Hoops

Kings gearing up for replacement?

I concur Wook!

Shame that cotter inherited the LL crew from the WS crew. Until the WS connection gone they are screwed. FULLSTOP

The Leisure Suit Larry crew? Larry The Lion? The sooner these Kings fans that are bitching about the West Sydney owners are ruining the club, need to realise that there were no other people putting their hands up to bring the team back... And since they've come back, where are they now? The people aren't lining up to throw money at the club, so while I don't have any Westie loyalties, if it wasn't for them, we'd have as much of a team as the Falcons fans do... Build a bridge and move on ffs...

Shane did more with less under a more critical eye and pressure from the wannabe owners... Cotter can only be reviewed on his teams performances and he's fairly lucky that he's had Chill's absence to push the losses off on, but no more...

Four thumbs up for Jumpshots comments... re: conditioning, I reckon they were the last team to start official training, well behind teams like the Wildcats and Taipans who easily started 4-5 weeks ahead of them... I know imports don't usually get into town straight away, but when they drag the chain, it's disappointing when you see other clubs with their entire team ready to go and you've maybe got three players just doing a bit of light training waiting for everyone else to finish their holidays and other random gallivanting around...

I was a big advocate for getting Markovic on board, I thought that he did well last season carrying some niggles, but overall his upside was a lot more. I don't know why he's gone missing and apart from the first game, Cadee has lost that spark as well... Last game the players took forever to come out after teh game and they came out very dejected, so I don't know what was going on, as they usually come out fairly upbeat (which actually pisses me off after a big loss) and from what I've heard from a few people that were near the tunnel on the way out the last few games, there are some pretty vocally unhappy players after a game, about what specifically was unclear...

I just wish they'd channel that frustration into better efforts on the court... I agree with Hill and Prewster, two unknowns for me, but I love their hustle and Hill seems to be a pretty good rebound magnet when he's in the paint... Prewster is nicely quick, but I think getting blocked three times just by AJ against the Hawks, and again vs the 36ers really has thrown him as he's missing easy basket and that fast break layup miss... omg...

Thornton needs to go, he's more than just a defensive liability and suffering from the "I want to get to the NBA"-itis, not the "I want to impress and earn my spot in the NBA"-itis... The coaching has always been lacking, but it's had Chill to cover... Him missing games just shines a much brighter light on someone who is outmatched and out of this depth...

Changes need to be made now otherwise it's not just going to be this season that suffers...

Yes I tipped this team for the championship in pre-season because:

They have Caddee and Markovic that should be pushing each other and bringing the mot out of each other... Added Carter and yet Garlepp had more assists than all these point guards. Caddee hasn't been terrible but Markovic is more noticable on the bench than he is on court.

They have Childress... Umm-maybe they don't

They have more depth for Khazzouh than ever before, Brandt was a starter last season and that should be invaluable... Brandt has been trying but largely ineffectual but I think this combo will be better by seasons end and twin towers could work more against Perth and Adelaide.

Plus

Thornton looked good in preseason against Perth even if he took a few bad shots.

Hill is far better than I thought he'd be

Prewster is a great energy guy and coach Cotter needs to instill more confidence into him and he should flourish

It's not all doom and gloom as Cairns are also further back than expected but they aren't making it easy on themselves

"Ive seen a couple Sydney games and I've paid close attention to there timeouts and the players seem to be tuning Cotter out, that is a recipe for disaster. I like him as a coach"

I've watched all the King's games since 1988, and at the moment:
1. the players look out of condition from the off-season. They play well in the first quarter, then the shots get shorter and the defence is wanting. Other teams are ripped and fit.
2. offence: they look lost on court, the coach is benching players that are hot, the offence is spacing and shooting the 3, so there is no offensive rebounding, there are no cutters, no chemistry, everyone is standing around. There are no set plays to get the open 3, get a point in the paint, get a successful inbound play, or beat the press.
3. the defence is legless and prone to the fast break.
4. There appears to be no coaching. ie the boys are just playing free ball, and there is no adjustments when things go wrong, or to produce and a particular outcome.

We will be lucky if we're not the wooden spooners.

Replacing Thorton is one answer to the kings currents woes but there is no excuse for not playing with passion or fight! That falls back on the coach!

That whole post was worth quoting though... They need to make a move on Thornton at the very least. I can't see Chill coming back within 5 games and even then he won't be able to play playoffs in case the Thornton and Cotter replacements are miracles and other teams have dips and we somehow make the playoffs, but it shouldn't really be about that it should just be about getting wins, keeping sponsors and fans for the last half of this season out at Homebush and the coming season as that's gonna be a struggle. I couldn't even give my free tickets away at work, they pretty much laughed at me, but if they were winning and getting in the sports sections, they would be lining up to take them...

I'd rather go out on the Thornton replacement as if there's any chance to get Chill back, we need to take it. He played a better game than anyone else with a broken hand for half the game and is the most recognisable player on the team and is still a drawcard, not to mention a great guy to have around... That's worth more than most of the Yanks we've had on the Kings since coming back into the league...

Jeremy Smith was an import they were having a look at for a bit. 6"3 guard who can handle it and create a bucket out of absolutely nothing and plays a bit of D too.

Didn't think Id say it. But Hes a better pick than the NBA drafted Thornton.....

No way he's back in 2 weeks with boxer's fracture of shooting hand. Maybe 4, more likely 6 weeks. i would have thought.

Booting Thornton or injury replacement for Childress?