Hoops

GF Series: Kings vs Wildcats, Game 1

"^How did that work out for Blanchfield?"

If you just go by the stats, he went up in nearly every area after moving from Kings to Hawks. eg, playing time from 26 to 27 1/2 mins, shooting % up from 41 to 48% and ppg from 9 to 14. However, apart from minutes, he went down this year.

But the stats don't show everything about how it went for Todd. Other things could come into play like does he still enjoy playing, what's his relationship like with the club and coaches, can he improve for next year, does he want to put the work in?

And, if it was just minutes, he's never really struggled for court time, consistently getting 25-30 mins across most of his career.

From memory, Blanchfield had a year left and asked the Kings to cancel it. Moller could do the same.

It'd be the right thing to do for the Kings to let him go, since they screwed him over by signing a World Cup Boomer selection to take his spot in the rotation.

Contracts in sport now never seem to hold up, it’s why the afl made it a lot easier to move from club to club.

Wait Boucher might not have been a starter? Well he did play serious minutes anyway

Moller should do a Blanchfield- ask for his contract to be cancelled and then sign with a lesser team.



These guys made solid NBL careers over the past 10 years:



Brendan Teys

Kevin White

Greg Hire



None of them had much to offer, but got through on hard work and team first attitude. Moller has limitless potential compared to those 3, but he’s bench warming because he’s on possibly the most star studded team of all time.



What about these starters on multiple championship teams, who had significant limitations or weaknesses in their skillsets:



Warrick Giddey

Mika Vukona

Damien Martin

Dillon Boucher


Moller just needs to find a situation that’s right for him. Not sitting on a bench is a good start. #AnyonebutSydney

I think Simmons refused to join the team as he is sick of being Moller's bunny.

(I should really use an asterisk for our National Team* since it was missing Ben Simmons due to NBA commitments and Craig Moller due to the upcoming NBL playoffs)

So you missed that it was called the FIBA Break and that your national team beat ours during it?

Could just be me but I've found it really hard to get into this season's playoffs.
That 12 days that they had off between end of regular season and playoffs really ruined it for me - attention diverted elsewhere and haven't watched a game since.
Not sure if other people are in the same boat?
What was the reason for the 12 day break - the break now only gets us closer to NRL/AFL season and probably draws more casual fans away?

Damien Martin stripped KD35 of the ball once. I'm shocked he isn't in the NBA and auto-nominated for DPOY.

It just occurred to me that Sydney's bench includes:

Moller
Cooks
Kickert
Louzada
Walker

5 international players on the bench, no wonder there are not enough minutes to go around. Moller deserves to play but there are only 40 minutes in a game. Kings are too stacked he would probably be better off going to the Phoenix or the new Tassie team where he could be a star. Just look at what Pineau did with more opportunity

Greggo...some good points re Sydney.

They can be buoyed that they weren't far off a win.

Near the top of their list would have been to stop the Wildcats offensive rebounding which they limited.

If Ware didn't have such a bad game I think things would have been quite different.

Kings play the percentages and gambled and Martin came up trumps on the 3. three quarters of the time that would likely be in the Kings favour.

Kings were not unlucky and the Wildcats were not lucky, both played to their plan and took educated gambles.

I just checked the numbers from this regular season.
When Moller played > 15 minutes, Sydney were undefeated vs Perth with an average winning margin of 19 points
When Moller played < 15 minutes, Perth were undefeated vs Sydney with an average winning margin of 14 points

It is clearly suicidal to leave him sitting on the bench, so the only explanation is that Sydney are intentionally throwing the first 2 games with the intention of unleashing Moller in the last 3 and making history by coming back from the dead to win it in 5. It is brilliantly audacious.

It was one game and they were gonna sub out Terrico White, but he swissed 2 threes. Stendel and Gleeson agreed to leave him on while he was hot.
No wonder they are a top team. Weaver does the opposite.
Seems unlikely they would leave a player on for 32 minutes getting one in outta 14 shots....

Moller played a key role in United’s 17/18 championship season- he was in the starting 5, and one of their better players through their mid season winning streak where the team established itself. Moller also played a role for United last season, and for Sydney in their 11-1 start to this season.

Moller has already proven he’s a potential starter if it’s within the right situation. You don’t get minutes on the top teams without having something to offer. He is a quality defender. He needs to improve his jump shooting, but his defensive abilities mean he’s deserving of NBL minutes. How many exactly is the only matter for debate.

