Preview: Round 16 vs United

It might be the biggest challenge in the National Basketball League right now.

And no, we’re not talking about playing the Wildcats at RAC Arena in Perth, as daunting as that is.

When you’re facing a team in their home stadium, and that team is riding a season-high 10-game winning streak and likely to be thirsty for revenge given what happened the last time you played them – well, let’s just say for starters that the odds are stacked against you.

On Sunday afternoon at John Cain Arena in Melbourne, the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings take on a rampant Melbourne United club that currently sits on top of the National Basketball League ladder with an imposing 20-5 record and hasn’t lost a game since a shocking Round 10 annihilation at the hands of the purple and gold – a 103-75 win that represented the Kings’ biggest ever win against United.

Post that butt-whipping, Melbourne has been thoroughly dominant, winning seven of their next ten games by double figures and underlining their status as championship favourites.

And there’s no question they’ve had this game circled on their calendar from the time they left the floor at Qudos Bank Arena on that shocking Friday night back in March.

So, what does that mean for the Kings?

Opponent in great form? Check.

Opponent with no lack of motivation? Check.

And what about that opponent’s talent?

Obviously, that checks the box in a major way, even if you allow for the fact that star big man Jock Landale (15.8ppg, 8.1rpg, 2.4apg, 1.4bpg, 52.5% FG, 37.4% 3PT FG, 71.6% FT, 28.0mpg) won’t play in this game given the knee injury he suffered in the first minute of his team’s powerful win on Wednesday night over the New Zealand Breakers.

There’s no question that Landale is a major loss for United. But this is one loaded squad with more than enough depth, experience and skill to cover for their starting centre.

Start with outside gunner Chris Goulding (15.9ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.2apg, 42.7% FG, 41.0% 3PT FG, 90.9% FT, 27.0mpg), whose ability to run off screens and get open to launch his bombs makes him incredibly dangerous. Then go to his backcourt mate Mitch McCarron (11.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 4.7apg, 1.5spg, 45.9% FG, 32.5% 3PT FG, 86.8% FT, 31.5mpg), an outstanding leader and someone who does everything for his team, while Yudai Baba, who can swing between guard and forward, provides great energy.

The frontcourt, even without Landale, is still stacked. Jo Lual-Acuil had 23 points and nine rebounds against New Zealand when his teammate went down and has the extreme length and mobility to cause any number of problems. Scotty Hopson is an explosive import three who is devastating in transition. David Barlow provides veteran experience and Mason Peatling belies his status as a development player.

How can a beaten-up Sydney Kings deal with this kind of talent on their own floor?

“Just make things tough on them,” Casper Ware said.

“They’re going to hit shots, they’re a good team, they’re going to have some plays go for them, but we have to cut their runs down, get back on defence and make sure we rebound.”

“Everything we’ve been doing to get wins; we hang our hat on defence so if we keep doing that, I think we’ll get the win.”

Getting the win is, of course, easier said than done. But Sydney’s dynamic floor leader is spot on about this team’s D, especially across the Kings’ four game winning streak and on display in their last-start overtime win against the Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong.

Going into that environment and holding a pumped-up Hawks to just 69 points in regulation was a fair effort to say the least – indeed, that word ‘effort’ is what Coach of the Year candidate Adam Forde is all about, and his beaten-up team has responded brilliantly.

Tremendous effort, especially defensively, is what’s held this undermanned squad in good stead this season. And it will need to be at an even greater level this Sunday, particularly if Brad Newley is unable to play due to a foot injury he suffered in the Illawarra victory.

That means even more will be on the shoulders of the electrifying Ware (19.2ppg, 3.5rpg, 4.2apg, 44.8% FG, 34.1% 3PT FG, 82.8% FT, 32.7mpg), who has carried this team at times this season at both ends of the court; Jarell Martin (17.1ppg, 6.9rpg, 52.8% FG, 44.4% 3PT FG, 73.8% FT, 24.1mpg) will also be relied on heavily and standout Most Improved Award candidate Jordan Hunter (8.2ppg, 6.2rpg, 58.4% FG, 64.4% FT, 19.6mpg) needs to remain aggressive and confident in the paint.

