Book-end Hawks in revised NBL Rd10
TweetILLAWARRA Hawks will book-end seven games of NBL action in Round 10, starting tonight against last-placed New Zealand before concluding on Monday against Final Four candidate South East Melbourne, the schedule revised today due to COVID-related health and safety protocols.
Tomorrow night’s game between the Adelaide 36ers and Brisbane Bullets has been postponed to be rescheduled at a later date, meaning CJ Bruton and his Sixers now also will miss Sunday's game against Sydney.
The Kings will now play the New Zealand Breakers instead of Adelaide.
The Wildcats are likely to be without Matt Hodgson for at least one game when his penalty for "striking twice and engaging in a melee/brawl" is declared tomorrow.
Sydney quartet Xavier Cooks ($1,000 fine downgraded to $750 with an early plea for engaging in a melee), Jarell Martin, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk and Jayden Adams (all $500 fines downgraded to $375 with early pleas) already know their outcomes.
Hodgy and the Wildcats have to wait but expect a two-match suspension, downgraded to one, plus an additional fine.
How on God's earth Kings coach Chase Buford escaped any punishment or even charges for running in and going after Hodgson - coaches can enter a fray to separate THEIR OWN PLAYERS from the melee - is typical NBL BS in trying to keep anyone even remotely NBA-connected happy. There is no other way to interpret such a glaring oversight.
It was pure grandstanding nonsense, reminscent of Will Weaver's grandstanding in Melbourne at halftime in a match with United which had him thrown out. Impressive work fellas. It just means nothing beyond the whole act.
Let's get Round 10 started.
ROUND 10
AWAY to the Breakers in Hobart, Illawarra should capitalise on NZ's misfortunes to keep the numbers progressing in their Wins column. Their previous clash was a classic double-overtime one-point thriller in Wollongong so the Hawks hold no particular fears for NZ. Its last outing was a shocker against Tasmania so it will be chasing redemption but the odds favour Illawarra.
THE way Tasmania coach Scott Roth marched onto the court after the win over Adelaide is how it should be done, NOT the way Chase Buford chased Matt Hodgson across the court on Sunday. Escaping any sort of sanction by the NBL remains a joke but what isn't a joke is how much of a contest this should be. Both coming in off wins, this should be a quality contest before Sydney's depth and size wraps it up.
THE Queensland derby always has great promise regardless of ladder positions but this is especially big for the home team if Brisbane genuinely wants to be in any Final Four considerations. Cairns' issues have not been around style or desire but simply of having the best bodies available. The Bullets' woes are about roles and application. Soul-searching this week should prove the catalyst for Brisbane.
THIS is the big one for South East Melbourne, the scalp it needs to claim to put any doubts about its bona fides to rest. Perth will be anxious for a rapid-fire bounce-back from Sunday's humiliation in Sydney and the fall-out of Matt Hodgson's unconscionable behaviour. The Wildcats rarely drop two games in succession but these are rare times indeed with no home games at RAC Arena. How far can Bryce, Vic and Todd carry them without more support?
TIPPING this as a big round for Sydney to advance its win-loss record by also claiming New Zealand at Qudos Bank Arena. The Breakers won here earlier this season but could not build on that against Tasmania and finally appear to have been broken by the ongoing circumstances. Injuries, health and safety protocols, not playing in NZ - it has to add up and the Kings should this time take advantage.
POSSIBLY the match of the round will be the last game of the round, with SEM again needing to make a point and Illawarra equally under pressure to prove a point. The Hawks need to add some bigger names to their list of vanquished opponents and right now, the Phoenix also are looking for credibility-boosting victims. Mitch Creek will want to make a statement in front of the national coach and this has the ingredients for a ripper. Hawks, just.
DUOP SAYS NO: Duop Reath has this play well and truly covered in Cairns.