Home court to get SEM over the line, they had one horrendous quarter last start that cost them. Hopefully the reffing stays at the very good standard it's been in the finals. Still should be a high quality game. SEM by 12.

SEM will be desperate. Could be a barn-burner today.

Looking forward to this one.

Maybe even sensational! ::))))

Hurt warming up, both sides looking nervous, Hunter defensively been huge.

Tatum getting upset with the refs. Hawks lucky to be this close. Hurt great on O but needs Hunter next to him to help him n D. Kell had a bad shooting game, won't last all game you would think. Free throws win games and hawks misses will hurt.

This is the Trey Kell I remember last season at the Sixers. Has some good games but also has really bad games like this. Too much of a gulf between his best and worst, I'd rather Tahjere McCall.

Froling needs to play with some intensity, very disappointing so far.

I will speak for myself, but has too much time passed between the play in and the semi final series? This is my problem, but I forgot this game was on and there was a finals series to be played..
Obviously this won't apply for the remaining teams, but it should have been wrapped up before the start of AFL/NRL hype. For the neutral I mean.

Hunter been huge.

Phoenix doing their usual 3rd quarter fade-out and choosing poor options.

Sobey not shooting well, but still trying hard LOL.

Come on, Phoenix - some of us want an all-Melbourne GF

"Come on, Phoenix - some of us want an all-Melbourne GF"

No thanks. We would be getting essay length posts from LV about Melbourne being the greatest city in the history of human civilisation.

SEM only trail by two, Sobey again playing ok but chucking up some rubbish. Hunter on three fouls is the key. Hurt just can't defend, Hunter just got fourth foul.

Agree MC, the season has stagnated, no answer to it though.

Been a harsh game to watch this. Shits me the 36ers lost to this SEM team.

Hawks were terrible and still in the contest . Bring on game 3

Kings should look at Hunter and Glover in green and weep.

The barn was only lightly singed, but we're going to game 3, which is cool.

How lucky we are, third straight season of both SFs going to game 3

I enjoyed the game, high tension all the way. Hurt huge offensively, those ex kings guys huge as well. Peatling deserved more time, hawks below there best, Lee and Hickey good, look at the plus minuses of hawks tells you a lot. Two game threes to go.

The game changed once Glover & Foxwell came on. Thought the pace SEM started with was slow and playing into the Hawks hands. They come on & start pushing the ball.
Thought Sobey & Hurt went iso ball in the 3rd but in the end not to much damage
Hickey good for the Hawks & makes a lot of good descions
If SEM are going to win in Wollongong they need to rebound

Couldn't watch the game and just looked at box score. Amazed it was so close with 11 Hawks playing double figure minutes and apart from Hickey, everyone getting from 4 to 11 points. Can't remember an anomaly of a crucial game having the minutes and points so spread out unless there was a first half blowout. Even then you'd expect starters to have more points. I know they run deep, but maybe Tatum needs to tighten up the rotation. Or was he simply trying to find a rotation that worked?
Not a huge fan of the play in anyway, but combine that with the fiba break and it can disadvantage the top teams. Not sure of the rules, but does the NBL have to officially shut down. They sent an f grade team against minnows, would the NBA have to shutdown? Could simply have had players not in NBL and the ones that obviously weren't going to play finals.
Normally it's a reward coming top and getting a week or so of rest, Hawks seem like they haven't played in forever, now the season could come down because they had to wait on meaningless FIBA games.
And I wonder what SEM title odds were after their winless start? In with a good chance now based on latest results in both series, all teams showing weakness.

Lee was pathetic , what game were you watching Dunkman ?

Lee was plus six, him and Grida there best , Blanchfield minus 16, Kell minus 16, he also contributed eight points at 50%, he was crap in the first game but not tonight.

And I wonder what SEM title odds were after their winless start?

Grida has been a real good spark in limited minutes for Illawarra this series.