R8 Preview: Illawarra Hawks v Adelaide 36ers

When: 7.30pm (AEDT), Monday 24 January 2022

Where: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

Broadcast: ESPN; Kayo; Sky Sport NZ

Who won last time?

Illawarra 81 (Reath 18, Jessup 17, Rathan-Mayes 15, Harvey 15) d Adelaide 71 (Bairstow 15, Humphries 13, McCarron 12, Johnson 12) - Round 1, December 5, 2021 at Adelaide Entertainment Centre

It was the second game in three days to open the season for Adelaide and their first home game, but Illawarra proved too strong to open their #NBL22 with the strong 10-point win. 

Adelaide was up four midway through the second term coming off a loss in Perth, but from there the Hawks delivered some scintillating basketball to blow the game wide open. Illawarra would end up going on a 27-5 run either side of half-time including 13 straight points to open the third quarter, and that set up the eventual 10-point. 

There was plenty to like for the Hawks with Duop Reath top-scoring with 18 points and nine rebounds. Justinian Jessup added 17 points and four steals, Tyler Harvey 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals, Xavier Rathan-Mayes 15 points and Antonius Cleveland six points, four rebounds and two assists including a spectacular reverse throwdown.

Cam Bairstow was a bright spot again for Adelaide with 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists with Isaac Humphries adding 13 points and four rebounds with Daniel Johnson contributing 12 points, four boards and two assists.

What happened last start?

The Illawarra Hawks had a big test over the past week with games against last season's Grand Finalists but coach Brian Goorjian admitted on Saturday to feeling decidedly flat on the back of the losses to Melbourne United and the Perth Wildcats. 

He could somewhat wipe away last Sunday's loss to United given what Matthew Dellavedova did out of the blue, but on Saturday against the Wildcats he didn’t like much of what he saw after quarter-time. It meant the Hawks have lost their past two matches and three of the last four following a 3-0 start to the season.

Superstars Antonius Cleveland, Tyler Harvey and Duop Reath had especially tough nights against the 'Cats combining for just 22 points on 9/34 shooting from the floor. If they can be more efficient and effective, Illawarra's fortunes can turn quickly.

As for Adelaide, they played their first game in 31 days back on Tuesday and were tremendous beating the Wildcats 87-74. The Sixers backed up with another home game on Saturday to Melbourne but couldn’t repeat the dose ending up losing by 13, meaning both them and the Hawks come into this game following recent losses to the defending champs.

It wasn’t even as if the Sixers played that badly on Saturday despite the 13-point defeat with Cam Bairstow continuing his tremendous form, Sunday Dech doing well in his first start and now they just need a few more major contributors to win in the 'Gong.

Who’s in form?

Justinian Jessup – He arrived last season as a Next Star drafted by the Golden State Warriors a scorer and shooter. He continues to be that, but his all-round game is now greatly improved including his defence. So much so that coach Brian Goorjian has no trouble pinpointing him as their best player the last two games and he will look to continue that.

Cam Bairstow – He played with the Hawks last season and things didn’t quite work out. There was no hard feelings on either side, but now he will look forward to continuing his standout form against them in Wollongong on Monday. He averaged 18.5 points and 9.0 rebounds as a starter last week in the absence of Isaac Humphries in the win over Perth and loss to Melbourne.

Who needs to be?

Tyler Harvey – It's no secret that everything just abouts starts and finishes with him for the Hawks. He was brilliant last season averaging 20.0 points and 3.0 assists while shooting 41.4 per cent from the field and 37.7 from deep. This season so far he's down to 15.1 points and 3.1 assists on 36.5 per cent from the floor and 28.8 per cent from beyond the arc. He needs a big game for Illawarra to win.

Dusty Hannahs – He came off the bench on Saturday against Melbourne but was still efficient in what he did in almost 18 minutes, scoring 12 points on 4/8 shooting. He has been largely efficient in most of what he has done this season, but he needs to be doing more of it and to be more aggressive. We all heard what a standout three-point shooter he was, it's now time he perhaps becomes a little more selfish and puts up more shots from beyond the arc to show us what he is capable of.

Who’s statting up?

