Round 19 Preview: Kings vs. Breakers

By Matt McQuade

 

Keep working.

Keep building.

Finish strong.

That’s what it’s all about right now for the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings, as they continue their torrid sequence of four games in nine days with a battle this Tuesday night against the New Zealand Breakers at Bendigo Basketball Stadium.

Winners of an incredible 11 straight games, the Kings are coming off a victory last Saturday against the Adelaide 36ers where they weren’t at their devastating best offensively and had to lean on a stifling defence that has steadily improved throughout this NBL22 campaign.

That defensive effort and intent is something Head Coach Chase Buford has constantly emphasised to his team ever since he arrived in this country and it stood them in good stead against the 36ers, particularly in a third quarter where they restricted Adelaide to 4 of 22 shooting and just one field goal in the final six minutes.

But there’s no time to rest on any laurels for the purple and gold as they seek to lock in a playoff berth with at least two wins in their next three contests.

And it’s a challenge that Coach Buford is relishing.

“It’s a lot of travel and a lot of games,” Chase said.

“I like it. I love playing and I’m sure my guys do too.

“But it will be a challenge for our group, especially with Ian (Clark) down and ‘Brucey’ (Shaun Bruce) down.

“As a collective, we’ll have to make up for their absence.”

Clark will be a game-time decision for the Breakers’ game thanks to a niggling groin injury. With Bruce not expected back for another week, it has left the Kings a bit thin in the backcourt, albeit they can always count on the energiser bunny off the bench, Biwali Bayles, to give them quality minutes.

“Whenever Coach calls my name; whenever I get the opportunity to come in, the only thing I really know is to give energy,” Biwali said.

“I try to make plays and do whatever it takes to win.

“It’s not something that I feel I have to do, it’s what I do regardless.”

Sydney will need plenty of that energy from their star rookie against a Breaker unit that while beaten down emotionally from the toll a long absence from New Zealand has taken, still has been competitive in some big games the season, including an epic encounter against the Perth Wildcats where they should have won only to be denied by some Bryce Cotton magic.

Let’s also not forget that the Breakers do boast a win over the Kings this season – an 82-75 shocker at the Q back in Round 7.

This remains a scary team, no matter their current plight. And no one doubts that top to bottom the Breakers have a lot of talent.

It starts with their big man in the middle, Yanni Wetzell (17.5ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.6spg, 1.1bpg), whose mobility and toughness in the post make him a difficult cover.

Hugo Besson (14.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.4apg) is a deadly shooter and flat-out scorer with zero conscience. His fellow Frenchman Ousmane Dieng (9.1ppg, 3.2rpg) is a serious talent with great size who can stretch the floor or attack the paint for a rim-rattling dunk. He gave the Kings fits in the last game these two teams played at Qudos Bank Arena and must be accounted for at all times.

And Peyton Siva (12.5ppg, 2.6rpg, 4.8apg) is a terrific floor leader when healthy and a great matchup for Sydney’s superstar point guard Jaylen Adams.

Forget New Zealand’s record and the fact they are liable to wind up with the wooden spoon this season. The Breakers can really score the ball; they boast perimeter threats up and down the roster and when they get in a flow offensively, they can be tough to deal with.

Sydney will need to be locked in if they are to escape with a W, and as it was in Adelaide, when everyone on the roster did their part, it will take a collective effort on Tuesday.

Fortunately, the purple and gold have the troops to get the job done against a team that while offensively potent has been leaking a ton of points at the defensive end and is vulnerable to the kind of balls to the wall transition offence the Kings employ.

From the imperious Adams and his playmaking genius, to Jarell Martin and his devastating inside-outside game; Xavier Cooks with his ridiculous length and prodigious talent, the ultra-confidence of Dejan Vasiljevic and a bench that continues to improve – the Sydney Kings have enough to get by New Zealand in Bendigo.

But it won’t be easy.

It’s another game on the road to the playoffs.

Another chance to get better.

Another opportunity to enhance those championship credentials.

The Pride of Sydney is on the march.

12 straight beckons.

 

WHO

Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings vs. New Zealand Breakers

WHEN

Tuesday 12 April, 7:30pm tipoff AEST

LOCATION

Bendigo Basketball Stadium

TV

ESPN, Kayo Sports

RADIO

Cluch Radio

THE PLAYERS

Kings

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

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

Breakers

Peyton Siva (import); Chesson Randle (import) Thomas Abercrombie; Finn Delany; Yanni Wetzell

Hugo Besson (import); Ousmane Dieng (Next Star); Will McDowell White; Robert Loe; Kyrin Galloway; Sam Timmins (development player); Rasmus Bach; Isaac Davidson

THE COACHES

Kings

Chase Buford (NBL rookie head coach, record 16-7)

Breakers

Dan Shamir (3^rd season with Breakers, NBL record 29-45)

2021/2022 REGULAR SEASON SERIES

Tied 1-1

Breakers def. Kings 82-75 @ Qudos Bank Arena, Round 7

Kings def. Breakers 84-65 @ Qudos Bank Arena, Round 10

NBL LADDER

Kings 16-7, second

Breakers 5-20, tenth

LAST GAME

Kings def. Adelaide 36ers 84-77 @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Round 19

Breakers lost to South East Melbourne Phoenix 99-89 @ Bendigo Basketball Stadium, Round 19

KEY STATS

Kings

Points: Jaylen Adams, 19.9ppg

Rebounds: Xavier Cooks, 9.3rpg

Assists: Jaylen Adams, 6.3apg

Breakers

Points: Yanni Wetzell, 17.5ppg

Rebounds: Yanni Wetzell, 7.9rpg

Assists: Peyton Siva, 4.8apg

KEY MATCHUP

Jaylen Adams vs. Peyton Siva

The first time these two met this season, Siva took the points in their head-to-head duel and the Breakers got the victory. The second time, Adams was dominant and Sydney proved too strong. Do the math. Whoever comes out on top in their individual matchup – whether or not they defend one another – their respective teams are likely to get the W. We haven’t really seen the best from Peyton Siva this season due to some ongoing injuries, but when he’s healthy he’s proven that he’s an elite facilitator and one of the smartest players in the league. Jaylen Adams on the other hand started slowly thanks to injury but is healthy now and one of the genuine unstoppable players in the NBL. He had a down game by his lofty standards against Adelaide and there’s no question he’ll be highly motivated to put on a show in Bendigo. These two are as good as it gets at the point guard spot in this country and this battle is worth the price of admission on its own.

THE QUESTIONS

Can the Kings shut down New Zealand’s high-powered offence?

Will Sydney’s varied attack prove too hot for the Breakers to handle?

HISTORY

All-time Head-to-Head

60 games played; Kings lead 31-29

DID YOU KNOW?

Tuesday is an unusual day in the week to play an NBL game for the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings. Including their first Tuesday night game in May 1995, a 114-100 win over the Perth Wildcats at the Perth Entertainment Centre, the Kings have played a total of just 13 games on a Tuesday night out of their 998 NBL games they have contested to date. Sydney’s record on Tuesday night is a mediocre 6-7 and the Kings have lost their past five Tuesday night games. The last time Sydney won on Tuesday was when they demolished Brisbane 113-79 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in Game One of the 2004/2005 semi-final series.

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