Watch out Scott Machado: Illawarra Hawks guard Sunday Dech is ready for you.
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Dech has identified the Cairns Taipans star, who averages 13.8 points per game, as a key threat when the two sides meet again on Monday night in Wollongong.
The Hawks have beaten them twice already this season. Illawarra pipped the Taipans 89-88 at home last month before recording an impressive 101-91 win on the road on November 9.
Victory again would take the Illawarra's record to 3-8. However, Dech won't underestimate their opponents.
"Cairns has a really talented group which, on any given night, anyone can start making big plays," he said.
"I think [this week] it starts with Machado, he's a floor general and gets the other guys in positions to be really successful. And then they've got some really good shooters and guys who are very talented one on one. It's not about closing them all off, it's about minimising their impact while they're on the court to give us an edge.
"They're going to come out all guns blazing. We've beaten them twice but it's been a couple of close games. I think they'll want a bit of redemption. We've got to be prepared and ready for whatever they throw at us."
They're going to come out all guns blazing... I think they'll want a bit of redemption.
- Sunday Dech
The Hawks remain at the foot of the NBL ladder after recording their eighth defeat of the 2019/20 season last Sunday. However, it was a spirited effort from Illawarra with the side falling 92-87 to top team Sydney Kings.
Dech finished the game with 14 points - third best for the Hawks behind captain Todd Blanchfield (22) and LaMelo Ball (16). Dech, 25, is happy with his own form this season but believes there's room for improvement.
"Our team put together a good game plan which we followed [against the Kings] and I think I did pretty well out there," he said.
"My plan is to go out there , play hard and get after the team's best player. Which I think I've done a good job of. I'll look to continue doing that at a high level because there's great guards in this league. You can't stop them but you can try slowing them down. Anything I do on that end helps our team."
Dech said the Hawks were working hard, both at training and during games, and he hoped that would soon translate into more wins.
"We had a huge win in Cairns and then battled with Sydney to the wire," he said.
"It shows the growth within the team and the belief that we have in each other. It's good that it's finally showing up on the game floor - we do a lot of work behind the scenes."
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