Starting 5: The key talking points from Round 14

Round 14 saw some of the top teams continue their hot form, while many of the others split the round with a mix of promising and disappointing displays. The Kings made it six wins on the bounce, while Bryce Cotton powered Adelaide to a comeback win over his former side Perth.

Pete Hooley looks at some key talking points from the round just gone.

1 – Cotton’s revenge tour almost complete

It was chapter three of the revenge tour for Bryce Cotton against his former team and he decided it was time to really turn up the heat. The five-time MVP dropped 36 points and seven assists on the Wildcats, including six threes in a dominant performance on Sunday. At halftime of the game, it looked to be anyone’s contest, until the 36ers locked in defensively to keep Perth to just nine points in the third. While Cotton has current bragging rights in the renewed rivalry between these two teams, it will only officially be complete in his eyes if he can go all the way and add another championship.

2 – Breakers stay alive

Before last round the New Zealand Breakers were poised to strike and solidify themselves in the post-season picture. Petteri Koponen’s team had a dream opportunity to travel to Queensland and stay for two games against the Bullets and Cairns and climb back into the top six. Unfortunately, after dropping both of those games, they had to head to Tasmania and try and claw one back against the team who currently holds onto sixth spot. A hard-fought overtime win was enough to keep them within striking distance of some post-season basketball.

3 – Perth’s dilemma

While the Wildcats wait on David Duke Jr and figure out what to do in the meantime, they still face one dilemma that is haunting them right now – find a point guard solution. It’s been the one constant gaping hole this entire season, where is their floor general who can set up the offence and get everyone involved? The positive is that Jaron Rillie is back, which will certainly help their case, but they need more structure in that spot going forward.

4 – JackJumpers fight back

Tasmania has been desperately searching for a win at home, after winning just two of their first ten games there this season. After a heartbreaking overtime loss to New Zealand just days prior, the JackJumpers fought back to stun the second-placed South East Melbourne Phoenix on Monday night. It was Majok Deng who stepped up big off the bench to deliver one of his best performances of the season and keep the JackJumpers inside the play-in picture. That gusty win could be the difference between them playing post-season basketball and falling out come season’s end.

5 – The Kings reign supreme

In case there was any doubt, the Sydney Kings are the hottest team in the league and their suffocating defensive effort is on full display. While their offence is a clear highlight, it’s that defensive intensity that are making them a nightmare to play against. Bul Kuol is at his best and the rest of the team are following suit, which makes this Sydney team a scary proposition.