Round 20 Preview: Kings vs. Hawks

By Matt McQuade

 

The game schedulers at the National Basketball League must have a sense of humour.

I mean, why else schedule the 1,000^th NBL game for the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings at the venue of their arch rival, the Illawarra Hawks, the team that loves nothing better than to beat the purple and gold; that love even stronger perhaps than winning a championship?

If nothing else, it’s an example of extreme irony that such a special moment in the history of the Kings is going to be celebrated in what will be a seriously hostile environment this Thursday night at the WIN Entertainment Centre.

But the truth is, while the 1,000 game milestone has great significance for the Kings, of even more importance is what this game means to both teams in the course of the NBL22 regular season.

In fact, it’s easy to say that as regular season games go, this Thursday night stacks up as the biggest game to date of NBL22.

Don’t believe me? Consider this:

1. Sydney is riding a 12-game winning streak and Illawarra is on a six-game winning streak. Something’s gotta give.
2. There is a distinct chance that both these teams could be meeting in the semi-finals so homecourt advantage in that scenario is definitely on the line.
3. The Brian Goorjian factor. It’s always a big deal when the most successful coach in Kings’ history comes up against his old club.
4. A rivalry that has stood the test of time since 1988 and is as bitter as it ever was.
5. Two teams with legitimate hopes of winning a championship this season going head-to-head.
6. An atmosphere in Wollongong that will be as loud as you can imagine.
7. Illawarra leads in the Adrian Hurley Cup series this season and the Kings want to hold on to that trophy.

It’s a mouth-watering prospect to be sure; made all the more exciting by the fact that for one of the very rare times in this rivalry, both teams are playing outstanding basketball at the same time of the season.

Illawarra has been spectacular over the past month or so, highlighted by a pair of stunning wins on the road against the defending champions Melbourne United, and they will provide the Kings with their sternest test to date this season.

“They’re playing terrific right now,” Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings Head Coach Chase Buford said of the Hawks.

“They’re playing better basketball than we are over the last few weeks for sure.

“It’s going to be a heck of a game. We’ll have to be ready; we’ll have to be turned on, ready to guard them, ready to attack when we can.

“They’re the only team we haven’t beaten this year so we’ll be fired up ready to get some vengeance.”

Sydney will need to be at their absolute best against an Illawarra team that boasts no less than five players averaging double figure scoring and can get after you offensively in a variety of ways, from the explosive shooting of Tyler Harvey (15.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg) and Justinian Jessup (13.1ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.1spg), the athleticism and aggression of two-way terror Antonius Cleveland (14.6ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.2apg, 2.0spg, 1.1bpg) and the size and power of Duop Reath (14.8ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.4bpg) and Sam Froling (8.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 1.0spg).

Illawarra also gets contributions from a deep bench led by import point guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes and veteran Tim Coenraad, and of late, their defensive intensity has gone to a level more commensurate with a team coached by a man whose defences over his amazing career are what have defined him as much as anything.

The Hawks at home in front of an expected huge crowd is an enormous challenge to be sure. But this Sydney Kings team have proven they are incredibly resilient and up for the fight, evidenced by their incredible run of success over the past couple of months, a run where they’ve won eight straight games on the road and shown they can win even with the odds stacked against them.

The team is hoping that Ian Clark will be able to take his place in the line-up this Thursday but he’ll be a game-time decision as he works through a slight groin strain. His input, particularly offensively, would be welcomed in a game that figures to be a high-powered shootout.

But even if Ian can’t go, the Kings boast enough weaponry to pose their own tough questions of their arch rivals.

Jaylen Adams (19.8ppg, 4.9rpg, 6.3apg, 1.3spg) hasn’t shot the ball well over the past two games by his own admission, but is a peerless floor leader who can beat you in a variety of ways and is the epitome of someone who makes everyone around him better.

Jarell Martin (15.9ppg, 8.2rpg) and Xavier Cooks (14.8ppg, 9.2rpg, 2.5apg, 1.9bpg) represent arguably the best one-two frontcourt punch in the league.

Then you’ve got a deadly perimeter marksman in Dejan Vasiljevic, a defensive warrior in Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, the rapidly improving Makur Maker and a superb athlete in Angus Glover who’ll be highly motivated to make a big impact in his hometown.

