'No room for error': Rillie eyes hot Hawks

Thursday, December 19, 2024

“We can’t just have two or three possessions where we slip up and they capitalise, because they’re a momentum team."

The two highest scoring teams in the league face off in what promises to be one of the games of the season on Sunday afternoon.

It’s Illawarra hosting Perth, and if the last game between the teams a fortnight ago is anything to go by, we’re in for a thriller. On that night, the Hawks won 121-111 in enemy territory, but not before an epic struggle.

Scores were level with just three minutes remaining, before Illawarra went on a 10-0 run in the space of two minutes and 12 seconds.

Despite another 40 points from Bryce Cotton, the Hawks’ coolness in the clutch moments ultimately proved the difference.

“We had a couple of questionable shots, we had some loose turnovers, and where they’re (the Hawks) maybe the best in the league is capitalising in those moments,” Perth coach John Rillie reflected.

The Wildcats were left to rue what could have been, having defeated the Hawks by eight earlier in the season in another incredible shooting display.

“First game we held them to six offensive rebounds. If you statistically look at them and they just dominate teams on the offensive glass, it’s really hard to compete with them over 40 minutes, so that’s one of the things we concentrate on,” Rillie continued.

“We can’t just have two or three possessions where we slip up and they capitalise, because they’re a momentum team like us.

“At the end of the fourth quarter, they own that, and that’s why they won that (December 6) game.”

Of course, Perth has its own not-so-secret weapon – Cotton.

Points tallies of 59, 40, 49 and 44 in the past fortnight have the superstar in a rich vein of form, prompting a big call from former teammate and now Hawk, Todd Blanchfield.

“I think he is the best player the league has ever seen," Blanchfield told The Illawarra Mercury.

“He's going to come in with a ridiculous amount of confidence, and a player full of confidence is dangerous. He can go ahead and beat you by himself."

Coach Justin Tatum echoed those sentiments.

“Whether or not he wants to admit it, I know Bryce has got a chip on his shoulder when it comes to us, so he's going to be coming out with a bit of fire, but as long as we walk away with the win, he can score 60 or 70, and it won't matter as long as we win,” he said.

Illawarra hosts Perth on Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN, 10 and 10 Play.