Kings take on JackJumpers to close Round Three

By Matt McQuade

 

In the world of sports, a lot can happen in 48 hours.

You can be the greatest of all time after one game; fall to earth shortly after.

Or turn in something horrendous one night, then bounce back quickly.

It never fails – one night a goat, next time the hero.

They call it the rollercoaster of emotion.

And such was the lot of the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings in their first two games of Round Three of NBL22.

Last Thursday, they suffered one of the worst defeats in franchise history; held to the team’s lowest score ever by Melbourne United and pilloried by all and sundry on social media.

According to some, they had no chance against the South East Melbourne Phoenix at Qudos Bank Arena two days later. Down two imports and their starting centre in NBL21 against an undefeated opponent, who many believe is headed for their first Grand Final this season, the Kings were at long odds to even stay competitive, much less win the ballgame.

But here’s that thing again – 48 hours is a long time in sport.

Their professional pride stung by that loss to the defending champions in Melbourne; Sydney to a man came out with intent, physicality and positive emotion on Saturday night at Qudos Bank Arena.

They jumped the Phoenix early, blasted them from the perimeter in the first quarter and were never seriously challenged the rest of the way in recording their best win of this young campaign.

It’s that attitude that Head Coach Chase Buford will be looking to harness this Wednesday night as his team welcomes to the Q the league’s newest franchise, the Tasmania JackJumpers, in game two of a WNBL/NBL double-header that tips off with the Sydney Uni Flames taking on the Melbourne Boomers.

VIEW THE KINGS MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES HERE

Already, Tasmania has been one of the NBL’s great success stories. Winning their season opener in front of a sell-out crowd in Hobart helped, but it’s clear that this team has quickly worked their way into the heart of their community.

The people in Tassie love their JackJumpers; a group that may not be as talented as some in the competition, yet they play hard, compete all forty minutes and make you earn everything you get.

The ‘Jacks’ are a feisty lot despite their current three game losing streak, and they will pose a challenge to the purple and gold this Wednesday, make no mistake about it.

Their all-import backcourt of Josh Adams and Josh Magette can do some damage. Adams is a terrific athlete with sneaky hops who can light you up if you don’t respect his game; Magette is a relentless point guard who plays with constant motion and loves to put heat on the rim.

There are a couple of local veterans on the Tasmanian roster that also need to be accounted for. Jack McVeigh embodies this team’s spirit, a guy who plays with his heart on his sleeve and has the ability to fill it up; Clint Steindl is a long-range sniper who has had some big games against the Kings through the years.

Up front, former NBA player Will Magnay has good size and strength and must be kept off the boards, third import MiKyle McIntosh is a banger inside and role players Fabijan Krslovic and Jarred Bairstow will work hard and provide honest effort.

With Jaylen Adams again out and RJ Hunter still working through a nagging knee complaint, the Kings will once again lean on their terrific frontcourt of Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin, who were outstanding in their team’s all the way win over the Phoenix.

Both Cooks and Martin had double-doubles on Saturday night and both played with great energy and physicality, contributing big plays all over the floor. If they bring that same focus this Wednesday, the purple and gold will be hard to stop.

There were also some pleasing signs for the Kings with sharpshooter Dejan Vasiljevic nailing a pair of three-point bombs in the first quarter of the victory over South East Melbourne. The more minutes DJ gets, the more effective he will become, and Sydney will need his production moving forward.

Of course, the rise of Angus Glover continued last Saturday and he’s well and truly put himself in frame for NBL Most Improved, even at this early stage of the season. Gus plays with intensity and passion, is devastating in transition and his perimeter game can’t be disrespected.

Sydney will come into this game favourites, especially on their home court, but they can’t afford to take the JackJumpers lightly. As the Phoenix discovered on Saturday – you don’t bring your A game at this level, you better prepare to be humbled.

But there were lessons learned in Melbourne that will ensure the purple and gold will have the right focus this Wednesday.

And there’s no question that the Pride of Sydney will be ready to go against the upstarts from the Apple Isle.

