Kell sent - Trey Kell III had a breakout game for his new club and needs to continue that upward trend against the Hawks this afternoon - Photo Credit to Adelaide 36ers/NBL
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4-Minute Read
NBL ROUND 3
Adelaide 36ers vs Illawarra Hawks
When: 5:00pm (ACDT), Saturday 14 October
Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre – The Ken Cole-seum
Broadcast: Kayo Freebies, ESPN, www.nbl.com.au
SWOOP BACK IN HISTORY
My first game in basketball media – Adelaide 36ers vs Illawarra Hawks
Checkout this preview for my first game I did between the Adelaide 36ers and the Illawarra Hawks – pretty close to on this day a month and 7 years ago
Adelaide 36ers vs. Illawarra Hawks
When: 5:00pm (AEDT), Saturday, 12th November 2016
Where: Titanium Security Arena, Adelaide
Broadcast: NBL TV, Fox Sports, Sky Sports
Last times they’ve met:
Rd 1: Illawarra Hawks 122 (Clarke 23, Harris 21, Holyfield 14) defeated Adelaide 36ers 88 (Creek 24, Randle, Deng 13) at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre.
In Wollongong 2015/16: Illawarra Hawks 106 (Ogilvy 17, Lisch 16, Weeks 14) defeated Adelaide 36ers 95 (Johnson 20, Randle 15, Ere 12)
In Adelaide 2015/16: Adelaide 36ers 104 (Ere 28, Johnson 19, Creek 15) defeated Illawarra Hawks 94 (Lisch 24, Coenraad 17, R Martin 15)
Throwback Thursday Classic Memory Match:
2001 Semi-Final Game Three: Wollongong Hawks 109 (Melvin Thomas 28, Lowery 20) defeated Adelaide 36ers 108 (Brooks 26, Maley 21)
Former 36ers player Mark Nash recalls this as being his most memorable game for all the wrong reasons and probably was the significant day that the Hawks developed a strong rivalry with the 36ers. The game ebbed and flowed the whole way through as it had during the semi-final series. It came down to a controversial call in game three on Darnell Mee fouling pesky Hawks guard Damon Lowery flailing his arms and legs in the air and gaining a crucial trip to the stripe for three shots. Lowery knocked down the first one kissing the front of the rim and dropping in. The second one did the same but the third was an agonising eight bounces and touched every part of the rim including window until like a dagger it dropped into the 36ers finals campaign. What many call the most pulsating finish to a playoff game in NBL history had sent the Hawks to what would be a Grand Final series that yielded them and the state of NSW their first NBL championship.
Key Match-Ups:
Jerome Randle vs. Mitch Norton/Kevin White
In round one in the first game of the season, Hawks coach Rob Beveridge sent his two defensive guards in Norton and White to lockdown Randle. The tactic was to niggle, play physical and see if they could disrupt Randle’s rhythm within the boundaries of the rules. Randle will need team support of screens and scoring from Sobey, Teys and Drmic to handle the one two punch from the Hawks. Joey Wright will also be wary of giving Randle some protection from the two physical guards. After 40pts against the Wildcats last Saturday, the Hawks will look to put a majority of their energy
into stopping him.
Anthony Drmic vs. Tim Coenraad
Drmic received notice from coach Wright last week and it payed off with a 17pt game against the Wildcats. The sharp shooter used his body strength well against the Wildcats and will need to again against the Hawks Nick Kay and Tim Coenraad given another week on the sideline for Daniel Johnson. As much as the Hawks bigs are mobile, taking them out of the post is a bigger challenge for them to go for the perimeter shooter and definitely taking them out is better for Drmic and for the 36ers other forwards Deng, Jacobsen and Hodgson.
On the flip side, one of the 36ers weaknesses in recent years on defence has been the 6 and half foot man that can shoot the three ball such as Tim Coenraad. Coenraad loves playing in Adelaide with a solid average of 11 pts per game and will be a key feature of the contest with his all-round ability but particularly his ability to light up offensively.
