Round 7 Preview: Kings vs. Hawks

By Matt McQuade

 

To no one’s great surprise, the escalating Covid-19 pandemic and its resultant impacts saw all but one game postponed in Round Six of the 2021/2022 National Basketball League season.

It’s been a frustrating time for everyone involved in the NBL, from players, coaches, front offices and the league hierarchy itself, not to mention the most important group in all of this, the fans, who have been deprived of world class basketball for far too long.

But fear not Kings’ fans. Things are going to improve. Your need for sports, particularly the great game of hoops, is about to be satisfied.

And it starts this Thursday night with a blockbuster that was originally scheduled for New Year’s Eve but had to be moved due to that scourge called Covid.

In a continuation of the league’s best rivalry, the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings will do battle with the Illawarra Hawks at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.

Both teams have had to deal with extended breaks since their previous games, and there’s a level of uncertainty around their return to action, particularly in dealing with possible game rust after a long lay-off.

But for the Kings at least, their 18-day break has done them a great deal of good, particularly in the time it’s afforded them to get guys healthy.

Import point guard Jaylen Adams was already a confirmed starter for Round Six and nothing has changed in that regard – in fact the extra rehab time gave his injured ankle even more time to recover and he’ll be just about at 100% heading into this one.

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And in even better news, import wing RJ Hunter should also be in uniform this Thursday, pending a fitness test. RJ has only played two games this season thanks to a knee complaint but has been diligent in his rehab and his addition gives the Kings a much-needed perimeter weapon, considering the team’s offensive struggles in the early part of the NBL22 campaign.

Sydney is currently last in the NBL in scoring, field goal percentage and assists, and the addition of two outstanding offensive talents this week could not have come at a better time.

The purple and gold will face an Illawarra unit that conversely leads the competition in scoring and boasts serious talent right up and down their roster, starting with big man Duop Reath (19.8ppg, 8.8rpg, 1.0spg, 1.2bpg, 55.2% FG, 40.0% 3PT FG, 77.8% FT) who was the difference between the two teams in their opening battle this season for the Dr Adrian Hurley Cup, a Round Two thriller won by the Hawks 92-84 at Qudos Bank Arena.

Reath had 27 points and outpointed Jarell Martin (14.2ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.0spg, 42.1% FG, 33.3% 3PT FG, 73.3% FT) that night in Sydney. There’s no question the Kings as a unit will need to do a much better job defending whatever actions the Illawarra big man is involved with.

Of course, the last time Jarell and his frontcourt partner Xavier Cooks (13.2ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.8apg, 1.7bpg, 42.9% FG, 31.6% 3PT FG, 65.0% FT) played at the WEC in NBL21, the Kings’ duo was nigh on unstoppable in taking the Hawks apart and they’ll be primed to do similar damage this time.

The addition of Adams and Hunter provides the kind of outstanding backcourt depth for the purple and gold that was going to be a feature of their campaign; albeit they’ll be without Biwali Bayles, whose ankle injury will keep him sidelined for a couple of weeks at least, and Angus Glover, who is out due to Covid protocols.

But even without Bayles and Glover, Jaylen and RJ will be a welcome addition to a ballclub that has already gotten some great mileage from the likes of Shaun Bruce (6.8ppg, 2.8apg) and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (6.2ppg). Having those four guys in uniform gives Head Coach Chase Buford the ability to throw multiple looks at a Hawks’ unit that looks to be an early powerhouse.

Extra bodies in the backcourt and on the wing are also needed against an Illawarra unit that features the always dangerous Tyler Harvey (15.8ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.5apg, 3.0spg, 34.7% FG, 23.8% 3PT FG, 33.3% FT), the versatile Antonius Cleveland (12.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.0apg, 2.2spg, 48.8% FG, 20.0% 3PT FG, 60.0% FT) and solid floor leader Xavier Rathan-Mayes (10.0ppg, 2.5apg), not to mention streaky shooters like Tim Coenraad and Isaac White.

Up front, Illawarra has great size next to the likes of Duop Reath, with AJ Ogilvy and the Froling brothers all capable of making an impact, so it’s also incumbent on Tom Vodanovich and Matur Maker to play quality minutes and provide great support to their starting brethren.

This one promises to be one hell of a battle. There was some bad blood the last time these two teams met, not to mention the off-court shenanigans between the two ownership groups, and there’s little doubt that the Hawks’ fanbase will be whipped into a frenzy. As has been said many times, beating Sydney means almost as much to Illawarra as winning a championship, so the Kings need to be locked in and prepared to deal with a hostile atmosphere.

It’s game two 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 13 January, 7:30pm AEST tipoff

LOCATION

WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

TV

ESPN; Kayo Sports

RADIO

Cluch Radio

THE PLAYERS

Kings

Jaylen Adams; RJ Hunter (subject to medical clearance); Wani Swaka Lo Buluk; Xavier Cooks; Jarell Martin (import)

Shaun Bruce; Dejan Vasiljevic; Matur Maker; Tom Vodanovich; Jaylin Galloway (development player); Jayden Hodgson (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, NBL career record 3-3)

Hawks

Brian Goorjian (2^nd season with Hawks, record with Hawks 24-19, NBL career record 538-240, six NBL championships)

2021/2022 REGULAR SEASON SERIES

Hawks lead 1-0

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

NBL LADDER

Kings 3-3, sixth

Hawks 3-1, third

LAST GAME

Kings lost to Melbourne United 82-68 @ Qudos Bank Arena, Round 4

Hawks lost to Brisbane Bullets 96-92 @ Nissan Arena, Brisbane, Round 3

KEY STATS

Kings

Points: Jaylen Adams, 15.0ppg

Rebounds: Jaylen Adams, 9.0rpg

Assists: Jaylen Adams, 3.0apg

Hawks

Points: Duop Reath, 19.8ppg

Rebounds: Sam Froling, 9.2rpg

Assists: Tyler Harvey, 2.5apg

KEY MATCHUP

Jaylen Adams vs. Tyler Harvey

Tyler Harvey was a First Team All-NBL selection last season and finished second in MVP voting to Perth’s Bryce Cotton, so there’s no doubting his credentials as one of the league’s premier players. That said, he’s gotten off to a slow start in NBL22, especially shooting the ball, and if the Kings can maintain defensive discipline with him, be physical and make him take contested shots, they could restrict him to low numbers – given his importance to the Hawks, that could be a huge factor in the outcome. On the flipside, Adams has the game to really trouble the Hawks’ perimeter defenders. He’s a high-IQ type with poise and experience who can attack Illawarra in a variety of ways, and he has the ability to make others around him better. You get the sense that this game will be dictated by one of these quality ballplayers and it’s a duel worth the price of admission.

THE QUESTIONS

Can the Kings slow down Duop Reath?

Will R.J. Hunter make an impact in his first game back from injury?

HISTORY

All-time Head-to-Head

103 games played; Kings lead 56-47

In Wollongong

49 games played; Kings lead 25-24

At WIN Entertainment Centre

37 games played; Kings lead 19-18

DID YOU KNOW?

Sydney is currently riding a three-game winning streak at the WIN Entertainment Centre; a streak that began in Round 17 of NBL20 when Jae’Sean Tate had 17 points to lead the Kings to a 102-79 blowout victory. Last season, the purple and gold spoiled the Illawarra party with a 79-75 overtime win in Round 15 thanks to a game-winning three pointer from Craig Moller with 14 seconds remaining and then Jarell Martin and Xavier Cooks combined for 42 points and 23 rebounds in a 79-73 Round 21 victory.