Sydney Kings throw a hail mary to salvage season

Sydney Kings throw a hail mary to salvage season

Google Advertisements

The Sydney Kings are under immense pressure to salvage another unforgettable year by adding two new imports and releasing another. American centre Jeremy Tyler and point guard Jerome Randle were signed earlier this week after the club released underperforming guard Travis Leslie.

 

The massive changes came as a swift response to the Kings’ unimpressive season that has seen them sitting pretty at the bottom of the NBL ladder over the last few weeks. A wooden spoon finish is not what Gaze, JVG and co had envisioned.

 

Kings management finally addressed their most immediate positional need by adding a solid big man who they hope can provide some defensive presence in the middle. Tyler stands at 6’10” with a 7’5″ wingspan and has plenty of NBA experience under his belt. If his recent play in China is a barometer, Tyler could definitely bring in much needed muscle inside.

 

In hindsight relying on three rookies to man the middle was never going to work. Not a single King is averaging any more than 5.5 rebounds or even one block for the team, which shows the defensive ineptitude of this current roster. Ridiculous as it may sound, Tyler, who averaged 20.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game in the 2016/2017 Chinese league, is expected to cover the club’s shortcomings as soon as he steps on to the hardwood.

 

In another coup for the club, they also signed reigning NBL MVP Jerome “The Handle” Randle. The 5’9″ pocket rocket averaged 21.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.0 steals over 31 games for Adelaide last season. He will bring plenty of punch, energy, scoring prowess and a badly needed closer until Kevin Lisch returns.

 

As it stands, Randle will replace Leslie, while Tyler will slot in for import Perry Ellis, who can slide back to his natural power forward position. They will join Brad Newley and Jason Cadee in a revamped starting lineup. Todd Blanchfield can interchange with Cadee and Newley, or shore up a rather lackadaisical bench mob. Under-utilised big man Tom Garlepp is still in the Andrew Gaze’s doghouse, with rookies Isaac Humphries, Dane Pineau and Amritpal Singh getting more burn.

 

Less than two months into the season, the Kings have struggled mightily without their inspirational captain Kevin Lisch, who went down with a calf injury in Round 2. The unbalanced roster has seen players play out of position, with head coach Gaze continually tinkering with a lineup that lacks defensive intensity.

 

The same old issues continue to plague this Kings squad that’s built to run but are stuck on second gear. They are sporting a two game losing streak, and have only won once in the last five games.

 

For a team that’s stacked with good shooters and scorers, the Kings have only scored over 100 just once, good enough for two wins. Sydney are only averaging 86.1 points per game. On the other end, they are giving up a whopping 96 points per game. First to a hundred wins and clearly the team is at a crossroads.

 

There is strong belief that Randle and Tyler will make an immediate impact for Sydney. This is not a repetition of last year’s debacle, when NBA veterans Steve Blake and semi-retired Josh Powell were brought in to bring plenty of hype for the club but their addition was truly an epic fail.

 

A run for the playoffs is realistic and a Top 4 finish is certainly not out of the picture. We got four months and 20 games left until the end of February. Plenty of time. The Kings are just two wins away from fourth place.

 

The dilemma is that Sydney still has to play the top four clubs eleven more times during that stretch. New Zealand, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne occupy the top four spots on the NBL ladder at the moment. Sydney needs to play the Wildcats three more times, Adelaide twice, top-of-the-table New Zealand twice, and Melbourne four more times. Good luck.

 

Sydney needs to stay competitive on both ends of the floor. They must find some fire, passion and motivation to bounce back and win. Gaze and co could only hope and pray that their new import pairing can help jumpstart their season before the wheels completely fall off.

 

Can the Kings steal some wins now or continue to be the laughing stock of Aussie hoops? We’ll find out this Saturday against United.

 

Let’s hope for the best, Sydney. Better late than never.

