NBL news 2024: Gary Clark on how Illawarra lost semi final to Melbourne United

As Illawarra surrendered game one of the semi final series despite a 16-point, fourth-quarter lead, social media lit up with claims of bias towards Melbourne Utd. Hawks star Gary Clark says otherwise.

Michael Randall

@MickRandallHS

3 min read

March 9, 2024 - 7:30PM

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As Illawarra squandered a 16-point fourth-quarter lead in game one of their NBL semi final series, social media erupted with time-honoured conspiracy theories of referee bias toward Melbourne United.

But Illawarra’s star import Gary Clark says the reason for his side’s epic capitulation is much more simple — the Hawks didn’t handle the moment as United rode a monstrous 30-point, 10-rebound, 7-assist near triple-double from Matthew Dellavedova to storm home to a 115-106 win and 1-0 series lead.

Clark (22 points) and big teammate Sam Froling (26) tore apart United’s frontline through the first three quarters but, in the last seven minutes and then overtime, the Hawks tightened up and their offence crumbled.

Hawks star Gary Clark attracts heavy attention from Luke Travers and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr of Melbourne United. Picture: Getty Images

They turned the ball over six times — five in regulation — and made just five field goals from 23 attempts, including none of their eight three-point tries.

“We just didn’t make shots, we didn’t play well from up 16,” Clark said.

“You go up 16 and, of course, fans are going to say it’s the refs, but, as players, we hold responsibility a lot more in what we could have done to come out victorious.

“When they turn it up, we need to calm down.

“We’ve got to learn how to stay together and not one person is going to win it.

“But it tends to turn to that at the end of those crises — when the s**t gets tight, we just fend for ourselves.

“It’s not one person’s fault, it’s just a matter of collectively coming together and trying to figure it out.”

Gary Clark has had some major moments for the Hawks this season. Picture: Getty Images

Matthew Dellavedova had put up a 30-point, 10-rebound, 7-assist stat-line for double Melbourne United. Picture: Getty Images

Code Sports ran through every play in the last seven minutes and overtime and found no concrete evidence of a deliberate bias toward United.

The bigger concern for the Hawks will be the lack of composure of point guard Justin Robinson — 0/4 in the fourth, all low percentage shots, including an attempted three-pointer at the buzzer with the game tied when he should have put pressure on the rim.

And, for the wider hoops community, the aptitude of the referees in tight situations remains a frustration.

Fans were particularly hysterical over two moments — Justin Robinson’s offensive foul on a flopping Chris Goulding and an inbound play where Jo Lual-Acuil Jr held Clark over the shoulder.

Simply, the referees should let play go in the Robinson situation, while Lual-Acuil Jr could and probably should have been hit with a foul — although Clark did have a handful of the United big man’s jersey. The Hawks were given the ball back anyway. Had the refs swallowed the whistle, Clark had a wide open layup.

Illawarra’s Gary Clark defends against Melbourne Utd’s Luke Travers. Getty Images

On the flip side, with 1.22 left in a pulsating overtime, the refs took over three minutes to assess a shot clock violation on United when it reset with 4.2 seconds left — the ball in Matthew Dellavedova’s hands.

All considered, the foul count was 18-17 and a measured Clark, when asked about the referees, said: “They’re not perfect and we don’t ever ask them to be perfect.”

“Just some of those momentum plays went in their favour but you have to deal with it in that moment and go to the next play.

“As pros, you deal with it, we go home, we’re going to get some of those calls.”

Clark says the Hawks are confident they have the recipe to beat the ladder leaders in the Gong on Sunday.

“In our fans’ minds we should have won that game, so they’re going to get behind us and make sure we have that atmosphere to help us come out victorious,” he said.

Dellavedova, who has feasted on Illawarra in his five meetings, averaging 18.2 points, on 52.5 per cent from the field, including 3.8 treys, is expecting nothing less than a hostile atmosphere.

“They’ve been playing great basketball all year, we weren’t happy with a defence for three quarters so I think we’ll have that dialled in,” said Dellavedova, who hit 33 points with seven triples the last time he was in WIN Entertainment Centre.

“They’re explosive so we know what we have to do to try to stop them.”