Hawkeye - Illawarra Hawks v Adelaide 36ers R19 Preview

THE MUST KNOWS 

When: 7:30pm AEST, Friday 21 May

Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Broadcast: ESPN, SBS On Demand and Twitch

Past meetings:

Round 8 at State Basketball Centre: Illawarra 98 def Adelaide 89
Round 12 at Adelaide Ent Centre: Adelaide 84 def Illawarra 72
Round 18 at WIN Entertainment Centre: Illawarra 71 def Adelaide 66

THE PRELUDE

The Hawks roll into Adelaide licking their wounds after a disappointing loss to ladder-leaders Melbourne United only three nights ago, while the 36ers season is more or less over after back-to-back losses and the news stars Josh Giddey and Isaac Humphries have pulled the pin on their seasons. 

When these two sides met ten days ago at the WIN Entertainment Centre, the Hawks came away with a hard-fought victory on the back of a flying start - the home side hitting the ground running while Adelaide remained wedged in the blocks.

A 23-10 quarter time margin was the perfect start for the home side, and although Adelaide rallied to lead at halftime, the Hawks surged again in the final frame to run out 71-66 winners to take a 2-1 season series lead.

The 36ers failed to take care of the ball in that meeting, registering 24 turnovers which is the most by any team in any game in NBL21 and equals the worst ever by Adelaide in a 40-minute game.

The Hawks haven't been at their best on the road, failing to beat a team above them on the ladder when they have played away from the WIN Entertainment Centre. 

The biggest news ahead of this clash is the absence of 36ers stars Giddey and Humphries. Giddey has decided to sit out the remainder of the season to prepare for the NBA Draft later this year, while Humphries is expected to miss the last few games of the year with a leg issue. 

The Hawks will be without Dan Grida for the second straight game.

These teams will play for a fifth time back in Wollongong next Sunday in Round 20.

THE FUN FACTS

The 36ers have not beaten Illawarra 2-0 at home in a season since 2016 and these side's have split 36ers home games for the the last four seasons. Adelaide beat the Hawks at home in Round 12.

Adelaide has won their last four home games. Only the 36ers and Phoenix currently have a home win streak longer than one.

Adelaide is 0-3 when Josh Giddey has sat this year, while Humphries leads the league in blocks at 2.8 per game.

Illawarra has lost their last eight games where they have let their opposition score more than 80-points.

Adelaide is winless from 11 games this season when they have scored less than 80-points.

Tony Crocker has played twice against Illawarra this season and led the 36ers in scoring in both contests with his two highest scores of the season (23 and 16). Against all other teams, Crocker has averaged 9.6ppg.

Brian Goorjian is still in pursuit of a finish in the top four which will make it 21 seasons in a row. The last time one of his teams missed the playoffs was the Spectres in 1989.

This season will be the first season since 2016 that the Hawks will finish higher on the ladder than Adelaide.

The Hawks next four games are against teams below them on the ladder, before a potentially season-defining Round 21 home game double against Perth and Sydney.

THE MATCH UP

Brandon Paul v Justin Simon

With the news Giddey is out for the season, you'd think more offensive load will naturally fall on the shoulders of former-NBA star Brandon Paul. 

In 15 games played in his first NBL season, Paul is averaging 14.8ppg on 44% shooting. He's got a pretty decent outside game as well - he makes 2.8 threes per game at 40% - and creates his own opportunities with 1.5 steals per contest. Giddey has been a very ball dominant force for the 36ers this season, so it will be interesting to see how Adelaide coach Conner Henry runs his offence now and if Paul is in for extended play-making duties.

Justin Simon had a quieter night out in the side's loss to United on Tuesday, but the Defensive Player of the Year candidate spent most of the first half trying desperately to hold onto a red-hot Chris Goulding (25 points at the main break).

Simon - with his 3cm height difference and seven foot wing span - will arguably have first crack at Paul, and he will need to be at his disruptive best to slow down a guy who has a history of making big plays in better league's than this.

Simon continues to be the Hawks barometer for effort, energy and intesnity this season, and he will need to be locked in tonight if Illawarra is going to consolidate their spot in the NBL's top four.

THE SPOTLIGHT

Tyler Harvey - Harvey missed the last Hawks game in Adelaide with back issues but he led his team in both scoring and assists in both wins against Adelaide this season (23.5 points and 7.0 assists). Harvey has shot 12-from-23 threes vs Adelaide (52%) with six makes in both games.

On Tuesday, Harvey was held to just 10-points against United and just one field goal after quarter time. Illawarra is 10-1 when Harvey scores 23-points or above this season including 6-0 when he is 25 or above.

The Hawks haven't won this season when Harvey has scored 15-points or less (0-9), but the star American rarely registers two quiet performances in succession.