, Justinian Jessup and AJ Ogilvy in its ranks.

While the top players at the Hawks around him have changed, a Tyler Harvey who is just as dangerous passing the ball as he is shooting is one of the best players in the NBL.

“It’s not all about Tyler, and Tyler knows that. He’s a big asset when he gets going and clearly the stats say if he scores over 15 we win games, but we don’t always want to rely on that. Tyler did some great, unselfish passes today and we’re really happy we’re seeing his game evolve in that area. He was trusting everybody because we had so many weapons out there.” – Justin Tatum following the win over Adelaide.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Get up Sam! ??<br><br>Tyler Harvey finds Sam Froling for the big lob dunk! The Hawks are running away with this one halfway through the fourth. <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/6nY589gAkY">pic.twitter.com/6nY589gAkY</a></p>— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ/status/1741369986960994420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ben Ayre

With a multitude of injuries across the Phoenix's roster, Mike Kelly will have to depend on Ben Ayre to set up and produce for the squad on the road.

It's hard to know how well Browne will react after his recent striking charge in their last game, leaving the Phoenix to rely on their second-best guard in Ayre ahead of this clash.

With Abdel Nader out of the line-up, and Gorjok Gak sliding up to fill in for Alan Williams -- the roster will be in flux and suit the gritty and confident Ayre.

With four games over 13+ plus, the NBL1 South All-Star Five member has been dependent on all season and tonight will be no expectation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CALL HIM JACK FROST, BEN AYRE JUST ICED IT ? <br><br>Watch the NBL on Christmas Day Live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/4aPzqghjTs">pic.twitter.com/4aPzqghjTs</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1739202672014565839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Rhys Vague vs Lachlan Olbrich

Rhys Vague’s status as a versatile forward/center option has been tested to its limits this season. Alan Williams and Mitch Creek have both spent time on the sidelines, Daniel Johnson was present for a short period, and Gorjok Gak has struggled to hit the court at all in NBL24.

Gak’s continued absence and Williams’ knee issues saw Vague play 13 minutes against the Bullets’ three-headed monster of Aron Baynes, Tyrell Harrison and Rocco Zikarsky, and despite giving up plenty of height to the Bullets’ centers he acquitted himself well.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Not enough said about <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@illawarrahawks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> rookie Lachlan Olbrich's performance in the win over <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyKings</a>. His physicality was exceptional, relentless on the boards, in transition and his energy plays in the 4th (and throughout), and his +14 were instrumental for the Hawks. <a href="https://t.co/iCpOv6by5C">pic.twitter.com/iCpOv6by5C</a></p>— Simon Mitchell (@SMitch_72) <a href="https://twitter.com/SMitch_72/status/1739629568380788949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Hawks don’t have quite an extensively built center rotation, and while the battle between the NBL1 West Defensive Player of the Year Gorjok Gak and Froling will undoubtedly be fun, Vague and young Lachlan Olbrich locking horns down low could quietly be one of the most important of the game.

Olbrich has already shown his ability to provide the energy and x-factor to win Illawarra games – you only need to go back to Christmas Day to see that – but has also been kept quiet on a number of occasions in strong Hawks performances.

Vague, on the other hand, has established himself as a go-to glue guy for the Phoenix this season, and has also filled that role for the Boomers.

It’s an interesting battle, for sure, and one that will likely not have many eyes on it in the lead up to the game – but it’s an important one to watch as the Phoenix and Hawks both look to establish a top six position.

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Rhys Vague.

Heading into Round 14, Mitch Creek is the only qualified player ranked top 10 in the league for both points (19.0) and rebounds (6.8) per game this season.