Hoops

Kings maybe most talented in history: Gaze

Singh gone?

2 points/responses I'd like to make.

1. NBL vs College teams. Sydney beating St Marys easily, says the most highly regarded team (pre-season)in NBL history just took advantage of a team NOT in the top 67 teams (tournament invitees/March madness), probably the right result. I really don't think that that deserves college condemnation.

2. Sydney's health. Bogut is the main target. The guy's gotta play fewer than 30 40-minute games in 5 to 6 months, and, forgive me for the comparison of his opposition, now and then (NBA days).
Injuries can happen to anyone any time. They could get the flu, for G's sake. Age will have an effect on healing etc. but that's all!

And, Gaze, being the same age as the veterans, if he gets injured do Sydney's chances skyrocket????

Manu has it right in that Gaze's approach to exhausting his starters with 33+mpg should not happen and doesn't NEED to happen this coming season... Bench depth is a slight issue, but he shouldn't need to run his older starters into the ground... That's a huge concern though, because as all have recognised, he can't coach worth shit and game decisions is not his strong suit...

Tom Wilson I expect to get spot minutes and not contribute a whole lot based on what I've seen of him through 2 preseason games. Looks like a good shooter, but too much talent ahead of him.

Deng Deng looks like he could be an impact player off the bench though. If we lose Bogut for a stretch, I think his rebounding ability is going to be huge for us.

Fair enough, but you can't afford to fatigue the older guys tho. Lower minutes to keep them as fresh as possible for the pointy end. Surely someone will recognise that

On previous performance Gaze only plays 7,8 maximum players, if you are 9,10,11 you not seeing the court except in blow outs. Not certain Wilson will offer to much.

And for that matter, how good is Tom Wilson going to be? Because he'll be getting decent enough court time. They seem a tad lean in the backcourt. Bowen will want to be good enough for 10 minutes a game.

How good can we expect Deng Deng to be this season?

Unless Bogut misses a lot of games, they won't be missing the top 4

Wookie has it 100% right - I'm fully expecting us to bungle this somehow and end up outside the top 4 against all odds.

Hey Mock, try to identify a Kings fan that's doing the chirping... just like the last couple of seasons, it's not the Kings fans making noise about their team in the pre-season... Most of them have been around too long and are just waiting for the disappointment to kick in...

Keep chirping Kings fans. I guarantee you Trev and the boys out west will have something to say about it.

Gaze can probably be excused for poor morale given the horrendous season the Kings had.

If things are looking up, he'll be smiling. Guaranteed.

On Randle, it's actually a huge boost for the Kings that he's already here. The season doesn't start for 2 months, and many other teams have still been announcing their import signings over the past week.

Him and Bogut both being here and being healthy in the pre season gives the Kings the best chance of success.

Bogut has been where Randle would have liked to have been, and as they are totally different player roles/skills/positions there is no realistic basis for resentment from on to the other.

In terms of negative energy vs positive energy, Gaze brings positivity and morale. I don't always get the same vibe from the constantly whinging Kickert and the small man syndrome Jerome.

[????????
Did you watch a Kings game in the last 2 seasons? Calm is the last word I'd use about Gaze's demeanor on the sideline.]

Perhaps "calm" wasn't the right word.

Gaze can be frantic on the sideline with his mannerisms, but overall his general demeanor is that he's a laid back, happy go lucky guy.

In terms of negative energy vs positive energy, Gaze brings positivity and morale. I don't always get the same vibe from the constantly whinging Kickert and the small man syndrome Jerome.

Those two sometimes have too many opinions! And as we saw with United in 2014-15, that can be cancerous if there's too much of that within a group.

Bogut is the key. He could overcome Gaze's coaching shortcomings with his on court smarts and leadership.

"Does the veteran calm of Lisch and Gaze"

????????
Did you watch a Kings game in the last 2 seasons? Calm is the last word I'd use about Gaze's demeanor on the sideline.

Duke Fan
Today

"Carfino, Mclaine, Leon Trimmingham, Dalton Bros, Man Mountain."

Won nothing :)



Heavy Smokers

Kings are favourites without doubt, purely on the sheer talent they've assembled.

But that doesn't mean there aren't legit question marks, such as:

- Age and decline. Eg: Newley's in decline. Bogut's barely played in 2 years.

- Injuries. Bogut and Lisch had multiple serious injuries in recent times.

- Coaching.

- Egos and attitudes. Does the veteran calm of Lisch and Gaze outweigh the opinions and the egos from Kickert and Randle? Can everybody settle down and respect the leadership of Bogut?

- Defensive issues- Kickert is getting older and struggles to defend some 4 men. Randle is exposed on switches.

Overall though, it is arguably the most talented team ever and they're favourites for sure.

"Carfino, Mclaine, Leon Trimmingham, Dalton Bros, Man Mountain."

Won nothing

So , I'm expecting them to win it this season , but not to beat the 36ers of 1986 , arithmetically.

Are you?

Kings definitely least talented coaching wise in history: Every NBL fan with a clue

After all it's the way it shatters that matters!

Might look OK on paper but don't mean shit. Chemistry, coaching, ego's, age/injuries, who's gonna be da man. Lots of questions. A champion team will beat a team of champions.

The 2006 Tigers would kill them. they too small

Randle and Bogut with a solid supporting cast should be too tough to handle.

Only question marks to me are age and coaching but Randle and Bogut are the two best players in the comp this year imo.

Carfino, Mclaine, Leon Trimmingham, Dalton Bros, Man Mountain.

bogut doing a lotta coaching out there ...pretty good....

Amazingly they could top the 90s Violet Crumbles!

I was thinking that last night watching them blowout an admittedly over matched opponent in the first quarter. I've never seen an NBL team as good as that the ball movement and chemistry was really something to watch.

Discussion thread.