Rucker: Hawks need leaders

Former NBL MVP Derek Rucker says the Illawarra Hawks are crying out for leaders when games are in the balance, questioning who’ll step up in Game 4 of the Championship Series.   

Illawarra won Game 2 off the back of a Tyler Harvey game-winner, but the reality is the Hawks have lost their last six fourth quarters and have struggled late in games. 

Wednesday night’s clash against Melbourne United is must-win if they want to force a Game 5 back at home. 

“They didn’t have any on-court guidance, any leadership to say ‘put the ball on my hip guys, get organised, this is what we’re doing’,” Rucker said of the Hawks’ defeat on Sunday. 

“In the fourth quarter I thought they got a little bit too hungry and they went for the knockout punch too early. 

“This is several times in the series now that the Hawks haven’t been able to respond and come up with big buckets. 10 points in the fourth quarter is crazy.” 

The potential absence of Trey Kell III could further hurt Illawarra’s chances, after he suffered what looked like a knee injury on Sunday. The star guard looms as a day-to-day prospect. 

Brad Rosen says the Hawks need to change their tactics, with or without Kell III. 

“They finished 8-of-36 from the three-point line. They only shot 73 for the game. That is 50 per cent of your shots are from the three-point line, and when you’re shooting 22 per cent you’re not going to win a Championship Series,” Rosen added. 

“We need to go inside, we need to get their (United’s) bigs either in foul trouble or get scores.”

“This is a team that led the league in points in the paint throughout NBL25,” Rucker continued. 

“They built that nine-point lead (in the first quarter) off some good play. Darius Days was getting buckets on the inside, Froling was making his contribution. They were attacking the rim.”

Rosen said Froling is key to the Hawks’ chances. 

“If you take Trey Kell out, you’ve got to play Sam Froling 38 minutes. You’ve got to change your game plan, you can’t be shooting 50 per cent from the three,” he said. 

But no matter how much Illawarra and Justin Tatum change their tactics, ultimately, only one thing will get them over the line – hunger.

“Overall Melbourne United just look a little bit hungrier, and it’s weird to say that because Illawarra have been in control of the scoreboard for two-thirds of the series,” Rucker added.

“At the moment it’s the master teaching the apprentice on how to close games out,” Rosen added.

Can the Hawks respond? All will be revealed on Wednesday night at 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN, 10 Bold and 10 Play.