Preview: Illawarra vs Adelaide (Round 3)

Thursday, October 12, 2023

Illawarra's Gary Clark has labelled both the 36ers and Hawks as "desperate" heading into Saturday's meeting. Who can turn their form around with a win?

Saturday, October 14 at 5:30pm AEDT | Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports - International viewership details
Box scores: Download the free NBL App

The NBL’s two out-of-form sides will both enter Saturday’s clash desperate for a win, but only one team can turn their woes around with victory, while the other will continue to languish.

Illawarra’s Gary Clark called for his team to be the more desperate of the two in Saturday’s game against Adelaide following the Hawks’ 30-point loss to Tasmania on Thursday, but the 36ers are still hunting for that elusive first win of the season.

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Adelaide coach CJ Bruton hinted at the possibility of a new signing coming at some point in this past week following the Round 2 loss to Sydney, however all that has eventuated are reports of links with former Sydney sharpshooter DJ Vasiljevic.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Full time in Tassie<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRiseTogether?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRiseTogether</a> <a href="https://t.co/YIl2l7QK7M">pic.twitter.com/YIl2l7QK7M</a></p>— Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1712412851766521985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Adelaide
100-109 loss to Sydney
75-82 loss to Perth
74-82 loss to Melbourne

Illawarra
73-103 loss to Tasmania
113-106 win over South East Melbourne
81-96 loss to Sydney

Sunday Dech

Adelaide wing Sunday Dech was talking the talk in his mid-week press conference, but it’s time for him and his team to walk the walk against Illawarra.

Dech deftly presented a united front and a high morale in front of the media during the week, and made it clear that Adelaide has not lost hope of a finals campaign yet – which will be music to the ears of the fans of the only winless team of the new season.

Dech’s defence was crucial in holding both Melbourne and Perth to low scores in recent fixtures, however the team’s impotent offence meant they couldn’t win either of those games, but it was the opposite in their loss to Sydney – where the 36ers got themselves stuck in a shootout with the reigning champions.

Trey Kell showed his ability to absolutely turn up the offensive switch against the Kings with 28 points, and while Adelaide will likely rely on individual offensive brilliance to put them in with a chance of winning, if Dech can help silence the dangerous duo of Justin Robinson and Tyler Harvey, it will go a long way towards that elusive win.

“There’s a breakthrough around the corner. We’re biding our time for that and we’re hoping it’s this Saturday … teams have done it in the past where they’ve started 0-4, string a lot of wins together and then on the back end come out on the right side. That’s what we’re hoping to do.” – Sunday Dech in a mid-week press conference.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sunday Dech is in attack mode ?<br><br>He's up to 1??0?? points for the game. <br><br>Watch every game live & free via Kayo Freebies ?<br><br>Outside Australia? Watch via ?? <a href="https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4">https://t.co/8LoWsbR7E4</a> <a href="https://t.co/Fy3AklE2D1">pic.twitter.com/Fy3AklE2D1</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1704760454474530921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tyler Harvey

Former MVP candidate Tyler Harvey was so crucial to Illawarra’s hopes of winning any game last season. As injuries decimated the backcourt around him, Harvey was given free reign to shoot whatever and whenever he liked, but this season that quick trigger is not helping Illawarra at all.

Harvey’s shooting splits this season are actually exceptional and currently sit at 45.7/40/100, however his propensity for putting up shots early in the clock has opened the Hawks up to getting caught out in transition the other way – and that was incredibly evident against the JackJumpers.

He hit just 2-8 field goals against Tasmania, and missed all five of his three-point attempts.

Anyone who knows anything about the current standing of the NBL knows Harvey has the potential to win the game off his own bat with his offensive flair, but with the likes of Gary Clark and the fit again Justin Robinson in support this season, he doesn’t need to.

“You speak about Illawarra, you speak about the offence, Tyler Harvey just pulling shots from range of one pass or no passes early in the shot clock when they desperately just needed a really solid bucket or to get to the free throw line.” – Liam Santamaria on NBL Now

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tyler Harvey from the logo ?<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Illawarrahawks</a> lead <a href="https://twitter.com/SEMelbPhoenix?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SEMelbPhoenix</a> 60-55 at the half. <br><br>Harvey has scored a game-high 17 points?<br><br>Catch the second half on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/I25noU592Y">pic.twitter.com/I25noU592Y</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1710557914849571310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jacob Wiley vs Gary Clark

Both Jacob Wiley and Gary Clark have been building their games up to full speed over the first few games of the season, and each put in their best individual performances of the young campaign in their most recent outings.

Wiley has already proven himself to be the barometer for the 36ers this season. His energy, intensity and effort has inspired his underperforming side more than once, and his poster against Sydney helped kickstart a run that saw them threaten to take the game in the third quarter.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">JACOB WILEY THAT'S HOW YOU INSPIRE A TEAM ??<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies | 10 Peach and 10play ? <a href="https://t.co/KKqJPpc6tf">pic.twitter.com/KKqJPpc6tf</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1710901810624360686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Aside from the dunk alone, he also finished the game with a strong 17 points on 8-11 shooting, plus five rebounds and five assists.

Clark, on the other hand, has come into the NBL with the weight of expectation on his shoulders, and while he’s taking some time to adapt to the league, he was the lone bright spot for the Hawks in their Thursday night loss to Adelaide.

His 16 points is a season-high as he looks to be rapidly getting to grips with the smaller court, shorter quarters and different style of refereeing than the NBA and G-League.

He’s called on his team to trust in each other more heading into Saturday’s clash – and Thursday’s individual performance will undoubtedly have built his teammates’ trust in him even further.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gary Clark from Deep!!<br><br>Watch live on ESPN via Kayo<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeRiseTogether?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeRiseTogether</a> <a href="https://t.co/VlgBsnERsB">pic.twitter.com/VlgBsnERsB</a></p>— Illawarra Hawks Basketball (@illawarrahawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks/status/1712404773444698250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Adelaide has won each of its last three games against Illawarra, but has lost each of its last three games it's led at half-time.

The 36ers have a strong record against the Hawks, but have kept finding ways to play themselves out of games both early in this season, and late in the last. Both teams will be desperate for a win so which 36ers unit will turn up?

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Adelaide defeated Illawarra 103-95 last time the teams met. Daniel Johnson top scored for the 36ers with 18 points.