Round 10 Preview: United and Taipans

Written by Matt McQuade for Kings Media 

Welcome home.

It’s been too long, and it’s great to see you.

Those should be the sentiments of every fan of the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings when the team finally returns to Qudos Bank Arena this week.

The purple and gold last played at their spectacular arena more than a month ago and have spent that time in Melbourne contesting the inaugural NBL Cup. Now, thankfully, the boys are back in the Harbour City.

Kings’ fans will be treated to a home and home double in Round 10 of the National Basketball League, with the team engaging in a blockbuster matchup against league favourites Melbourne United on Friday night before backing up for a Sunday afternoon clash against the Cairns Taipans.

And the squad is coming into this weekend in good form after their brilliant second half against Brisbane last Saturday night, when they torched the Bullets for a massive 71 points enroute to a 119-108 victory.

Sydney’s offensive explosion, coupled with an improved defensive effort against the Bullets in the final 20 minutes, should hold them in good stead against a pair of clubs who will both pose a serious challenge this weekend.

Of course, Melbourne is first-up, and United is currently on what can be described as an unexpected three-game losing streak, considering their star centre, Jock Landale (16.9ppg, 7.9rpg, 2.4apg, 1.7bpg, 51.7% FG, 36.7% 3PT FG, 72.0% FT, 29.4mpg) proclaimed in the preseason that the goal of his team was to go through NBL21 undefeated.

United had won their opening 10 games of the season before a recent slump saw them drop games to Brisbane, South East Melbourne Phoenix, and Illawarra, but during their season-opening winning streak they managed to squeak past the Kings in a game that Head Coach Adam Forde felt his team let get away from them.

Despite being without import Scotty Hopson and key forward Jack White this Friday, United still boasts a ton of depth, with Landale a focal point inside and guards Mitch McCarron (11.9ppg, 4.8rpg, 4.6apg, 1.6spg, 46.3% FG, 35.2% 3PT FG, 82.8% FT, 32.0mpg) and Chris Goulding (17.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.4apg, 42.7% FG, 42.1% 3PT FG, 90.9% FT, 27.3mpg) the keys on the perimeter.

And there are a number of Melbourne players outside that formidable Big Three who can also do some damage, including Japanese star Yudai Baba, backup point guard Shea Ili, athletic pivot Jo Lual-Acuil and veteran forward David Barlow.

Once they’ve dealt with what figures to be a stern test from a United squad desperate to get back on the winning ledger, Sydney takes on a Cairns outfit that has been disappointing this season but does have two wins over the Kings in the first three games played between the two teams in NBL21, with the most recent a 96-92 decision in Round 8.

In that game, superstar Taipan point guard Scott Machado (17.9ppg, 3.8rpg, 8.1apg, 42.4% FG, 39.4% 3PT FG, 78.3% FT, 32.5mpg) had 24 points and five assists in a great individual duel with Sydney’s Casper Ware, and there’s no doubt the Kings’ floor general will be determined to get one back on his rival.

Of course, you can’t talk about the Taipans without mentioning their explosive forward Cameron Oliver (17.0ppg, 9.3rpg, 1.5bpg, 50.7% FG, 35.1% 3PT FG, 76.4% FT), who has been tough for the Kings to deal with over the past couple of seasons, nor behemoth Nathan Jawai, who had 22 points on 10 of 12 shooting in his last game against the Kings and is a man that Sydney’s Jordan Hunter must control in the low block.

But the Kings should enter this weekend with a great deal of confidence, not least of which because they get to experience the great support of the best fanbase in the league. But also because of guys like Rookie of the Year candidate Dejan Vasiljevic (17.9ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.9apg, 48.8% FG, 45.2% 3PT FG, 86.7% FT, 29.3mpg) who has been remarkable at times this season; while import big Jarell Martin (17.4ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.1apg, 53.0% FG, 35.3% 3PT FG, 74.4% FT, 24.1mpg) was sensational in limited minutes against Brisbane and his post moves are virtually unstoppable and Casper Ware (20.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 4.3apg, 45.6% FG, 37.4% 3PT FG, 84.3% FT, 32.2mpg) is having an MVP-type season.

Kings’ fans, this is a huge weekend for your team. Now is the time the boys need you to be loud and proud and turn Qudos Bank Arena into a fortress, as the club looks to sweep this two-game homestand. Bring the passion and intensity on Friday night and Sunday afternoon and help your team turn back Melbourne and Cairns.

Rise With Us Sydney.

