The Illawarra Hawks will be looking to move one step closer to the playoffs when they take on the desperate Brisbane Bullets during Round 15 in Wollongong. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the match from 7:30pm (AEDT).
The Hawks might be relying on their offence predominantly, but it hasn’t hurt them too much with the club sitting inside the top four and playing high-quality basketball that is close to landing them a finals spot.
Currently sitting in third position with a record of 11 victories and 10 losses, the Hawks will be looking to pick up their next three or four victories in convincing fashion to secure a finals spot.
Their form earlier in the season was abysmal and much of their turnaround has to be credited to Rotnei Clarke taking the team option, coming off the bench and shooting the lights out.
Since he was placed back on the interchange at his own request, he has led the Hawks through some fantastic offence, his shooting lighting the league on fire.
The unsung hero for the Hawks though has been Mitch Norton. Whenever he has been off or injured, there is a noticeable impact on the Hawks offence, and their defence also suffers on the perimeter.
Illawarra had an up and down round last week, getting 117 points put on them by the Adelaide 36ers before they bounced back, putting 106 on Melbourne themselves to claim the victory.
The Bullets, meanwhile are right under the pump and must find ways to start winning if they want to keep their finals hopes alive in their first season back after an eight-year absence.
Sitting in sixth place on the ladder and coming off a very ordinary four-point loss to the Perth Wildcats where their offence was strangled, the club is going to need at least four or five wins from their last eight games to be in with a shot at finals.
Their guard rotation have been inconsistent at best with Torrey Craig carrying the weight in rebounds, but Adam Gibson and Jermaine Beal not quite getting the job done.
With Daniel Kickert not leading the way in the frontcourt, the Bullets defence has been up and down, and the options for Gibson to run the team have been a little limited, leaving Brisbane with plenty of work to do.
In terms of the season series, the Hawks have won twice on the road against the Bullets already – something that could prove to be a death blow for Brisbane come finals time.
Prediction
The Bullets defence on the road will be strong, but Rotnei Clarke is simply too good and will power the Hawks to a victory.
Hawks by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores and coverage of this match from 7:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
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Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2016-17 NBL Season as the Illawarra Hawks got the better of the Brisbane Bullets. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back tomorrow night at 9:30pm (AEDT) with the top of the table clash between the Perth Wildcats and Adelaide 36ers.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Illawarra Hawks have pulled off a brilliant comeback to take an important five-point win over the Brisbane Bullets at the WIN Entertainment Centre. It was always going to be a tough ask for the undermanned Bullets, but they came out of the gates firing with both Adam Gibson and Daniel Kickert dropping everything. They had a double-digit lead at the end of the first half, but it became evident early after the main break that they were going to have a tough time defending it as their shooting fell of the chart thanks to some cracking defence from the Hawks. The fourth quarter saw Nick Kay and Rotnei Clarke take over as the Hawks got into the lead in the final few minutes. The game was all tied with just two minutes to go before Adam Gibson pulled up lame, indicating a possible calf injury. From there, it was all the Hawks as they came home to win by seven, the Bullets making a couple of absolutely baffling decisions down the stretch. Illawarra Hawks - 85 Brisbane Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Tueta loses the handle and that'll do it! What an awesome comeback for the Hawks - some baffling decisions for the Bullets though and with Gibson injured, it might be curtains for their finals hopes. Hawks firing and solidify their position in the top four. Illawarra Hawks - 85 Brisbane Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Coenraad makes both. Hawks - 85 Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' That's just flat out dumb from Beal. Looked to shoot from the carpark straight away - they had 12 seconds. Not 1! Misses and Coenraad will walk the floor for the free throws. Hawks - 83 Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Timeout Brisbane. They need a 3! Hawks - 83 Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Kay makes both. Clutch free throws right there and what a night Nick Kay has had! Hawks - 83 Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Kickert with the quick foul on Kay. Exactly 12 seconds on the clock. Hawks - 81 Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' Timeout called by the Hawks. Brisbane will probably foul immediately here. Hawks - 81 Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' OH WOW! What the hell was Beal thinking? 18 seconds on the clock and he goes for the drive, being called for the charge on Norton. Offensive foul and the Hawks have the ball with 12.9 on the clock and a 1 point buffer. Hawks - 81 Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' The Bullets with all sorts of pressure here and they can't find a bucket. Into the final half a minute we go and Clarke rolls the shot clock down before driving and being blocked. Hawks - 81 Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' CLARKE! Massive three from the wing. Hawks - 81 Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' The Hawks down 2 again here with 80 seconds to play. Clarke drives on Jervis, loses control and then there is a jump ball. Possession arrow with the Hawks so they hang onto it. Hawks - 78 Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Right, Gibson is limping off here. He has been fantastic tonight. Just pulled up lame running across the lane trying to find some space. Could be season over for Gibbo. Hawks - 78 Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' Pressure on for the Hawks now. Clarke with it to Kay in the post who spins on Jervis and makes the hook shot! Great shot and he moves to 14. Bullets the other way and Kickert backs down on Ellis making the lay up. Gibson is down on the arc as well just away from the action. Might have done a calf here Hawks - 78 Bullets - 80
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Timeout Illawarra. Hawks - 76 Bullets - 78
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' Kay with a miss from close range now before Gibson slows it down for Brisbane. Shot clock goes to single numbers before Gibson goes to Kickert and he makes it. That combination has been electric tonight. Brisbane back in front. Hawks - 76 Bullets - 78
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' The Hawks go off to the races here but a three is no good from Ellis. Beal races the other way, misses and Jervis makes the put back. Hawks - 76 Bullets - 76
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' Marvellous back cut from Clarke to lay it in. Beal to the other end and Harris fouls on Beal by the looks of it with a reach in. From the inbound it's Gibson in traffic and he has to fire it up but misses. Hawks - 76 Bullets - 74
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' The Hawks with it before Jervis goes to Kickert and Beal who makes the mid-range shot. Tied up again. We are set for a massive finish in the 'Gong. Hawks - 74 Bullets - 74