ROUND 5 PREVIEW –KINGS VS BREAKERS

Beware the wounded animal.

That’s a truism, especially when it comes to the SydneyKings.

Sunday afternoon was a rare frustrating day for thedefending NBL champions when very little seemed to go right in a disappointingloss to the Adelaide 36ers.

The team struggled to find any rhythm offensively andcouldn’t get consistent stops when needed as they fell to the team theydefeated in that classic NBL26 Championship Series back in April.

As the legendary Brian Goorjian said afterwards – it was atough day at the office.

To a man, the team was hurt by their performance, especiallyin front of the best fans in the league, who turned up en masse at AfterpayArena expecting a W, only to see the Kings have their 12-game home winningstreak snapped – the second-best winning run at home in franchise history.

So, the Kings are wounded.

But here’s the thing – that wounded animal can be extremelydangerous.

And a quick turnaround could be just the ticket for thepurple and gold to get back to their dominant ways in a hurry.

They get an immediate opportunity on Wednesday night at AISArena in Canberra to take out their frustration and return to the right side ofthe ledger with an Ignite Cup game against a New Zealand Breakers ballclub thatis also coming off a tough 100-84 loss to the Perth Wildcats at RAC Arena lastSaturday night.

Even worse for the Breakers – they have lost their superstarpoint guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright to injury for a period. It’s an enormoushit to a program that relies upon the brilliance of PJC as much as the Kingslook to NBL26 Championship Series MVP and All-NBL First Teamer Kendric Davis tolead the way.

But Sydney will overlook New Zealand at their peril.

The Breakers are coached by Gordon Herbert, a man who ledGermany to World Cup gold in 2023 and a fourth-place finish at the 2024 ParisOlympic Games. He is a highly respected figure in world basketball, and he isalready turning around the fortunes of a club that has faced significantchallenges in recent years.

Then there’s forward Sam Mennenga (20.5ppg, 8.2rpg, 3.5apg,56.1% FG, 35.3% 3PT FG, 69.4% FT), who is coming off his greatest ever NBL game– a 40-point, 18-rebound, 5-assist masterpiece in his team’s defeat at thehands of Perth. Mennenga carries a huge load for his ballclub and is a powerhouseat both ends of the floor.

New Zealand also boasts a handful of deadly perimetergunners, with ex-King Dejan Vasiljevic (12.8ppg, 3.2rpg, 40.7% FG, 47.2% 3PTFG, 85.7% FT), one-time NBA draftee Mojave King (13.0ppg, 2.2rpg, 57.7% FG,51.5% 3PT FG, 100.0% FT) and Reuben Te Rangi (4.8ppg) all capable of filling itup from long distance.

Despite being undermanned – they are now down two importswith the injury to PJC added to the existing absence of wing JosiahJordan-James – these Breakers play exceptionally hard and are very welldrilled. Sydney will have to play well to overcome them.

And make no mistake, the purple and gold are determined toshow that last Sunday’s game was nothing more than an aberration.

Expect to see the Kings come out breathing fire in Canberra,with superstar point guard Kendrick Davis (24.3ppg, 5.5rpg, 6.5apg, 1.0spg, 44%FG, 77% FT) leading the charge. KD will be locked in after a down game againstAdelaide by his lofty standards and New Zealand will struggle to contain him.

Team captain Xavier Cooks (15.0ppg, 6.5rpg, 2.3apg, 1.5bpg,66% FG) was terrific against the 36ers and as always will be a focal point forhis team both offensively and defensively. Torrey Craig had a rare off nightshooting the basketball last Sunday and will be primed for a bounce backperformance. And Sixth Man of the Year favourite Makuach Malauch will be a hugekey coming off the bench.

Of course, it’s going to take a combined effort from theentire roster this Wednesday.

Sure, they’ve hit a little adversity.

But this is a perfect opportunity to put that behind them.

Let’s go Kings.

WHO

Sydney Kings vs. New Zealand Breakers

WHEN

Wednesday 14 October, 7:30pm AEST tipoff

LOCATION

AIS Arena Canberra, doors open 6:00pm

TICKETS

On sale via Ticketek

THE PLAYERS

KINGS

Projected Starters: Kendric Davis; MatthewDellavedova; Torrey Craig; Xavier Cooks; Andrew Carr

Bench: Makuach Maluach; Tyler Robertson, JasonSpurgin, Harry Wessels, Jayden Stone, Will Johnston; Peitok Machar; BaileyHanson

BREAKERS

Projected Starters: Izayah Le'Afa, Dejan Vasiljevic,Mojave King, Sam Mennenga, Charles Bediako

Bench: Reuben Te Rangi, Carlin Davidson, Kouat Noi,Anzac Rissetto, Tukaha Cooper, Kael Robinson

THE COACHES

KINGS

Brian Goorjian (9^th season with Kings, recordwith Kings 213-87, NBL career record 600-276, 7 NBL championships)

BREAKERS

Gordon Herbert (1^st season with Breakers, NBLrecord 3-3)

NBL26 REGULAR SEASONSERIES

Kings won 3-1

CURRENT STANDINGS

Kings 3-1, 3^rd

Breakers 3-3, 5^th

KEY MATCHUP

Xavier Cooks vs SamMennenga

Mennenga is the absolute focal point for his ballclub,especially given the absence of Parker Jackson-Cartwright. He’s a monster inthe paint who can overpower just about anyone and boasts terrific footwork anda crafty spin move, not to mention he loves nothing better to go and jam it onsomeone’s head. Add that to a perimeter game that must be respected – heknocked down five triples against Perth last Saturday – and you’ve got asignificant weapon who the Kings need to control to get the W. Cooks on the otherhand is coming off his best game of the season, albeit in a loss. He will relyon his athleticism and length when he’s matched up with Mennenga, and he playsboth ends of the floor exceptionally well. As many problems as Mennenga willpose to the Kings, so will X to the Breakers.

THE QUESTIONS

Will Sydney bounce back on a short turnaround?

Can the Kings lock down the Breakers’ perimeter threats,especially Dejan Vasiljevic?

HISTORY

All-time Head-to-Head

80 games played; Kings lead 44-36

In Canberra

First game

DID YOU KNOW?

The Kings have an impressive 4-1 record asthe home team at AIS Arena. Back in the 2006/2007 season, the club played fourgames in Canberra and defeated the South Dragons, Perth Wildcats and the thenWollongong Hawks, with the sole loss coming to the Melbourne Tigers. In lastseason’s Ignite Cup, the Kings outlasted the 36ers in a 97-93 overtime classic,with both Kendric Davis and Xavier Cooks scoring 27 points.

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