Round 4 Preview - Kings vs. United

By Matt McQuade

 

Revenge isn’t a word generally associated with the Christmas period.

Redemption, sure.

And of course, it’s the season of goodwill toward all.

But goodwill and redemption are the furthest things from the minds of the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings as they prepare to take on Melbourne United at Qudos Bank Arena this Sunday.

No. This is about revenge. And pride.

Revenge for one of the worst defeats in the history of this proud franchise, a game at John Cain Arena where the personal and professional pride of the entire group – players and coaching staff alike – was significantly challenged.

Don’t for one second think that the purple and gold hasn’t had this Boxing Day clash circled on their calendar since Melbourne held them to a meagre 47 points in the opening game of Round Three.

That loss left a nasty taste in everyone’s mouth, to say the least.

“Not a lot needs to be said from our point of view,” Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings Head Coach Chase Buford commented.

“I don’t know if it’s about revenge or payback; it’s just about pride.”

“It’s showing up, competing, and letting them know that we’re going to be here for the long haul.”

“We gotta come out and respond. Trust me, that game is still in the back of all our minds.”

Based on Coach Buford’s words alone, there’s little doubt that the Sydney Kings unit that Melbourne United face on the day after Christmas will be a vastly different proposition to the one that got embarrassed a week ago.

The purple and gold will treat this like a playoff game. They will be focused, physical and intense, especially in front of their loyal fans in the Hoops Capital.

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Now, the Kings will likely be without two imports again, as Jaylen Adams and R.J. Hunter continue to work through their ailments. But while their absence is obviously significant; in the past couple of games the team has shown they can not only compete without them, they can win.

It points to the great heart of this squad and a belief already instilled by Coach Buford that no matter the situation, provided you come out with the right mindset you can accomplish just about anything.

Now, no one is suggesting that beating a full-strength Melbourne team on Sunday is going to be a walk in the park, even with the correct attitude. Far from it.

With defensive forward Jack White now recovered from his season-ending Achilles injury in NBL21, United Head Coach Dean Vickerman has a super-talented line-up whose sole import, Nigerian swingman Caleb Agada, has been brilliant in Melbourne’s last two games – both victories.

It’s also a huge squad with a pair of seven footers in Jo Lual-Acuil and Next Star Ariel Hukporti, both of whom have the ability to dominate the airspace at both ends with their extreme length and great mobility.

Australian Olympian and NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova, a relentless competitor with outstanding intelligence, is only going to improve the more he plays and he’s already made a big impact.

There’s veteran leadership in the form of David Barlow, Brad Newley and Shae Ili.

And the not inconsiderable presence of one Chris Goulding, a man who can rip a game to shreds with his deadly perimeter shooting and still holds the all-time record for most points ever scored in a single game by one player against the Kings, when he dropped 50 on the purple and gold back in the 2013/2014 season.

Given the Kings’ injury status, Melbourne will enter this game as favourites, even on the road.

However, Sydney has enough talent and depth that can seriously compete with the defending champions, even without a pair of offensive weapons to call upon.

It starts with the Kings’ outstanding frontcourt, led by Jarell Martin, whose performance against Tasmania in Sydney’s comeback win was inspirational. The big forward carried Sydney offensively when the team was struggling with the JackJumpers’ disruptive defence and he’ll need to be as aggressive in this game as he was at the Q last Wednesday.

Xavier Cooks didn’t have the big numbers in his last game for the purple and gold, but his impact was no less profound. He made two key threes, played lockdown defence down the stretch and was, as ever, tough to deal with in the low post.

Coach Buford will also need Makur Maker and Tom Vodanovich to contribute quality minutes against United’s core of bigs.

The Kings’ backcourt has stood up under pressure and their intensity has been a key in the team’s last couple of victories. From the leadership of Shaun Bruce to the athleticism and outside shooting of Angus Glover and the incredible energy of Biwali Bayles, this group will leave everything out there on the floor.

