Preview: Sydney vs Cairns - Round 13, NBL24

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Both Cairns and Sydney are entering this game off the back of holiday hoops losses. Who can turn their form around?

Friday, December 29 at 7:30pm AEDT | Qudos Bank Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo - International viewership details
Box scores: Download the free NBL App

The Sydney Kings suffered their first loss to the Illawarra Hawks since the final round of NBL22 on Christmas Day, following owner Paul Smith’s assertion Sydney would ‘spank’ its local rivals.

The Kings have now slipped to fourth position on the ladder following a pair of Round 12 defeats to the Hawks and Breakers – both of whom currently sit outside the top seven.

Damon Lowery believes the Kings need to shorten their rotation, despite the “starting five” talent level of the side’s bench.

Cairns suffered a one-shot loss to Perth on Boxing Day. Adam Forde said he would continue to ignore advice from the crowd following the defeat and claimed if he started listening to people in the stands, he would end up sitting beside them.

Taipans Next Star Bobi Klintman hailed his battle with Perth’s Alexandre Sarr as fun. The Swede was Cairns’ top scorer with the game with 24 points.

Sydney
90-94 loss to Illawarra
101-109 loss to New Zealand
90-82 win over Tasmania

Cairns
102-105 loss to Perth
94-75 win over South East Melbourne
102-101 win over Brisbane

Angus Glover
Angus Glover is a fan-favourite at the Sydney Kings, and he was a fan-favourite under former head coach Chase Buford. But half way through the regular season, Glover is still a victim of inconsistent rotations and a lack of continued burn for the side.

He played under three minutes in the defeat to former side Illawarra and has scored double-digit points just once this season – after which coach Mahoud Abdelfattah praised the two-time champion’s impact on the team.

If you remove the NBL21 season in which he played just two games, Glover is averaging career-low shooting splits and points per game across his Kings career.

It’s worth remembering he was a smokey for the NBL23 Larry Sengstock Trophy, such were his performances when the likes of Xavier Cooks and Derrick Walton Jr were fighting to be fit, and his reputation as one of the most threatening three-and-d wings in the NBL is well founded, from over 100 games of experience.

Despite Damon Lowery asserting the Kings need to shorten their rotation despite their extensive depth, it would be surprising to see Glover totally out of the rotation – and he’s the type of player that thrives on proving people wrong when his back is against the wall.

“Defensively outside of Jaylin Galloway and outside some rim protection from Jonah Bolden and Jordan Hunter, their defenders are shaky. Angus Glover who is arguably in their top three defenders doesn’t even play that much which is kind of odd to me. They’ve got some problems and they’re leaking points like I’ve never seen.” – Damon Lowery on NBL Now.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The hoops gods were shining on Angus Glover for this made three ?<br><br>Catch the final quarter live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies | 10 Peach and 10play ? <a href="https://t.co/iKKA585OrB">pic.twitter.com/iKKA585OrB</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1710910385153343898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bobi Klintman
Bobi Klintman is still fading in and out of games, and Sam Vecenie’s words about the Next Star having short bursts where he’s the best player on the court continue to ring true. That statement was backed up by Klintman’s starring role against Perth on Boxing Day.

The Swede top scored in a high-scoring, narrow loss for the Taipans with 24 points, and his run of three consecutive buckets for seven points helped drag the Snakes back into a game they were quickly being pushed out of.

As the two seemingly locked first round selections in the upcoming NBA Draft, the battle between Klintman and Perth’s Alexandre Sarr will have drawn NBA eyes from across the globe, and Klintman will have absolutely done any opinions of him no harm at all.

All season the challenge for the young star has been consistency, and with the Kings struggling on the defensive end he should, once again, get plenty of looks.

“I feel like I get better every day with the way coach sets up practice for us to get better. We’re aways competing, everybody on the team wants to compete – even if it’s a practice scrimmage – everybody wants to win. I feel like by that we’re getting each other better. The guys around me are helping me a lot.” – Bobi Klintman following the loss to Perth.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bobi Dazzler's heating up ?<br><br>He's pulled the Snakes back into this one with seven straight points ??<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/TXhMKYphyR">pic.twitter.com/TXhMKYphyR</a></p>— NBL Next Stars (@NBLNextStars) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBLNextStars/status/1739587332846891205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

DJ Hogg vs Sam Waardenburg
Adam Forde released his Sam-squared front court of Waardenburg and Mennenga against the Wildcats, and despite early foul trouble restricting Mennenga down the stretch, Waardenburg looked to relish the extra freedom playing the power forward position.

The Kiwi-born big thrived at the power forward position last season alongside Keanu Pinder and looked far more influential through all phases of play when afforded the freedom to either crash the glass or stretch the floor.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Patrick Miller with the silver service! ??<br><br>Miller finds Sam Waardenburg on the beautifully executed alley-oop. <br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL</a> live on ESPN! ? <a href="https://t.co/pEkNcCYHL0">pic.twitter.com/pEkNcCYHL0</a></p>— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ/status/1738138307156914206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

DJ Hogg will offer a different type of challenge than Kristian Doolittle did on Boxing Day though. Where Doolittle is a crash and bash, no-nonsense inside presence, Hogg is a flashy, multi-tiered offensive threat who doubles as one of the best weakside defenders in the NBL.

Waardenburg’s length and more traditional big play and Hogg’s more athletic style will make for an interesting matchup on both sides of the ball - especially given their status as former teammates.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DJ Hogg from DEEP ?‍?<br>He's up to 10 points against his former team ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/Mc2RaFLfp6">pic.twitter.com/Mc2RaFLfp6</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1732689314897608908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Thestat

Sydney has won 15 of its last 17 home games against Cairns in a run that dates back to 2015. The only Taipans victories in that time came in Round 10 in NBL20 and Round 3 in NBL23.

Gettyimages 1300983942
Current King Kouat Noi scored 22 points when Cairns defeated Sydney in Round 10, NBL20.