Preview: Round 21 vs Hawks and Bullets
Written by Matt McQuade for Kings Media
Two for two.
That’s the equation for the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings.
They have two games remaining in the NBL21 regular season, and currently sit in fifth place on the ladder with a 17-17 record.
To have a chance at reaching the NBL Finals, the purple and gold must sweep those games, starting in Wollongong on Thursday night against the Hawks at WIN Entertainment Centre and then the battle against the Brisbane Bullets on Saturday night at Qudos Bank Arena.
After their epic double-overtime victory over Melbourne United last week, a must-win game that kept their playoff hopes alive and showcased the incredible resiliency this tough-minded group has demonstrated time and again this season, making the playoffs would be a just reward for a team that has dealt with more than their fair share of adversity.
But this is an enormous challenge to close their 2021 campaign.
For starters, as we’ve seen time and again, for Illawarra fans it doesn’t get any better than beating the Sydney Kings. Especially if beating them means that the Kings miss the playoffs, which will be the case on Thursday.
So, you can expect a raucous WIN Entertainment Centre crowd who will make it their mission to put on as much heat as possible. Not that it will faze the Kings too much – the last time they played in that environment they came away with a brilliant overtime victory courtesy of a Craig Moller three pointer with 14 seconds left in the extra session.
But Illawarra – who have gone through their own issues this season with marquee players Deng Adel and Cameron Bairstow not working out – are now the hottest team in the league with five straight wins and are riding a wave of confidence right now after confirming their place in the NBL21 playoffs with a thrilling win at home on Tuesday night against the Perth Wildcats.
Given their form, and the talent and experience on their roster, that confidence is justified. Tyler Harvey is an excitement machine at point guard who loves to either launch bombs from the carpark or attack off the dribble and launch his floater in the paint. Justinian Jessup is a catch and shoot specialist with the ability to bust apart any defence. Justin Simon is a defensive menace who can guard multiple positions. AJ Ogilvy and Sam Froling are a formidable frontcourt combo.
Then there’s the Illawarra bench, which has stabilised and become very productive since the addition of the previously retired Tim Coenraad. They’ve got multiple perimeter threats, a solid facilitator in Emmett Naar and an X-factor in former King Deng Deng.
And then it goes without saying that they are coached by the legendary Brian Goorjian, who with the win over Perth has achieved his 21st consecutive NBL Final Four appearance and 20 wins or more in the NBL regular season for the 11th straight time.
Right now, Illawarra at home is a tough enough task for the purple and gold. But then, if they get past that, they have to refocus quickly and make sure they take care of business at home on Saturday against a talented yet erratic Brisbane Bullets outfit that, depending on other results, may be in a position on Saturday to make the playoffs should they get the win.
In an up and down season that has seen import changes and the announcement that Head Coach Andrej Lemanis will be leaving the club at the end of NBL21, Brisbane has been alternatively brilliant and disappointing. But they have also shown that they have the talent on their roster to beat any team and can never be taken lightly – they have victories this season over both Melbourne and Perth and the last time they played the Kings they inflicted a 93-70 defeat on the purple and gold at Nissan Arena.
The obvious starting point when talking about the Bullets is what to do about Nathan Sobey. The explosive guard can be devastating in transition and he can get extremely hot from the perimeter if given the opportunity.
Then there’s the ultra-talented Lamar Patterson who when fully engaged can hurt you in a variety of ways; Anthony Drmic is a sharpshooter who got off the leash in the last game the two teams played; second import BJ Johnson can put up some numbers; Jason Cadee is always a threat and the frontcourt has serious size and depth with Matt Hodgson, Tyrell Harrison and Harry Froling.
No matter what on Saturday, the Kings will be determined to put their best foot forward given that the night also serves as a tribute to the greatest big man this country has ever produced, the mighty Andrew Bogut, who is now transitioning into a role as a part-owner of the organisation.
Bogut led the Kings to the playoffs in each of his two seasons including the NBL20 Grand Final, was the NBL20 MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, and finished his playing stint with Sydney as all-time top ten for the franchise in blocked shots and field goal percentage.
A great performance and, of course, a win, would be fitting to honour the career of a man who has given so much to the game during his illustrious career. Expect Casper Ware to leave it all out on the floor with his relentless activity at both ends of the floor; Xavier Cooks’ athleticism and low post game will be a huge key; Jarell Martin could go off for serious numbers; Craig Moller will provide the energy and intensity each moment he’s on the floor and Shaun Bruce, Brad Newley, Daniel Kickert and Tom Vodanovich will bring toughness and veteran nous to the battle.
This is it Kings fans. It’s all on the line. Win or go home.
Two wins in Round 21. There’s no other option.
Let’s do this.
Rise With Us Sydney.
