The Illawarra Hawks are staring down a potential piece of unwanted history as they prepare for a critical NBL showdown at the WIN Entertainment Centre this Thursday night. A loss to the visiting South East Melbourne Phoenix would mark the first time a Justin Tatum-coached Hawks side has suffered four consecutive defeats.
Injury Blow Fuels Hawks' Resolve
The defending champions head into the Round 11 clash reeling from a significant setback, with key big man Jonah Bolden ruled out for the remainder of the NBL26 season. Bolden ruptured his Achilles tendon during a training session last week, dealing a cruel blow to both the player and the team's campaign.
Star guard and on-court leader Tyler Harvey expressed the squad's collective sympathy for their fallen teammate. "Whenever you have a teammate go down like that, it's never good news. Our thoughts and prayers are with him," Harvey said. "It's a tough injury to have, especially when you're coming back from an injury and at this part of the year."
"Nobody Cares About Excuses": Harvey's Firm Stance
Despite the adversity, Harvey was adamant that explanations would not suffice for a team sporting a 4-9 record and in desperate need of a finals push. The guard issued a blunt assessment of the situation facing the struggling titleholders.
"Nobody cares about excuses, and at the end of the day, we all are professional basketball players, and we just have to find a way to win games," Harvey stated. He suggested that challenging times could ultimately strengthen the group. "Adversity can sometimes be a good thing... you play basketball long enough, you're gonna go through some stuff, and how you grow through that is important."
Reset and Refocus After FIBA Break
Harvey believes the recent FIBA international window arrived at an opportune moment for Tatum's squad. The break provided a crucial chance to mentally and physically reset ahead of a demanding second half of the season.
"The FIBA break came at a good time. We're looking forward to starting this right now," Harvey explained. "I think we had to improve on every aspect of our game... When you're in the position we are right now, you have to improve on every aspect."
The Hawks face a daunting task against a Phoenix team that hammered them by 40 points in their last meeting. However, history offers a glimmer of hope, as the home team has won the previous four encounters between the two sides.
Thursday's match is the first of seven games in December for Illawarra, with five to be played on their home court in Wollongong. Harvey emphasised the need for a comprehensive improvement across the board to secure a much-needed fifth victory. "The coaches had a good game plan for us, and it's up to us players to implement that game plan and go out there and play in front of our fans," he said.
