Hoops

Sydney v Illawarra Jan 13

The battle for the Kings is mental, because they have the talent in spades and (*knocks on wood*) they've stayed pretty injury free, which was everyone's concern coming into the season...

If they can overcome any personality clashes/issues, Gaze's inept coaching and some people's strained heart/effort muscles, they're in with a very solid chance... I just don't think that they CAN overcome their issues...

Gaze is consistent with that 2nd Q bad lineup. He usually sits Bogut and Randle toward the end of the first Q, and runs with Lisch as the only starter with the bench guys, and does something similar usually to end the 3rd/begin the 4th. If Randle and Bogut are on the bench IMO Newley needs to be in the game because his ability to attack the basket is something sorely lacking with our other forwards, and I think this is a lineup where Newley should be the focus of our offense, rather than just spotting up for 3 with the other starters which has never been his strength (despite his hot start to the year which is beginning to look like fool's gold). It feels like the Newley postup is one of our most effective weapons, and we see it once a game at best - I don't remember seeing it at all our past few games.

And Bowen for all his effort should never dribble a basketball in the halfcourt at the professional level right now because it's a good bet he'll either commit a charge or turn the ball over. He's a spot up guy or someone you hit on the break, and I think Gaze is too quick to park Newley in favour of Bowen for long stretches.

As far as our chances go this year, I don't consider us the favourites, but we certainly could win it all just based on how inconsistent every team has been rather than how good we actually are. Melbourne were gifted a win they didn't deserve last night and have been really up and down, Perth are a dumpster fire of late, Adelaide/NZ/Hawks run the gauntlet from terrible to world beaters any given night.

I actually think Brisbane have been one of the more consistent teams of late in terms of effort/performance and have a reasonably high ceiling, but I just don't have faith in a Cadee/Gliddon backcourt.

This thing is pretty wide open right now, IMO.

the game was lost when the 2nd quarter was started with only one starting five player. The game went from 2 up to 10-12 down.

I do not understand how in a tight game you can start the 2nd quarter with 4 bench players.

Every quarter needs the strongest five you have available to start.

It is like u12s giving all players court time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yup, the fans shouting "but we're still on top!" might have a bit of a shock coming to them...

The problem is they have not played 4 quarters hard in a single game this season. Virtually every game they get off to a poor start. I agree with the comment further up that they play like a team of individuals and the collective talent is enough to get the job done most games.

Bowen does have a go but makes so many mistakes that he is probably getting more run than he should. Newley has the most heart on the team, but those drives are at best getting FT lately, not made baskets.

Most alarming is the fools gold of being on top of the ladder; of their 13 wins, 4 are v NZ, 2 v Illawarra, 3 v Cairns, 2 v Perth during their slump. Adelaide are clearly a problem for them, they can't seem to beat Melbourne. So the 3 games upcoming v Brisbane in a few weeks may well decide their fate. They absolutely need homecourt to have any chance v Melbourne.

Not to mention a REALLY pissweak crowd as well... 7,700'ish and pretty ordinary as usual, but as an organisation, you have two past MVPs, an All-NBA centre in Bogut and are top of the table and you can't get a better crowd than that on a Sunday afternoon? I know they had another game on the Friday night (only 8,200) but if you can't get families to an early afternoon game, even on a Sunday, you're doing a pretty shit job...

No fan engagement this season either... They used to set up a table and bring out a decent player and a few DPs to get things signed by fans, but a conscious decision not to do it this is really a fail in my opinion... It was always a poor step down from previous seasons at other venues when they used to get set up on the court after the game, but understandably, Qudos is a lot more popular and hence need to get packed away quick smart, but on a Sunday afternoon with a 3pm tip off and done by 5, if they can't organise an extra hour for fans to interact with the players after MOST games, that's pretty shit...

Don't think its so much an issue with the age, just how utterly weak the bench is. When Bogut goes out, they have no defense, and when he has a quiet one like yesterday, they get waxed. Its been a while since Ive seen a game they were never in from the 2nd qtr onwards.

