Hawkeye - Illawarra Hawks v Perth Wildcats R14 Preview

THE MUST KNOWS 

When: 9:30pm AEST, Friday 16 April

Where: RAC Arena, Perth

Broadcast: ESPN, SBS On Demand and Twitch

Past meetings:
Round 8 at John Cain Arena: Wildcats 87 def. Hawks 70
Round 11 at RAC Arena: Wildcats 81 def. Hawks 70

THE PRELUDE

Playing the Wildcats in Perth has been the most daunting road trip in league history for the Illawarra Hawks and they enter tonight's clash hopeful and quietly confident of overturning one of the worst records the NBL has ever seen.

The Hawks record in Perth is now one win from their past 34 games and the visitors have only won once in 19 appearances at RAC Arena - the sole victory coming way back in November 2016. Illawarra has travelled to Perth 58 times since 1982 for seven wins.

A win to either side will do wonder for their ladder position - the Hawks find themselves in a desperate battle with several times for the final playoff spot, while a win to the Wildcats will put them back on top of the ladder.

This could be a season defining round for the Hawks who follow this game with a trip to Melbourne to play United on Sunday. With back-to-back matches against the top two teams in the competition, Illawarra could land anywhere from third to sixth by the end of the round.

The Hawks enter today's game still without Cam Bairstow (leg) but guard Emmett Naar wil return from a two-game absence due to concussion.

THE FUN FACTS

Last week in three home games, the Hawks scored 82, 82 & 82. Against the Wildcats this season, Illawarra has scored 70 & 70.

Last time these teams played, Hawks shot a season low 4/24 from beyond the three-point line at a measly 16.7%. Illawarra has won seven from eight games this season when they have shot 40% or above from the perimeter.

Tyler Harvey scored a career high 35-points last game against Cairns and has averaged 25ppg over his three appearances - including draining 12/27 three-pointers. Harvey has scored 17 and 13 v Perth this season and only shot 3/15 from deep.

Bryce Cotton has never lost to the Hawks at RAC Arena in eight matches played – the only team he has never lost to at home. He has also scored 30-points 18 times in his career, but only two of those have come against the Hawks.

Perth have been behind at quarter time in five of their past six games and trailed Adelaide by 15-points and to New Zealand by 16-points in their past two games.

The two mastercoaches - Trevor Gleeson and Brian Goorjian - have coached against each other 15 times for an 8-7 record to Gleeson.

THE MATCH UP

AJ Ogilvy v John Mooney

AJ Ogilvy is coming off arguably his greatest game as a Hawk. The skipper chipped in eight points on 4/5 shooting, nine boards, five assists, three steals and three blocks in the side's win over the Taipans on Sunday, and has continued to lead by example with his penchant for one percenters and team first plays this season. 

John Mooney is averaging a double-double at RAC Arena this season at 16.8 points and 12.7 rebounds, but scored a season low three points and nine rebounds on Tuesday night after being hampered by injury. Last game against the Hawks at RAC Arena, Mooney had 17 points and 16 rebounds.

Should Mooney play, Ogilvy will go a long way to helping his side win this one if he can keep his opposite number off the boards. Mooney has pulled down 79 offensive rebounds this season and the Wildcats are a good enough team without giving them any second chances on offence. 

THE SPOTLIGHT

Deng Deng - Deng has been in pretty good form for the Hawks over this past half a dozen games and it seems coach Goorjian is trusting him with more minutes (19-18-23 over his last three) compared to an average of 13 for the season. 

Deng has been one of the Hawks most reliable three-point shooters toutside the backcourt of Harvey and Justinian Jessup this season, knocking down the long ball at a 36% clip. The Wildcats have done a great job shutting down the Hawks two main offensive options in the side's two meetings so far, so it will fall to the likes of Deng to pick up the scoring slack.

His length and versatility on defence is always a big plus, and he will probably be called upon to guard the incredible Cotton for brief periods when Justin Simon heads for a rest.