Round 9 Preview: Kings vs. Wildcats
By Matt McQuade
East meets West.
Hoops Capital vs. Red Army.
A rivalry that’s as intense as any in the National Basketball League.
That’s what’s on tap this week as the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings take on their Western Australian nemesis, the ten-time NBL champion Perth Wildcats, on Sunday afternoon at Qudos Bank Arena in a special NBL/WNBL double-header that sees the Sydney Uni Flames play the curtain-raiser against the Southside Flyers.
Right from when these two franchises commenced battle in 1988, it’s been a classic confrontation with all manner of highlights.
The Kings coming back from a massive deficit in 1989 to stun the ’Cats at the State Sports Centre.
Sydney getting their first ever win at the old Perth Entertainment Centre in 1992 against the then defending NBL champs.
Damian Keogh’s career-high 41 points – the most-ever scored by a Kings’ player against the Wildcats – in an unlikely road victory in 1995.
The Kings’ first championship in the 2003 NBL Grand Final Series – a comeback for the ages in Sydney and a near-perfect first half in Perth leading to a blowout victory and a 2-0 sweep.
Mark Worthington and Shawn Redhage engaging in their own personal war in the 2007/2008 semis.
Sydney leading Game Three of those semis by 50 points at one stage.
The Josh Childress-Jesse Wagstaff collision.
An epic NBL20 Grand Final unfortunately cut short by Covid.
That’s but a few. This thing between the Kings and the Wildcats has been as memorable as it gets for the last 32 seasons.
But lately, it’s also been a one-sided rivalry.
As we get into the meat of this 33rd NBL season for the purple and gold, the unhappy truth is that Perth has owned Sydney for a long period of time.
The Wildcats have won their past six games over the Kings and 10 of their past 11; Sydney’s win in Game Two of the NBL20 Grand Final Series at RAC Arena their only victory in that span.
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Accordingly, there’s no doubt that Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings Head Coach Chase Buford understands that this Sunday represents yet another significant challenge for his troops.
“It really comes down to can you stop (Vic) Law, Bryce (Cotton); some isos and some pick and rolls, that’s going to be the whole name of the game and that’s pretty much what they do,” Coach Buford said.
“We’ve got to be ready.”
Indeed, the Kings better be ready for a Perth attack that showcases the two most potent scorers in the competition; the aforementioned Cotton (22.9ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.4apg, 2.0spg, 39.7% FG, 34.8% 3PT FG, 93.6% FT) and Law (22.0ppg, 7.6rpg, 50.4% FG, 43.8% 3PT FG, 63.3% FT).
Cotton of course is one of the most decorated players in NBL history already after 150 appearances and his game speaks for itself, but it’s against Sydney where he’s been particularly damaging – leading the Wildcats in scoring in 12 of the past 13 games played between the ’Cats and the Kings. Not coincidentally, Perth has a 11-2 record over the purple and gold in that span.
As for Law, he turned the game on its head last week in Wollongong with a brilliant second quarter that keyed a Wildcat W over the Illawarra Hawks. He’s a tremendous scorer both inside and out and extremely versatile, and there’s no doubt he will be a big focus in this one.
But Perth also boasts a ton of depth and many guys on the roster who can make an impact, from swingman Todd Blanchfield, to defensive menace Mitch Norton, rising star Luke Travers and veteran sixth man Jesse Wagstaff. As per usual, the Wildcats are loaded, and they will come into the Q with a ton of confidence.
That confidence will need to be dented quickly if the Kings are any chance to reverse this recent losing streak against Perth. And much will be asked again of Sydney’s three main stars in Jaylen Adams (17.8ppg, 5.2rpg, 5.2apg, 40.7% FG, 35.9% 3PT FG, 81.8% FT), Jarell Martin (15.6ppg, 9.5rpg, 45.0% FG, 27.7% 3PT FG, 75.8% FT) and Xavier Cooks (12.9ppg, 9.4rpg, 2.6apg, 1.9bpg).
Adams has started to show over the past couple of games why he is so highly touted and his matchup with Cotton will be a highlight; Martin is a guy who could go for big numbers given the Wildcats don’t really have a matchup for him and Cooks has been brilliant at both ends for Sydney and is already getting Defensive Player of the Year buzz in some quarters.
