Illawarra legend Glen Saville reveals ‘pressure and stress’ championship Hawks are facing as Illawarra’s NBL title defence teeters on brink
Labelled “close to” their worst performance of the season by Justin Tatum, Illawarra’s title defence is hanging in the balance. In CROSSCOURT, Hawks legend Glen Saville reveals the pressure the Hawks are facing.
Disinterested and undisciplined, Illawarra coach Justin Tatum says the word is out on the reigning champions after “close to” their worst performance of the season as the Hawks’ title defence teeters on the brink.
Following the horror loss to bottom-placed Cairns, Illawarra now sits eighth at 5-10 and 2001 championship co-captain Glen Saville knows only too well the pressure that comes with defending a title in the ‘Gong with a new-look squad.
“From my own personal experience, it’s a very difficult thing to live up to the expectations of the team before when the team that comes back is not the same,” Saville said.
“Our team did change a little bit, but not as much as the Hawks have changed this year, with Trey Kell and Lachie Olbrich leaving and Sam (Froling’s) not back yet.
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“The last thing I want to do is sink the boots into a team that’s not having a great time.
“I’ve been in that situation before. There is a target on your back. You’re the champs from the year before so every time you go to play, there’s something on the line for the opposition to be able to say we just beat last year’s champs.
“They’ve got one of the biggest names in the competition in a former three-time NBA champion in Javale McGee, so there’s lots of reasons for teams to want to get up for games against us.”
Tatum lamented having a front-row seat to “close to” the champions’ poorest performance of the season as they were smashed on the glass 51-41 and blown away by 17 by a team missing its two best players in Jack McVeigh and Sam Waardenburg.
It prompted him to call out his team’s effort and fitness.
“Rebounds are effort level, man … we’ve got guys now who are not pursuing the ball and other teams just out-hustling us,” Tatum said.
“The word is out that Illawarra does not box out and so most teams are very aggressive on that.
“Guys maybe have to get in better shape to be able to play both ends and just focus, concentrate and execute.”
It could have been worse, too — the Hawks squandered a 20-point lead against South East Melbourne on Thursday night, which forced them to find a way to escape in a taxing overtime effort.
Saville said players would be feeling the pressure and the key to turning the season around was how they handled that pressure and channelled it into correcting the team’s flaws.
“I played for Brendan Joyce, Gordie McLeod and Brian Goorjian and I remember going through situations like they’re in and going into the video review fearing for your life,” Saville said.
“Now, I’m not sure how they do video, but a lot of the things going wrong are aired out right there in the video room – the doors get closed and you’ve got to sort that stuff out as adults and as teammates.
“It’s stressful. People think being a pro athlete is all beer and skittles and you live the most gifted life.
“I appreciate that, I never really called basketball a job, we got paid to play sport.
“But there is a lot of stress and a lot of pressure and those who can aim up, take it on board, accept it and figure out what they’re doing wrong and where they need to improve, they’re the teams that overcome and rise to the top.”
Saville’s 2001-02 team lost five of its first seven games in its title defence but managed to figure it out, going on streak of 10 straight victories to book a top-four finish.
He believes this incarnation of the Hawks has the talent to emulate that effort.
“They’re not dead and buried, it wouldn’t take much to go on a run of a few wins and find themselves right back in the top six and that’s what they’ll be focusing on as a group,” he said.
“All the opportunity is in front of them. Rebounding, defend in the half court and be clever with how you run the offence.
“How you apply yourself mentally and the effort levels – that’s what JT’s saying – the effort level is part of being a professional.”
BATTLE BEGINS FOR COUNTRY’S BEST 16YO
The NBL is going hard at Perth’s dynamic teen basketball prodigy Luke Paul.
Considered one of, if not the best, 16-year-olds in the country, Paul and his family were in the stands with NBL Next Stars boss Liam Santamaria and former Boomers big man David Andersen at RAC Arena on Thursday, taking in Perth’s win over Melbourne United.
Paul is listed at 190cm on the FIBA website but a source told Code Sports the point guard has had a massive growth spurt and is now pushing 200cm – almost as tall as Boomers and Chicago Bulls Aussie star Josh Giddey.
