36ers look to shut down high-scoring Hawks

Illawarra Hawks will travel to Adelaide for a Sunday afternoon showdown with revenge well and clearly on their mind.

The Hawks led for most of the contest and had a number of chances late in Adelaide’s 102-100 win in Wollongong last month.

Both sides are coming off a week-long break and looking to rebound, the Hawks falling to the Wildcats 113-105 in a shootout over at RAC Arena last Friday night.

With both teams looking to field fully strength sides, Illawarra pose a threat to Adelaide’s undefeated start at home this season. 

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THE KEY
Tyler Harvey has returned to his NBL best to start this season and the shooting guard will create several offensive opportunities for his side.

Harvey scored a team-high 25 points at 76 per cent shooting, including three from downtown in Illawarra’s loss in Perth and has been pouring in 18.4 points per night this season.

He is a multiple threat, especially from outside, but can attack the basket with his crafty floaters and can also find open teammates.

Harvey creates a great backcourt pairing with Trey Kell, who looks likely to return from a back injury to face his former side.

THE SECRET
Power forward Darius Days has been a revelation for the Hawks this season, and looms large as a huge threat for the big Adelaide frontcourt.

Days has been scoring 11.6 points per night, hauling in 8.1 rebounds and can stretch the floor at the offensive, while also holding his own on the low block at the defensive end.

The Hawks have a frontcourt all capable of shooting the three ball, with Lachlan Olbrich, Sam Froling and Mason Peatling reliable from beyond the arc.

Days is leader of the frontcourt for the Hawks and shutting him down will go a long way to winning the basketball game.

DEPTH CHART
Kell / Hickey
Harvey / Lee / Grida
Swaka Lo Buluk / Blanchfield
Days / Peatling
Froling / Olbrich 

FINAL WORD
Both sides will be desperate to atone for poor performances last round and have had over a week to prepare for this crucial contest.

With only one loss separating second to seventh on the NBL standings, a win is crucial, especially with the FIBA International Window looming after next round.

There are match-ups all over the court which will be huge, expect Wani Swaka Lo Buluk to get the assignment on former NBL championship team DJ Vasiljevic, while Froling will resume is battle against Isaac Humphries.

Who Mike Wells gives the Kell assignment to will be interesting, maybe Sunday Dech or Vasiljevic, or there could be a marquee match-up with Kendric Davis.

Adelaide will be out to make a point, especially at the defensive end, and there is no bigger challenge than the Hawks, who lead the league comfortably in points per game at 98.6.