Hoops

36ers-Hawks Semi-Finals series thread

Thanks Loco! I think all Sixers fans are nervous after the last 4 games. I hope we capitalise on a good season, but if we don't, I remind myself of where expectations were at the start of the season! We have definitely exceeded expectations and there is plenty of room for growth next year!

Adelaide to get swept for me. Been impressed with the way the Hawks have been playing and on the flip side Adelaide have folded like a cheap suit at the business end of the season.

Beantown with the great summary. I'm nervous.

thank you anon. good to know

Referees
Game 1
Michael Aylen
Matt Townsend
Matt Beattie
(Durant reserve)

Game 2
Vaughan Mayberry
Michael Aylen
Matt Townsend
Matt Beattie

(1 of Townsend and Beattie to be reserve)

To be fair Train those first two games against them were against the 3-6 Sixers team not the same team that then went 14-1 after that and the one time we played the Hawks during those 15 games we flogged them.

The last loss to them was when it became official we had the minor round championship sewn up and no one could catch us, that was right when this four game losing streak started.

So 3 of their 4 games against us they caught us at the 'right' time which gives me more confidence than a 1-3 record against an opponent otherwise would. We play similar styles but we play it better than they do so should be a real battle.

I still think we will win the series 2-1 and given the way we're playing at the moment thank god we have HCA.

Round 1 ILL 122 beat ADL 88
Round 6 ADL 74 def by ILL 85
Round 14 ADL 117 beat ILL 85
Round 17 ILL 95 beat ADL 92

Hawks won the series 3-1, they will have some confidence knowing they can beat Adelaide and at home.

Losing to Cairns on Saturday has given the Sixers their nightmare matchup. The Hawks have kept finding ways to free up their shooters and break games open from beyond the arc.

The Sixers key for the series is to keep Oscar and Clarke quiet from deep. Apart from them, their three point shooters this season are average at best (White and Norton).

I think Hodgson could have a huge influence in this series. He has the size to keep Ogilvy quiet and if his rim defence is good, it will give his team-mates the confidence to defend tightly on the perimeter.

The Hawks will no doubt look to setup their zone and force Randle out of his sweet spots, which they have done very successfully. The Sixers will hopefully show more of the good interior passing they used in the first half against the Taipans and also need to get DJ, Drmic, Sobey and Ferguson 3 point looks they can knock down to open up some cracks for Randle to exploit.

After losing the last 4, I'm not feeling as confident. The Sixers are certainly capable of a series win though. I'm going to hope Joey has setup some new tricks over the past 2 weeks and his team gets home 2-1.

I'm tipping Illawarra in an upset.

Illawarra probably gave us the most trouble of any team in the Regular season, so will be an interesting series.
Hopefully we get back to playing our best and don't let this great season go to waste.
Can't say I'm not a bit concerned by the last few weeks (even though we didn't have a lot to play for, we still lost 4 games in a row).

...Well, Dan Gilbert is going to be eating his words