Hawks by lots.

Hawks lose this they're in serious trouble I think.

Childress is back, but Hawks are bound to be fired up after some tough losses.

But hey, I can't watch the game because I'm playing tonight, so no doubt Kings will take it by 15 and Childress will post a quadruple double.

This is harder to pick than a broken nose.

You would think Hawks would be all over this one like flouro work gear on a Wildcats fan in the Pilbara. Kings stumbling along all season going from one loss to another with as much hope as a boilermaker who left Holden's and has gone to ASC.

The Hawks were average against the Sixers and lacked passion.

The Kings have an opportunity to make things interesting with a win, but desperately need people to step up. The only King really putting in is Prince Jason. Mind you, there's an argument that if they had a better coach.... Oh, BTW, to the Sydney Asst Coach, Devo rang, they want their glasses back.

Talent wise, the Hawks are the Brainiacs sitting at the NBL Trivia table. I understand the Kings will welcome back "Sideshow Bob" tonight and this is the thing that will make it interesting. I think the Kings might be pretty hungry tonight. Although they are bottom of the table, there's not much in the table and a win over those pesky boys from Illawarra might be a real confidence booster.

Last time they met, Hawks won by 14 and Oscar bagged 24. I reckon this one will be a lot closer and while the Hawks should get up, I'ld suggest a few lazy dollars on the Kings to steal an upset late in the game if things go their way.

Did Brandt get a knock last game? At least hill might get a bit of a run if he's limited minutes, and maybe we'll grab some rebounds...

sighs...

I'm very nervous about this... Chill coming back could go either way... if he plays like usual, the team should get a boost, but I just have a bad feeling that after his injury and then the suspension he might come out with a point to prove tot he detriment of the team... I'm really hoping not though, as like Jules said in yesterdays SMH article, Harrington was good, but it still threw out their whack a bit to accommodate him... Chill coming back is not just I think a better player when fully fit but a better fit, as we were really relying heavily on Prewster at the 3 and while he did a commendable job, it was a bit much for him to step into his first season...

The Khazzouh/Ogilvy match up will be key, Jules really needs to get a fire lit under him and really be a focus, the couple of games with him and Chill it seemed like they had a really good chemistry, which will be needed, but perimeter defence, with Lisch, Penney, Forman (and the rest of the team that can nail it from outside) will be the big weakness they need to focus on...

I really want to say that my guys will step it up a gear and get the win, but the Hawks always step up for games like this and at home, the first game of the double, and will have had their proper coach on them all week, I can't see them dropping this at home...

If Hawks are legit they imply need to win this game and make a statement at the same time. They have been a little soft for my liking and simply need to finds ways to use all their weapons to their advantage. They have that many dman shooters, if one or 2 is off then go to the third. The Kings god love them try hard and give glimpses but really at this stage are making up the numbers. If Hawks want to get some respect, they have to win.

I thought Childress was suspended? or is it a case that the games just gone counted towards his suspended games?

His suspension basically amounted to him not being allowed to sit on the bench while he was injured.

I didn't know the answer to it hence why I asked but just read it was a suspended suspension.

A roughy multi bet could be
Josh Childress Most points
Melbourne United Win
NZ win
= $18

Childress will need to beat Lisch, Penney and Thornton. Might be unlikely in his first game back is the only problem.
United will be looking for revenge against Crocs
NZ are in good form but always tough to beat Perth in Perth.

A long shot but a possibility.

Childress to sprain and earlobe in second quarter, Hawks run over Kings to win by 8.

Speaking of Childress, does anyone know if his contract is longer than just this season? Hes now had 2 seasons affected by injury. Is he in a frame of mind to think 'All this injury isnt worth it anymore?'

I would say he is very pro playing. Loves the game and not exactly career ending injuries bad luck type stuff.

@Matt He's signed on for at least another year, from what I know.

Hard game to watch at the moment. Stoppage every offensive possession basically.

Haha. Awkward in game interview when Matt Campbell kept talking after it ended. Those interviews are gold to watch just to see what muck ups happen.

Geez, how do SYD leave Penney that wide open!

That wouldn't be me.

A) I don't drink alcohol

B) I'm a Celtics man.

Someone poured a beer on Thornton... yikes. Stay classy, Wollongong.

Should be banned from attending games.

