Illawarra Hawks vs South East Melbourne Phoenix: NBL Round 6 Preview

Saturday 26th October, John Cain Arena Melbourne

Tipoff is at 5:30pm AEDT

Illawarra Hawks vs South East Melbourne Phoenix Expert Analysis

The Illawarra Hawks travel to Melbourne on Saturday, facing the South East Melbourne Phoenix in a highly anticipated Round 6 matchup. Both teams come off contrasting results, with the Hawks narrowly losing to an understrength Melbourne United and the Phoenix picking up an impressive win over the New Zealand Breakers.

Rest and Road Trips: The X-Factors

Both teams enter this game with two days of rest, but travel may play a role, especially for the Phoenix, who flew back from New Zealand after Thursday’s win. In NBL24, teams on two days' rest had a 29-32 record overall, so fatigue could play a role.

Last season, Illawarra managed a 2-3 record in these situations, while the Phoenix went just 1-3.

Hawks’ Recent Dominance Over Phoenix

The Hawks have had the Phoenix’s number in recent encounters, winning three straight games and six of the last nine since the start of the 2021/22 season.

Illawarra has also covered the line in all five of their wins this season, a testament to their competitiveness even in challenging matchups.

For the Hawks to extend this winning streak, they’ll need to rely heavily on their perimeter shooting, where they’ve found success. Tyler Harvey, shooting an impressive 41.9% from beyond the arc and averaging 17 points per game, will be a key player to watch.

With the Phoenix allowing opponents to shoot 35.6% from three (second worst in the NBL), Harvey could find himself in a favorable position to lead the Hawks’ offense.

Defensive Strategies on Both Sides

The Phoenix have shown strong defensive form lately, particularly when defending the paint. They restricted the Breakers to just 18 points in the paint and limited their three-point shooting to 29% on Thursday, the lowest the Breakers have shot all season. Their defensive adjustments have paid off; they now rank first in the league for opponent points in the paint, an area where they’ll look to clamp down on Illawarra.

Illawarra’s defense, meanwhile, is holding opponents to just 43.3% shooting from the field and 31% from deep, both top-tier stats. Saturday’s clash could turn into a defensive chess match, with both teams using their strengths to limit high-percentage scoring opportunities.

Key Matchups

Tyler Harvey (Illawarra Hawks) vs. Nathan Sobey (South East Melbourne Phoenix)

This matchup will likely shape the game's tempo and shooting efficiency. Harvey has been electric from beyond the arc, hitting 41.9% of his three-pointers and averaging 17 points per game.

His sharpshooting will challenge the Phoenix’s perimeter defense, which has struggled this season, allowing a 35.6% opponent three-point percentage.

Sobey, on the other hand, has recently stepped into a leadership role, facilitating offensive plays and creating space for the Phoenix. His ability to disrupt Harvey's rhythm while setting up efficient offensive possessions could be critical in keeping Illawarra’s scoring at bay.

Final Thoughts

Both teams have compelling narratives and contrasting strengths coming into this game. Illawarra will be eager to bounce back from Thursday’s close loss and are motivated to protect their winning streak against the Phoenix.

Meanwhile, South East Melbourne will rely on their paint protection and defensive momentum from the past two games. Expect a hard-fought, defensive-minded battle with potential fireworks from Tyler Harvey beyond the arc.

Be sure to catch all the action as the Hawks aim to rebound on Saturday!