Illawarra defensive stocks on the rise

A late surge from Torrey Craig and Jermaine Beal managed to force the game into the overtime but the Bullets were without answers to the Hawks defensive pressure for the best part of three quarters, coughing up 25 turnovers.

Having already set league records for most points and most assists in a game this season, the Hawks will naturally be regarded as more of an offensive threat than a lock-down team but Beveridge said that’s starting to change.

“We’re not known as a really good defensive team but I think over the past few weeks we’re evolving into a very good defensive team,” Beveridge said.

“The way we switch our defences up, with our zone, switching the d’s how we’re defending on-ball screens...the guys are getting it.

“That’s what I’m loving about our team at the moment that we are becoming more defence-orientated with setting the goals of getting stops and our guys are buying into it, the way we’re disrupting, the way we’re getting after it right now.

“To force and Andrej Lemanis-coached team into 25 turnovers, I know he won’t be a happy man.

“I look at it and they’ve got some outstanding players there and we put them under a fair bit pf pressure.

“I’m rapt from our perspective that for a non-defensive team, our defence is pretty good at this time of the year.”

The slow-paced clash with the Bullets saw Rotnei Clarke have his quietest scoring night since being shifted to the bench, but the Hawks shared the load with seven players in double figures and all but skipper Oscar Forman featuring on the score sheet. 

It was pleasant reading for Beveridge who has always made across-the-board contributions a key plank of his offensive systems.

“We’re an equal opportunity type of team,” Beveridge said.

“Sometimes Rotty (Clarke) will have 20-30 points but he was tag-teamed by the Bullets players and they did a great job on him and we needed some other players to step up.

“That’s the strength of our team, we don’t have superstar go-to guy that has to get us out of trouble every time. I know we can score, we’re so deep and on any given night anybody can score points and that’s what we always try to do.”

Beveridge also praised his side for regrouping and getting it done after a late surge from the Bullets forced the game into overtime.

“I thought we controlled the game and if we had of lost that I’d have been devastated for the players,” Beveridge said.

“I would’ve been pretty upset because they worked so hard together as a unit. We played two nights [before] and we’ve really struggled this season on game two of a road trip.

“We had a few brain farts at times that allowed them back in the game.

“We’re on their home court, they’re ramming it down your throat, the crowd’s going nuts, they had all the momentum so the way we just fought together as a group in overtime was pretty special and I think these guys can start believing they’re actually a pretty good team.”