The Wollongong Hawks are shaping as every NBL team's nightmare after another stunning defensive performance shut down the Brisbane Bullets at the SandPit.

The Hawks defeated Brisbane 108-100, but the scoreline did no justice to the pressure that the home team exerted in the match winning final quarter.

Leading by just one point heading into the last period, the Hawks unleashed "the dobermans" as coach Brendan Joyce has tagged them, holding the Bullets to just six points in the first nine minutes of the final quarter.

By the time Brisbane started to get some points on the scoreboard, Wollongong had built a 16-point lead, and Joyce was exploring his bench options.

Two games into the new season, the Hawks defence is already sending shivers through the rest of the league.

"We aren't the biggest team in the league, but when we crank it up defensively, we become like dobermans," Joyce said.

"Apart from the final four minutes, Brisbane would've ended up with just a 12 point quarter and you can't get any better than that."

"We've just played the two teams that have been predicted to finish as the top two, and we beat them both, so we know we're going to compete this year.

"We've got a good feeling in this team, and what's scary is that we're obviously going to get player."

The first three minutes of the game indicated a titanic defensive clash was about to take place as just four points were scored, but two of the league's most potent teams quickly warmed up.

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