Preview: Round 11 vs Kings | Qudos Bank Arena

When: 3pm (AEDT), Sunday 13 February 2022
Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
Broadcast: ESPN; Kayo; 10 Peach; 10 Play

SEASON SERIES

Game 1: Brisbane 96 (Sobey 30, Cadee 18, Franks 16, Patterson 16) d Sydney 87 (Adams 33, Vasiljevic 21, Martin 18) - Round 8, Nissan Arena, Brisbane

Game 2: Sydney 97 (Vasiljevic 23, Martin 19, Adams 17) d Brisbane 73 (Patterson 16, Sobey 12, Franks 11) – Round 8, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

WHAT HAPPENED LAST START?

Brisbane downed the Sixers, after trailing 12 in the opening term and 10 early in the fourth. The Bullets unleashed a physicality level befitting the NBL22 style, grappling Adelaide to a halt, before riding an amazing Lamar Patterson offensive performance to victory.

It was the Kings frontcourt that delivered on Friday against the Phoenix. Cooks and Jarell Martin dominant all over the court as they combined for 43 points at 64 per cent, 5/6 from deep and 13 rebounds. As a result, Sydney had perhaps their best offensive night of the season, held SEM to 35 per cent from the field and claimed their fourth win from five games.

WHO’S IN FORM?

Lamar Patterson –Lamar Patterson had arguably his best offensive display in NBL22, 32 points at 57 per cent, 4/8 from range, 6 assists, 5 steals and eight points in the final 3:30 to steal the win off the 36ers last game. LP’s past four games have delivered 23.7 points at 50 per cent, 3.7 assists and 2 steals.

Jarell Martin – If you want a picture of efficiency, look at Martin’s game from Thursday, where he scored 20 points on nine shots, dropping 3/3 from outside. Martin has averaged 18.5ppg at 56 per cent against Sydney this season, but just 1/6 from deep. He’s also picked up 12rpg, including 4.5 o-boards, and dished 3.5 assists against Brisbane’s less mobile Cs.
 

WHO’S MATCHING UP?

Xavier Cooks v Robert Franks – Cooks has produced 15.3ppg and 10.6rpg in his past seven full games, and Sydney are +74 in NBL22 when he is on the floor, the next best King being Adams at +36. On Friday he had 23 points at 56 per cent and 4 o-boards to be a huge part of the Kings’ offensive outburst.

Franks has managed 13.5ppg at 34 per cent in his two outings against the Kings. Expect Cooks to go straight to Franks, who’s scored 37 points in his past two games (against Cairns and Adelaide), but if Patterson gets loose that might free Robo of Xavier’s attention.

ON THE RECORD

Lamar Patterson deservedly got the headlines after Friday night’s incredible clutch display, but Bullets coach James Duncan thought the genesis of his team’s come-from-behind win was elsewhere.

“Lamar played great, we all know that, but there are other aspects to the game that put us in a position for him to play great,” Duncan said.

“I think being down 10 with about 5-6 minutes left in the game, if he ends up scoring 32 and we lose, alright, what does that mean?

“The catalyst of our run was Deng Deng being active, in the passing lanes, stealing the ball, getting some easy lay-ups, then everybody’s feeling up and about and good about themselves, then that pushes us over the edge.

“Both of those are important, but I want to make sure my team understands the significance of playing defence and doing the small things. This is what’s going to build our culture.”

The game seemed all but lost when Manny Malou drained a corner triple to but Adelaide 10 up with seven minutes to play, moments after Deng had checked into the game.

“I believe when we get stops and run we look good, we just wanted to play defence and get it going,” he said.

“I thought we lost a little bit of energy towards the fourth quarter. I told the guys let’s just press, and that’s what I bring to the table, I bring energy, run after the ball, get steals and get going.

“It wasn’t just me, Isaiah and Drim did a good job with me at the top with trapping and rotations.”

Deng sparked a run of five steals in five minutes which the Bullets converted into 10 points, sparking an 18-3 run that ultimately delivered victory.

“We had lost four in a row, we weren’t playing the right type of basketball, so I'm just really happy that we grinded it out and I'm hoping now guys understand what it takes to win basketball games,” Duncan said.

“You could see the guys were exhausted but that’s what it takes, and I want them to be exhausted after the Sunday game as well, regardless of whether it’s a win or a loss, have that feeling of no regrets, I left it all out on the floor.”