Paul joined the elite Centre of Excellence (CoE) earlier this year after spending time in the Wildcats’ academy program.
“Luke’s a big point guard with a great feel for the game and elite basketball IQ,” Santamaria said.
“He’s a terrific passer, can shoot it, gets on the glass – does a lot of things at a really high level.
“He’s developing well at the CoE and has a really bright future in the game.”
He was MVP of this year’s U16 Asia Cup gold medal campaign and landed in Samoa over the weekend to lead the Aussies’ charge at the U17 Oceania Cup, which tips off against Fiji on Monday morning.
The Willeton product’s tools are clearly evident and that rapidly developing physical stature makes for a highly-coveted package that will pit the NBL against the NIL riches of US college basketball.
NZ MAKE BREAK FOR SIXTH
There’s a popular belief the top half of the NBL ladder is all but set as Melbourne United, Adelaide, South East Melbourne, Perth and Sydney jostle for position.
But the battle for sixth is an intriguing one, with a new frontrunner emerging thanks to New Zealand’s run of four wins in their last five games as one of the form teams in the competition.
Saturday night’s win over the JackJumpers in Tasmania was a double points game that helped the Breakers leapfrog into sixth with the bottom-placed Taipans all but cooked and faltering champs Illawarra and basket case Brisbane looking a long way off.
The Kings are the only team in the top five the Breakers have accounted for, but they’ve beaten everyone below them and that’s really all they need to do to sneak into the top six, then anything can happen in the postseason.
It’d be a boon for the Next Stars program and young Mexican prodigy Karim Lopez’s NBA draft audition, providing an opportunity for the emerging teen to showcase his abilities under the pressure of postseason basketball.
WHERE’S GIPPSLAND?
Here’s a challenge for country Victorian hoops fans on Wednesday night: bring your loudest roars to make sure Tasmania coach Scott Roth leaves with an indelible memory imprinted in his mind.
Asked about the Ignite Cup clash with South East Melbourne at Traralgon’s Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium, Roth responded with “I have no idea where that is.”
“I couldn’t even tell you where that is, to be honest with you. I’ve never been there.”
The Jackies are in a horror slump, having lost seven of their past eight games. They fell out of the top six on account of Saturday night’s home loss to New Zealand, where Roth said they were “punched” in the first quarter and never recovered against a Breakers team that “played harder than us and better than us”.
HARRY POTTER, CRICKET AND THE MOST LITERAL RED FLAG
Former WNBL forward Kiera Glover on husband Angus Glover, South East Melbourne’s three-point shooting star.
Q: Where did you first meet?
A: In Canberra at the AIS.
Q: First date?
A: Dumplings House in Canberra (best dumplings around)
Q: Who fell first?
A: Angus obviously. Just kidding, I have no idea, it was a long time ago
Q: What do you love about him?
A: His blue eyes, his fun personality and his passion, drive and resilience
Q: What would he be doing if he wasn’t a professional basketballer?
A: He’d be a cricketer or a strength and conditioning coach.
Q: Does he do chores around the house?
A: Always (kind of).
Q: Does he cook and What’s his specialty?
A: Reverse seared steak. Shout out to Nathan Sobey for teaching him.
Q: Favourite meal you cook for him?
A: Homemade pizza the night before a game.
Q: Is he romantic?
A: Yes, he is very good at surprise flowers and date night.
Q: Biggest red flag?
A: His hair colour, literally.
Q: Last present he bought you?
A: A Nintendo Switch.
Q: Favourite movie?
A: Harry Potter.
Q: Go-to karaoke song?
A: Sweet Caroline.
Q: Mood after a loss?
A: I know not to ask too many questions after a loss, it can be touchy.
Q: Do you ever give him feedback after a game?
A: Occasionally, but I also try to be supportive and listen. We often talk though things!
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Originally published as Illawarra legend Glen Saville reveals ‘pressure and stress’ championship Hawks are facing as Illawarra’s NBL title defence teeters on brink