 

WHO

Sydney Kings vs. Melbourne United

Sydney Kings vs. Cairns Taipans

WHEN

Friday 19 March, 7:30pm AEDT tipoff (vs. United)

Sunday 21 March, 5:00pm AEDT tipoff (vs. Taipans)

LOCATION

Qudos Bank Arena

TICKETS

Friday night vs. United available HERE

Sunday afternoon vs. Taipans available HERE

TV/RADIO

Friday night: ESPN; SBS On Demand; NBL.TV; Cluch Radio; SWR99.9FM Radio

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

THE PLAYERS

Kings

Casper Ware (import); Dejan Vasiljevic; Didi Louzada (Next Star); Jarell Martin (import); Jordan Hunter

Brad Newley; Craig Moller; Shaun Bruce; Tom Vodanovich; Daniel Kickert; Jaylin Galloway (development player); Archie Woodhill (development player)

United

Mitch McCarron; Chris Goulding; Yudai Baba; David Barlow; Jock Landale

Jo Lual-Acuil; Shea Ili; Mason Peatling; Sam Short; Sam McDaniel; Dillon Stith (import)

Taipans

Scott Machado (import); Mirko Djeric; Kouat Noi; Fabijan Krslovic; Cameron Oliver (import)

Nathan Jawai; Jarrod Kenny; Mojave King (Next Star); George Blagojevic; Jordan Ngatai

THE COACHES

Kings

Adam Forde (NBL rookie head coach, NBL career record 7-8)

United

Dean Vickerman (3^rd season with United, record with United 72-42, NBL career record 123-82, two NBL championships)

Taipans

Mike Kelly, (3^rd season with Taipans, NBL career record 27-48)

2020/2021 REGULAR SEASON SERIES

Vs: United

United lead 1-0

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

Vs: Taipans

Taipans lead 2-1

Taipans def. Kings 87-86 @ Cairns Pop Up Arena, Round 1

Kings def. Taipans 99-91 @ Cairns Pop Up Arena, Round 2

Taipans def. Kings 96-92 @ State Basketball Centre, Melbourne, Round 8

NBL LADDER

Kings 7-8, sixth

United 10-4, first

Taipans 4-12, ninth

KEY STATS

Kings

Points: Casper Ware, 20.5ppg

Rebounds: Jarell Martin, 6.3rpg

Assists: Casper Ware, 4.3apg

United

Points: Chris Goulding, 17.5ppg

Rebounds: Jock Landale, 7.9rpg

Assists: Mitch McCarron, 4.6apg

Taipans

Points: Scott Machado, 17.9ppg

Rebounds: Cameron Oliver, 9.3rpg

Assists: Scott Machado, 8.1apg

KEY MATCHUP (vs. United)

Dejan Vasiljevic vs. Chris Goulding

In some ways, this is a matchup of the present and the future; a battle between an established star in the National Basketball League and one of the best rookies the competition has seen in years. Goulding’s game is well known, and his strengths are obvious. He moves without the ball extremely well; he has a quick trigger on his jumper, and he can score in a variety of ways that makes him a nightmare to defend. Vasiljevic is still learning his craft at the professional level, but already is showing that any time he steps on the court he’s a threat to go for serious numbers. He’s got great shooting mechanics, he’s strong with the ball and highly intelligent, and there’s no question Melbourne’s scouting report will be focused on where Dejan is on the floor at all times.

KEY MATCHUP (vs. Taipans)

Casper Ware vs. Scott Machado

Really, could it be anyone else? Right now, these two are clearly in the upper echelon of NBL point guards and they always have tremendous head-to-head battles – expect nothing less on Sunday. It’s almost redundant to say that as Machado goes, so go the Taipans, such is his importance to his team. He leads the league in assists as an outstanding facilitator, he generally makes excellent decisions, and his outside shooting has been much improved over the past couple of seasons. For his part, Ware has led the way for the Kings all season. Casper was sensational in the clutch against Brisbane last week with his late threes essentially winning the game for his team, and the great thing about him is he does it at both ends and carries an enormous load for the purple and gold without ever shirking his responsibilities.

THE QUESTIONS

Can Jordan Hunter do the job against Melbourne’s Jock Landale?

Will the Kings continue the Taipans’ recent slide?

HISTORY (vs. United)

All-time Head-to-Head

30 games played, United leads 22-8

In Sydney

15 games played, United leads 10-5

At Qudos Bank Arena

11 games played, United leads 6-5

HISTORY (vs. Taipans)

All-time Head-to-Head

67 games played; Kings lead 49-18

In Sydney

32 games played; Kings lead 26-6

At Qudos Bank Arena

12 games played; Kings lead 11-1

DID YOU KNOW?

There are milestones this week for two Sydney Kings, and they are both identical, with both Casper Ware and Shaun Bruce playing their 50^th game in purple and gold this Friday night, becoming the 61^st and 62^nd players in franchise history to reach that mark. And after some recent brilliance from the foul line – he made 23 straight at one stage – Casper now ranks eighth all-time in free throw shooting percentage for the Kings, converting from the charity stripe over his 49 games at a 79.3% clip.