R12 Preview: Sydney Kings vs Perth Wildcats

When: 8pm (AEDT), Saturday 19 February 2022

Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

Broadcast: ESPN; Kayo; Sky Sport NZ

Who won last time?

Sydney 95 (Adams 30, Martin 22, Cooks 13, Vasiljevic 13) d Perth 81 (Law 20, Cotton 20, Blanchfield 11) - Round 9, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

It is a game largely remembered for the DJ Vasiljevic-Matt Hodgson altercation where DJ mouthed off to the Wildcats big man after they were caught down low together. Hodgson delivered his two face palms, was subsequently ejected and suspended for two games.

But as for the game itself, the Kings were mighty impressive on their way to the 14-point win with a combined 52 points from imports Jaylen Adams and Jarell Martin to overcome the 40 from Perth pair Vic Law and Bryce Cotton.

The Kings were on fire early getting five three-point shots to fall in the opening term on the way to a 14-point lead and then extending that to 18 during the second with Adams, Martin and Xavier Cooks combining for 42 first-half points.

Perth were always going to fire back and ironically it started after the heated exchange. The Wildcats hit the next 10 points and then on the back of Law and Cotton, got within four with seven minutes to go and with Cooks fouling out for the home team. The Kings dominated the rest of the way with Adams not letting his team lose with another 11 points in the last four minutes.

What happened last start?

The Kings are now in their best patch of form of the season having won three straight and five of their last six to be knocking on the door of the top four, but they were mighty lucky to escape with the win on Sunday at home to the Brisbane Bullets. However, they pulled it out of the fire in the most spectacular fashion with the thunderous Jaylen Adams driving dunk. He and Angus Glover then combined to grab the offensive rebound, Adams found Jarell Martin under the bucket for the game winner and Qudos Bank Arena exploded. The momentum from that could drive the Kings a long way.

The Wildcats, meanwhile, are having their first real struggle of the season having lost two of their previous three matches, although in between was a mighty impressive win in Melbourne over the South East Melbourne Phoenix. Last Saturday night, the 'Cats started tremendously in a Grand Final rematch with Melbourne United to be up 15. They also finished strongly to give themselves a sniff, but in between they were blown away by United in the eventual 93-87 loss. Bryce Cotton couldn’t have done much more than his 31 points, but he didn’t get a whole lot of help and again they were well beaten on the glass which would not have been lost now in preparation to try and bounce back this week.

Who’s in form?

Jaylen Adams – Well just look at the way he finished the last game against Brisbane. That's a man who wanted to make a statement, who didn’t want to accept his team losing and went out there and took the win. He might not have been shooting the ball great the rest of that game, but there's no question the Kings look quite a dangerous outfit with him out there running the point with his scoring threat and ability to create for his teammates. It's now clear why the Kings were patient in waiting for him to be healthy because he is putting himself in discussion among the best guards in #NBL22.

Bryce Cotton – The MVP had 31 points, five rebounds and four assists to do everything he could to try and lift his team last Saturday night against Melbourne United. While it didn’t quite result in the win, that was through no fault of his own and now he returns to Qudos Bank Arena and against a Kings team which often has brought out his very best, and most lethal performances in the past.

Who needs to be?

DJ Vasiljevic – It was an uncharacteristic game for the sharpshooter last Sunday against the Bullets. He went scoreless and missed all six of his field goal attempts including three of them from beyond the arc. You wouldn’t imagine he's going to do any of that again, but for Sydney to overcome the Wildcats he does need to be on song, making himself a threat and knocking down his shots to take some of the pressure off Jaylen Adams and Jarell Martin to do a lot of the heavy lifting.

Michael Frazier – Well it's now his time to show what he can really provide to this Wildcats team. He has shown flashes so far in his eight games but ultimately averaging 5.7 points and 5.1 rebounds isn’t quite going to get it done. Now without Todd Blanchfield in the line-up, he will have the chance to be the third cog in the wheel alongside Bryce Cotton and Vic Law, and the 'Cats will need him to score, rebound and defend if they are going to get the win over the Kings.

Who’s statting up?

