Hawkeye - Hawks v SE Melbourne Phoenix R4 Preview

THE MUST KNOWS 

When: 3pm (AEDT), Sunday 7 February

Where: State Basketball Centre, Melbourne

Broadcast: SBS Viceland, SBS On Demand and Twitch

Last Time They Met: SE Melbourne 90 (Stephens 20, Madgen 17, Pineau 14) d Hawks 82 (Blanchfield 15, Froling 13, Grida 13), January 12, 2020.

THE PRELUDE

The Phoenix swept The Hawks last season across a three game stand – with an average winning margin of just over seven points.

The Hawks are also the only team the Phoenix have not lost to in their short history.

So it's fair to say The Hawks are looking forward to rewriting the record books when they hit the court today.

A fifth straight road game awaits The Hawks though as they head to Melbourne where coach Brian Goorjian was in charge of the South East Melbourne Magic between 1992 and 1998.

And not that coach Goorjian will care too much – but today also marks his first return to Melbourne since the now defunct Dragons won the NBL championship in March 2009.

This will be the first game for the Hawks outside of Queensland after they swept their QLD road trip 4-0 for the first time in franchise history.

Emmett Naar and AJ Ogilvy are the only current Hawks players that featured in all five wins last season and will match that total if the side can win again today.

In all four games so far, the Hawks have led at three-quarter time and then won every fourth quarter.

The Phoenix had been outscored in every fourth quarter in their games until last Sunday when they piled on 36-points against United in Bendigo – the highest scoring period by any team this season. (United scored 30-points in a combined 66-point quarter the highest of the season so far).

THE FUN FACTS

Last season the Hawks were the worst three-point shooting team at 31.3% - this year they are second only to Melbourne at 39.6%.

The Hawks are also the best team at looking after the ball at  a League low 8.3 turnovers per game and lead the NBL in field goal attempts per game at 78.8.

If The Hawks can claim a fifth straight victory – they will match the record of the 2013 Hawks side that also started the season 5-0.

Best starts by the Hawks:
7-0 in 1987 Semi Finalists
5-0 in 2013 Semi Finalists
4-0 in 2021 ????
4-0 in 2004 Semi Finalists
4-0 in 2005 Grand Finalist

THE MATCH UP

Justin Simon v Mitch Creek

Defensive juggernaut Justin Simon has enjoyed a stellar start to his time in the NBL. The Hawks beating heart on the defensive end of the floor has been at his disruptive best in four straight wins – but has been pouring it in on offense as well.

Today though he faces an elite offensive option in former NBA talent Mitch Creek.

Creek is averaging 20pts, 6.5reb, 3.5ast and more than a swipe a game for the Phoenix and with fellow playmaker Adam Gibson set to miss, even more responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the 28-year-old.

Creek is a different beast to what Simon has faced so far in his fledgling NBL career – with Creek brandishing an NBA calibre resume after stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets.

Simon is coming off a season with the Windy City Bulls – the G-League affiliate for Chicago - and has made no secret of his desire to one-day return to the NBA as well.

Both men have been the barometer for their clubs to open NBL21 and today’s salivating match-up could go a long way to deciding who walks away with the win.

THE SPOTLIGHT

Deng Adel – ever since Adel twisted awkwardly in the final minutes of a preseason game in Perth, it’s been a disjointed 2020-21 NBL season for one of The Hawks marquee signings.

A tough road schedule has made it hard for Adel to get meaningful minutes on the practice court for the former Cleveland Cavalier – but the last week allowed him to get two important things – rest and rhythm.

Adel played 15minutes off the bench in The Hawks last win over Cairns, but expect that to ramp up today – with the South Sudanese product likely to lock horns with Creek at stages while Simon gets some much needed rest.

A mid week call-up to the Boomers squad for the Tokyo Olympics will boost the young wings confidence, with a big showing expected from him in his hometown today.

THE MASTERCOACH

On how The Hawks playing style has been built…

When we put the team together, the major issue for this team was defensively it had a very poor year, and had struggled for a few seasons. The team is playing with a tenacity that I didn’t expect. Another one of the things I’ve said to the group is we want to provide entertainment. You have to be attractive to the eye to this community. And I think this community respects hard work. It’s a process to do that and they’ve bit on this a lot quicker than I anticipated.

On the three secrets to The Hawks early season success…

Firstly, it's a young team and a lot of guys that have been under the bar that haven’t quite gotten their career where they wanted it in the NBL. So there was a motivation factor there to begin with. Secondly, they’re young so that's suited this five weeks of travel. And lastly, we’ve had a good period of time to grow closer as a group than we’d normally have. We’ve been on the road and together for five weeks, I’ve never been in situation like that. Those three things have really given us a jump start and why we’ve come out of the blocks so well.