Round 11: United vs Hawks

The Hawks look to bounce back from a narrow defeat at the hands of the Sydney Kings when we take on Melbourne United on Sunday afternoon.

John Cain Arena has not been a happy hunting ground for the Hawks this season. However, after back-to-back competitive performances, in which coach Jackomas’ squad was in the mix until the final seconds, there is form to suggest the road record is about to turn for the better.

The Hawks led late into the fourth quarter against the Kings but couldn’t overcome the league leaders, eventually going down 86-79.

Peyton Siva had his best performance as a Hawk claiming the Tyson Demos medal with 15 points and six assists.

Tyler Harvey continued his hot stretch with 19 points, while Mangok Mathiang and Davo Hickey were impactful off the bench, especially at the defensive end, with a couple of huge blocks at the rim when the game was in the balance.

Fan Favourite Dan Grida returned to the floor for the first time in 2 seasons, and his energy and athleticism will surely spark the squad in the coming weeks.

Keep a Hawk Eye On

An impactful Hawks bench.

Health and availability have been thorns in the side of the young Hawks outfit in season 22/23.

However, the return of Siva and now Dan Grida sees Coach Jackomas with a full squad for the first time all season. A clean bill of health has not only allowed the starting five of Siva, Harvey, Frazier, Deng, and Froling to assume regular transmission, but it has also provided clarity and specificity to the bench unit, who are now looking to make their mark.

Davo Hickey’s minutes have been invaluable in recent weeks, and Swaka Lo Buluk’s new role as the 6th man has seen him return to the lockdown defender and wing threat that made him one of the most sought-after free agents in the off-season.

Mangok Mathiang’s energy and length off the bench will be called upon in a big way come Sunday afternoon as he will be charged with nullifying the impact of United’s twin towers on Humphries and Lee.

While we all manage our expectations on the impact of Grida after a prolonged stint on the sidelines, his athleticism and offensive spark can change momentum in a matter of minutes and, along with Mudronja, will have to be ready for the call from Jackomas to impact in limited minutes when needed.

Opposition Watch

United find themselves in an unfamiliar position in NBL23, at the tail end of the standings and struggling with inconsistency.

The past week has followed a similar vein. Perth stole victory from United in the West on Monday night before returning home to dominate the Throwdown in a 92-76 win over the more fancies Phoenix.

Rayjon Tucker paced United with a season-best 33 points, including 25 in an explosive first half.

Shea Ili and Isaac Humphries return to the side beaten by the Hawks in Round 9, and with both sides at full strength, expect another close encounter in the 3rd edition of this season's Life Changer Cup.

How to Watch

Catch all the action from 4:00pm AEDT on 10Peach and ESPN via Kayo & Foxtel.

Hawks Socials

Follow all the action from Sunday’s game, on the Hawks social media channels @illawarrahawks and use the hashtag ‘Hawk Nation’ when you share your pics and stories.