Mind games: Goorjian urges Hawks to lift for Bullets clash

The Hawks will look to consolidate their top-two standing as the NBL Cup show rolls on in Melbourne.

Illawarra will enter the game full of confidence, having already claimed Brisbane's scalp twice this season. However, Goorjian cited his side's 101-95 loss as an example of why his men couldn't afford to be complacent at John Cain Arena.

"I think you could see in the Cairns game, it's very difficult to beat a team three times in such a short period of time. I thought in that game, we had our opportunities and if we had been in the same mindset as early in the season for that particular team, we might have got over the line," Goorjian said.

"So there's a mental side to this. There's also the challenge of being stationed where we are, with all of the other teams, and the environment that you're playing in is different when you're the Illawarra Hawks. You don't really have people cheering against us, or or us. And the games are refereed a little bit different with the challenge. So there's different things being thrown at you.

"Making sure the game plan is sharp and keeping everybody is locked in is a challenge for not only myself, but the whole group. With Brisbane, the mentality and approach to the game is just as important as the game plan."

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The Hawks opened their NBL21 campaign with a 90-84 win over the Bullets in Brisbane in mid-January. Five days later, they returned to beat the hosts by 90-82.

Goorjian learned a lot from the two performances.

"I think they're a half-court team, they like to play in the half-court, and (Bullets coach) Andrej (Lemanis) runs a good stop," he said.

"I thought in game two there, we defended their system a lot better than we did in game one, even though we won both games. I thought in the second game, they were really pumped up and got on top of us. I think we got them on the half-court and defended their half-court well."

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Illawarra will have great incentive heading into Friday's clash, with AJ Ogilvy set to play his 150^th game for the Hawks.

The 32-year-old, who now has the C next to his name, has been a key figure on and off the court for Goorjian.

"I just think he's been exceptional with everything that's been thrown at him. For me, the captain's role is to make sure everyone's ready to play. Through this (COVID period), it's not your normal task. And he's touching guys in the hallway, having a meal here or there, seeing when a guy is down," he said.

"He's our most experienced player, he's the most experienced guy from Wollongong, and he's our leader. On the basketball side of things, he's an enforcer a guy that protects the basket.

"It's my first year with him, and I'm really glad to have him by my side as a leader."