Buford's Kings embrace villain status

Sydney and Melbourne have always had a hero/villain complex when playing each other. It doesn’t matter where, when, or how they play, the rivalry is real.

That element of being the villain in any away stadium is magnified when you’re the reigning champions, and the Kings currently look like they relish any opportunity to walk away from an opposition stadium with a win.

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Sydney’s win over Melbourne United on Sunday represented its 16^th consecutive road win in the NBL and moved them to a league-best 5-2 on the season to take them back to the top of the ladder.

“We hate to say it, but we embrace being the villains a little bit. There are guys in our locker room who love the hate,” Sydney coach Chase Buford said.

“We love when people are talking, we love that spiciness to the game. We probably get a bit more of that on the road than we do at home and maybe that fires us up in the right way.

Sydney centre Jordi Hunter agreed with Buford and offered a solution to other sides when they play the Kings.

“Teams have to stop playing the Darth Vader music when we come out. It’s a banger and we get too excited.”

Hunter finished the clash with Melbourne with a game-high four blocks, all of which came in the first half when the game was in the balance.

Since returning from his long-term foot injury Hunter has formed a brutal inside partnership with fellow centre Tim Soares, with the pair offering elite rim protection no matter what unit is on the floor.

United centre Jordan Caroline finished the game having shot just 2-10 on two-point field goal attempts, while Isaac Humphries went 4-9.

“Defensively probably is where they’re (Hunter and Soares) at their best for us,” Buford said.

“Jordi has four blocks and Tim is just an animal with his verticality. He just eats up people who come into the lane.

“He’s a monster back there. To have him, Jordi, X, it’s a great luxury as a coach.”