From 'frauds' to favourites: have the Illawarra Hawks won back fans' trust?
The Illawarra Hawks have shown signs of recovery after their recent struggles, but fan caution remains. Following a decisive victory over Melbourne United, who currently lead the NBL ladder, some Hawks supporters appear to be returning to the team's side.
This big win came just five days after the Hawks posted one of the lowest scores in the franchise's 48-year history during their 102-60 defeat to the New Zealand Breakers on Halloween night. The harsh fan backlash included comments like:
"Frauds, so lame, there is only one spot they deserve with the effort, and that is the wooden spoon, this is embarrassing," and "bring back Trey Kell III."
Despite the criticism, Hawks fans largely praised their team after the win against United at the WIN Entertainment Centre—the same venue where the Hawks secured their second NBL title seven months earlier against Melbourne. Although the crowd of 3,000 was smaller than the Championship Series Game 5 decider, their enthusiasm was strong as the Hawks secured a vital 107-93 victory to keep their title defense alive.
Standout performances included big man JaVale McGee, point guard Will "Davo" Hickey, and new import Quentin Peterson. With Hickey back from injury and Peterson settling in, there is promising potential for the Hawks going forward.
Author's summary: The Illawarra Hawks are showing encouraging signs of form and fan support after a rough patch, highlighted by key player performances and a critical win that renews hope for their title defense.