The only reason Moller’s no longer getting minutes is because Sydney signed Cooks mid-season. Sydney is the most loaded team in the competition. This is very disappointing for Moller if the rumours of last off-season are true- that he signed for more court time!

Too bad, you signed for the NBL's new money team.

That ^ post started off talking about Moller and ended up talking about someone who would be an ideal candidate to guard Cotton and I haven't yet worked out at which point it changed and which player it changed to.

Highly likely they won’t need a game 4

"The kid made the Boomers squad for a reason, Moller could never."

Moller was in the Boomers squad for the 2019 World Cup qualifiers, announced in November 2018. Not arguing the merits, just stating the fact that belies your conclusion.

I agree, Cooks is a better all around player than Moller by a fair bit, but Moller uses his length really well in defence, Cooks can't without fouling.

Lovebroker was spot on. Ware is elite at throwing himself to the ground when he gets hit by a screen. He didn't say he does it every time but when he does, he is world class.

I won't be upset if they play Moller in front of Cooks, go ahead Will jump the shark so to speak :)

In game 1 Ware played 32:27. He had 1 screen called in his favour. I think it's fairly comfortable to say that he ran into more than one screen in that 32:27 hence Lovebroker's comment is slightly exaggerated i'd suggest.

Keep not playing Moller, Kings.

Thanks in advance.

"Plenty of people would also not play Moller if they had Tate, Newley, Cooks and Didi as options in the 3 and 4 spots

The fact that Weaver has a team that's good enough to squeeze Moller out of any minutes indicates how spoiled for talent Sydney are.

Yet they still only made the grand final after an all time United choke in Game 1 and an MVP performance from the refs in Game 3."

LV spitting hot fire.

Also does anyone else feel slimey after watching a Weaver press conference. He's slimy

They love for Moller is getting outrageous, Cooks is a far better defender, rebounder and is younger. The kid made the Boomers squad for a reason, Moller could never. Moller might be a better shooter but hasn’t show that either this season. Cooks was replaced out of the starting line up because he asked to come off the bench and put Newly in the starting line up for offense purposes. You keep bringing up the win ratio like the Kings were just off to a hot start in the beginning while most teams were trying to find themselves. I think what’s hurt the team besides Game 1 is Lisch look at that win ratio record and his contributions to the team since he’s returned from injury. He hasn’t been good at all.

Casper hasn’t been good as well recently either but I think losing Taylor (arguing the team best defender) has hurt Ware. Because he now has to guard the best guys and run around chasing them the whole game and then try to carry the team offensively that’s a tough task to do for anyone. That is just my observation of Sydney now

Perth in 4 lol

Neither do I, tbh. Cats individual game tickets are exxxxxy.
Still gives me sticker shock every year at playoff time.

Could the Carona Virus be playing a part?

I think < 3 days is a reasonable excuse.
We will see at game 3. That's a fairer test.

But it took time to establish themselves and build that fanbase. It didn't happen overnight.

"To get 11,600 to a basketball game in Sydney is exceptional, but the fact it has very rarely been done before. To get it in less than three days after the semi finals is incredible."

Sorry but I'm not buying this 3 day excuse, that it was only Game 1 of a possible 5, or that "exceptional" or "incredible" BS. Nor am I buying any excuse like there is nothing to do in Perth (what major event was on in Sydney on the weekend other than the NBL??).

I hate the Wildcats as much as anyone, but the reality is that if Perth had an 18,000 seat arena to play out of, even on just 3 days notice and for a Game 1 of 5 ... they still would have just about filled the place. In fact, they'd just about fill it for every game.

Is relevant because it illustrates how Weaver is struggling in this playoffs to win with a team that is stacked with a capital S

Inexplicably, Barlow and CG took 3s a second or 2 into the shot clock late in Game 1. McCarron got a half court violation under no pressure. United capitulated. Yes Sydney hit shots but that only matters because of United's continual brain fades, one after another.

Weaver is 4 games into his first foray into playoffs. So far a massive failure.

They can turn it around though. Not saying they're done. Just very unimpressed with Weaver at this particular point in time

LV...give the Kings due credit for Game 1, the choke on one side was married up with hitting big shots (see Tate's threes) on the other end.