I don't mind Ware, but essentially this team is running with one import. And Randle is slowing down - never feel confident of his shots dropping anymore. The bench has Adnam, and ... nothing. Kickert looks close to done. Pineau is avg half a point and probably more than 1 turnover. Surprising they have never tried Tom Wilson, his shot in warm ups is the sweetest jumper on the squad, and given they are 2nd last in scoring, they could do with a boost from somewhere.

So many excuses coming from the Kings FB fanbase that I nearly got kicked out of a couple of the groups for being reasonable...

Newley is 33; Lisch is 32; Bogut 34; Kickert 35; Randle is 31.

Kings have played quite a few games these past couple of rounds, I think it's fatigue more than anything else. I actually thought the Kings did OK defensively the first half, just that Naar was knocking down shots and Conklin had the long 2 dropping as well - both shots you are usually OK with.

Not a pretty game at all for Sydney though, and not sure what Gaze was thinking as usual with some of his rotation, especially in the 4th Q with Randle and Bogut, and that lineup he rolled out to start the 2nd Q was bad too and that more than anything got the Hawks rolling.

Not sure what is up with Kickert either, because that Perth game aside he has looked woeful more often than not.

The extra time being available is because long/overtime games kept exceeding the scheduled tv timeslot in previous seasons.

First time in a while I've had the opportunity to watch a game from pre-coverage through to after-game analysis.

So much fluff pre and post, must say I'd rather see 12 min quarters being played if all this time is available.

Kickert is no better than Ware that is true and no one in the world would disagree

Only winning one title from four attempts isn’t up to our standards.

Onya Hawks! I enjoyed that.

Bevo is the real deal

"Sydney looking every bit their age this game. Is having an aged team a worry for them? They have looked slow and unathletic in their losses."

It's an interesting one MACDUB, because their last five losses have come to Melbourne and the Hawks, who have played half court basketball. You'd think that would play in the Kings favour but it hasn't been the case.

Gotta love all the upsets lately keeping things interesting

he is probably still better than wear

"no age means nothing but only 2 imports is recipe for failure"

So they should bring Larry Bird in for the 3rd import spot? ;)

"Is age a factor in their defensive issues?"

no age means nothing but only 2 imports is recipe for failure

Then Hawks foul a 3 point shooter?
Battle of the dumbest

Sydney looking every bit their age this game.

Is having an aged team a worry for them? They have looked slow and unathletic in their losses.

Newley is 33; Lisch is 32; Bogut 34; Kickert 35; Randle is 31.

Is age a factor in their defensive issues?

SMH @ Kings. Put Cedric on the line (smart) then break the line and give him another try when he misses!

Kings serving up spam.

for most of the game the refs weren't accepting emails in rich text but now they are receiving and responding promptly

they are clawing it back though

Not sure why Sydney have Adnam as their go to on offense when they're trying to claw this back.

David Wear is how I'd imagine Kevin Love if he had no offensive game and no rebounding skill at all.

"David Wear's currency has to be questionable. For a guy that's 2.08m, he's just so ineffective physically, can't rebound, can't drive.. I hate to say it, but he's soft."

he had that one lucky game and I reckon it saved him from the axe unfortunately for the kings

Sydney emailing it in during the first 3 quarters and hawks trying to reply all in the 4th

Hawks mail server must be down.

I don't understand the emails reference

Hawks are looking very chokey this quarter. This is a long way from over.

Kings are in trouble. They need a third import.

Hawks doing well to not implode when the Kings try and go on a run.

If only Perth could do that lol

Majok Majok - Majok Deng - Deng Deng sounds like a pokemon evolution

Hawks would be winning by more if White stayed on the bench. 4 on 5 when he’s chewing up time on court.

Naar coming out party.

I'll just bring across my comments about this game that were wrongly put in the other game thread.

"Illawarra is a good go here, they'll keep it close I think"

"Wouldn't be surprised if they won"

Why don't teams just sit in a zone against Sydney and let Wear shoot non-stop?

Literally beg him to shoot.

His shooting splits are surprisingly OK; but I think across a big sample, he's just an average shooter.

see tonight on the news sa hockey received 3.5 mill for the stadium at gepps cross