Hawkeye - Illawarra Hawks v Cairns Taipans R19 Preview

THE MUST KNOWS 

When: 5pm AEST, Sunday 23 May

Where: WIN Entertainment Centre

Broadcast: SBS Viceland, SBS On Demand and Twitch

Past meetings:

Round 1 at Cairns Pop-Up: Hawks 92 def Taipans 76
Round 3 at Cairns Pop-Up: Hawks 90 def Taipans 70
Round 6 at John Cain Arena: Taipans 101 def Hawks 95
Round 13 at WIN Ent Centre: Hawks 82 def Taipans 80

THE PRELUDE

It's a must-win game for the Hawks at home against the Taipans this afternoon and if history repeats it should almost be a fait accompli for the desperate Illawarra outfit.

Illawarra has beaten Cairns in twelve of their last fourteen games played and last time these two sides met Tyler Harvey scored a season high 35-points in a game decided by only 2-points.

The Taipans beat the Hawks at the NBL Cup earlier this year on the back of some red-hot shooting from beyond the arc. The Snakes landing 18-from-35 three-pointers on that day, which still stands as the most by any team in any game in NBL21.

Illawarra has won four of it's past five games, but nothing has been easy for the Hawks, with four of those wins coming by single figures.

Cairns has lost it's past six games by an average of 17.6 points and if they were to again lose today, seven defeats in a row would be the worst streak by any team this season.

Hawks swingman Daniel Grida will have to pass a fitness test on his injured hand to play after missing the side's last start victory over the Adelaide 36ers.

It's also a big day for two Hawks stars, with Justinian Jessup celebrating his 23rd birthday while captain AJ Ogilvy will play his 200th NBL game.

THE FUN FACTS

The Taipans have lost their past seven games in Wollongong and ten of their last eleven at the WIN Entertainment Centre, with Cairns last win on the road to the Hawks coming in October 2016.

Taipans coach Mike Kelly is yet to taste victory in Wollongong during his tenure.

Both Tyler Harvey and Justinian Jessup average more against Cairns than their overall season average. Harvey has registered totals of 25, 21, 24 & 35 at an average of 26.3ppg, while Jessup has scored 24, 19,17 and 8 to average 17ppg against the Snakes.

On Friday in Adelaide, Jessup finished with a season low 2-points on 1/8FG (0/4 threes) in 30 minutes. In his last five games, Jessup has shot just 3-from-22 from long range (13.6%)

Issac White was the player of the game on Friday with a new career best 16-points on 4/6 three’s in a career high 23 minutes in his hometown of Adelaide.

The Taipans Mirko Djeric hit five three-pointers on Friday night for the first time in Taipans colours and led his team in scoring for the second time in his past three games. Djeric is averaging a career best 8.4ppg and began his career with the Hawks in 2013.

THE MATCH UP

Sam Froling v Nate Jawai

All eyes will be on the battle in and around the paint today as in-form big man Sam Froling tackles the immoveable object that is Nate Jawai.

Froling has been a revelation so far this season, with the Queensland-born product's sophomore season going to levels even he may not have predicted. Today he'll continue his march towards the league's Most Improved Player title when he clashes with a man whose career he one day hopes to emulate in Jawai.

Froling's last five games have been immense, with his averages of 12.2ppg, 8.4rpg and 1.8bpg all up on his season output. His added layer of rim protection has ably assisted the Hawks stingy defence and his ability to stretch the floor will only help the Hawks if he can drag the man mountain that is Jawai away from the paint.

Jawai has been the benficicary of Cam Oliver's call-up to the NBA, with the former Boomer taking his game to the levels of yesteryear on the back of the extra opportunity. He's dropping in 13.6ppg on 55% shooting and is pulling down 4.6rpg with extra burn, and will be a difficult man to navigate for the Hawks in and around the basket.

His massive frame will also make life difficult for Hawks defenders as they try and fight over screens chasing the likes of Scott Machado around the court.

THE SPOTLIGHT

AJ Ogilvy - the Hawks captain will celebrate his 200^th NBL game today in front of the fanatical Hawkhead supporters at the WIN Entertainment Centre. 

Ogilvy has started for the Hawks in the last 30 games and is now in his sixth season with the club, with his mature leadership style and no fuss attitude a big part of the club's turnaround in fortunes after only five wins last year.

Ogilvy has played 171 games for Illawarra, he now sits third all time in Hawks blocks at 221 only behind Melvin Thomas (317) and Glen Saville (423), and he is a three time All-NBL first team selection (2014, 2016 & 2017).