I think you gave the 45 point thrashing in game 2 too much weighting, as if the Kings were broken and couldn't come back from it.

Fact is, it was a new game.

People have moved on from that now and are discussing this series.

I have never been huge on Moller, the guy is a decent defender with good athleticism and length so he is a good role player.

People here talk of Moller like he is the defensive glue for the whole team.

Moller's minutes can easily be gobbled up by Newley and Tate and they wouldn't bat an eyelid.

Plenty of people would also not play Moller if they had Tate, Newley, Cooks and Didi as options in the 3 and 4 spots

The fact that Weaver has a team that's good enough to squeeze Moller out of any minutes indicates how spoiled for talent Sydney are.

Yet they still only made the grand final after an all time United choke in Game 1 and an MVP performance from the refs in Game 3.

Cooks also does not play the 3.

Cooks recruitment mid season was a very shrewd move, I'm setting aside another rostered player was let go (forgot his name), or that Boti said Cooks is on 300k.

He is a big reason Sydney have been able to maintain their defensive efficiency with Bogut load managed.

See the block he did on Cotton, would you expect Kickert to do that? Kickert would still be at half court line.

The recruitment at Sydney has been top notch.

I only wish the Sixers had $3m + 10% of Propriety to give away.

Have I missed something where there is a Tom Gleeson type funny joke about Moeller being good?

Cook and Newley contributed 9 points for a minus 24, playing through the three spot, surely it's time to get Moller back.

Sydney lose game 2 it means they will have to sweep Perth 3-0 from there on to win. Highly unlikely so game 2 is virtually the season

if you swish a 3 pointer, why then weaver will sub you out...

Actually no, don't think he's dirty at all. Just think it's also very rich coming from Perth fans

Sydney most definitely can win in Perth, they have the on court talent and experience.

Bogut and Lisch were very good, although they may not shoot 'that' well again and revert towards the mean they will still be more than serviceable, same can be said of Casper who should improve.

This will just be a game of adjustments and counter adjustments.

Even a team like Cairns could go back to the video room and address Cotton's 40+ point display to make it not happen again.

I'm not saying Perth will lose in Perth but it's no certainty, especially if they don't bring the intensity and hunger (which they mostly do).

That said I am very very impressed with the Wildcats defence in the first 8 mins of Q4. They often took away the Kings' first play and had them scrambling for the secondary, this is normally NOT a bad option when Casper is 20ppg Casper, but that dried up.

Whether you want to use the word Lucky or whatever, Perth were fortunate that open shots by Bruce and Kickert missed (and that was preceded by bad play / missed FTs), and less so Casper's last 3.

So far this is very entertaining.

If you can explain to me the connection between coaching basketball and running a stopwatch, I'm all ears.

"Bearing in mind I knew the play, and could thus start the count the split-second Tate had the ball instead of having to realise he had the ball and I was supposed to start counting, that seems entirely fair."

Where do you coach KR?

Siting Moller to bring back Taylor, Kings playing chess not checkers ... The reason I believe Moller hasn’t played because he isn’t 100% & Cooks is a just a better version of him

Not hard showing on Clint Steindl is absolutely ridiculous imo. The man can't make a good decision to save himself. Instead they're letting him shoot open shots coming off screens. Madness

Cotton has embarrassed Ware, and the saddest thing is that they were defended the same way in large part throughout the game. All Sydney needs to do is make a couple of minor adjustments -- including the big hedging on Cotton/White/Steindl to give the chasing defender enough time to catch up -- and they will win the series.

Sydney have done well to win the rebound count, and if that continues they'll be golden

Yes, the terrible performance by Ware - given less minutes and Sydney would have won.

Commentators were right about sydney's subbing.
Lisch was on fire yet only played 20 minutes and he gave ware over 30 minutes (most of any sydney player) and he was pathetic.

Kings games are still cheaper than going to Wildcats games

Maybe a factor was that it was only game 1 of a best of 5. You could argue that its not really a grand final just yet- this is like the equal of say a preliminary final in football with bigger games to come. Because it wasnt a deciding game just yet, people might wait until game 3 when things really heat up.

In saying that though, the Kings could have at least matched the 13,300 they got for game 1 of the SF, so yeah the 11,600 or so was a bit low. On the flip side though, the Kings have never had these sized crowds before ever, so its still a good crowd.