R7 Preview: Illawarra Hawks vs Sydney Kings

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Jaylen Adams and RJ Hunter are back as Sydney look to level the Freeway Series with a win in the 'Gong.

When: 7.30pm (AEDT), Thursday 13 January 2022

Where: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

Broadcast: ESPN; Kayo; Sky Sports NZ

Who won last time?

Illawarra 92 (Reath 27, Cleveland 19, Harvey 13, Jessup 13) d Sydney 84 (Glover 16, Cooks 14, Martin 13) - Round 2, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

As with so many games in this young NBL season, this was a cracking contest, played with playoff-like intensity. Ultimately, the injury-hit Kings didn’t have the firepower to go with Illawarra, who scored 35 points in the final 14 minutes to run away with the contest, thanks to 25 at 71 per cent in that stretch from Duop Reath, Tyler Harvey and Antonius Cleveland.

What happened last start?

That talented trio managed a total of just 39 points at 38 per cent in the Hawks’ last-start loss to Brisbane, the Froling brothers filling the breach with 26 points at 60 per cent, 14 rebounds and 6 assists to keep the visitors close. Brian Goorjian’s men couldn’t find enough defensive answers to close it out, however, as Nathan Sobey made some big plays late.

Sydney looked good early against United, and trailed by just six midway through the final term before Caleb Agada broke the game open. The Kings’ late-game offensive woes continued – in losses they average just 14.7 points in fourth quarters – while their inability to convert their high-speed style into open-court points is an early-season concern.

Who’s in form?

Duop Reath – While Reath had a quieter night in Brisbane, he ranks 5^th in the NBL in scoring and rebounds, equal 1^st in o-boards and 8^th in blocks while shooting 63 per cent inside and 40 per cent outside. In the Hawks’ three wins, Duop has averaged 20.3ppg at 58 per cent.

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk – The Kings are 3-3 despite five games against the top four, and doing it mostly without their starting backcourt. One of the big reasons is Wani’s D, the Kings +18 in his 154 minutes and -54 in the other 86. No other King has a positive plus/minus.

Who needs to be?

Xavier Cooks – While coach Chase Buford likes Cooks close to the basket defensively, the X-man needs to own the job on Reath, using his length to deter long bombs, contest post-ups and keep the Boomers back-up off the o-glass, as he destroyed them in all areas in Round 2.

Sam Froling – If the Cooks-Reath battle eventuates, Froling must buckle up and defend Jarell Martin. Illawarra’s best match-up for Martin is Antonius Cleveland, but that would cause rotation headaches and will likely be saved for an emergency, so Froling could be the man.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyKings</a> BIG man is handling his business ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> live + free on 10 Peach + Kayo Freebies <a href="https://t.co/u37UENEd3T">pic.twitter.com/u37UENEd3T</a></p>— The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1474970806224445447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Who’s statting up?

- In Round 2, the Hawks won points from turnovers 26-7, and scored 7 from Sydney mistakes in the final seven minutes

- Illawarra average 20 points from turnovers in their three wins, but did not score a single PFT in their loss to Brisbane

- Sydney are -41 in possession points in their three losses (second chance points + points from turnovers), compared to +12 in their three wins

- The Kings score just 0.7 points per possession in transition. The league average is 1.03, while Illawarra convert at 1.12 and are the NBL’s most frequent early-scoring team

Who’s matching up?

Tyler Harvey v Jaylen Adams – Harvey shot a lowly 4/16 against Brisbane, and that means he’s looking to make a statement. In his NBL career, the rangy lefty has scored below 15 points on nine occasions, but has bounced back to averaged 21.1ppg in his next game, including 26 points on NZ after managing just 13 points last time against Sydney on 5/17.

Adams has only played one NBL game but it was impressive, taking Matthew Dellavedova and Melbourne for 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and a W. The downside was his 5 turnovers as United’s late pressure rattled the Kings, and given Illawarra rank first in turnovers forced (16.5), and owned Sydney in that area in Round 2, Adams better be ready.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/YoungTRaaw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YoungTRaaw</a> with the swipe and pull-up three?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreIllawarra?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreIllawarra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://t.co/JEzN1fyUq2">pic.twitter.com/JEzN1fyUq2</a></p>— Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1469565209027117061?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Who’s talking the talk?

There was lots of talking from ownership leading up to the first game of the Freeway Series, but the players showed they're the ones who walk the walk with an incredible display of Round 2 basketball.

“The rivalry is real as you can see out there,” Kings star Xavier Cooks said.