But others will also step up, including last week’s hero Craig Moller, who is having himself a heck of a NBL21 campaign; Daniel Kickert’s ability to stretch the floor will be a key as will the steadiness of Shaun Bruce, the three-point shooting of Tom Vodanovich and even the minutes of Sydney’s excellent development players.

United in Melbourne. It’s as big as a challenge as there is.

But for the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings, it’s not a challenge they will shrink from.

Rise With Us Sydney.

 

WHO

Sydney Kings vs. Melbourne United

WHEN

Sunday 2 May, 3:00pm AEST tipoff

LOCATION

John Cain Arena, Melbourne

TV/RADIO

SBS Viceland; SBS On Demand; NBL.TV; Cluch Radio, SWR99.9FM Radio

THE PLAYERS

Kings

Casper Ware (import); Shaun Bruce; Craig Moller; Jarell Martin (import); Jordan Hunter

Tom Vodanovich; Daniel Kickert; Dexter Kernich-Drew; Jaylin Galloway (development player); Archie Woodhill (development player); Lochlan Hutchison (development player)

United

Mitch McCarron; Chris Goulding; Sam McDaniel; Mason Peatling (development player); Jo Lual-Acuil

Scotty Hopson (import); Yudai Baba; Shea Ili; David Barlow; Sam Short (development player)

THE COACHES

Kings

Adam Forde (NBL rookie head coach, NBL career record 14-12)

United

Dean Vickerman (4^th season with United, record with United 82-43, NBL career record 133-83, two NBL championships)

2020/2021 REGULAR SEASON SERIES

Tied 1-1

United def. Kings 83-80 @ John Cain Arena, Melbourne, Round 7

Kings def. United 103-75 @ Qudos Bank Arena, Round 10

NBL LADDER

Kings 14-12, third

United 20-5, first

KEY STATS

Kings

Points: Casper Ware, 19.2ppg

Rebounds: Jarell Martin, 6.9rpg

Assists: Casper Ware, 4.2apg

United

Points: Chris Goulding, 15.9ppg

Rebounds: Jock Landale, 8.1rpg

Assists: Mitch McCarron, 4.7apg

KEY MATCHUP

Jordan Hunter vs. Jo Lual-Acuil

When Jordan last played against Melbourne, he had 18 points and four rebounds in a superb performance against Jock Landale – in contrast, Lual-Acuil went 0 for 8 from the field and had just one point and six boards off the bench. He’ll get the start this time and figures to be riding a wave of confidence given he is coming off a dominant display against New Zealand on Wednesday night. But speaking of confidence – that’s what Hunter is playing with by the bucketload right now. He was sensational in his team’s last start win over the Hawks and seemingly gets better each time out. This one is an intriguing matchup against a more traditional pivot in Jordan and a stretch-the-floor, athletic seven-footer in Lual-Acuil, and whoever controls the airspace up front might just help his team to the W.

THE QUESTIONS

Can Sydney maintain their outstanding recent form?

Will Casper Ware put on another show on the court he loves so much?

HISTORY

All-time Head-to-Head

31 games played; United leads 22-9

In Melbourne

15 games played; United leads 12-3

At John Cain Arena

14 games played; United leads 11-3

DID YOU KNOW?

Despite Melbourne’s overall dominance of this head-to-head matchup, Sydney have had a lot of recent success against United, winning six of their last eight games, including their 2-1 win over Melbourne in the NBL20 semi-final series. That semi-final was notable for one of the greatest comebacks in franchise history in the opening game of the series, when the purple and gold roared back from a 16-point deficit with seven minutes remaining and closed with a memorable 24-2 run to get the victory.