IN WHAT looms as one of the most one-sided contests of the year, ladder leaders Illawarra Hawks will play host to cellar dwellers Cairns Taipans at home. The 13-6 Hawks are coming off a rare loss the other night to South East Melbourne Phoenix and will be keen to atone for that, which they should do against a Taipans outfit that has dropped a whopping 15 consecutive games.

Illawarra Hawks vs. Cairns Taipans

WIN Entertainment Centre, 7:30pm AEDT

Unsurprisingly at opposite ends of the ladder, the statistics also read a completely different story. The Hawks rank first in points, rebounds and field goal percentage, while the Taipans are last in two of those three measures – points and field goal percentage – as well as assists. They do managed to win their fair share of rebounds however, ranking fifth in the competition, though they also concede more boards than anyone else.

Boasting the best back court duo in the NBL, the Hawks rely on Tyler Harvey and Trey Kell III to generate their transitional movement. With William Hickey showing her can roll off the bench as well, the Hawks have the depth to worry any opposition side, but especially the Taipans. Their three-point shooting (four of 21) last game was poor, and very un-Illawarra like, so expect them to get back to business in this one.

Harvey is averaging 3.0 three-point makes per game, while four other players average above one per match, showing just how often the Hawks can launch from long-range. Kell is one of those with 1.8, and is averaging the most points for the Hawks with 18.4, as well as a team-high 3.8 assists. The Hawks do not just have one facilitator, but roll through the three back court players, while Sam Froling is good for a couple of points per game, and is the biggest threat off the boards to the opposition, averaging seven per match.

Cairns would need to completely turn its form around to make the game even close, but the Taipans have shown in patches they have the talent to do so. Rob Edwards and Taran Armstrong are shooting machines when on song, able to put up a combined 4.7 three-pointers per match, among 34.3 points and 6.8 assists. They will need to be at their absolute best against the Hawks, while the likes of Sam Waardenburg (14.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists) and Pedro Bradshaw (10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds) will also need to match it with Froling close to the basket.

TIP = Illawarra Hawks by 22