Illawarra hoping to rediscover long-range potency

The Hawks have led the way in three-point shooting all season, averaging more than 11 threes per games, while they’ve also led the league in field-goal and free-throw percentage.

However, their long-range accuracy appears to have deserted them in recent weeks.

They notched their ninth 100-point score in a home win over Adelaide last week despite going 7-32 from beyond the arc and were not much better in their return clash with the 36rs two days later with 11-31.

They managed to drop just two of 13 from three-point range in the first half against Melbourne on Thursday and were even worse in the second going three of 19.

With United going 11-29 in the same category it proved the difference in the low scoring affair.

The looming return  of Kirk Penney will no doubt go some way to arresting the slide but coach Rob Beveridge admitted it was something his side will need to address.

‘‘It was obviously the massive difference [against Melbourne],’’ Beveridge said.

‘‘We did have plenty of looks and we didn’t make them.

‘‘We are the number one shooting team in the league and I expect our guys to take that.

‘‘I was happy with the fight, they definitely hung in there.

‘‘We were very good defensively and if we started making those open looks it would have taken a lot more pressure off us.

‘‘Melbourne controlled the game pretty well, we did have the looks but overall they were probably better than us.’’

With his side’s shooters hitting the skids Beveridge also said his side need to do a better job of getting big-man AJ Ogilvy involved.

Ogilvy had 11 points against United but had just five shots from the field with seven of his points coming from the line.

‘‘We need to get him more involved there’s no question about it,’’ Beveridge said.

‘‘A lot of the purpose of what we were doing was to get the ball in the post and we did an absolute crappy job of that.

‘‘I’ll be all over the guards about that. It’s just simply not good enough that we didn’t get him the ball.’’

The loss to Melbourne effectively quashed the Hawks chances of a top-two finish but a win over Townsville wold put them two wins clear of Adelaide who they will meet in their final regular season match on Friday.

‘‘We set a goal of making the play-offs and the reality is we’re not in the play-offs [yet],’’ Beveridge said.

‘‘We have to play with urgency and desperation. 

‘‘It’s a grand final for us on Saturday night. That’s the attitude we’ve got to have.’’