Hooley's reservation about champs' defence

NBL expert Pete Hooley holds reservations about the Illawarra Hawks' defence heading into NBL26.
They haven’t even stepped on an NBL court during the 2025-26 season but one expert already has some reservations about the Illawarra Hawks.
NBL expert Pete Hooley is monitoring how the reigning champions’ defence, in particular their drop coverage with three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee, is going to work throughout the Hungry Jack’s 2025-26 NBL season.
“I’m not concerned [just yet], as we’ve seen this coverage implemented before with the Sydney Kings and Andrew Bogut, who was also an elite rim defender [like McGee], but it’s just something I’m monitoring,” Hooley said on Monday’s episode of NBL Overtime.
“During their games in Singapore, JaVale was playing a deep-drop, which allowed guards to get walk into some open threes.
“He’s going to have to play this way, as probably the league’s best rim defender but how do they get around it in the NBL?
“Because there are a few players who can pick those plays [high on-ball] apart in our league, including Bryce Cotton, who filled it up against Bogut and the Kings early in his NBL career.
“It’s going to be on their guards to do the right thing defensively and fight over the screen and force the guard into the paint where JaVale is.
“If they do that, they have the potential to be one of the best defensive teams in the the league, but if not, it can really hurt you in the NBL.”
The Illawarra Hawks, who finished fifth at the recent 2025 FIBA Intercontinental Cup, will open their title defence on Saturday night against Tasmania at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
The round two fixture, which will also see the Hawks' raise the NBL25 championship banner pre-game, tips off at 8pm AEST via ESPN.
