R21 Preview: Illawarra Hawks v Perth Wildcats

When: 7.30pm (AEST), Tuesday 1 June 

Where: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

Broadcast: ESPN; Sky Sports NZ; SBS On Demand; Twitch

The last time
Perth 83 (Cotton 18, Blanchfield 18, Mooney 17) d Illawarra 69 (Froling 15, Harvey 14, Simon 10) – Round 14, RAC Arena, Perth

Considering Perth has won 34 of its last 35 home games over Illawarra, it's no surprise that the Wildcats won their last meeting over the Hawks at RAC Arena back in Round 14 to the tune of 14 points. They also won on their home floor by 11 points and at the NBL Cup by 17 points in Melbourne.

As for the last meeting which was now nearly seven weeks ago out west, while the Hawks started strongly to lead still 43-42 by half-time, the Wildcats dominated the second half holding Illawarra to just the nine third quarter points. Overall, the 'Cats outscored the Hawks 41 points to 26 in the second half to score the 14-point win.

Bryce Cotton had just the one point to half-time, but then was a significant factor in Perth dominating Illawarra in the second to finish the night with 18 points, four assists and three rebounds. Former Hawk Todd Blanchfield was a dagger in his old team's side as well putting up 18 points, six rebounds and two assists. All 12 of his field goal attempts were from beyond the three-point arc and he nailed six of them including four in the first quarter alone.

John Mooney had another 17 points, 15 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Jesse Wagstaff added 12 points and six rebounds too for Perth with Mitch Norton delivering seven points, five assists and four rebounds.

Sam Froling top-scored for the Hawks with 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and two steals on 7/11 shooting in an impressive all-round performance. Tyler Harvey had 14 points and six rebounds on 5/15 shooting while Justin Simon couldn’t have done much more in trying to give Cotton a hard time while having 10 points, six five rebounds and three steals on 4/8 shooting.

The now

This will be the first time Illawarra has hosted Perth in #NBL21 and with the Hawks having the chance to lock in a finals spot and the Wildcats needing a win to stay in touch of spot, there's plenty at stake.

The Wildcats might have continued their home dominance over the Hawks this season even with Brian Goorjian at the helm of Illawarra, but the comforts of home at the WIN Entertainment Centre for Goorjian and his Hawks could very well make plenty of difference on Tuesday evening.

Not only is it going to be a fascinating battle between two teams with plenty to play for, but it could very well be a semi-final preview with the NBL finals set to be begin just next week. 

That becomes all the more likely if Illawarra wins this game with that consolidating them in third position with one game to go on Thursday against the Sydney Kings while it would rule Perth out from being able to snatch top spot from Melbourne United who they go on to host on Friday night.

Illawarra comes into the game in third position on the NBL ladder with a 19-15 record having now won four consecutive matches on the back of a solid performance to win on the road in New Zealand on Friday and to back it up at home on Sunday beating the Adelaide 36ers. 

All they need to do now is keep on winning and that third position is theirs and the remarkable run of coach Brian Goorjian having never missed a post-season in the NBL will continue. However, a loss for the Hawks on Tuesday and suddenly Thursday at home to the Kings becomes a must-win game if they want to take part in the playoff action.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats are already secure of a 35th consecutive finals appearance in the NBL and are guaranteed of at least a top two finish, but they are still adjusting to life minus Bryce Cotton with the two-time MVP and three-time championship winner unlikely to return at all in #NBL21 after undergoing surgery last week on a haematoma in his left quadricep.

The 'Cats have still kept winning even without Cotton away to Adelaide and at home to Sydney, but this is without question the biggest challenge they have faced without their superstar taking on the in-form Hawks in the 'Gong on Tuesday night.

Perth is guaranteed of a top two position but must win its last two games to be a chance of snatching first place and home court advantage right through the playoffs from Melbourne United. So the first step is to win in Wollongong on Tuesday night and then to knock off Melbourne at home on Friday. 

Should they do that, given the Wildcats have a superior percentage to Melbourne that should be enough for the regular season championship as they chase that first ever championship three-peat.

The stats

- If the Hawks win this game on Tuesday night they are guaranteed to be in the finals, but the Wildcats are the only team that Illawarra has not been able to defeat so far in #NBL21.

- Illawarra is attempting to win to make it five victories in-a-row which would be the first time the Hawks have achieved that since February 2014.

- The Hawks come into this game having won seven of their previous eight matches while the Wildcats have won five of their last six.

