ALTHOUGH it was not the result his team was looking for, big man Aron Baynes was the star of the show as the Brisbane Bullets fell to the Illawarra Hawks in a bumper day of National Basketball League (NBL) action.

The Bullets and the Hawks locked horns in the second of three matches to take place on Wednesday, in a match that was going to be intriguing as an indicator for the upcoming season. These were the bottom two sides last season, and both appear poised to make a push up the standings with new faces and exciting styles of play. This match offered an indicator of where each side was at heading into the regular season, which kicks off in just seven days.

The Bullets started the game in ideal fashion, storming out to an early lead and getting the jump on the Hawks, who didn’t look all that fluid on the offensive end. At the first change, Brisbane held nine-point lead and had full control of the game. Illawarra’s production on the scoring front lifted in the second term, and the margin was whittled down to four points at the main break.

The third quarter proved to be decisive in the context of the game, with the Hawks outscoring the Bullets by 10 points and snatching momentum over the opposition. It was the deciding period for the match, as the Bullets could not overcome the deficit in the fourth, eventually falling to the tune of seven points .

Although the team could get over the line, Baynes was immense with a massive double-double on Wedensday afternoon.

Brisbane Bullets (88) def. by Illawarra Hawks (95)

Aron Baynes – 20 points, 20 rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocks

Baynes sent a message to the rest of the competition that he could explode after a slightly underwhelming debut season in the NBL.

The big man’s 20 points was an equal game-high figure, proving to be a focal point of the team’s offence in a red-hot scoring display. The Bullets did not look to get the ball in his hands a whole heap last season, but if Wednesday’s match against the Hawks is anything to go by, that should change in the team’s upcoming campaign.

He made seven shots on 13 attempts, including going 2/2 from long range, one of the most damaging aspects of his game. Baynes ran the pick and roll to perfection, getting himself in scoring positions time after time as the Hawks frontcourt struggled to slow him down.

Baynes also delivered a whopping 20 rebounds, chasing down the loose ball at any given opportunity and getting first touch to start a new possession for his team. Seven of these were on the offensive end, generating second chance scoring opportunities for himself and helped keep the Bullets in the match.

It was a powerful showing from one of Australia’s star big men, displaying exactly what he can do if given free reign in the upcoming season.

In the remaining games for the day, the Cairns Taipans delivered down the stretch to down the SEM Phoenix, while Melbourne United bested the Sydney Kings to the tune of 18 points.