Round 5 Preview: Kings vs Breakers and Hawks

Written by Matt McQuade for Kings Media

Home.

There’s no place like it.

Never were truer words spoken when it comes to the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings.

After a seemingly interminable road trip that has forced the team out of Sydney for several weeks, they have finally returned to the Harbour City for a pair of games at Qudos Bank Arena in Round Five of the 2020/2021 National Basketball League season.

And what a relief it is to see the boys back in town.

These guys deserve a break after the adversity they’ve had to endure since the last time they were in Sydney for a preseason game against the Hawks. Not only have they been living out of a suitcase for a long period of time, which gets old in a hurry; not only have they been missing family and friends and the simple pleasure of sleeping in their own bed, they’ve had to endure a list of injuries that for most teams would have devastated their squad.

But not this group, which has demonstrated remarkable guts and fortitude despite the constant hits they have taken.

To their immense credit, the Kings have been competitive in every game so far, and last Saturday night in Adelaide produced their best performance of the season in a 94-75 thrashing of a 36ers team that had been in red-hot form.

The next man up mentality that has served this team so well over the first four rounds of NBL21 came to the fore once again with everyone on the roster contributing important minutes, and it’s something the purple and gold will need to carry forward on a weekend that sees them take on the New Zealand Breakers on Friday night before a blockbuster Sunday afternoon clash against arch rivals the Illawarra Hawks.

Both opponents present enormous challenges, starting with the Breakers, who have been disappointing to start the season yet boast outstanding depth and talent at virtually every position.

From the Webster brothers, Tai and Corey, to the oft-maligned yet seriously gifted import forward Lamar Patterson and New Zealand Tall Black stalwarts Tom Abercrombie and Finn Delany, not to mention a spark plug off the bench in Jarrad Weeks and a stretch the floor big in Rob Loe – the Breakers have the kind of potentially explosive team that once it finds its feet will be difficult to deal with.

Then of course comes the Hawks, who got the Illawarra name reinstated through the week and will be itching to deal the Kings a loss in front of a big crowd on Sunday, especially given they are currently riding a two-game losing streak and are coming off an emotional defeat at home to Melbourne on Wednesday night.

Led by the greatest coach in NBL history, the man who directed the Kings to an historic championship three-peat last decade, the one and only Brian Goorjian, the Hawks have assembled a squad that man for man might be the most talented in the history of that franchise.

Start with import gunner Tyler Harvey, a 20 point per game scorer who has been described in some quarters as a left-handed Steph Curry. He’s got unlimited range and exceptional handles and will be a tough matchup to say the least.

Speaking of unlimited range – that’s what you also get with another left-hander on the Illawarra roster, Next Star Justinian Jessup, who can’t be given any space to operate lest he blister the nets with a few long bombs.

Add in a couple of guys who have spent time in the NBA – Deng Adel and Cameron Bairstow – a defensive menace in Justin Simon and a pair of in-form mobile bigs in Sam Froling and AJ Ogilvy plus some impressive youngsters in Emmett Naar and Isaac White and you begin to understand what a difficult assignment Sunday afternoon will be for the home team.

But that’s the thing – it will be at home. Finally. And Sydney Kings’ head coach Adam Forde, who has done a terrific job under difficult circumstances, is one man happy to be playing a pair of games this weekend in front of the best fans in the league.

“I’m very excited,” Coach Forde said.

“It’s going to be a surreal feeling I think; it’s been a long time since our last home game, so I know the boys are looking forward to it and I’m looking forward to it.”

“To have the support of the crowd to help when momentum shifts and they can help influence – it’s just great to be on our home court for the first time in the past eleven months.”

Led by imports Casper Ware and Jarell Martin, the standout Rookie of the Year candidate in Dejan Vasiljevic and an early contender for Sixth Man of the Year in Brad Newley, there’s no question the Kings will come out on the Qudos Bank Arena with fire and intensity this weekend.

Getting the opportunity to play on their home floor before heading to Melbourne for a month during the NBL Cup is not something this outstanding roster will take for granted. They want to protect homecourt and the Breakers and Hawks will both know they are in for a hell of a battle.

Kings fans, it’s time to welcome your boys home before they head out on the road again. So, wear purple and gold, be loud and proud, and give this team the kind of support they deserve when they take to the court this Friday and Sunday.

Rise With Us Sydney.