I was sitting at the Gong with the family of a former Kings player (playing for Canberra at the time) cheering for the visiting team, when a Gong fan threw a half-full coke bottle at the player's mother. So not all that surprising.

I missed the first 3 Qs when the Kings seemed to have played OK, so ill take the blame for this one, Kings fans.

Nice 3 Tommy, nearly makes up for running away from AJ's dunk.

Meh. Game.

I don't know what the Kings intended to get out of that inbound, but man... into Khazzouh in traffic inside the arc?

Kings are so frustrating to watch. Seriously, they just implode with brain fades. Carter bad shot selection and just got burnt by Lisch in the most important defensive sequence of the game..don't know how you let Lisch go left. Cardinal sin.

Once again, a lack of a controlling PG/floor general to take over and get things back on track. When it goes rudderless, it seems as though every King is happy to just go along with it.

MACDUB, I think that Markovic was meant to be that guy. Obviously that hasn't exactly gone to plan..........

Sydney played a lot better tonight than they have been. If Childress was healthy then they'd be up the ladder - the team is built around him as you saw tonight he played well considering it's his first game back. Khazzouh got outplayed big time tonight.

Kings have flat out gone away from Khazzouh how they were using him to start the year. Far too many stretches where he just doesn't touch the ball. I'd like to see us use Chill how we used Harrington in that one half against the Sixers - the high/low.

Why would you not foul, or even trap, down three without the ball and a five-second differential?

With you Koberulz, that was odd, shouldve gone the foul game in that scenario.

Pouring a lil liqueur out for a homie...

Looked like his Missus (?) wasn't too impressed either.

I enjoyed seeing Childress back, just missing some game fitness I think, some tough layups he missed that he normally makes (and kept falling over).

Childress will be better for the run, he didn't seem to have the same lift as usual. Im sure he will be pretty tired tonight!

That old guy was Tyson Demos' uncle. Or so he jokes on twitter

Thorton should have opened his mouth and enjoyed the beer.

I think Thornton showed amazing restraint, credit to him.

I'd like to have seen that fellow try that on Ron Artest.

#MaliceinthePalace2.0

Absolutely ridiculous that we live in a day and age where people complain about getting free alcohol! Thornton looked thirsty, he just helped him out. Straya Mate. Only downside was that it was lite beer ;)

Forget Malace in the Palace. This is Beer Spit in the Sand Pit!

I was hoping Thornton might have grabbed the beard and yanked hard...

That's the funniest thing I've seen for a while. His wife looked mega pissed off

I reckon he could be Father Christmas - comes once a year.

What will happen first? Sydney win another game or the bloke gets out of the dog house. ;)

3 things
1. Hilarious work frombearded bloke
2. What is Markovics "illness" ?
3. Why didn't they pressure the ball on the last play? They just let Lisch whittle down the clock with xero pressure... I understand not fouling, but why the heck Cadee stood a metre off Lisch and let him waste from about 25 secs to 10 or so when they were down 3...? Are they trying to win here or what??

LV, i think Carter was guarding Lisch on that last play wasn't he?

In any event, I agree they handled that horribly. What really frustrated me was that the defender got beat on Lisch's left hand..really costly mistake.

You're usually always taught in those circumstances to play for the steal and then if you can get that great. If not, you can live with the foul.

Sydney, as you said, did neither.

"I wonder how their record would look or if their play would have improved if they went with the likes of Weeks and Bartlett instead (who were available after the season started)."

It is easy to pick players in hindsight. All teams would have picked Markovic and Carter over Bartlett and Weeks

LV, non-physical illness. Details not really relevant.

It is easy to pick players in hindsight. All teams would have picked Markovic and Carter over Bartlett and Weeks

Anon its a very complicated thing, as a fan all you really need to know is he isnt fit to play. So he isnt playing. Simple as that.

"If he can tweet then he sure in hell should be in a playing uniform. "

Fantastic medical opinion!!

I'd cut White if you have to cut someone.

On putely basketball grounds, Markovic should not have been signed

Demos and White bring similar things to the table. I'd keep Demos and sign Weeks if that is possible.

Can they sign Weeks as a DP once his term as "injury replacement" is up? Is he eligible, age wise, to be DP?

Last yr Patton was officially a DP for United but in reality he took Mcmillans minutes. If Hawks can organise a similar situation to keep Weeks in the rotation, they should

Weeks is too old to be a DP