NBL Blitz Preview – Kings vs Hawks

By Matt McQuade

 

You’ve heard it all before.

Preseason means nothing.

The games don’t count.

No one remembers who won any preseason title.

And mostly, it’s probably true – albeit preseason does mean something given its absolute importance in building your squad and setting up your club for its run through the regular season proper and then hopefully the playoffs.

But when it comes to preseason games between the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings and the Illawarra Hawks, all bets are off.

Let’s face it – any time these two teams meet, no matter the circumstances, there’s another level of intensity and passion that’s involved, and it’s something that permeates both clubs, from the front offices to the coaching staff and players and especially the rival fan bases, who have had their share of confrontations over the years.

Expect nothing less this Saturday night as the purple and gold head to Wollongong to take on the Hawks at what promises to be a raucous WIN Entertainment Centre.

Illawarra is pushing hard for a big crowd to turn up, even for a supposed ‘meaningless’ game. That organisation lives to play the Kings, and any opportunity to get one-up on their fiercest rivals is eagerly anticipated. Make no mistake, they’ll be fired up down there to gain early bragging rights against the so-called ‘big brother’.

When you consider that the Kings’ ownership group and Illawarra’s head coach Brian Goorjian have already fired off some early verbal salvos, it’s more than reasonable to believe that this game will have a little more on the line than just the average preseason game, especially with the regular season fast approaching and both teams meeting at Qudos Bank Arena in Round Two on 11 December – less than a fortnight away.

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The Hawks have been impressive so far in the preseason, with a couple of wins in Melbourne against South East Melbourne and Melbourne, and already it’s clear that this team has upgraded significantly, especially at the offensive end.

They already boast significant firepower in returnees Tyler Harvey and Justinian Jessup, not to mention the NBL21 Most Improved Player Sam Froling, but they’ve really loaded up on guys who have shown they can score the ball, from Australian Olympian Duop Reath to imports Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Antonius Cleveland and even big man Harry Froling, who is looking for redemption after a down couple of years but is still very talented.

Illawarra has played at a high pace so far and scored a ton of points, so they represent a significant test defensively for Head Coach Chase Buford and his troops.

Speaking of playing at pace – in Sydney’s three games to date, pace is what has defined this exciting group. Even allowing for the fact we are yet to see the squad at full strength and a number of players have been carrying some early ailments, the speed at which this team has played so far has been nothing short of breathtaking.

It’s exactly what Coach Buford promised – a high-octane offence predicated on taking the ball off the glass or even out of the basket and getting it down the floor as quickly as possible; combined with an active and aggressive defence that is in your face from baseline to baseline.

Most players love playing that up-tempo style, and very few fit that type of system as well as Angus Glover, who has been a revelation in the team’s opening games. Playing with freedom, confidence and his trademark athleticism, ‘Gus’ has been terrific so far and is showing that he will be a force off the bench for the ballclub this season.

As a Wollongong boy originally, Glover will be pumped for a big one this Saturday, as will his fellow teammate from the south coast, one Xavier Cooks, another guy who has really stood out in the early stages. X is already a double-double threat any time he steps on the court and once he starts to consistently knock down that perimeter jumper, he’ll be a nightmare to defend.

Then there’s new import point guard Jaylen Adams, who was highly impressive on debut for his new team last week. Looking to add to a legacy of great Sydney Kings floor leaders, Jaylen’s performance against the Breakers should get Kings’ fans very excited. He’s an elite talent who plays with poise and makes smart decisions, and he’ll just get better the longer this season progresses.

So, this one means more than usual.

Two very talented squads squaring off in a battle for state and professional pride.

Yeah, it’s only preseason.

But these two teams will bring everything they have on Saturday night.

It’s what this rivalry is all about.

Let’s go Kings.

 

NBL BLITZ GAME FOUR

WHO

Sydney Kings vs. Illawarra Hawks

WHEN

Saturday 27 November, 7:30pm tipoff

LOCATION

WIN Entertainment Centre

TICKETS

Available HERE

TV

Available on Kayo Freebies HERE

RADIO

Available on Cluch Radio HERE

THE PLAYERS

KINGS

Jaylen Adams (import); Angus Glover; R.J. Hunter (import); Xavier Cooks; Jarell Martin (import)

Shaun Bruce; Matur Maker; Makur Maker (Next Star); Tom Vodanovich; Biwali Bayles; Jaylin Galloway (development player); Wani Swaka Lo Buluk

HAWKS

Tyler Harvey (import); Antonius Cleveland (import); Justinian Jessup (Next Star); Sam Froling; Duop Reath

Xavier Rathan-Mayes (import); Harry Froling; Isaac White; Emmett Naar; AJ Ogilvy; Tim Coenraad; Akoldah Gak (development player); Lachlan Dent (development player)

THE COACHES

KINGS

Chase Buford, 1^st season with Sydney

HAWKS

Brian Goorjian, 2^nd season with Illawarra

KEY MATCHUP

Jaylen Adams vs Tyler Harvey

One guy has NBA experience and is considered one of the best recruits in the NBL this offseason. The other finished second in the NBL21 MVP voting and was an All-NBL First Team selection. Both are absolute superstars in their own right. Accordingly, this is a matchup worth the price of admission on its own. Jaylen’s opening game in the NBL Blitz was just a tantalising entrée to what fans can expect to see from him this season. He’s got elite shooting and playmaking skills, is aggressive defensively, and is clearly a guy who makes everyone around him better. Then there’s Harvey, a lights out shooter with ridiculous range who also has a deadly floater game once he gets into the paint. You have to believe that this is just the beginning of what will be a terrific ongoing individual battle in NBL21.

THE QUESTIONS

Can Sydney deal with Illawarra’s size?

How many points will be scored in what figures to be a game of one fast break after the other?

 

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