Illawarra Hawks fans have expressed frustration after the defending NBL champions' rocky start to the season, including a 102-60 loss to the New Zealand Breakers on Halloween night. The defeat matched the equal-lowest score in the club's 48-year history, prompting harsh criticism on social media. Some fans called the team 'frauds' and suggested they deserved the wooden spoon, while others demanded the return of former player Trey Kell III.
Head coach Justin Tatum apologized to fans and members for the lack of effort in that game, saying, 'I first want to apologise to our fans and our members for the lack of effort that we gave today as a whole and as a team.' However, the team responded with a strong performance against Melbourne United on Wednesday night, winning 107-93 in front of a boisterous crowd of three thousand at WIN Entertainment Centre.
The win over the ladder leader came just five nights after the Breakers loss, showing the team's potential when healthy. Key performances included big man JaVale McGee, point guard Will 'Davo' Hickey, and new import Quentin Peterson. Hickey, returning from a serious eye injury, contributed a team-high 20 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and four blocked shots in a recent game against Adelaide, nearly recording a triple-double.
Despite the ups and downs, the Hawks hold a 3-6 record, and Tatum believes the team must string together wins to turn the corner. The next challenge is a showdown in Cairns against the Taipans. With talent on the roster, the Hawks aim to challenge for a second consecutive championship title and regain fan trust.
