Adris Deleon attacks the Breakers. Picture: DAVE TEASE
BASKETBALL
He performed like an MVP candidate over the first eight games of the season, leading his side to the top of the ladder.
But the man nicknamed "2hard2guard" - Wollongong Hawks playmaker Adris Deleon - has been anything but, lately.
Rivals have done their homework and are making it increasingly difficult for Deleon to weave his magic.
The 28-year-old averaged 17 points in that golden eight-game stretch. Since then he has averaged just 7.6 points per game on 22 per cent shooting.
Deleon was clearly frustrated with himself in Saturday night's 78-76 home loss to the New Zealand Breakers, missing all six of his field goal attempts.
The harder he tried, the worse it got.
And Deleon's confidence was so down that coach Gordie McLeod did not play him in the fourth quarter for only the first time this season.
The Hawks are sure to rally around Deleon to remind him how much they believe in his abilities.
By the same token, Deleon has been through slumps before and isn't the type to lose faith in himself.
"We just want him to be aggressive and play," McLeod said.
"What we have to do as a team, we have to find different ways to use him, because teams are defending him certain ways now and he's not as effective as he has been.
"He's at his best when he's aggressive and assertive, and we think he's too conservative at the moment.
"You saw [Hawks guard] Lance [Hurdle] come out [against the Breakers] and push the ball, be a lot more aggressive and use his quickness in the open floor. That's what we need from Adris, and as a group we have to find better ways to use him."
Deleon will be stinging to snap himself out of his rut when the Hawks host Cairns on Friday.
Forward Tim Coenraad will also be keen to hit the court after getting through his first game of the season against the Breakers.
"It was great to get Timmy back [from a foot injury] and we got some good minutes out of him," McLeod said.
