Preview: Illawarra vs Perth - Round 10, NBL24

Friday, December 8 at 7:30pm AEDT | WIN Entertainment Centre

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

Friday’s game will be interim coach Justin Tatum’s first clash in front on the Hawks faithful. His first two games in charge have come n New Zealand and Brisbane.

Derek Rucker labelled Bryce Cotton as the clubhouse leader in the race for the MVP, following the star guard’s 41 points against the Sydney Kings in Round 9.

Cotton topped the Round 9 Chemist Warehouse Fans MVP votes for the third time in four weeks.

Illawarra
77-78 loss to Brisbane
69-65 win over New Zealand
71-81 loss to Cairns

Perth
114-105 win over Sydney
79-76 win over Brisbane
88-80 win over Cairns

Lachie Olbrich
Lachlan Olbrich put eyes on him at the NBL Blitz. The performances of the first-year pro pricked ears and started whispers of draft eligibility. Since then though, the 20-year-old has had his share of challenges.

Olbrich struggled to find his groove in the early season under Jacob Jackomas, and was perhaps the biggest victim of the former head coach’s extensive rotations. Justin Tatum, however, looks to be putting the ball back in Olbrich’s proverbial court.

Foul trouble to Sam Froling put the young talent at centre stage against the three-headed monster of Aron Baynes, Tyrell Harrison and Rocco Zikarsky, and he flourished.

Every first-year pro will experience ups and downs as they become acclimated to life at the top level, but was last week’s performance against Brisbane a turning point for one of the competition’s best young players?

“We’re building Lachie’s confidence up on the offensive end more. At the Gold Coast (Blitz) he had a good showing, but he’s been erratic since then, so we want to bring that hunger back for him and so we’re giving him a longer leash. He’s been working towards that and I think tonight he was very good offensively and defensively.” – Justin Tatum following the loss to Brisbane.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lachlan Olbrich went upstairs with AUTHORITY ? <br><br>Watch live and free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies | 10 Peach &amp; 10 Play ? <a href="https://t.co/Tv0ds1kNHh">pic.twitter.com/Tv0ds1kNHh</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1731202026279686367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bryce Cotton
What more is there to say about Bryce Cotton that hasn’t already been said? The three-time MVP has looked like a new player amidst Perth’s six-game winning streak, and although the Wildcats found themselves as low as eighth on the ladder earlier this season, they now sit second in the standings behind only Melbourne.

The 41 points he scored against the Kings in Round 9 is the third-highest individual scoring night of his NBL career, and his highest since NBL20.

He’s also averaged 32 points per game across his last four appearances, and has shot at almost 46 per cent from the field in that same period.

He’s overtaken Parker Jackson-Cartwright on top of the points per game averages, and if this current run continues he’ll likely win his seventh NBL scoring title. Greatness.

“I was watching that game at a restaurant with Alice Kunek and a couple of friends up in Cairns ... Bryce Cotton put on a performance that had me in awe, not only as a former player but as a fan. If you don’t enjoy watching this guy play basketball I don’t know what to tell you. He is a superstar in this league.” – Derek Rucker on Moments That Mattered.

Sam Froling vs Keanu Pinder
Likely starting center pair Sam Froling and Keanu Pinder both look to be in the same position in their Boomers careers. They were both included in the extended roster ahead of the recent World Cup campaign, and they were both cut early.

Pinder recently implied on radio that his injury issues through the end of NBL23 and the resulting off-season may have hindered his NBA hopes, and while his athleticism may lend itself better to the up and down nature of the Association, Froling is still just 23 years old and has his best years ahead of him.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keanu Pinder rocks the rim ? <br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/X6SoQ3r93Y">pic.twitter.com/X6SoQ3r93Y</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1730544467168432474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Perth’s rebounding woes under John Rillie have been well-documented, and the recruitment of Pinder has gone some way to solving what has been a persistent issue.

Sam Froling, on the other hand, was issued a challenge by Damon Lowery to take his game from good to great. High-quality performances against someone like Keanu Pinder as a part of this new-look Hawks side could go some way to proving Froling has the mettle to sit comfortably as one of the NBL’s best local players.

This matchup doesn’t just have implications for who wins out of Perth and Illawarra, but it could represent a strike in the race to be included in the Boomers’ Olympic plans.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Don&#39;t let Sam Froling get to the rim ?<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/illawarrahawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IllawarraHawks</a> big man has been going to WORK down low in NBL24 ?<br><br>Sign up to NBL+ for FREE ?? <a href="https://t.co/QOE06FhwzT">https://t.co/QOE06FhwzT</a> <a href="https://t.co/F2apRVbNVq">pic.twitter.com/F2apRVbNVq</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1727845531685433754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Perth has won its last six games, and has also won six of its last seven games against Illawarra. The last time the Hawks defeated the Wildcats was Round 21 NBL22, where 22 points from Tyler Harvey led Illawarra to a five-point win.

Tyler Harvey during Illawarra's most recent win over Perth.

Illawarra
Nil

Perth
Tai Webster – illness (TBC)