 - Sydney outrebounded Perth 47 to 31 in the last meeting. That differential of 16 was the biggest by Sydney in any game and the most by any team over the Wildcats in NBL22
 
 - Rebounding is a definite concern for the 'Cats having been outrebounded by a total of 34 boards in the previous three matches. In the 269 games Trevor Gleeson coached the Wildcats, they were never outrebounded by at least eight in three consecutive outings

 - Jaylen Adams put up 30 and nine last time out against Perth, which is both the most points scored and assists dished out by any player against the Wildcats this season

 - Scoring 84-plus points will be key for Sydney. So far this season, teams that have scored 84 or more against the Wildcats have won on all four occasions. Teams that have scored under 84 have lost each of those eight matches

Who’s matching up?

DJ Vasiljevic v Matt Hodgson – No, just joking but all eyes will certainly be on to see those two bump into one another for the first time. On a more serious note, while Jaylen Adams and Bryce Cotton won't directly match up on one another all the time, whichever guard can get hot the most and put their team on the back, they are going to prove tremendously hard to stop.

Who’s talking the talk?

NBA championship winner Ian Clark will make his NBL debut in this match and become just the third ever Sydney Kings import to play his first game against the Wildcats after Ebi Ere did so in 2003 and Sam Young in 2013.

He hasn’t played in two years after an ill-fated stint in China, but is quickly settling in at the Kings and doesn’t feel like it'll take him too long to pick things back up.

"I love the game, I love to play, I love to compete. Just being back into the rhythm of things, going to practice, being around teammates, you miss all of that. There’s only so much working out you can do on your own, so being able to be around guys, it’s refreshing to be back with the team," Clark told NewsCorp.

"Obviously, it’s going to take a little time to get back to exactly where I want to be, but I think I’m on the right track. I’m just getting settled in here, so being able to take it day by day, getting myself back to the level of play that I feel like I can play at, which is a high level, and we’ll go from there."

Another thing that Clark feels will help in quickly at the Kings, and a big factor in him signing, was that the style they are playing is perfectly suited to his strengths.

"I think the way that we play is very similar. It’s very familiar to me. It’s up and down, it’s free-flowing. you make decisions on the fly. Specifically, the way that we run things, pick and rolls … offensively, defensively," he said.

"I’m used to playing that way. I think that’s part of the fit, I think that’s part of why it was a good opportunity for me, being able to know that the way that the guys play, the way that the team is run, my game can fit in easy."

Clark was on hand to witness the spectacular finish and crazy celebrations last Sunday against the Bullets as well, and now can't wait to get out on Qudos Bank Arena himself.

"The way that we won the game was amazing, the big excitement with the dunk and being able to win at the buzzer. For me, it was a great atmosphere," Clark said.

"I told Jaylen and I told the rest of the guys that they’d gotten me ready to play. I was fired up to play. There’s a lot of excitement, it looks like a lot of fun and I can’t wait to be a part of it."

The Wildcats return to Qudos Bank Arena on a mission to iron out some clunky aspects of their game right now, according to coach Scott Morrison.

"Just our details, especially defensively. Getting back in transition and matching up, trying to keep their best rebounds off the glass by blocking out, not giving up back cuts or straight line drives to the rim, and then offensively just making sure we value every possession," Morrison said.

"I think in the Melbourne game we started out great and then got a bit loose with it and some guys started to force it instead of taking what was given to us offensively and we’ve got to make sure every possession counts."

The Wildcats are minus 2.9 rebounds overall and 2.7 offensive boards against their opponents so far this season and that's not a fact lost on Morrison.

"We’re not that small. If you go down the list and look, are we that much smaller than Melbourne? They have Jo. We have Hodgy and Majok. Their four man is my height," Morrison added.

"Caleb Agada is not that big. Goulding doesn’t rebound. Dellavedova crashes but he’s not that big. I love this narrative that we’re not that big, but we’re the same size as every team. We just haven’t rebounded yet."

Vic Law knows as well that above everything else he needs to help more on the glass come Saturday night.

"Scott’s been on me this week about blocking out and making sure a lot of the guys I’m on aren’t flying in there or crashing," Law said.

"Jack White got a big put-back dunk in the game against us and that was 100 per cent my fault. I’ve got to take care what I can take care of.

"I can’t speak for my other teammates but putting some onus on myself. I know I can block out and make sure I clear out space for my teammates."