WHO
Sydney Kings vs. Illawarra Hawks
Sydney Kings vs. Brisbane Bullets
WHEN
Thursday June 3, 7:30pm AEST tipoff (vs. Hawks)
Saturday June 5, 8:00pm AEST tipoff (vs. Bullets)
LOCATION
Thursday: WIN Entertainment Centre (vs. Hawks)
Saturday: Qudos Bank Arena (vs. Bullets)
TICKETS
Thursday vs. Hawks available HERE
Saturday vs. Bullets available HERE
TV/RADIO
Thursday: ESPN; SBS On Demand; NBL.TV; Cluch Radio, SWR99.9FM Radio
Saturday: ESPN; SBS On Demand; NBL.TV; Cluch Radio, SWR99.9FM Radio
THE PLAYERS
Kings
Casper Ware (import); Shaun Bruce; Xavier Cooks; Jarell Martin (import); Jordan Hunter
Brad Newley; Craig Moller; Tom Vodanovich; Daniel Kickert; Jarrad Weeks; Jaylin Galloway (development player); Archie Woodhill (development player); Lochlan Hutchison (development player)
Hawks
Tyler Harvey (import); Justin Simon (import); Justinian Jessup (Next Star); Sam Froling; AJ Ogilvy
Emmett Naar; Isaac White; Deng Deng; Daniel Grida; Tim Coenraad; Max Darling; Akoldah Gak (development player); Lachy Dent (development player)
Bullets
Nathan Sobey; BJ Johnson (import); Anthony Drmic; Lamar Patterson (import); Matthew Hodgson
Jason Cadee; Harry Froling; Tyrell Harrison; Tamuri Wigness; Tanner Krebs; Blake Jones (development player); Callum Dalton (development player)
THE COACHES
Kings
Adam Forde (NBL rookie head coach, NBL career record 17-17)
Hawks
Brian Goorjian (1st season with Hawks, record with Hawks 20-15, NBL career record 534-236, six NBL championships)
Bullets
Andrej Lemanis (5th season with Bullets, record with Bullets 64-83, NBL career record 214-191, three NBL championships)
2020/2021 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Vs. Hawks
Hawks lead 2-1
Hawks def. Kings 85-82 @ Qudos Bank Arena, Round 5
Hawks def. Kings 89-69 @ John Cain Arena, Melbourne, Round 9 (NBL Cup)
Kings def. Hawks 79-75 (OT) @ WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Round 15
Vs. Bullets
Series tied 2-2
Bullets def. Kings 90-87 @ Nissan Arena, Brisbane, Round 3
Kings def. Bullets 119-108 @ John Cain Arena, Melbourne, Round 9 (NBL Cup)
Kings def. Bullets 90-71 @ Qudos Bank Arena, Round 12
Bullets def. Kings 93-70 @ Nissan Arena, Brisbane, Round 18
NBL LADDER
Kings 17-17, fifth
Hawks 20-15, third
Bullets 16-17, sixth
KEY STATS
Kings
Points: Casper Ware, 18.0ppg
Rebounds: Jarell Martin, 6.8rpg
Assists: Casper Ware, 4.3apg
Hawks
Points: Tyler Harvey, 20.4ppg
Rebounds: Sam Froling, 6.9rpg
Assists: Tyler Harvey, 3.1apg
Bullets
Points: Nathan Sobey, 21.2ppg
Rebounds: Matt Hodgson, 7.1rpg
Assists: Nathan Sobey, 4.5apg
KEY MATCHUP
Vs. Hawks
Casper Ware vs. Tyler Harvey
Harvey is yet another in the long line of Illawarra Hawks superstar guards, a lineage that goes all the way back to the great Doug Overton in 1992. He’s carried the Hawks offensively for most of the season, and is their version of Perth’s Bryce Cotton. Left-handed, athletic, super-quick and with perimeter range that makes him a threat to score the moment he passes the halfcourt line, he’s an absolute terror who is even getting some buzz for league MVP this season. Ware continues to play relentless defence from baseline to baseline and will do everything he can to make life for Harvey as difficult as possible; the Kings will be hoping he can hit the scoreboard as well down the other end of the floor.
Vs. Bullets
Xavier Cooks vs. Lamar Patterson
Rested for most of the second half as a precaution in the Kings’ magnificent win over Melbourne last week, Xavier is raring to go in these final two regular season games and in this matchup is going to be very effective thanks to his quickness, his length and his athleticism, all attributes Lamar Patterson struggles to deal with. Look for the Kings to make X a focus offensively whenever he’s isolated against the Brisbane forward. Patterson still presents a problem with his size inside, ability to post up and create for others then stretch it out to the three-point line, so he can’t be taken lightly, but if Cooks stays aggressive and puts a ton of heat on the rim, Sydney will be in great shape.
THE QUESTIONS
Will the Kings quiet the Hawkheads yet again?
Can the Kings get a big win in the Andrew Bogut Tribute game?
HISTORY
Vs. Hawks
All-time Head-to-Head
101 games played; Kings lead 55-46
In Wollongong
48 games played; series tied 24-24
At WIN Entertainment Centre
36 games played; series tied 18-18
Vs. Bullets
All-time Head-to-Head
82 games played; Kings lead 46-36
In Sydney
39 games played; Kings lead 28-11
At Qudos Bank Arena
13 games played; Kings lead 10-3
DID YOU KNOW?
Two wins for the Kings this weekend could see them reach the NBL playoffs for the third consecutive season. The only other time the team had a playoff streak of at least three seasons was between 2002 and 2008, when the purple and gold went to the playoffs six straight times, made the Grand Final in five of those six seasons and won their three NBL championships.
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