Eric Jacobsen vs. AJ Ogilvy
The recruitment of Jacobsen has been crucial to freeing up the Sixers big shooting men as he has manned the paint in their place. Last time and he needs no reminding his first game against the Hawks was a shocker as Ogilvy dominated their first meeting. “For this game I’m going to be wary of staying on the floor longer,” Jacobsen said about the foul trouble he incurred early in round one.
Ogilvy hasn’t always had his best games in Adelaide and often finds it difficult to counter the perimeter shooting ability of Johnson but Jacobsen will need to look at mid-rangers to drag the Hawk giant out of the paint. “I’ll be out there supporting my team and having a good battle with Ogilvy,” Jacobsen reassured.
36ers by 6pts
Written by Tristan Prentice
Key Matchups
Trey Kell III vs Tyler Harvey
Are we starting to see the real Kell that Trey can deliver? 28 points against the Kings shows he is capable of being a week in and week out scorer – here’s hoping its an upward trend
For something different listen to this part of the interview during this week’s SA Shotclock here from the 12:10 minute mark
Isaac Humphries vs Sam Froling
With the Sixers situation they are in this season – “Ice” has become very important in the context of the season. He has a very good record against the Hawks with 15.5 points at 57 percent the last three seasons. He’s a big problem in the paint with the Hawks already down one of their bigs in Mason Peatling (cheekbone)
More responsibility comes to the Australian Boomer squad member for the initial World Cup squad in Froling. Froling averages 10.5 points at 47.5 percent with 8 rebounds against the Sixers the last three years. He will need to lift if the Hawks are to gain ascendancy in the paint.
Kyrin Galloway vs Lachlan Olbrich
Both are tracking similar paths already in NBL24 with Galloway having a career best start to his year statistically. Although a few years older than his matchup in Olbrich – Galloway is already averaging 4.5 points shooting it at a healthy 35 percent, five rebounds and is in the top five for blocks in the league with seven already in four matches. Having said that I’d love to see him get inside more this match and really take advantage of the Hawks lack of size.
But it wouldn’t be the first time an SA born player returns to wreck vengeance on the home state and Olbrich has the opportunity to show his former club how much he could’ve been well used by them. The MVP of the NBL1 Central Grand Final is already starting to turn heads with his 5.5 points at 63 percent, six rebounds. I’m worried about this player for the Sixers as I feel he’s ready to have a big one on the “home” floor.
THREE QUESTIONS TO SWOOP ON
Hang on! The Sixers traditionally go to sleep in the third quarter – why the reverse trend in NBL24?
Something unusual compared to previous seasons is the Sixers ability to find momentum after half-time – after following their previous trend of past seasons the Sixers have won their past two third quarters 20-29 and 18-24. That possibly tells you a couple of things. The locker-room is a happier place and that the team are responding and rallying to CJ and his coaching staff when they are down.
Its small at the moment but another third quarter win today and you’d have to suggest there has been some changes that might be worth asking him post game about…
Do the Hawks have enough continuity to get Jackomas defensive sets run?
It seems at the moment its the biggest challenge for the Hawks and after giving up another 103 points Thursday night against the Jackjumpers – its a worrying sign however it is early in the season. With a few new guys and the combo of Justin Robinson and Harvey still adjusting to each others games – If the Hawks win they’ll probably hit the 100s again and be lethal from beyond the arc.
Out of Adelaide’s imports who needs the bigger game Kell or Wiley?
It has to be Kell – if he can drop two big ones in a row it’ll alleviate much of the Sixers fans anxiety of their team and show he can be the go to guy down the stretch in future contests.
It will also tell us a lot more about what the Sixers need for their third import spot or the equivalent of another local player -another DJ perhaps???
So who wins?
The Sixers are showing some upward trending across key parts of their last two contests and on paper hold some key strengths over their opponents. However you can’t underestimate this Hawks team that has some significant offensive power. While they are adjusting defensively – so are the Sixers.
Considering what’s ahead and a missing piece still to be added – this is an early take care of business at home and get off to a good start in a three game home streak where hopefully by the end of next Saturday we’ll see the Sixers balance out their WL record.
COD Prediction: 36ers by 11 points
Catch all the action today at the arena on Cluch Radio with Tristan “TP” Prentice and our special comments guests Scott Freer whether you’re at the game or watching from home
CROSS OVER DRIBBLE 