Hawks coach Brian Goorjian has labelled Bryce Cotton one of the NBL's all-time greats, as he braces for the impact of a Perth team desperate to hold on to their playoffs spot on Friday night.
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The Wildcats are in fourth position, needing to win at least one of their two remaining games to shut the door on a plucky Tasmania in their debut season.
It would be the 36th campaign in a row the Cats have made the playoffs.
Hawks fans know all too well the pain of playing on the other side of the country, having won just two of their past 36 games there, including game one of last year's semi-finals, a series they still lost in three games.
The Wildcats will be without star import Vic Law for the Hawks and South East Melbourne games this weekend, after suffering an ankle injury against the Taipans, while Melbourne United could rest players against Tasmania, boosting the Jackjumpers prospects of a fairytale finals spot.
The jungle at RAC Arena has been far less imposing this season, with the Wildcats winning just two of their past six home games. Goorjian knows Cotton is the enormous presence standing in the Hawks way of keeping their hopes of finishing second on the NBL ladder alive.
"In the two games they beat us here, we did not have an answer for (Cotton)," he said.
"I think it's between him and Jaylen Adams for the MVP, it's a tremendous challenge (against him on Friday).
"Last year when I came back was the first time I'd coached against him and he's elite, he's up there with those all-time greats of the game like Cal Bruton and Ricky Grace.
"I've been watching the Wildcats since the 80s, they've made finals all those years in a row, you are going to see a team play with a lot of desperation, knowing they need to win to keep their hopes alive."
But Goorjian declared Cotton will not be the only danger, as the Wildcats have welcomed back tenacious guard and former Hawks star Mitch Norton back just in time.
Cotton recorded a career high 11 assists to go with 22 points in the 106-87 win over Cairns, where Norton played 17 minutes on return from a hamstring injury.
Goorjian said Norton's presence will take the pressure of Cotton defensively and could upset the Hawks attacking rhythm.
"You watch the last few games, where Bryce hasn't had Norton by his side, it put a huge amount of pressure on him," he said.
"It changes his role, a bit like what Tyler (Harvey) had to do for us last year, where as this year we've added Xavier (Rathan-Mayes)
"Bryce would be look at Norton coming back and thinking, man I really appreciate you, Bryce will obviously be dangerous for the playoffs."
Goorjian is also wrestling with managing his player workload to have the squad fit for the title-deciding games to come.
"We're going to need to have our bench very much involved," he said.
"It's an extreme circumstance in terms of travel and timing on games and while we want to win both games, it's important to have healthy bodies ready for playoffs."
FINALS COUNTDOWN
Illawarra Hawks games
Friday v PERTH at RAC Arena (9.30pm)
Sunday v SYDNEY at Qudos Bank Arena (3pm)
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Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
