If nothing else my dad is keen for this game because he's decided SEM are a championship contender. lol. Should be good though

SEM by double digits you read it here first, Bookies having them $4 is a massive surprise...

Hunter put the ref into the front row, cracking start by both sides.

30-25 in favour SEM end first, top game, Hunter been excellent, I've never seen Sobey play better team basketball, it’s unbelievable what good coaches can do. Hawks kept in it off the stripe.

Hunter on two fouls, Day on two fouls.

The improvement in SEM, Wieskamp and Hurt since the new coach is unbelievable.

Refs being very kind to home side, on the stripe consistently.

SEM 60-59 at halftime, fouls to against SEM killing them some very soft. Harvey and Kell very good for hawks.

SEM are a big short, Vadonavic just not good enough defensively.

That $4 is looking decent.

Hunter is so important to SEM, his third foul and back to bench keeping hawks in it.

Been a great game.

Cracking game, crowd right into it.

Shame this isn't the game to see out 2024

Wow what an effort by SEM.
At the end of the 3rd I thought the Hawks were going to run over the top of them. Great fight. Coach must be legit.

NBL just gets better.

Loving the fact anyone can win and damn SEM have had a great run.

Huge game for South East Melbourne against Sydney.

SEM one rebounder short, get one and they are in with a chance to win this. It's a fantastic turnaround, clubs looking for coaches should look in Europe. Sobey was fantastic but imo Hunter has been enormous, kings got Oliver lol. Wieskamp was also excellent as were most of SEM players.
Hawks were also very good, absolutely killed it on the boards, like SEM had a lot of contributors. Harvey and Kell again leading the way, Swani needs more time, his D keeps them in it and only hawk in the plus.
Cracking game, one of the best this season.

Frustrating game. Peatling and Froling cost the Hawks big time in the 4th. Peatling in particular was just shocking offensively. Kell kept missing the threes. Completely killed the momentum.

What really killed them was the total lack of defence in the first half though. SEM scored so easily.

Shame. It was a sell out. Great atmosphere at the WEC.

The narrative that the Hawks had the rub of the green with the refs is a bit grotesque. It didn't feel like that at all. Especially that trip going uncalled and then the Hawks bench being called for a tech when they dared bring it up. I thought the reffing was clearly in SEM’s favour.

I dislike both Melbourne teams. There's an arrogance there I just don’t vibe with. United is way worse, but you just wanna ouch Sobey and Hurt, and their coach is pretty annoying with the way he carries on during the game.

I thought refs went hawks early but it evened out. In the end they did a good job in a very tough game. My mates a hawks die hard, was there and said SEM probably should have won by more.

It always felt like SEN had it covered, but I started to believe when the Hawks went into HT only 1 point down despite playing no defence and conceding 60. I think we would have got there if Peatling and Froling didn't decide to start missing bulk layups and constantly turn the ball over . Not really sure why Peatling is preferred over Days. Peatling’s 4th quarter pretty much cost us the game. He single handedly killed any momentum we were trying to build.

I think it shows how good Hunter has developed defensively around the bucket, when used properly he's a gun.

SEM are now one win behind both PER (and superior points differential) and SYD with a game in hand.

2025 is when reality sets in for the masses regarding Rillie and possibly an over-the-hill Goorjian.

Another shootout, another 2% increase in my odds of Tassie winning the championship.

SEM continue to improve under King. Hawks just had a poor shooting night. That happens and you just move on to the next game.

DWJ back in business and SEM back in the hunt. Sobey must be listening to King and buying into the team concepts.

Hawks had a shot at the win but SEM just to many good players on the night.

Kenyon did a great job in his limited minutes.

Can SEM back it up on Thursday night against the Kings? There will be a story out of that game either way. Kings are back or on the skids. SEM are the real deal or just fighting for the play ins. If the Kings find their intensity and D that will tell us a bit more about where SEM stands. If not Thursday then the JJs Sunday. Also, the Hawks winning at home in the post season now perhaps has a bit of a question mark. My kiss of death selection of SEM for the chip pre season at least has some oxygen again for the time being.

SEM rely on Hunter and Hurt staying out foul trouble, King really worked his subs well when both were getting fouls, Vadonavic had a short stint but was in foul trouble quickly and defensively can't match the other bigs. It’s a weak spot. Either of those two pick up quick fouls they are in trouble. One 4-5 short.

It's disappointing that Hawks mostly have these off nights at home. Their home record is 5-3, while away they’re 8-3. Is it the pressure of playing at home? It really sucks, because Wollongong is hungry for success. It would be really cool if we had a dominant team in the NBL, but they always let us down just when it looks like they’re on the verge of something. We’re desperate for another championship. We’ve only won it once and we’re the only team that’s played every single season. It feels like we’re overdue, but I don’t see it happening after today. Teams just need to be in form and we fold. We have too many weak links. Olbrich is vastly overrated, Peatling can’t play offense, and Hickey makes too many mistakes. Froling misses way too many layups and is just clumsy.

Man, Wollongong really needs to win something. We’ve lost the rugby league and the soccer teams. Basketball is all we have left.

I think that's a major over reaction to a little bit of an off night. Even with poor shooting the Hawks had a shot against a hot on the night SEM. You can't pick and choose where you have these nights or when your opposition does. That's why you have multiple games in the playoffs.

Every team has some relative weaknesses. Hawks are in great shape

How good would a hawks v SEM GF look, both play very attractive but also great D. As Gaze would say, salivating.

That's about as poorly as the Hawks have played, and still in with a shot. They'll be fine.