“That was a great battle for us, you got to see our toughness down a couple of men, it would have been great to get that win but we can learn a lot from that game.”

A thrilling back-and-forth affair ultimately came down to back-to-back plays deep in the fourth term.

With the Kings charging and down just one point, Cooks pulled in a massive o-board amongst three Hawks, but caught between kicking out to shooters and going back up himself, the X-man threw it straight to Sam Froling.

Sure enough, Tyler Harvey raced down the floor, found Duop Reath in a sliver of space and Illawarra’s gun recruit buried the three to put the Sydney-siders away.

It highlighted how little there is between these rivals. Even with Jaylen Adams and RJ Hunter out, it was little moments that proved the difference, the Hawks scoring 11 of their 25 final-quarter points from o-boards and turnovers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s .<a href="https://twitter.com/ac_uno1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ac_uno1</a>’s world and we’re all living in it ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreIllawarra?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreIllawarra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://t.co/W9mGuxqbO8">pic.twitter.com/W9mGuxqbO8</a></p>— Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1469578171750051842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“It was a high-level basketball game,” Kings coach Chase Buford said.

“I thought both teams had moments where they played pretty well, I don’t think it got more than eight for either team, it was a good back-and-forth game.

“Credit to them they made some plays down the stretch and we’re sitting here kicking ourselves thinking, ‘Hey if (only) we could have grabbed a couple more defensive rebounds down the stretch or get a couple more good shots down the stretch and less turnovers’.”

The throw-aways were the biggest key, allowing Illawarra to flow into offence, where they are currently the NBL’s kings of the open floor.

“Points off turnovers we got outscored by 19,” Buford said.

“We give them again some easy points at the end of the game. If we handle our own stuff a little bit better we probably have a chance to win.”

When the Hawks did flow into the high ball-screen action, Sydney found few answers.

If they didn’t help off the screener, Harvey or Xavier Rathan-Mayes would hit a pull-up, if they did Reath would pop and connect from range.

If they helped off the corners Antonius Cleveland and Justinian Jessup made them pay. If they helped at the rim, Reath and Sam Froling cashed in on the offensive glass.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/xrm_22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@XRM_22</a> finds <a href="https://twitter.com/DuopReath?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DuopReath</a> with the sweet behind the back pass ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreIllawarra?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreIllawarra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyAsOne?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyAsOne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://t.co/lg0oMGdbkB">pic.twitter.com/lg0oMGdbkB</a></p>— Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1469576233847459840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It was a statement performance that made the NBL sit up and take notice that last season’s grinders are a different proposition in NBL22, and early disruption is crucial.

“When you look at the groups on the floor tonight, we do have more offensive firepower than we did last year,” coach Brian Goorjian said.

“(Reath’s) inside-out, he can shoot the three, he’s nice around the basket, he defends and he’s a tremendous teammate …

“(Cleveland’s) a piece that makes us really good if he’s going, if he bites on this and shows and grows and gets into this. He’s a piece that’s just more offensive minded, he can shoot the three, he can get on the rim.”

The Hawks rank first in points per game, second in field-goal shooting, third in offensive rating and commit the fewest turnovers.

Yet despite running up 92 points, hitting 12 triples at 40 per cent and throwing the ball away just 8 times in Round 2, they only just scraped past the undermanned Kings, and that means they head into the return bout full of respect.

While Angus Glover and Biwali Bayles are out, Jaylen Adams and RJ Hunter return, while DJ Vasiljevic is another addition from the last derby to complement Martin and Cooks.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cooks AND 1 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheKings?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheKings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://t.co/yc0MCAEARS">pic.twitter.com/yc0MCAEARS</a></p>— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings/status/1469578068805050368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“They're a well-coached, very talented team, and any time you win this game it’s a good feeling,” Goorjian said.

For Froling, now in his third season in the Gong, the battle for NSW bragging rights is as big as it gets.

“Not being from Wollongong you don't really understand it,” Sam said.

“But then you come here and the local guys, like in my first year we had Dave Andersen and we still have Tim Coenraad and AJ Ogilvy, they view it as such a big rivalry and they want to beat Sydney so badly and we kind of learn it off those guys, and then we inherit that.

“It then becomes our mindset as well that we are the Hawks, representing Wollongong and we have to beat the team from Sydney.

“We then pass it on to the new group of guys coming through and I think Tyler is starting to pick it up, the same with Justinian and they are learning that this is a big one for us.

“The fans love it. The fans want us to beat Sydney and it's such a community thing down here that when you play for this team you understand that rivalry so much more. It is a big deal down here.”