Adris Deleon, right, with teammate Lance Hurdle.
BASKETBALL
Trash-talking Wollongong guard Adris Deleon reckons he's become the player NBL fans love to hate.
But the man nicknamed "2hard2guard" doesn't want sympathy.
There's nothing he loves more than invading enemy territory and driving rival supporters crazy.
Deleon is relishing tomorrow's road duel with the Adelaide 36ers and plans on giving as good as he gets.
"Since I played in this league, it seems like every time I go away all the people try to go against me. I like that," the 28-year-old said.
"I'm the type of player who likes the whole crowd against me so I can shut them down. I'm looking forward to that."
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Last week he got the better of his old New York sparring partner Gary Ervin in Wollongong's 18-point thrashing of Townsville.
Tomorrow Deleon will line up against three former Gold Coast Blaze teammates - guards Adam Gibson and Jason Cadee and forward Anthony Petrie.
"There's a few guys I used to play with and they probably know a couple of things I do, so I'm looking forward to that," he said.
"They've got a pretty good team and a pretty good crowd, so it's gonna be a good one."
While the 36ers boast a twin towers frontline of 216cm Luke Schenscher and 212cm Dan Johnson, the Hawks are confident speed will prevail over size.
"They're pretty big but they're not real mobile, so that can work in our favour," Deleon said.
"We can put them in a pick-and-roll situation and expose them that way.
"If you do it a couple of times it forces them out of their game. They're not going to be able to rebound the way they want to or execute the way they want to.
"It's better for us if they try to beat us with size. If we can get in the lanes it'll open up things on the outside, and we've got great shooters. When you've got bigs who can shoot like our guys, Adelaide can't just stick a seven-footer under the rim. Somebody has to step out to guard Larry [Davidson] and Ossie [Oscar Forman]."