- The last five times that Illawarra has reached the finals they have been eliminated by Perth – Grand Finals in 2010 and 2017, and semi finals in 2013, 2014 and 2016.

The key men

Tyler Harvey – You can't ignore just how important a part in the offence for the Illawarra Hawks this man is, but at the same time after the torrid time that Mitch Norton and Kevin White gave Casper Ware last Thursday over in Perth, he's going to have to be at his best to make a big contribution on Tuesday against the Wildcats. He is yet to reach 20 points in any of his three games against Perth this season but has scored at least 20 points in 18 of his other 27 matches this season. The Hawks are 16-2 in those and when he scores 25 points or more, the Hawks are undefeated from those seven games.

Todd Blanchfield – This will be his first return to Wollongong as an opposition player since joining the Wildcats this season. Give last season's disappointing results for the Hawks, his last win at the WIN Entertainment Centre was New Year's Eve 2019. He has put up 13.3 points a game in the three meetings so far with the Hawks this season but without Bryce Cotton he takes on greater responsibility as the main offensive threat. But based on Thursday against the Sydney Kings where he went for 23 points he's up to that challenge.

The quotes

Illawarra coach Brian Goorjian challenged the Wollongong community to come out and support the team this week for the three critical home games. More than 3000 turned out on Sunday against the 36ers and now he can't wait for Tuesday firstly against the Wildcats.

"I talked about coming here for these last three games and you felt it on the bench that the crowd was right behind us for the whole night. It's a nice little atmosphere here that we've worked hard for, and I thought it was a great game just to start to build this thing for the fans and the team," Goorjian said. 

"That's really important down this stretch. We've worked hard for that so I thank the community of Wollongong for their support. I'm excited. Sydney won against Melbourne and it's war. This is why you're in the game and I'm just excited to be with this group and playing in these games that count, and experiencing this. 

"This is what we all live for and I'm excited about the games against Perth and Sydney, and let's see where it takes us. I've enjoyed this immensely and I'm really looking forward to these next two games, but obviously the next one first against Perth."

Hawks point guard Emmett Naar  has been through a couple of tough years with Illawarra, but is now fully embracing this run towards the playoffs and the support they are receiving at home.

"It's what every player plays for is to win and play in these big games to make the playoffs, and things like that. The last couple of years and especially last year, towards halfway through the season we were almost statistically out of it so it's good to get that experience of really playing for something," Naar said.

"The energy has really lifted lately for the team and we've had that sense of urgency that we need to have, and it's just sort of contagious amongst the team. It feels great to have that opportunity to be fighting for the playoffs.

"It's what you dream about as a kid having these chances to play in these big games, and obviously playing against Perth who is the second team on the ladder and have made the playoffs every year, it's another chance for us to prove what we can do and that we belong in these finals. 

"It will be great to play them first and then obviously the game against Sydney will be huge on Thursday. Hopefully the fans will be great again and nice and loud to help us get over the top."

Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson is happy with the momentum his team gathered with a good win at home over Sydney on Thursday to take with them into Wollongong.

"We want good momentum going into the finals and we just beat Sydney who were playing for their playoff lives, and it's always tough to play those kind of teams," Gleeson said.

"There aren’t too many teams that you beat five times in-a-row but I thought the guys did an outstanding job against the Kings and now we turn our focus onto the Hawks."

Perth point guard Mitch Norton was happy with the way they have so far responded to life without Bryce Cotton and the different way it makes opposition teams have to approach taking them on.

"Obviously it's challenging and Bryce is a big part of our team, and we are going to miss him. Fingers crossed there is a miracle return, but I think it's just about going out and playing the right way, and everyone being aggressive," Norton said.

"When everyone is a threat and is playing on the front foot, it's hard to scout. I think the ball moves really well and teams can't just load up on Bryce. I was really proud of how we kind of put all that aside to come out and play the right way. I'm super proud of the guys."

Wildcats captain Jesse Wagstaff passes Shawn Redhage to move into second spot on the all-time games played list for Perth on Tuesday night, but all he's worried about is the team continuing to play well ahead of the playoffs.

"It's something we're going to have to get used to and I guess we're preparing for the worst but hoping for the best. Any team in the league is a better team with Bryce on the court, but we're going to have to adapt and the last two games have been decent. We have two more games to fine tune that and then the playoffs," Wagstaff said.

"We hang our hat on defence regardless of who we play but they are a very offensively talented team, and are well coached by Goorj as well. But we hang our hat on defence so it's all about getting down and trying to get stops, and at the end of the day that's where our bread is buttered."