 

WHO

Sydney Kings vs. New Zealand Breakers

Sydney Kings vs. Illawarra Hawks

WHEN

Friday 12 February, 7:30pm tipoff AEDT (vs. Breakers)

Sunday 14 February, 3:00pm tipoff (vs. Hawks)

LOCATION

Qudos Bank Arena

TICKETS

Friday night vs. Breakers available HERE

Sunday afternoon vs. Hawks available HERE

TV/RADIO

Friday night: ESPN; SBS On Demand; Cluch Radio, SWR99.9FM Radio

Sunday afternoon: SBS Viceland; SBS On Demand; Cluch Radio, SWR99.9FM Radio

THE PLAYERS

KINGS

Casper Ware (import); Shaun Bruce; Dejan Vasiljevic; Jarell Martin (import); Jordan Hunter

Brad Newley; Craig Moller; Tom Vodanovich; Dexter Kernich-Drew; Jaylin Galloway (development player); Archie Woodhill (development player)

BREAKERS

Tai Webster; Rasmus Bach; Tom Abercrombie; Finn Delany; Rob Loe

Lamar Patterson (import); Corey Webster; Colton Iverson (import); Jarrad Weeks; Daniel Trist; Kyrin Galloway (development player)

HAWKS

Tyler Harvey (import); Justin Simon (import); Justinian Jessup (Next Star); Cameron Bairstow; Sam Froling

Deng Adel; AJ Ogilvy; Emmett Naar; Deng Deng; Isaac White; Akoldah Gak (development player)

THE COACHES

KINGS

Adam Forde (NBL rookie head coach, NBL record 2-3)

BREAKERS

Dan Shamir (2^nd season with Breakers, NBL career record 16-16)

HAWKS

Brian Goorjian, (1^st season with Hawks, record with Hawks 4-2, NBL career record 518-223, six NBL championships)

2020/2021 REGULAR SEASON SERIES

Vs: Breakers: first meeting

Vs. Hawks: first meeting

NBL LADDER

Kings 2-3, fifth

Breakers 1-3, ninth

Hawks 4-2, second

KEY STATS

KINGS

Points: Casper Ware, 19.4ppg

Rebounds: Jarell Martin, 8.2rpg

Assists: Shaun Bruce, 4.0apg

BREAKERS

Points: Tai Webster, 21.8ppg

Rebounds: Finn Delany, 6.3rpg

Assists: Tai Webster, 5.5apg

HAWKS

Points: Tyler Harvey, 21.3ppg

Rebounds: Sam Froling, 8.2rpg

Assists: Justin Simon, 2.7apg

KEY MATCHUP (vs. Breakers)

Casper Ware vs. Tai Webster

Webster is a guy that very few Australian fans know too much about, other than seeing him play occasionally for the New Zealand national team. But this former standout at the University of Nebraska had a stellar career in Europe and has already showed just what a force he will be in the NBL. He’s got good size and quicks, has a solid outside game and is effective going either left or right. He will come up against a superior defender in Ware, who had a sensational game in Adelaide at both ends of the floor. People will rave about Casper’s three-point onslaught against the 36ers and rightly so, but his on-ball defence against the Adelaide backcourt was also crucial to Sydney’s victory. Once again, this is another example of a great NBL point guard duel.

KEY MATCHUP (vs. Hawks)

Dejan Vasiljevic vs. Justinian Jessup

As many great individual matchups as there are in this game, this one between two young stars might quietly end up becoming a huge key to the outcome. Jessup is a deadly perimeter shooter whose unerring ability to pull up on a dime and drain one jumper after another makes him a tough cover at the best of times. He’s also a guy who plays with supreme confidence and must be accounted for every minute he is on the floor. That job will initially go to Rookie of the Year candidate Vasiljevic, who has opened NBL21 on a tear. Known primarily for his deep strike shooting ability, Dejan is also a rapidly improving playmaker who can impact the game in other ways, whether it’s grabbing a key rebound or hitting a teammate with a sweet assist. But both guys really earn their money by filling it up and you can expect some fireworks when they are on the floor.

THE QUESTIONS

Will Sydney get a sweep of their two home games this weekend?

Can the Kings slow down Illawarra’s leading scorer Tyler Harvey?

HISTORY (vs. Breakers)

All-time Head-to-Head

54 games played; series tied 27-27

In Sydney

27 games played; Kings lead 16-11

At Qudos Bank Arena

7 games played; Kings lead 6-1

HISTORY (vs. Hawks)

All-time Head-to-Head

98 games played; Kings lead 54-44

In Sydney

50 games played; Kings lead 30-20

At Qudos Bank Arena

12 games played; series tied 6-6

DID YOU KNOW?

Brad Newley reached a point scoring milestone last week for the Sydney Kings, registering his 1500^th point for the purple and gold. ‘El Toro’ is the longest tenured King on the current roster, now in his fifth season with Sydney and about to play his 120^th game for the franchise, which places him 14^th all-time in games played for the Kings.