Then you’ve got the always-dangerous Dejan Vasiljevic rounding into form, Matur Maker showing his worth as an athletic forward off the bench and veterans Shaun Bruce and Tom Vodanovich always capable of impacting the game.
It’s going to be an intriguing contest. Can the Kings break this Wildcat hoodoo?
The Pride of Sydney will be doing everything they can to make that happen.
Let’s do this.
WHO
Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings vs. Perth Wildcats
Sydney Uni Flames vs. Southside Flyers (NBL/WNBL double-header)
WHEN
Sunday 30 January, 12:30pm tipoff AEST (Flames vs. Flyers); 3:00 pm tipoff AEST (Kings vs. Wildcats)
LOCATION
Qudos Bank Arena
TICKETS
Available via Ticketek or the Qudos Bank Arena Box Office
TV
ESPN, 10 Peach
RADIO
THE PLAYERS
Kings
Jaylen Adams (import); Dejan Vasiljevic; Wani Swaka Lo Buluk; Xavier Cooks; Jarell Martin (import)
Angus Glover; Shaun Bruce; Matur Maker; Tom Vodanovich; Jaylin Galloway (development player); Jayden Hodgson (development Player); Ignatius Mitchell (development player)
Wildcats
Bryce Cotton (import); Mitch Norton; Michael Frazier (import); Vic Law (import); Matthew Hodgson
Todd Blanchfield; Luke Travers; Jesse Wagstaff; Majok Majok; Kevin White; Jack Purchase; Kyle Zunic (development player); Oliver Hayes-Brown (development player)
THE COACHES
Kings
Chase Buford, NBL rookie head coach, record 4-6
Wildcats
Scott Morrison, NBL rookie head coach, record 6-2
2021/2022 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
First meeting
NBL LADDER
Kings 4-6, seventh
Wildcats 6-2, second
LAST GAME
Kings beat Brisbane Bullets 97-73 @ Qudos Bank Arena, Round 8
Wildcats def. Illawarra Hawks 94-78 @ WIN Entertainment Centre, Round 8
KEY STATS
Kings
Points: Jaylen Adams, 17.8ppg
Rebounds: Xavier Cooks, 9.4rpg
Assists: Jaylen Adams, 5.2apg
Wildcats
Points: Bryce Cotton, 22.9ppg
Rebounds: Vic Law, 7.6rpg
Assists: Bryce Cotton, 4.4apg
KEY MATCHUP
Jarell Martin vs. Matthew Hodgson/Majok Majok
While the majority of ink will probably be spent on the point guard duel between two explosive players in Jaylen Adams and Bryce Cotton, in many ways the big man confrontation is equally, if not more important to the outcome. The Wildcats will platoon their two big men – Matthew Hodgson and Majok Majok – in an attempt to wear out Jarell Martin; expect them to be physical and aggressive inside. Hodgson is a rangy type with long arms who can get on the glass and block shots; Majok is more the prototypical banger who is tough around the basket. However, both will find dealing with Martin a massive challenge in a number of ways, but especially given Jarell’s great versatility and extreme mobility. If the Kings are going to win this game, Jarell’s ability to score inside and out and spread the floor, added to his definite advantages in foot speed over the Perth bigs, are going to be big reasons why Sydney emerges victorious.
THE QUESTIONS
Can the Kings slow down Bryce Cotton?
Will Dejan Vasiljevic continue to fill it up from the outside?
HISTORY
All-time Head-to-Head
102 games played; Wildcats lead 62-39
In Sydney
51 games played; Wildcats lead 26-25
At Qudos Bank Arena
16 games played; Wildcats lead 9-7
DID YOU KNOW?
Not only do the Wildcats own a current overall winning streak against the Kings of six games, they’ve also won the past five games against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena. That recent five game losing run at home for Sydney versus Perth is the equal fourth longest home losing streak against any team in franchise history; only topped by Perth’s eight-game winning streak against the Kings in Sydney from Round 12 of the 2010/2011 season to Round 6 of the 2014/2015 season, Adelaide’s six-game winning streak in Sydney from Round 8 of the 2016/2017 campaign to Round 14 of NBL19, and the defunct Victoria Titans, who won six consecutive games in Sydney from Round 4 of the 1998/1999 season to Round 19 of 2001/2002.
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