 - The Illawarra Hawks were a standout defensive team last season and that took them a long way. They wanted to improve their offence this season which has happened with them the highest scoring team in the league at 88.7ppg. The problem is they are ranked last in defence conceding 88.3ppg
 
 - Both teams have avoided fouling too much this season, with Adelaide ranked first being called for just 14.1ppg and Illawarra second with 15.7. Whether that also translates to not being aggressive or as effective defensively, only time will tell 

 - The 36ers have been taking fewer three-point shots a game this season than any other team, attempting just 22.9 a game. They are going at 32.5 per cent which has them fourth in the league, but there might be the chance to jack up a few more especially if you are Dusty Hannahs

 - The Hawks just aren’t getting to the foul line much so far in #NBL22. They are ranked last in makes at the free-throw line (9.1) and attempts (13.6). They are the only team not to be making at least 11 free throws a game. Adelaide is averaging 12.7/18.0 in contrast

Who’s matching up?

Duop Reath v Daniel Johnson – What a match up of bigs who love to shoot and score this will be. If they get to go head-to-head down in the block, it will be fascinating to see who can get on top but in the bigger picture, whoever has the better night could very well determine who comes out the winner

Tyler Harvey v Mitch McCarron – This point guard battle will be fascinating. Harvey was Bryce Cotton's main MVP threat a season ago, but hasn’t quite rediscovered that form this campaign. He remains quite the threat, though, for the Hawks and he comes up against the 36ers captain who will both be trying to lock down Harvey and run the Adelaide ship as efficiently as possible

Who’s talking the talk?

Hawks coach Brian Goorjian was pumped for his team to return to action after a month-long break with games against last year's Grand Finalists Perth on Saturda yand then Melbourne last Sunday. However, neither game went to plan and they have now lost two straight, and three of their last four with Goorjian needing to see a bounce back performance.

"I was really pumped for these last two games and tried to bring a lot of energy to the day to day, and game night. But now I feel like early in the season it's desperation. We're at home and those were two teams that are final four teams that we've just lost to," Goorjian said.

"I think it's really important for this franchise to play well in two games like this, and to come away with nothing has winded me. It's like a kick in the guts. But now this Adelaide game is really all or nothing. 

"I know it's early in the season but there's only so many games we are already nearly up to the 10-game mark from the 28 we'll play. You can't get these games back and we are going to be on the road for a while soon so whether it's CJ, Bairstow or whatever it is we're coming up against, we are under the hammer and need to bring it for this game."

Illawarra might be just a quarter of the way through their season with a 4-3 record, but Goorjian isn’t playing down just how important getting a win on Monday against the 36ers is.

"These are home games now and we are starting to play for our season. The top four is going to be really difficult to reach and you can't dump two losses at home now," Goorjian said.

"There's pressure on us to make the four and now these games starting with Adelaide are ones you have to dig deep for, and you have to get these wins as we get through this process. I like the way we are going about the day to day even though there are so many challenges this year for the staff and players in so many different aspects and levels. 

"I thought the people surrounding me have been tremendous and I really loved what the guys have been doing on the floor on the day to day. But the last two games when there's been pressure on and we've been under the hammer, where we've gone has just been disappointing."

Sixers coach CJ Bruton isn’t focused on a battle with his former mentor Goorjian, but is still trying to figure things out with his team who has played just two games in the past 36 days, and remains without big man Isaac Humphries.

"I think that takes about 10 games to find out your best rotations and everything. At this point for me after a short pre-season with the guys, from where we have got to and without having the full roster all the time and from managing bodies for practice and also in games, and there are certain things behind the scenes other people don't know about," Bruton said. 

"As a coach I deal with what I've got to deal with and make the best of the situation. It's not always as perfect as it looks but I think we're heading in the right direction. 

"Even as I told the boys after the game, the best thing they can do is to continue to play with that sort of effort and if we continue to get better on the offensive end with our execution, I think our effort on the defensive end will continue to shine through and help us win a lot more games."

Cam Bairstow is making his first return to Wollongong to play the Hawks after playing there last season. He arrives in good form too, but all he's worried about is finding ways to help Adelaide string some wins together.

"I feel good. Obviously I'm enjoying being back playing and for the first time in a while being injury-free. That's been the biggest thing so I'm really just enjoying playing for CJ," Bairstow said.

"He has been awesome so far and they are a great group of guys with the team. We obviously have a bunch of young guys in addition to some of the veterans so moving forward each and every game, we are learning all the time and I think towards the end of the season it's when we'll have a chance to peak if we just continue to improve."