Goorjian plots McGee mismatch

Sunday's NSW derby between Illawarra and Sydney is looming as one of the matches of the season.

The reigning champions have regained their mojo of late, rattling off two straight wins, while the Kings have won their past three.

A big part of the host's form reversal has been the play of three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee, who is averaging an incredible 23.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.

Knowing how important the Tokyo Olympic Games gold medallist is to the Hawks' success, Sydney coach Brian Goorjian has outlined his strategy to slow the Hawks' big man.

"There are aspects to McGee that are a real advantage for them (Illawarra), but the flip side to it is trying to exploit other aspects,” Goorjian said in a recent post-game press conference.

“How we played [against the Breakers] and guarding Xavier Cooks, who takes the most advantage of the mismatch?

“We’re not going to have a guy just like McGee who goes head-to-head, but he has to guard something a little different to him.

“And we’ve got to deal with something we don’t have. Who takes advantage of the mismatch is going to have a big say on who wins the game.

“But from the time he arrived to now, he [McGee] is in shape. He wasn’t just an NBA player, he was a very good NBA player and he is huge.”

As well as playing small ball to limit McGee's impact, six-time NBL champion Goorjian explained his team's identity is built on their defence.

“We’ve been working at that and the elite teams in this [competition] do it,” he said.

“You’ve got to make an assessment on your talent and I look at my group and I’ve got guys who can do this, so we’ve got to start pushing those numbers and play those guys on the bench more.

“That defensive side of the ball and the pick up is something that we are really working at.”

Sunday's Round 9 fixture tips off at 2.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN and Channel 10.