Round 13 Preview: Kings vs. 36ers

By Matt McQuade

 

Look out.

The Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings just might be the real deal.

And that’s a daunting prospect for every other club in the National Basketball League.

On the back of their spectacular, epic victory over the Perth Wildcats last Saturday night at Qudos Bank Arena, the purple and gold are now the hottest team in the competition, riding a season-high four-game winning streak.

As they head into their sole game in Round 13 – a matchup on the road this Sunday afternoon against the Adelaide 36ers at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre – count Head Coach Chase Buford as one man who likes how his ballclub is tracking right now.

“I think we’re obviously trending in an upwards direction,” Coach Buford said.

“We’ve had some growing pains in a number of areas, but one of the things that’s held us back is getting a consistent unit on the floor. We’ve just started to do that and have a settled group.”

“I’ve always felt good about our group from the get-go in terms of the way we guarded. It was just a matter of time once we got bodies back on the floor that the offence would start to click.”

Indeed, the Kings’ defence – ranked in the top three in the league in fewest points allowed per game, defensive field goal percentage, defensive rebounding percentage and defensive rating – has been a key to their recent form.

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But it’s the offence that has come around of late, highlighted by a 98-point explosion against the Wildcats, and that’s primarily down to Sydney’s Big Three of Jaylen Adams (20.0ppg, 5.8rpg, 5.9apg, 1.5spg), Jarell Martin (16.6ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.1spg) and Xavier Cooks (13.8ppg, 9.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.7bpg).

Adams, who in the NBL22 MVP conversation, again outpointed Bryce Cotton in Sydney’s win at the Q last week, just as he did in the first matchup between the two superstars this season; both Martin and Cooks have been superb up front for the Kings, dominating Perth in the second half as they combined for 39 points and 16 rebounds while shooting the ball at 68% from the field.

Collectively, one of Adams, Cooks and Martin has led the Kings in scoring and assists in 13 of 16 games this season, and led the team in rebounding all 16 games.

And against an Adelaide ballclub that has been struggling at times this season, Sydney’s three stars have the potential to do some serious damage.

Chase Buford is well aware that having three players the calibre of the Kings’ Big Three on the same team is a rare advantage in the NBL.

“Having all three players on the court is huge and our numbers when they are on the floor are pretty darn good,” Chase said.

“I’ve been trying to find ways to get them on the floor as much as we can.”

“They’re terrific. Both X and Jarell – the way they guard, the way they rebound at the defensive end helps us so much; and Jaylen helps out there as well.”

“Those three carry a big bulk of the load; offensively they are playmakers, can score in different ways and they make the game easier for our other guys like DJ (Dejan Vasiljevic) in helping to space the floor.”

Last Saturday, Kings’ fans got a glimpse of new import Ian Clark for the first time, and it was hard not to be impressed. The 2017 NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors nailed a three with his first shot, hit three of four from downtown and played excellent defence down the stretch.

He adds to a deep guard rotation that already includes an MVP candidate in Jaylen Adams, a shooter-deluxe in Dejan Vasiljevic, a solid veteran in Shaun Bruce and an exciting young talent in Biwali Bayles.

Sydney will go in as favourites on Sunday, but it won’t be easy against an Adelaide squad that still has enough talent to provide a stern test, led by frontline offensive threat Daniel Johnson (14.7ppg, 6.8rpg, 2.0apg) and outstanding leader Mitch McCarron (7.4ppg, 7.3rpg, 5.2apg, 1.5spg). Johnson is one of the best scoring forwards in the NBL; McCarron impacts the game in a variety of ways.

Then you’ve got the outside shooting of Dusty Hannahs, the low post skills of Cameron Bairstow, the stifling defence of Sunday Dech and the size of Kai Sotto to contend with.

“They’re a good team and their size is definitely imposing at times,” Coach Buford said.

“Mitch McCarron is a championship-level guard who can run a team and get people what they want; Dusty and Todd (Withers) I’ve coached against in the G-League and they’re both capable players and scorers.”

“We’ll have to be on our game and really be up for a physical challenge.”

The Kings are on a roll right now.

Can they make it five straight victories for the first time since the NBL20 campaign?

Adelaide will be tough at home. But the purple and gold is focused on getting the job done this Sunday.

Let’s go Sydney.

 

WHO

Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings vs. Adelaide 36ers

WHEN

Sunday 27 February, 1:00pm tipoff AEST

LOCATION

Adelaide Entertainment Centre

TV

ESPN, Kayo Sports, 10 Peach

THE PLAYERS

Kings

Jaylen Adams (import); Dejan Vasiljevic; Wani Swaka Lo Buluk; Xavier Cooks; Jarell Martin (import)

Ian Clark (import); Angus Glover; Shaun Bruce; Biwali Bayles; Tom Vodanovich; Jaylin Galloway (development player); Jayden Hodgson (development Player); Ignatius Mitchell (development player)

36ers

Mitch McCarron; Sunday Dech; Todd Withers (import); Daniel Johnson; Cameron Bairstow

Dusty Hannahs (import); Tad Dufelmeier Jr; Kai Sotto (Next Star); Emmanuel Malou; Hyrum Harris; Nick Marshall (development player); Isaac Gattorna (development player); Lachlan Olbrich (development player)

THE COACHES

Kings

Chase Buford (NBL rookie head coach, record 9-7)

36ers

CJ Bruton (NBL rookie head coach, record 5-7)

2021/2022 REGULAR SEASON SERIES

First meeting

NBL LADDER

Kings 9-7, fourth

36ers 5-7, seventh

LAST GAME

Kings def. Perth Wildcats 98-95 @ Qudos Bank Arena, Round 12

36ers def. Cairns Taipans 82-71 @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Round 12

KEY STATS

Kings

Points: Jaylen Adams, 20.0ppg

Rebounds: Xavier Cooks, 9.4rpg

Assists: Jaylen Adams, 5.9apg

36ers

Points: Daniel Johnson, 14.7ppg

Rebounds: Cameron Bairstow, 8.6rpg

Assists: Mitch McCarron, 5.2apg

KEY MATCHUP

Jarell Martin vs. Daniel Johnson

What’s most interesting about this matchup is how similar they are in what they provide to their team at the offensive end of the floor. Both can score inside and out; both have quality post moves, and both can impact a game significantly with their production. Johnson may not have Martin’s athleticism or quicks but he can be just as damaging with his ability to stretch the floor, nail the tough fadeaway and draw fouls attacking the rim. Jarell was sensational in the fourth quarter last week and he’ll look to be even more prolific versus a guy in Johnson whose defence is questionable to say the least. Sydney’s big forward has the potential to go for monster numbers if isolated one on one against DJ.

THE QUESTIONS

Can the Kings get another win on the road?

Will Jaylen Adams put on another offensive show?

HISTORY

All-time Head-to-Head

98 games played; 36ers lead 55-43

In Adelaide

49 games played; 36ers lead 33-16

At Adelaide Entertainment Centre

3 games played; Kings lead 2-1

DID YOU KNOW?

Last Saturday, Jaylen Adams became the first Kings’ player since the one and only Dwayne ‘D-Train’ McClain way back in 1991 to score at least 30 points in consecutive games against the Perth Wildcats. McClain had 38 and 40 in two games against the Wildcats in the ’91 season. Jaylen also became just the fifth Kings player to register 10 assists in a game against Perth, joining Steve Carfino (1988), Mark Dalton (1995), Shane Heal (4 times) and Jerome Randle (2019).

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