R3 Preview: Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Isaac Humphries and Adelaide are on a roll, but they face a rising Jarell Martin and a desperate Kings team looking to lock down the paint.

When: 8pm (AEDT), Saturday 30 January

Where: Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Broadcast: ESPN; Sky Sports NZ; SBS On Demand; Twitch

The last time
Sydney 91 (Newley 20, Tate 20, Bogut 13) d Adelaide 77 (Randle 24, Johnson 15, Griffin 12), Round 14, 2019/20, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

The 36ers scored five quick points early in the third term, but from there it was all Sydney, their frontcourt combining for 17 points in seven minutes as the home team unleashed 24-8 run to blow the game open. Jae’Sean Tate and Brad Newley were the stars as the Kings won points in the paint 52-34, combining for 40 points at 65 per cent, 13 rebounds and 5 assists.

The now
It’s now the 36ers getting all sorts of production out of their frontcourt, Daniel Johnson and Isaac Humphries evolving into a genuine twin tower combination in recent games. While their offensive production is getting the headlines, Adelaide’s first-half defence against the Breakers last week gave an insight into coach Connor Henry’s vision for this team, and they’ll need to repeat that against these aggressive Kings.

Yet while Sydney are bringing a similar approach as last year’s version, so far they have not been able to own the paint at either end like they did en route to last season’s minor premiership. Of course, the absence of Andrew Bogut’s shot-blocking is a big factor there, but so is the loss of Bogut, Xavier Cooks and Tate’s defensive rebounding, which regularly unleashed the Kings in transition last season.

The stats
- The Kings rank second for two-point attempts (52) but 9^th for free-throw attempts (14.7). Last season they averaged 39.1 two-point attempts and 21.1 foul shots

- In NBL20, Sydney were the number one rated defensive team, giving up just 47 per cent from two-point range. This season, they are currently rated 8^th while conceding 52 per cent inside the arc

- Bogut (2^nd), Cooks (3^rd) and Tate (20^th) were amongst the league leaders in d-boards last season. This year only Jarell Martin (5^th) sits in the top 20.

- Adelaide has four players in the top 20 – Josh Giddey, Humphries, Johnson and Sunday Dech – who are combining for 21.6 d-boards per game

- The 36ers kept NZ to just 33 points at 42 per cent in the first half on Wednesday, while forcing 8 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes

The key men
Isaac Humphries – The say there are lies, damned lies and statistics, but Humphries’ numbers are just telling the truth right now. In his past three outings the former Atlanta Hawk and Sydney King has averaged 21.7ppg at 67 per cent, 8rpg and 4.3bpg, the 36ers +26 with their centre on the floor and -19 in his 35 minutes on the pine. The Ice Man has cometh.

Jarell Martin – While Martin can’t quite match those lofty numbers, his past two contests have delivered 24ppg at 58 per cent, 10.5rpg, 4orpg and 2.5apg. The former Grizzlies and Magic big man can knock down the three-ball – he’s hit 35 per cent in his 184-game NBA career – but he is only 1-of-5 from range so far downunder, and his ability to get his J going could be the key to drawing Humphries from the basket and opening up the paint.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Martin not slowing down.<br><br>He’s got 26 points and 11 rebounds. <br><br>Kings down by 3 with less than a minute in it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeTheKings?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeTheKings</a> <a href="https://t.co/zU75dZk6XX">pic.twitter.com/zU75dZk6XX</a></p>— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings/status/1353942281766670336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The quotes
Replacing Andrew Bogut is more than difficult, in the Hungry Jack’s NBL it’s close to impossible, as the Sydney Kings are finding out.

“We’re struggling to be able to defend the rim at the moment,” coach Adam Forde said after their Round 3 loss to Brisbane.

“There are some real deficiencies in how we match up one-on-one and some deficiencies in how we support off the ball.”

Whatever the Kings tried, Brisbane found a way to get inside as they won points in the paint 50-36, and scores from ‘ones and twos’ 69-48.

“We tried to change it up a little bit, being a bit more aggressive with the pick-and-roll, we changed it up to a little bit of zone, but something that were trying to establish as our home base on the defensive end isn’t great at the moment,” Forde said.

“We've really got to do a better job in that area more than anything.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Harrison finishes it if.....<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WEAREBNE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WEAREBNE</a> <a href="https://t.co/K0qFOhdfwB">pic.twitter.com/K0qFOhdfwB</a></p>— Brisbane Bullets (@BrisbaneBullets) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrisbaneBullets/status/1353935439996932096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

One big problem with not being able to defend the rim, is it’s much more difficult to attack it at the other end, because you’re regularly taking the ball out of the basket and playing against set defences.

For the Kings, that’s meant more grinding half-court offences that require late clock shot-making, compared to last season’s lightning ball movement and fearless penetration that put defences on the back foot.

“It’s really important that we don’t just have one or two guys who are going to bail us out of trouble,” Forde added.

Last season, Sydney averaged 60.4 points from free throws and two-pointers, and shot a blistering 58 per cent from inside the arc on the back of their transition rim attacks, but this season that conversion has slipped to 48 per cent.

That hasn’t been an issue for Adelaide since their forgettable season opener, going at 54 per cent from inside and scoring 77 per cent of their points from ones and twos.

It’s no secret Isaac Humphries has been the key target inside, now opposition teams have got to figure out how to stop him.

“Isaac’s play is a result of his teammates knowing where to find him and his energy level,” coach Connor Henry said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dime 'n Dunk. ? × ? <a href="https://t.co/BBZJd8NtdU">pic.twitter.com/BBZJd8NtdU</a></p>— Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers/status/1354362366968827904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“He gives it his all, he’s getting great looks at the basket, we’re setting him up to be able to seal and get the ball up on the rim quickly without doubling from our opponents.

“Josh (Giddey) does a fine job and all the other guys are doing a good job of knowing where he’s going to be and getting him the ball. He’s playing a really high level and he’s excited about basketball, so that’s a pretty good combination.”

What’s been just as impressive is the way Adelaide have started converting that inside dominance into efficient perimeter play.

“There were a lot of extra touch passes that I was really pleased with,” Henry said after their win over the Breakers.

“One from DJ to Sloan for a three and then vice versa, Sloan to DJ for a big three. We had a couple of extra touch passes to the corner three for Church (Sunday Dech), so some unselfish play.

“By us getting on the rim and attacking we’re going to have some better looks at three and tonight we got them.”

It presents a tough challenge for the Kings without a genuine rim presence, but rookie DJ Vasiljevic is pragmatic about what his team must fix to get a W in the City of Churches.

“We've got to get our bits and pieces together and be able to defend the paint, rebound and do all the little things that help get us over the line,” he said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MOVE ??<br> THE ??<br> ROCK ??<br> SPLASH! <a href="https://t.co/iOYSZbNwqn">pic.twitter.com/iOYSZbNwqn</a></p>— Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide36ers/status/1354370847582998533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>