Illawarra Hawks have produced the perfect response to scathing criticism from coach Justin Tatum by handing defending NBL champions Tasmania JackJumpers a club-record 109-76 hammering at the Snakepit in Wollongong on Saturday.
Beaten 102-100 in a boilover by Adelaide 36ers last week, the Hawks were lambasted at the post-match press conference by Tatum, who accused them of being “lethargic”, “complacent” and showing “no intensity in defence”.
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Former King gets revenge with 26-points | 00:38
His spray had the desired effect, as the Hawks rebounded to top form to post their fourth victory in five games this season.
The 33-point margin eclipsed the New Zealand Breakers’ 94-62 victory in 2022, which was the heaviest defeat of Tasmania’s four-season NBL history.
It also ended Tasmania’s four-game winning streak on Illawarra’s home turf.
JackJumpers crash to earth
After winning the title in just their third season, the JackJumpers’ title defence has encountered something of a reality check.
Tassie were hoping last week’s 84-79 win against Perth Wildcats might kick-start their campaign, but instead they slipped to their third defeat in five starts and face some soul-searching before Friday’s blockbuster home clash with Sydney Kings.
They’ll be hoping to emulate Illawarra’s impressive form reversal.
Hawks off to a flyer
After last week’s tardy start against Adelaide, when they allowed the 36ers to grab an early 7-0 lead, the Hawks were in no mood to again be so accommodating for their visitors.
Illawarra, the highest-scoring team in the league, burst out of the blocks with a steal and a Tyler Harvey three-pointer and dominated proceedings to forge a commanding 32-17 lead by quarter-time.
Body on the line
Illawarra’s commitment and desperation was best exemplified by forward Daniel Grida, who midway through the first quarter was so determined to keep a ball in play that, showing no thoughts of self-preservation. he catapulted over the courtside advertising signage and ended up sprawled out in the crowd.
Words of warning
JackJumpers coach Scott Roth is renowned as a straight shooter, and he did not mince words during a second-quarter time-out. With his team already trailing by 20 points, Roth warned them they would “get beat by 50” unless they started to show some urgency in transitioning from offence to defence. Tassie briefly rallied, with Jordon Crawford nailing a series of three-pointers, but the home team tightened their grip to lead 57-39 at half-time.
Best foot forward
While big man Sam Froling (21 points) and imports Tyler Harvey (19) and Darius Days (15) led the scoring for the Hawks, nobody put in more effort than bench scrapper William Hickey. Hickey, wearing one red boot and one blue boot, put the slipper into Tasmania with a fine all-round double, contributing 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in a real blue-collar effort. The home team, meanwhile, increased their lead to 84-52 by three-quarter time and cruised home in the final period.
BULLETS BREAK DUCK AS PHOENIX’S WOES CONTINUE
A big man domination from Tyrell Harrison has sparked Brisbane Bullets to its first win of the NBL season over the only remaining winless team South East Melbourne Phoenix at John Cain Arena on Saturday night.
Harrison had a monster double-double for the Bullets, taking the honours over Phoenix’s lone centre Jordan Hunter with 21 points and 17 rebounds, including 12 offensive, as the Bullets survived a late drive to the hoop from Phoenix guard Derrick Walton Jr to win 87-85 in a thriller.
The Bullets totally dominated on the boards 50-33 as their big man duo of Harrison and Rocco Zikarsky made the Phoenix team look like midgets.
It was a break-out game for import James Batemon in a Bullets uniform with 20 points
American guard Keandre Cook was a constant threat with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Casey Prather scored 15.
The Phoenix are rock bottom, slumping to 0-5., while the Bullets improved to 1-3.
Walton Jr was a stand out for the Phoenix with 19 points and five assists, while Matt Hurt contributed a game high 24.
The Bullets settled the better, starting the game on a 9-4 run with Harrison anchoring the paint and Cook pushing the pace.
But the Phoenix took over the momentum, going on an impressive 14-0 run as the tempo lifted.
Hurt’s offensive talent was on show as the Phoenix took a 23-18 lead into quarter time.
The Bullets reset in the second quarter and came out fast withBatemon trying to end the debate over his worth to the team.
A 27 year old guard, Batemon had endured a disappointing start to the campaign, averaging just 5.7 points per game leading in, but he well and truly eclipsed his average with a scintillating 14 points before half-time, including four three pointers.
The Phoenix’s 49-45 half time lead was largely due to Hurt’s offensive prowess.
With 13 first half points, Hurt, a 24-year-old with NBA experience with Memphis Grizzlies, showed his exquisite touch from mid-range.
The Phoenix’s ugly defending was on show for the start of the third as the Bullets went on a 6-0, prompting a quick time out from coach Mike Kelly.
Tenacious Tyrell
Harrison was the dominant big man on the floor, helping the Bullets wrestle back the lead.
The Bullets had built up such a head of steam that a downhill Mitch Norton took out the camera man under the basket as his team opened up an eight point lead late in the third.
Just when it appeared as though the Bullets were on the march, Walton Jr found his range with seven points late in the third to trim the deficit to two at three quarter time.
The Bullets left the door open for the Phoenix late, but held on.
Out of sorts
Nathan Sobey looks like he’s playing with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The Phoenix guard’s rough start to the season continued with five points on 1/7 shooting.
It was not the kind of revenge game the veteran wanted against his former club.
Averting danger
Quick thinking from referee Ken Widgeon might have averted disaster mid-play during the first quarter.
With the game being played at a breakneck speed and the crowd getting excited, one of the Phoenix fans’ hand clappers exploded and launched on to the court.
Widgeon scooped the broken clapper off the court at full tilt to ensure the safety of the players.
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