Both teams have serious star power. But for the Kings, as it always does, it will take a collective effort in order to get the job done.

This one is special.

It’s 1,000 NBL games for the Sydney Kings.

A heavyweight confrontation.

More importantly, it’s a chance to beat up on the Hawks.

And run this winning streak to 13 in the process.

It’s game three of the 2021/2022 Dr Adrian Hurley Cup.

Hawks vs. Kings in Wollongong.

Get ready for war.

 

WHO

Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings vs. Illawarra Hawks

WHEN

Thursday 14 April, 7:30pm AEST tipoff

LOCATION

WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

TV

ESPN; Kayo Sports

RADIO

Cluch Radio

THE PLAYERS

Kings

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

Makur Maker (Next Star); Ian Clark (import – subject to medical clearance); Angus Glover; Biwali Bayles; Tom Vodanovich; Matur Maker; Jaylin Galloway (development player); Jayden Hodgson (development Player); Ignatius Mitchell (development player)

Hawks

Tyler Harvey (import); Antonius Cleveland (import); Justinian Jessup (Next Star); Sam Froling; Duop Reath

Xavier Rathan-Mayes (import); Harry Froling; Isaac White; Tim Coenraad; AJ Ogilvy; Emmett Naar; Akoldah Gak (development player); Lachlan Dent (development player)

THE COACHES

Kings

Chase Buford (NBL rookie head coach, record 17-7)

Hawks

Brian Goorjian (2^nd season with Hawks, record with Hawks 37-26, NBL career record 551-247, six NBL championships)

2021/2022 REGULAR SEASON SERIES

Hawks lead 2-0

Hawks def. Kings 92-84 @ Qudos Bank Arena, Round 2

Hawks def. Kings 97-89 @ WIN Entertainment Centre, Round 7

NBL LADDER

Kings 17-7, second

Hawks 17-8, third

LAST GAME

Kings def. New Zealand Breakers 76-70 @ Bendigo Basketball Stadium, Round 19

Hawks def. Brisbane Bullets 108-77 @ Nissan Arena, Brisbane, Round 19

KEY STATS

Kings

Points: Jaylen Adams, 19.8ppg

Rebounds: Xavier Cooks, 9.2rpg

Assists: Jaylen Adams, 6.3apg

Hawks

Points: Tyler Harvey, 15.1ppg

Rebounds: Duop Reath, 7.2rpg

Assists: Xavier Rathan-Mayes, 4.2apg

KEY MATCHUP

Xavier Cooks vs Duop Reath

One is a player who if not for injury would have already represented his country at senior international level. The other has in his possession a precious Olympic bronze medal courtesy of the Australian Boomers’ magnificent performance at the Tokyo Olympic Games. It’s a compelling duel between two outstanding ballplayers who mean a great deal to their respective ballclubs. Xavier Cooks will be in strong consideration for a number of end-of-season NBL awards due to his brilliance as a genuine two-way player. He’s a guy who can defend three positions on the floor, is a great rim protector, and offensively is one of the most devastating finishers on the break in the league. Duop Reath on the other hand is a classic stretch four – he can kill you from both inside and out, and his ability to both nail the outside shot, take you off the dribble and dominate in the low post make him one of the toughest covers in the NBL. Cooks has the length and mobility to give Reath problems; Reath could potentially overpower the Sydney forward if he gets catches deep in the paint.

THE QUESTIONS

Can the Kings deal with Illawarra’s varied offensive attack?

Will Sydney’s 1000^th game turn into a truly joyous occasion for the purple and gold?

HISTORY

All-time Head-to-Head

104 games played; Kings lead 56-48

In Wollongong

50 games played; series tied 25-25

At WIN Entertainment Centre

38 games played; series tied 19-19

DID YOU KNOW?

These two teams seem destined to meet in the semi-finals come playoff time, and interestingly, the Kings and the Hawks have never met in either an elimination round, quarter-final or semi-final. One of the progenitors of the Kings, the West Sydney Westars, played Illawarra at the old State Sports Centre in a one-game playoff in 1986, but the Kings and the Hawks have only met once in the playoffs since – of course, Sydney fans remember that occasion in 2005 with great fondness, given it resulted in both the Kings’ third straight NBL championship and the most one-sided Grand Final series in NBL history.