Round 16 Preview: Kings vs. Phoenix

By Matt McQuade

 

And so, it begins.

The march to the National Basketball League playoffs is on in earnest.

In the next few weeks, there will be epic clashes, surprises, upsets, blowouts, you name it, as teams jockey for one of only four spots in a ten-team league.

The beauty of the NBL competition that with playoff spots at a premium, every game is important, especially in the final third of the regular season.

And none more so than the clash between the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings and the South East Melbourne Phoenix at John Cain Arena in Melbourne this Saturday night.

These are two ballclubs who will be right in the thick of the playoff hunt the rest of the way in the minor rounds and in some ways, this result could figuratively count for double given how tight the ladder is right now.

South East Melbourne is coming off back-to-back losses to fellow championship aspirants Illawarra and Melbourne so they figure to be highly motivated to avoid another defeat that would see their playoff chances take a big hit.

But they’ll have to try and get a win without one of their stars, forward Ryan Broekhoff, who suffered a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder against United and will be out for four weeks.

His absence aside, the Phoenix is still a dangerous opponent loaded with talent, a fact of which Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings Head Coach Chase Buford is all too aware.

“The Phoenix are a tough outfit,” Coach Buford said.

“We played them last time in Melbourne and they had some guys missing, so we know they will be coming out ready to come get us.

“The fight is between us, them, Perth, Illawarra; they’re all huge games.

“For us, we have to come out and compete, do what we do and not worry about who the opponent is.

“Whoever it is, we’re coming out with a gameplan, try to come out, play the way we play, try and impose our will on the opponent and hopefully get a win no matter who the opponent is.”

Coach Buford is spot on. But he also understands this Phoenix team – who the Kings already boast two wins against this season – must have nothing less than his team’s complete attention.

Forward Mitch Creek (21.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.2apg, 1.3spg) is the heart and soul of South East Melbourne. The epitome of a relentless competitor, his ability to attack the rim with serious intent, step back and drain a triple and lead his teammates with energy and maximum intensity has made him an MVP candidate this season. Stop Creek, and you go a long way to stopping the Phoenix.

Then there’s import combo guard Xavier Munford (14.5ppg, 3.9rpg, 3.9apg, 1.0spg) who can fill it up in quick time when he’s in rhythm. He’s a smart, experienced, physical ballplayer who is tough to deal with, especially when he rumbles to the basket.

And of course, you’ve got a significant presence in the post in 7’1” Chinese superstar Zhou Qi (10.1ppg, 7.0rpg, 2.1bpg), who was outstanding against Melbourne last week and whose extreme length and post skills are going to be difficult for Sydney’s frontline to contain.

Phoenix Head Coach Simon Mitchell also has plenty of depth to cover for the injured Broekhoff through athletic import Brandon Ashley, livewire guards Kyle Adnam and Izayah Le’Afa and sharpshooters Cameron Gliddon and Reuben Te Rangi.

The Kings will be hoping they have all hands on deck for this critical matchup, so they will be sweating on the fitness of Xavier Cooks (14.9ppg, 9.7rpg, 2.2apg, 1.7bpg) who will be a game-time decision as he fights to recover from a sprained ankle.

Even without the two-way terror that X represents, Coach Buford has the luxury of unleashing the best point guard in the league at present and a standout MVP contender, one Jaylen Adams (20.8ppg, 5.0rpg, 6.1apg, 1.4spg). Jaylen was imperious against Cairns last week and he currently ranks in the NBL top ten in scoring, assists, steals, field goals made and free throw percentage. He’s a weapon that very few NBL teams possess.

Sydney is also fortunate to have big man Jarell Martin (16.2ppg, 8.7rpg, 1.1spg) in the fold. Jarell was hamstrung by foul trouble against the Taipans but was still highly effective, even in limited minutes, and his athleticism and quickness in the low block will give the Phoenix D plenty to think about.

One of the big keys to Sydney’s current season-high seven-game winning streak has been the team’s exceptional depth, highlighted again last week by a double-figure rebound haul from Makur Maker, who showed why he has been so highly touted.

