We Know ... But

The Kings have been the benchmark all season long and will go into the Championship Series with home-court advantage and deservedly as the favourite to win it all.

Sydney finished top of the table with a 19-win regular season, which is even more impressive when you remember that they lost their three key imports in the off-season. 

But outside the normal brilliance of Xavier Cooks and the Kings' attacking prowess, where else can Chase Buford's men assert their dominance? 

Pete Hooley has his say on what could set the Kings apart. 

We know they're great at ...
Sydney’s firepower on the offensive end didn’t waver from last season to this season, as they led the league in scoring at an impressive 95.7 points per game. It then comes as no surprise how efficiently they went about that, having shot 49.5 per cent from the field as a team and 37 per cent from three, which sat them comfortably as the league’s best in that area. 

Sydney’s free-flowing and fast paced offensive style has caused nightmares for the majority of the league in NBL23. They led the league in overall pace (spatial jam) at 80.9 per game. That figure is used for the number of possessions a team uses in game. Comparatively, the Breakers were last in the competition at 75.4, which goes to show the unique matchup of these two teams across this upcoming series. 

The Kings had an offensive rating of 115.6 (spatial jam), which is their points scored per 100 possessions. Only the Wildcats finished with a higher offensive rating in NBL23. They finished the season with five guys averaging in double figures, with four players off the bench also contributing over five points per game. It’s a very deep and well-rounded offensive unit. 

But this could be the difference ...
For all that they do well on the offensive end, it’s worth nothing that defensively they can be very strong as well. The Kings allowed 87.5 points per game this season at just 41.5 per cent, which can highlight how their fast-paced game style can hurt them at times if an opposition team gets hot (see games vs Cairns). The Kings were also the third best defensive rating team at 106.8, just behind Cairns and New Zealand.

Xavier Cooks and Justin Simon.

We know he's a threat ...
It’s been Derrick Walton Jr who has done the most damage against the Breakers in the regular season. Walton Jr has averaged 15.7 points and four assists in games against New Zealand. 

But he could be the difference ...
Keep an eye on DJ Vasiljevic. His shooting numbers may indicate he is in a little bit of a slump right now, but he finished off that Game 3 against Cairns strong and he’s only one explosion away from ripping a game open. The last slump he endured, he broke out of it hitting 10 threes and dropping 42 points. 

In the three meetings of the regular season Vasiljevic averaged just 8.7 points on 32 per cent from the floor and 28.6 per cent from three, which is almost half of his regular season average of 14 points at 42 per cent. 

DJ Vasiljevic.

We know he's the best ...
The Kings have the MVP, Xavier Cooks, who will go a long way towards his team winning the Championship. 

But if they want to go back-to-back ...
Justin Simon holds the keys. One of the league’s best perimeter defenders will get the job of trying to contain one of the best scorers in NBL23 – Barry Brown Jr. Brown Jr caused big problems in the two games across the regular season, scoring 18.5 points at 44 per cent from the floor. In the last matchup though, he was made to work for every one of his 15 points, finishing with five turnovers and four fouls. With some players, it’s not realistic holding them to zero points (e.g. Bryce Cotton), it’s about understanding they’re likely going to score the ball, but how difficult can that task be made. If Simon can do this consistently over the series, while still ticking the scoreboard over on the other end like he has, he’s my smokey for Championship Series MVP.

Justin Simon.

We know they have an incredible starting five ... 
Rounded out by Brazilian big man Tim Soares. 

But the rotation is key ...
Enter Shaun Bruce. The veteran has been one of the key bench contributors for Chase Buford all season long. It’s not about numbers for a guy like Bruce, but rather being able to settle things down when it’s needed and more importantly, be a pest on defence. Watch Bruce getting up and under Will McDowell-White in the full court, trying to make everything tough for the playmaker for the Breakers. He’s been here before and he knows what it takes to win and I expect him to have some big moments in this series.

Shaun Bruce.