Hoops

R16: Kings v Sixers

He also said, prior to the end of last season, that he'd never play for Sydney.

I think it was more the style of player McKee was, more than him in particular...

Clarke would have been perfect, how much he did for that Hawks team was basically how much we relied on JChill lol...

I think he signed in Belgium fairly quickly though, before the Kings were organised...

Yeah, Brandt's growth is definitely key to success down the track... I think part of what can help with that would be to get him a bit more solid and not be able to pushed around a lot (would be great to get someone like Crossy in, I think he could learn a lot from him) but also to take the pressure off a bit, and have him come off the bench behind a top quality Aussie big...

To properly compete, you need multiple options and someone to be able to deliver to those options... I like you're example of McKee, but really, I think Sanders would have been an upgrade on Perry too... Opposition laid off him so often, but he took that and turned it into an advantage, either taking it further inside himself and/or dropping if off to another option... He was all hustle, a proper facilitating PG and was familiar with the team...

I'm still a big fan, if he stays healthy, of getting Markovic back in town... That is, unless all that unrest out West will inspire Damo to ask to leave, perhaps to join the new Kings coach Bevo^ in Sydney, which will free up that import spot which is so often a miss with imports, to get a proper big like we've seen added this season to other teams...

^Not really, just wishful thinking!

lol... yeah, I agree that Duinker has improved, getting a couple of shots down low and fighting for rebounds, but at the moment, even though he's the one that is contracted, there's one spot for a back up big other than Brandt, and it's between Duinker and Ellis and right now, if we can get a proper big, I'd go with Ellis... A much more rounded game, still gets after everything, CAN nail it from outside (even though needs some work on it) and has just been 100% hustle for most of this season... even when the game is on the line, he's up and down the court, getting his hands in passing lanes for steals, more blocks than he gets credit for, and I think is definitely a better long term bet...

I know Duinker would have come cheap, but for just one big man, you can't skimp on the price...

Cairns has been lucky to remain injury free, as opposed to last year when Tragardh missed so much time. Other teams have all had issues with injuries this year.
The Cairns roster is a bit better balanced thank last year, but I still think there are question marks on the coaching.

yeah, fair point, but who was the better signing... Barlow / Kickert or Duinker?

I just hope the latters second year contract is a team option like White and Ellis last season...

@Paul - I guess it's a matter of on paper vs reality, as really, I think Melbourne have improved, but would be much better if Barlow lived up to expectations, even Townsville should have a better result than they should have, adding/re-signing more valuable pieces, and now at least Adelaide are much improved, unfortunately...

They all at least made moves that should have turned out well, signing ex-sub-Boomers like Barlow and Kickert, Townsville Steindl and Gladness, resigning Conklin...

The benefit the top teams have is little turnover, as they recruited well in previous seasons, adding only one or two players... Whereas we got White, Joyce and Duinker...

Everyone is sort of making some good points...

When the Kings are focused and on point like they were in both their NZ wins (I know the Breakers weren't entirely focused in the last one, but still credit to the Kings for putting their foot on their necks to do it by such a margin and not coast) they're very competitive. The main difference between the Kings and other teams is that they need a larger amount of players to be firing... Childress needs to be on song, Brandt/Garlepp/Duinker combo needs to be tearing down boards and taking it to opposing bigs... Madgen has been inconsistent but that can be traced back to him being able to get open from getting enough protection and other players being able to draw defenders away... If we're not scoring inside, there's no reason to collapse on someone to free him up...

Consistency will come when they get a playing group that is both good enough to keep together and happy enough to stick around multiple seasons... Imagine if Khazzouh and Bose were both happy enough to stay multiple seasons under a decent coach? Adding in the players we have now that are worth keeping, it would be a great team to watch...

Import PG / Cadee
Madgen / White
Childress / Bose
Garlepp / Ellis
Khazzouh / Brandt

But a combination of nutbag management, poor coaches, drunk owners abusing the coach during the game, really doesn't help the situation...

So that's left us with an incredibly weak bench, at least one, maybe two starters that should be coming off the bench in a stronger team (Brandt and Cadee), two, maybe three players that shouldn't really be on a team with competitive depth (White, Joyce and possibly Duinker) and an import PG who is ok defensively at times, but you'd think not as good as we need him and given too many chances to be competitive and help the team with little success...

If other teams hadn't improved so much this off-season or by being able to bring back their past team MVP as an injury replacement, this might have been a more competitive team, but other teams HAVE improved more, and gotten a lot bigger, so the better, bigger, more cohesive team won on the night...

I was impressed with Garlepp. He's improved and has a lot of upside. They don't have a lot of frontcourt depth though and were exposed by what it a big Adelaide frontline.

A pretty complete game by the Sixers though. 17 is getting a bit high as far as turnovers go, but that'd be nitpicking.

Adelaide came into Sydney tonight, ready to play and cement their status as the only other team competing for that 4th spot in the playoffs. The Kings on the other hand, looked like a team that lacked motivation, despite there still being plenty to play for. The final score of 105-86 and Adelaide adding another win to their tally doesn’t show just how one-sided this game really was.

Undersized Kings Struggled Against 36ers Bigs

Sixer147 for the record it was a 31-6 last quarter :)

I just live in this fantasy world where I think the best teams over the course of the entire season deserve the playoff spots.

Sure Perth are having a bad run but they've still got a great lineup and IF Knight gets back in and they have a bit of a rest they'll finish the season strong (that's a big IF Knight gets back in, with his history I have my doubts).

5 away wins at that!!! Atleast the championship isn't a 2 horse race this year.

@sixers147 - now who's making excuses

@Sixers147 - I think you will find it was 3 Games in 4 days . Wed, Fri, Sat. Fatigue was always going to play a factor in!the 3rd game.

Sydney will certainly fancy their chances today after they smashed NZ on the road.

I was unable to watch that game but see today's game as a very close contest with little margin for error.

Hopefully the umpires are in good form and don't influence the outcome with inconsistencies.

To win we will need Joey to keep Wilson playing the team game and not slip backwards to his old ways and he will need to be spot on with match ups and rotations. Schencher to have a few more minutes of Crawford's time.

For me Sixers to win in a great game.

(blowout would be great)

Sydney by 8

Game day Sunday sees two hungry teams fighting for the fourth and final playoff spot as the NBL regular season dies down. A loss for either team, but especially Sydney, will likely mean the end of their season as the chase to leapfrog fourth placed Melbourne intensifies.

Adelaide in the box seat for this one IMO. Should win by 7.

Preview: Kings and 36ers battle to keep season alive

hey guys,

i'm travelling through the US early next year, and will be wanting to see a few NBA games while i'm over there. was just wondering if you guys know when the NBA 09/10 schedule will be released? as i need to plan for where/when/how many games i'll be going to.i looked all over nba.com but couldnt find anything.

also, as i'll be travelling through Cali in March, does anyone know how hard/easy it would be to get tix to see some march madness action?

any help would be much appreciated

cheers