Hawks soar to second spot in weekly power rankings

By Liam Santamaria

You know the drill. Every week I release my NBL power rankings, dropping them on NBL Overtime and then running them here on Wednesday mornings.

By now, you also know how they work. This list represents how each team is currently tracking when you consider form, injuries, illness, recent opponents, etc. In other words, the team on top is the one other teams do not want to be playing right now.

 

1. SYDNEY KINGS

Previous rank: 2

The Kings extended their winning streak to nine over the weekend when they travelled to WA and conquered the Jungle. It was yet another impressive performance from Chase Buford’s men, who have quickly asserted themselves as genuine championship contenders.

Interestingly, the only squad to have beaten Sydney since January is their opponent this week.

This week: @ Tasmania

 

2. ILLAWARRA HAWKS

Previous rank: 4

Like their New South Wales rivals, the Hawks have clicked into gear at the perfect time and are coming off a hugely impressive victory on the road.

That’s now three wins on the trot for Brian Goorjian’s men and six salutes from their past seven games. They even beat Melbourne over the weekend without their head coach in the building – that’s how well these guys are tracking!

This week: vs Brisbane, @ Melbourne

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@illawarrahawks</a>: playing with a whole lot of swag ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jacobjackomas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jacobjackomas</a> <a href="https://t.co/DtBWNHmhXk">pic.twitter.com/DtBWNHmhXk</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1508586700398030852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

3. PERTH WILDCATS

Previous rank: 1

The Wildcats slip to third after a rough week, both on and off the court. Amidst the drama of an unsuccessful roster change, the ‘Cats lost back-to-back home games as both Tassie and Sydney came into the Jungle and pushed them around. The troubling part was that Perth’s issues with defence and rebounding – the two areas John Brown III was recruited to address – were further exposed throughout those defeats.

Things aren’t getting any easier this week, either, with the defending champs coming in with a point to prove.

This week: vs Melbourne

 

4. MELBOURNE UNITED

Previous rank: 3

Melbourne added 2021 Championship player Yudai Baba to their roster last week but were well off the pace in their loss to the Hawks.

Fortunately for them, a chance to reassert their dominance arrives this week, as they seek revenge on the two teams who have recently had their number.

This week: vs Illawarra, @ Perth

 

5. TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS

Previous rank: 5

What can you say about the JackJumpers? I mean, they just continue to play outstanding team ball as they rack up wins and keep their playoff dream alive.

After victories in Perth and Brisbane last week, the Ants have now won five of their past six games. If they can get the better of Adelaide on Friday, everything will be set up beautifully for a blockbuster showdown with the Kings.

This week: @ Adelaide, vs Sydney

 

6. SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX

Previous rank: 6

The Phoenix took another backward step last round when they dropped a game in Adelaide that they really needed to win.

That’s now five Ls for South East Melbourne from their past six games. The issue for the Phoenix is that they’re just not playing finals-level ball, particularly at the defensive end. While the whips are cracking in the race for the postseason, these guys are struggling to keep up.

This week: @ Cairns

 

7. ADELAIDE 36ERS

Previous rank: 9

The 36ers jump up a couple of spots after an impressive effort in Round 17.

Their victory over the Phoenix gives them two wins from their past three games and, while they aren’t going to make the playoffs, CJ Bruton has his squad playing hard to close out the year.

This week: vs Tasmania, @ Brisbane

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Top 4? squads are starting to get a little separation from the rest of the pack ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL22</a> ladder hoisted by <a href="https://twitter.com/AAMI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AAMI</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/r4ONoNndaR">pic.twitter.com/r4ONoNndaR</a></p>&mdash; The NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1508209707466780673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

8. BRISBANE BULLETS

Previous rank: 8

It was a wild weekend for the Bullets in Round 17, as they pulled off a miraculous victory but then fell to the JackJumpers on their own home floor.

That’s now seven losses for Brisbane from their past ten games. Robert Franks is playing well, as is Anthony Drmic, but these guys are like Forrest Gump’s box of chockies, you just never know what you’re going to get.

This week: @ Illawarra, vs Adelaide

 

9. CAIRNS TAIPANS

Previous rank: 10

The Snakes have jumped off the bottom of the power rankings this week thanks to a win over the Breakers.

It came after going down to SEM earlier in the round but credit to Cairns for adjusting their game plan, putting away the three-ball, and closing out the round with a win. This week they get to do it all over again, against the exact same opponents.

This week: vs South East Melbourne, @ New Zealand (in Hobart)

 

10. NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS

Previous rank: 7

I hung tough with the Breakers over the past few weeks, but another pair of losses – making it eight Ls from their past nine games – sees them tumble back down to last place.

It’s a bummer, as they’ve been desperately unlucky a couple of times recently. Unfortunately, for all of NZ’s talent and well-drilled execution, their collective lack of defence helps opponents stay in the game.

This week: vs Cairns (in Hobart)