It all sets up for what should be one hell of a battle at Qudos Bank Arena.

Because this isn’t just a normal regular season game.

It’s about toughness. Intensity. Physicality. And the need to show that what occurred in Melbourne will never happen again.

Forget about Christmas cheer.

The Pride of Sydney is at stake.

 

WHO

Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings vs. Melbourne United

WHEN

Sunday 26 December, 3:00pm AEST tipoff

LOCATION

Qudos Bank Arena

TICKETS

Via Ticketek or at the Qudos Bank Arena box office

TV

ESPN; Kayo Sports, 10 Peach

RADIO

Cluch Radio

THE PLAYERS

Kings

Shaun Bruce; Angus Glover; Wani Swaka Lo Buluk; Xavier Cooks; Jarell Martin (import)

R.J. Hunter (import – subject to fitness test); Dejan Vasiljevic; Makur Maker (Next Star); Matur Maker; Tom Vodanovich; Biwali Bayles; Jaylin Galloway (development player); Jayden Hodgson (development player); Ignatius Mitchell (development player)

United

Matthew Dellavedova; Chris Goulding; Caleb Agada (import); Mason Peatling; Jo Lual-Acuil

Jack White; Shae Ili; David Barlow; Ariel Hukporti (Next Star); Dion Prewster; Callum Dalton; David Okwera (development player); Zac Triplett (development player); Will Hickey (development player)

THE COACHES

Kings

Chase Buford (NBL rookie head coach, NBL career record 3-2)

United

Dean Vickerman (5^th season with United, record with United 97-49, NBL career record 148-89, three NBL championships)

2021/2022 REGULAR SEASON SERIES

Tied 1-1

Kings beat United 79-74 @ Qudos Bank Arena, Round 1

United beat Kings 89-47 @ John Cain Arena, Round 3

NBL LADDER

Kings 3-2, fifth

United 2-2, sixth

LAST GAME

Kings beat Tasmania JackJumpers 83-71 @ Qudos Bank Arena, Round Three

United beat New Zealand Breakers 83-60 @ John Cain Arena, Round Three

KEY STATS

Kings

Points: Jaylen Adams, 15.0ppg

Rebounds: Jaylen Adams, 9.0rpg

Assists: Shaun Bruce, 3.4apg

United

Points: Caleb Agada, 17.0ppg

Rebounds: Jack White, 8.0rpg

Assists: Matthew Dellavedova, 5.5apg

KEY MATCHUP

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk vs. Caleb Agada

Admittedly, it’s somewhat unusual to focus on a matchup where one player is an import and the other primarily considered a role player, but as Kings’ Head Coach Chase Buford will attest, Swaka Lo Buluk is one of those guys whose importance to the ballclub can’t be measured by stats or reputation alone. And while there’s no doubting that Wani will have his hands full with the impressive Agada, whose ability to knock down the perimeter shot and impact the game at both ends of the court has powered Melbourne in their past two wins; you better believe that Agada will know he’s been in a battle, because Swaka Lo Buluk is a no-nonsense, physical defender who will make the Melbourne star work for everything. If Wani can neutralise Agada, Sydney will be in excellent shape.

THE QUESTIONS

Can the Kings deal with the defensive pressure that United will bring to bear?

Will Jarell Martin and Xavier Cooks overpower the Melbourne frontcourt?

HISTORY

All-time Head-to-Head

35 games played; United leads 24-11

In Sydney

18 games played; United leads 10-8

At Qudos Bank Arena

14 games played; Kings lead 8-6

DID YOU KNOW?

Of late, Qudos Bank Arena has become a happy hunting ground when it comes to games against Melbourne United. Sydney has won seven consecutive games against Melbourne in the Q, including two semi-final games in NBL20, one of which featured one of the most memorable comebacks in the history of the Kings, including a stunning 24-2 run. The seven-game home winning streak over United is Sydney’s longest unbroken run of success at home against any active NBL ballclub.

 

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