MK, explosive import Ian Clark, offensive machine Dejan Vasiljevic, newly-crowned 50-gamer Angus Glover, defensive menace Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, underrated forward Tom Vodanovich and tough as nails guard Shaun Bruce give Coach Buford multiple options to throw at enemy teams and they’ll all be required to make a significant contribution this Saturday in Melbourne.

Now’s the time for the purple and gold to show their championship pedigree.

It won’t be easy. The Phoenix will throw everything at the Kings.

But this is one confident bunch representing the Hoops Capital.

They’ll be primed to put a big hurt on their challengers this Saturday.

Let’s do this.

 

WHO

Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings vs. South East Melbourne Phoenix

WHEN

Saturday 19 March, 8:00pm tipoff AEST

LOCATION

John Cain Arena, Melbourne

TV

ESPN, Kayo Sports

RADIO

Cluch Radio

THE PLAYERS

Kings

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

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

Phoenix

Xavier Munford (import); Izayah Le’Afa; Cameron Gliddon; Mitch Creek; Zhou Qi (special restricted player)

Brandon Ashley (import); Kyle Adnam; Dane Pineau; Tohi Smith-Milner; Lachlan Barker (replacement player); Tristan Forsyth (development player); Owen Foxwell (development player); Keon Sapwell (development player)

THE COACHES

Kings

Chase Buford (NBL rookie head coach, record 12-7)

Phoenix

Simon Mitchell (3^rd season with Phoenix, record 39-43)

2021/2022 REGULAR SEASON SERIES

Kings lead 2-0

Kings def. Phoenix 84-73 @ Qudos Bank Arena, Round 3

Kings def. Phoenix 92-87 @ John Cain Arena, Melbourne, Round 11

NBL LADDER

Kings 12-7, third

Phoenix 11-7, fourth

LAST GAME

Kings def. Cairns Taipans 86-77 @ Cairns Convention Centre, Round 15

Phoenix lost to Melbourne United 98-90 @ John Cain Arena, Round 15

KEY STATS

Kings

Points: Jaylen Adams, 20.8ppg

Rebounds: Xavier Cooks, 9.7rpg

Assists: Jaylen Adams, 6.1apg

Phoenix

Points: Mitch Creek, 21.6ppg

Rebounds: Zhou Qi, 7.0rpg

Assists: Xavier Munford, 3.9apg

KEY MATCHUP

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk vs. Xavier Munford

It’s more traditional to think of point guards going mano a mano, so the obvious matchup in this instance would seem to include Jaylen Adams, but typically he won’t pick up the opposition floor leader, with that job given to Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, who in recent times has defended the likes of Bryce Cotton and Scott Machado and as always has done a stellar job. Indeed, Swaka Lo Buluk is a guy for whom stats are irrelevant when evaluating his importance to the team – ask the Kings’ coaching staff and they’ll tell you that Wani is an unsung hero for his ballclub. He’ll be set the responsibility of restricting Xavier Munford and it’s a task he will relish, even though Munford can be explosive offensively. If Sydney’s defensive tagger can make life miserable for the South East Melbourne import, it will go a long way to ensuring the Kings’ win streak increases yet again.

THE QUESTIONS

Can the Kings continue their dominance of the Phoenix at John Cain Arena?

Will Jarell Martin’s quicks be too much for Zhou Qi to handle?

HISTORY

All-time Head-to-Head – Phoenix

10 games played; Kings lead 9-1

In Melbourne

5 games played; Kings lead 5-0

At John Cain Arena

5 games played; Kings lead 5-0

DID YOU KNOW?

Last week, the Kings shot 20 for 20 from the free throw line in their win over the Cairns Taipans. That’s the second-best performance in a game from the charity stripe in franchise history and just the fifth time that Sydney has gone perfect from the foul line in an NBL game when shooting at least ten free throws. The all-time Kings’ record is 21 of 21, set in Round 12 of the 2014/2015 season against the New Zealand Breakers at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. And the all-time best free throw shooting streak for the club is 34 consecutive made across three games of the 2014/15 season, including that 21/21 perfect outing.

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