36ers ready for massive Hawks challenge

Less than 48 hours after opening their NBL25 account, Adelaide 36ers will be in Wollongong to face the undefeated Illawarra Hawks.

Thursday night’s 93-83 win against South East Melbourne Phoenix in front of a sell out crowd of 9377 saw a huge impact from big man Isaac Humphries and captain DJ Vasiljevic, but the Hawks will be a totally different proposition.

Illawarra has won their opening three matches of the NBL25 season and are coming off a tough road victory against the Kings in Sydney last Sunday.

The Hawks will be rested and waiting for an Adelaide side who used a dominant first half against the Phoenix en route to a 10-point success. 

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THE KEY
Adelaide won’t have to look back far in the scouting report to know Trey Kell can be a matchwinner on any given night.

The former South East Melbourne and 36ers import was heavily recruited by head coach Justin Tatum in the off-season after the swingman moved to the point guard role to great effect at the end of NBL24.

Moving to his third NBL club, Kell has averaged 19.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per night across Illawarra’s first three games in NBL25.

A big point guard, Kell knows how to attack the basket and get to the free throw line, as well having the ability to knock down the three ball.

Expect Sunday Dech to get the first assignment on his former teammate as Adelaide look to shut down one of the key pillars for the Hawks.

THE SECRET
Replacing import power forward Gary Clark was always going to be the big test for the Illawarra front office in the off-season, and the Hawks looked to have found their man in Darius Days.

Days came to the Hawks after coming to Australia with the Shanghai Sharks this pre-season, who played games against the Hawks, and ended up staying in Wollongong.

The 24-year-old has been a revelation for Illawarra across their opening three victories of NBL25, averaging 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per night to be part of a formidable front court which also includes Sam Froling, Lachlan Olbrich and NBL championship winner Mason Peatling.

Days has shown he has got all the traits Clark gave to the Hawks in NBL24, and has a lot of upside moving forward, a genuine stretch four man who can shoot the ball.

DEPTH CHART
PG: Kell / Hickey
SG: Harvey / Lee
SF: Swaka Lo Buluk / Blanchfield / Grida
PF: Days / Peatling
C: Froling / Olbrich

THE FINAL WORD
Adelaide will be buoyed after Thursday night’s win and will head to Wollongong full of confidence, but the Hawks will be rested and ready to fire.

The 36ers can use the momentum from the Phoenix success and will need a fast start in front of the Hawks home crowd, who will be out supporting their undefeated side.

How Adelaide defend Kell will be crucial in this contest, and the 36ers should know how to guard the point guard.

Expect the 36ers to again roll out the new frontcourt combination of Humphries and Montrezl Harrell, and how Adelaide make adjustments defensively will be key.

Catch all the action live and exclusive on ESPN via Kayo Sports from 5pm ACST on Saturday night.