Goorjian: Missing pieces told in the end

Missing Kouat Noi, losing Bul Kuol to injury and then watching Tim Soares foul out ultimately derailed Sydney’s bid to hand the Adelaide 36ers a third defeat of NBL26.

Even so, the Kings showed enough to leave Brian Goorjian keen for another crack at Adelaide, confident the outcome could look very different with his side at full strength.

The Kings entered the Adelaide Entertainment Centre as the competition’s hottest team, riding a six-game winning streak and having already beaten the 36ers twice this season.

For much of Friday night, they looked capable of repeating the dose, even without their closer and reigning Best Sixth Man Noi, who was sidelined by illness, and after defensive stopper Kuol suffered a knee injury in the second quarter.

When Soares fouled out with just under six minutes remaining, the accumulation of absences finally told. Adelaide seized the moment with a decisive 12–3 run to close out an 85–79 victory.

Post-game, Goorjian reflected on what might have bee,n had the Kings been able to call on all their key pieces in the final term.

"I think it was quite obvious that they ground us down and it started going their direction as they got to us, and with Tim fouling out of the game, Bul going out of the game and us addressing not having Kouat here, and the style we'd have to play," Goorjian said.

Goorjian was quick to acknowledge Adelaide’s quality, but felt the circumstances made the turning point clear.

"Full credit to them, they're a great team, but I'm really happy with how we went about our business and I think if you know anything about basketball, it's quite obvious where it went wrong for us."

"We just had groups out there that had never played together, we depended a lot on KD (Kendric Davis), just one guy offensively dribbling the ball and the Bul hit was a big one, because he had a big influence both times we've played these guys prior."

Goorjian praised the contributions of those asked to step up, but conceded the offensive execution suffered once Soares fouled out.

"I just thought that guys like (Jaylin) Galloway and Makuach (Maluach) came in and did a good job, but on the offensive side of the ball once Tim went out, we ended up with groups that were a little bit clunky and didn’t get good shots at the basket."

Despite the loss, Goorjian made it clear he hopes Friday night was not the last meeting between the two sides this season, beyond their scheduled January 25 clash at Qudos Bank Arena.

"I would (want to meet Adelaide in Finals), because if you're playing them that means you're playing for the championship or if you beat them, you're good enough to win the championship," Goorjian said.

"The team that they've assembled to me they've got two marquees, three imports and Bryce so that thing is a squad, and it's well drilled, well coached and they have an incredible atmosphere here.

"I love coming down here (to Adelaide) and playing in a game like this. It's really, really special and some of the best games I've ever been involved in and I've been in the league 25, 30 years, took place here.

"Tonight the atmosphere was as good as it's ever been in my time coming down here and I really like the way we were early in the game, it was just really disappointing we couldn’t maintain it."