 

WHO

WNBL/NBL Double Header

Sydney Uni Flames vs Melbourne Boomers

Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings vs. Tasmania JackJumpers

WHEN

Saturday 18 December, 5:00pm AEST tipoff (Flames); 7:30pm AEST tipoff (Kings)

LOCATION

Qudos Bank Arena

TICKETS

Via Ticketek or at the Qudos Bank Arena box office

TV

ESPN; Kayo Sports

RADIO

Cluch Radio

THE PLAYERS

Kings

Shaun Bruce; Angus Glover; Wani Swaka Lo Buluk; Xavier Cooks; Jarell Martin (import)

R.J. Hunter (import – subject to fitness test); Dejan Vasiljevic; Makur Maker (Next Star); Matur Maker; Tom Vodanovich; Biwali Bayles; Jaylin Galloway (development player); Jayden Hodgson (development player); Ignatius Mitchell (development player)

JackJumpers

Josh Adams (import); Josh Maggette (import); Sam McDaniel; Jack McVeigh; Will Magnay

MiKyle McIntosh (import); Clint Steindl; Jarrad Weeks; Fabijan Krslovic; Jarred Bairstow; Matt Kenyon; Sejr Deans (development player); Sean Macdonald (development player); Jock Perry (development player)

THE COACHES

Kings

Chase Buford (NBL rookie head coach, NBL career record 2-2)

JackJumpers

Scott Roth (NBL rookie head coach, NBL career record 1-3)

2021/2022 REGULAR SEASON SERIES

First meeting

NBL LADDER

Kings 2-2, seventh

JackJumpers 1-3, ninth

LAST GAME

Kings beat South East Melbourne Phoenix 84-73 @ Qudos Bank Arena, Round Three

JackJumpers lost to Perth Wildcats 101-83 @ RAC Arena, Round Three

KEY STATS

Kings

Points: Jaylen Adams, 15.0ppg

Rebounds: Xavier Cooks, 9.0rpg

Assists: Xavier Cooks, 3.2apg

JackJumpers

Points: Josh Magette, 16.5ppg

Rebounds: Sam McDaniel, 6.0rpg

Assists: Josh Magette, 6.3apg

KEY MATCHUP

Shaun Bruce vs. Josh Magette

Expect to see some fireworks between these two, if for no other reason that they have similar philosophies in the way they approach the game. Both are incredibly hard working, both play with a ton of emotion and toughness, and neither will back down from a confrontation. Magette is a left-handed point guard who can both score and find his teammates with pinpoint passing; he’s been tipped in some quarters to lead the league in assists this season. He is relentless in attacking the paint and never quits on a play. For his part, Bruce continues to show why he is one of the best backup guards in the league. Filling in with aplomb for the injured Jaylen Adams, Shaun has terrific intangibles. He’s got the veteran experience, the great leadership and a tough-minded approach at both ends of the floor; skill-wise he can hit the three, run a team effectively and be all over his opponent defensively. If he negates Magette’s influence, Sydney will be in great shape to claim the W.

THE QUESTIONS

Can the Kings slow down the Tasmanian import guards?

Will Cooks and Martin be too much for the JackJumpers frontline to handle?

HISTORY

All-time Head-to-Head

First meeting

DID YOU KNOW?

Over the years, the Kings have performed quite well in their first game against teams making their season debut in the National Basketball League. Sydney has played 13 games against new NBL teams since 1988, with an overall record of nine wins and four losses. The last time the purple and gold played a team for the first time in their NBL debut season was against the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Round 8 of NBL20; Sydney won that one 90-86 in Melbourne. The biggest win for the Kings against a first-year NBL franchise came against the Hunter Pirates at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre in Round 9 of the 2003/2004 season; Sydney won 101-71 with Sydney Kings Legend Matthew Nielsen going for 26 points and 10 rebounds. Interestingly, in that same game Nielsen played his 216^th game for Sydney, passing Damian Keogh as the all-time leader in games played for the franchise.