 

Marco Selorio (69 Posts)

Marco Selorio is a serial entrepreneur, basketball writer, Master of Ceremonies, event director and promoter. Follow him on Facebook @marcoandreselorio and on Instagram @marcoselorio


Share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Luke Kendall on developing basketball in India, 2006 FIBA World Champs & Sydney’s 2005 NBL Title

    Former NBL player and current Casey Cavaliers head coach Luke Kendall joins the podcast to share his journey—from his junior basketball days to professional success and now a rising coaching career. Kendall developed under legendary coach Mike Dunlap at Metro State, where he won a national championship before moving to the NBL. He played for the Sydney Kings, Melbourne Tigers, Perth Wildcats, and Gold Coast Blaze, winning a championship with the Kings before injuries forced an early retirement. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of…

    READ MORE
  • Larry Kestelman Says Geelong Deserves an NBL Team But Is Missing a Real Estate Component

    The possibility of an NBL expansion team in Geelong has gained momentum, with league owner Larry Kestelman confirming the city is a strong candidate—provided it can secure a suitable venue. However, much like we outlined in an article a number of years ago, How the Geelong Supercats could return to the NBL within 3 years, the missing piece isn’t just a stadium, but a real estate-backed development plan to make the project financially viable. Kestelman recently acknowledged Geelong’s growing basketball scene, citing record participation numbers…

    READ MORE
  • The Wollongong Hawks’ 2001 NBL Championship: The defining moment of an underdog’s rise

    There have been championship runs in the NBL defined by dominance and the sheer weight of talent that could overwhelm opponents before the ball was tipped. The dynasties of Perth, the star-studded reign of Melbourne, and the rise of Sydney’s financial muscle all tell tales of powerhouses that knew how to stay at the top. But there has only ever been one championship like Wollongong’s in 2001—a title won through sheer resilience, a team that had no business being there until they forced their way…

    READ MORE
  • If Dyson Daniels Doesn’t Win Defensive Player of the Year, It’s a Disgrace

    The Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award is supposed to recognise the most dominant defender in the NBA. If that’s the case, then Dyson Daniels should already have his name engraved on the trophy. But as the season winds down, there’s a growing concern that Daniels might get overlooked simply because he’s a guard. If that happens, it won’t just be unfair—it will be a disgrace. Daniels is Leading the NBA in Every Key Defensive Stat There’s no argument against Daniels’ defensive dominance this…

    READ MORE
  • Sydney Kings’ Xavier Cooks Faces Further Consequences After Positive Cocaine Test

    Sydney Kings captain Xavier Cooks has served most of his one-month suspension for testing positive for cocaine but may still face additional disciplinary action from his club. He was provisionally suspended in early February after returning an adverse analytical finding just two days before the Kings’ sudden-death clash against Adelaide. Basketball Australia later confirmed the ban, though the club initially cited “personal leave” as the reason for his absence. Despite the violation, Sydney Kings officials reportedly want to retain Cooks, who remains under contract for…

    READ MORE
  • NBL Free Agent Tracker

    Below is an up-to-date roster for each NBL team and a list of rumours and potential signings derived from discussions with NBL staff and media. Players listed as contracted come from information supplied by the National Basketball League. * = Denotes import player ** = Naturalised Australian DP = a member of the team's development roster SRP = the previously named Asian player exception denoting an Asian player who qualifies as a local in the NBL. MP = Marquee players listed as known Click here…

    READ MORE
  • How Aussie Hoops Is Vital For Asia Basketball

    The recent FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Traralgon showcased not just Australia's dominance in the region but also why Australian basketball is becoming an invaluable asset for Asian nations looking to grow their game. The Boomers' commanding victories over Indonesia (109-58) and Thailand (114-64) were not just displays of superior talent but reflections of an elite system that consistently produces world-class players. For Asian basketball federations seeking a model to learn from, Australia offers an ideal blueprint—one that balances elite player development, a thriving professional…

    READ MORE
  • New Sydney NBL Team: A Next Stars Hub in the Making?

    A second Sydney NBL team is expected to be the league’s next expansion franchise, with Gold Coast, Darwin, and Canberra all encountering significant roadblocks in recent months. It’s believed the Harbour City Stars is the leading candidate for the team name, following a branding strategy similar to how San Francisco’s Golden State Warriors use a regional moniker rather than the city’s name. This broader identity would emphasize the team’s connection to Sydney’s iconic harbor while avoiding geographical constraints within the city. In addition to Harbour…

    READ MORE
sekolahtoto SEKOLAHTOTO SEKOLAHTOTO sekolahtoto http://178.128.104.2/ sekolahtoto sekolahtoto sekolahtoto sekolahtoto

SEKOLAHTOTO

SITUS TOGEL

depo 5k

https://www.instalikes.org/

sekolahtoto

situs toto

slot deposit 5000

sekolahtoto

situs togel

situs togel