Hawkeye - Illawarra Hawks v Brisbane Bullets R13 Preview

THE MUST KNOWS 

When: 7:30pm AEST, Wednesday 7 April

Where: WIN Entertainment Centre

Broadcast: ESPN, SBS On Demand and Twitch

Past meetings:
Round 1 at Nissan Arena: Hawks 90 def Bullets 84
Round 2 at Nissan Arena: Hawks 90 def Bullets 82
Round 7 at John Cain Arena: Bullets 97 def Hawks 91
Round 11 at WIN Entertainment Centre: Hawks 96 def Bullets 72

THE PRELUDE

The Hawks and Bullets enter tonight's clash teetering on the edge of playoff contention - with both squad's trying to work their way through a rough patch following the NBL Cup.

The teams last met only nine days ago when the Hawks put the cleaners through their Queensland-based counterparts to the tune of 24-points.

Both squads have lost four of their past five games and this is the fifth and last time these teams will play in the regular season this year.

The Hawks hit the floor tonight off disappoitning back-to-back losses to the 36ers and Phoenix, but the good news is each time they have lost two in a row this season (on three occasions) they have won the next game.

This is the Hawks fourth game at the WIN Entertainment Centre this season with a win over the Bullets and two losses to United and Phoenix.

Illawarra will welcome back guard Tyler Harvey while Cam Bairstow will sit again. Brisbane will be missing a raft of players including star import Vic Law.

THE FUN FACTS

Illawarra’s last four losses have been by a total of 65-points and the Hawks have averaged 67.5 points per game. The exception was their game v Brisbane where Illawarra posted 96-points.

In their past two games, Illawarra has shot 10-from-47 three pointers at 21.2%. Before Harvey’s injury they were shooting a league best 38.0%

The last time Brian Goorjian coached three straight losses in the regular season was December 2002. That season, the Sydney Kings were 9-2 before losing three in a row by 7, 5 & 2.

Since December 2002, Brian Goorjian has lost two consecutive games 14 times in the regular season and won the next game each time.

In Brian Goorjian’s entire 755 game NBL career as coach he has only once previously lost three games in a row by double figures once and that was in May 1991 with the Spectres.

The first 16 games of the season, Brisbane were shooting at 46.6% from the field and taking 73.7 shots per game (2^nd in NBL) and averaging a League best 93.9ppg.

Over their past three games without Vic Law and injuries to other key players, they average a league low 73.0ppg, shooting at an NBL low 33.9% from the field but shooting a League high 79.7 shots per game.

The only player to score 30 against the Bullets this season was Tyler Harvey for the Hawks in round 2.

The only player to score 30 against the Hawks this season was Scott Machado for Cairns in round 6.

THE MATCH UP

Justin Simon v Nathan Sobey

Simon has done a stellar job this season shutting down the best players in the NBL. He does it without much fanfare and adoration, and it's quality that has endeared him to the Illawarra faithful.

Yes, he has had his struggles on offence. But if you boil down the expectations and see him for what he is - a defensive juggernaut who chips in a handy dozen points here and there while doing all the dirty work - then you've got a guaranteed and much-valued force each and every night.

His averages - nearly nine points at 41% from the field, close to six rebounds, 1.75 steals and two assits per game - prove he can contribute in a number of ways and he'll have another big job trying to contain Sobey against the Bullets tonight.

Sobey did not sub out of the game in Sydney last Saturday playing the full 40 minutes. He is the first Bullet not to sub out of a game since Ben Castle in January 2004 in a 48 minute game.

The Bullets guard had 31-points for the game - his sixth 30-point game of the season (the most by any player).

In his last game in Wollongong, Nathan Sobey failed to make a three-pointer for the only game this season (0-from-6) and scored a season low 11-points.

THE SPOTLIGHT

Deng Adel - the external heat seems to have been reapplied to Adel after some quieter performances over the past few weeks.

Adel has openly admitted he is taking his time to adjust to the way the NBL is played. And considering he's only suited for 18 NBL games - maybe people should cut him a little more slack before they cast their judgements on his season.

His shooting hasn't been great - he's averaging 6.9 points on 32% from the field, but many have been left disappointed with his defensive application so far.

Adel mentioned before the season started he wanted to be included in the Defensive Player of the Year discussion - but right now he has 0.17 blocks a game and 0.39 steals.

NBL commentator Liam Santamaria landed another blow on Adel in his weekly 'Studs and Duds' column - but you've gotta think some breakout games are just around the corner.