Anonymous
Years ago
"I think it is arguably one of the strongest squads in the history of the game here," Gaze told The Daily Telegraph.
“It is an incredible line up we've been able to assemble.”
_______
I tend to agree. It's up there.
Can anyone think of any that are better?
Hogwash
Years ago
If the coach was as good as his squad they would be unstoppable.
FYI
Years ago
With the money they have spent on the roster you would bloody well hope so.
Zodiac
Years ago
I was thinking that last night watching them blowout an admittedly over matched opponent in the first quarter. I've never seen an NBL team as good as that the ball movement and chemistry was really something to watch.
FYI, how much have they spent? Big names yes, but how much has it actually cost? Or are you just guessing?
Amazingly they could top the 90s Violet Crumbles!
Captain of the Clubs
Years ago
The team is legit. No question.
The question is though, can they stay healthy all season and be firing when counts.
Randle is in impressive form right now. Can he maintain it all season?
Camel 31
Years ago
bogut doing a lotta coaching out there ...pretty good....
Ricky Grace, Tiny Pinder, Paul Hansen, Andrew Vlahov, Mike Ellis & James Crawford would beat em.
jumpshot
Years ago
Carfino, Mclaine, Leon Trimmingham, Dalton Bros, Man Mountain.
Randle and Bogut with a solid supporting cast should be too tough to handle.
Only question marks to me are age and coaching but Randle and Bogut are the two best players in the comp this year imo.
On paper, it is the best team that has ever been assembled in the history of the NBL. I think that Bogut will cover up any cracks in the coaching department with his on floor leadership. Just have to remain healthy.
PeterJohn
Years ago
Best starting five, probably. Best team - tougher call.
It's fun to imagine them matching up against past teams, like the 1986 Sixers:
Green - Randle
Lisch - Pearce
McKay - Newley
Davis - Kickert
Jones - Bogut
Ali - Wear
Nelson - Pineau
Wood - Adnam
Ninnis - Wilson
Sexton - Deng
Sykes - Bowen
Spear - ?? (not sure who their DP is)
Cole - Gaze (coach)
If both teams had to pick 10 players as per 1986 rosters, it'd be a game worth watching.
Likewise 1995 Wildcats, 2000 Wildcats and 2003 Kings. Maybe 1989 Giants? All make for some interesting match-ups with some really good players in the mixes.
The 2006 Tigers would kill them. they too small
Might look OK on paper but don't mean shit. Chemistry, coaching, ego's, age/injuries, who's gonna be da man. Lots of questions. A champion team will beat a team of champions.
After all it's the way it shatters that matters!
Kings definitely least talented coaching wise in history: Every NBL fan with a clue
rjd
Years ago
This is the right kind of group for Andrew Gaze to coach: a veteran team with some vocal leadership types. We've seen some NBL success from coaches who just let their veterans go out and play, ala late 1990s Phil Smyth.
This is also where this year's Kings team is far from the talent loaded late 1990s Kings teams. The late 1990s Kings teams might've had plenty of talent, but they lacked veterans and smart leaders.
When talking about most talented teams in NBL history, depth-wise I don't think any 1980s and early 1990s teams can compete.
AD
Years ago
It's weird. I remember Gaze's career.
I just don't recall all the head injuries he obviously suffered.
Is he ever going to learn to keep his mouth shut?
They haven't won a real game yet... let's save the heavy breathing for the end of the season.
The typical St Mary's team would be a run of the pack NBL team most years and a St Mary’s Aussie vet all star team would blow out an NBL Aussie born all star team.
The Kings made a statement whether people want to admit it or not.
The typical college team would get beaten by nearly every nbl team, kids against men. People seem to overate college by a fair way compared to pros. So how many of their endless Australian kids have come back to play nbl.
Camel 31
Years ago
So , I'm expecting them to win it this season , but not to beat the 36ers of 1986 , arithmetically.
"Are you?"
This is a discussion forum, you're not going to get very far by asking people not to state their thoughts and opinions.
However, I will give you props for your logo!
Duke Fan
Years ago
"Carfino, Mclaine, Leon Trimmingham, Dalton Bros, Man Mountain."
Won nothing
LV
Years ago
Kings are favourites without doubt, purely on the sheer talent they've assembled.
But that doesn't mean there aren't legit question marks, such as:
- Age and decline. Eg: Newley's in decline. Bogut's barely played in 2 years.
- Injuries. Bogut and Lisch had multiple serious injuries in recent times.
- Coaching.
- Egos and attitudes. Does the veteran calm of Lisch and Gaze outweigh the opinions and the egos from Kickert and Randle? Can everybody settle down and respect the leadership of Bogut?
- Defensive issues- Kickert is getting older and struggles to defend some 4 men. Randle is exposed on switches.
Overall though, it is arguably the most talented team ever and they're favourites for sure.
Anon
Years ago
Duke Fan
Today
"Carfino, Mclaine, Leon Trimmingham, Dalton Bros, Man Mountain."
Won nothing :)
Heavy Smokers
Duke Fan
Years ago
"Does the veteran calm of Lisch and Gaze"
????????
Did you watch a Kings game in the last 2 seasons? Calm is the last word I'd use about Gaze's demeanor on the sideline.
I expect Bogut to be the vocal leader. He's loud and should be respected by every player and coach - watching the two preseason games, he's been the most vocal out there. I don't think personalities are going to be an issue with Bogut taking that role to be honest.
Biggest question marks are health and coaching.
Captain of the Clubs
Years ago
Clashes could come when Bogut it's an injury hurdle and is still doing the talking but someone like Randle disagrees because he's healthy and putting in that work.
Not saying it will happen, but the Kings biggest threat right now is their health.
Bogut is the key. He could overcome Gaze's coaching shortcomings with his on court smarts and leadership.
Reality
Years ago
06/07 Brisbane - Tigers of the same period
99/00 Perth
Can think of a few teams along the way more talented than Sydney
LV
Years ago
[????????
Did you watch a Kings game in the last 2 seasons? Calm is the last word I'd use about Gaze's demeanor on the sideline.]
Perhaps "calm" wasn't the right word.
Gaze can be frantic on the sideline with his mannerisms, but overall his general demeanor is that he's a laid back, happy go lucky guy.
In terms of negative energy vs positive energy, Gaze brings positivity and morale. I don't always get the same vibe from the constantly whinging Kickert and the small man syndrome Jerome.
Those two sometimes have too many opinions! And as we saw with United in 2014-15, that can be cancerous if there's too much of that within a group.
WookieE
Years ago
In terms of negative energy vs positive energy, Gaze brings positivity and morale. I don't always get the same vibe from the constantly whinging Kickert and the small man syndrome Jerome.
Very Old
Years ago
Bogut has been where Randle would have liked to have been, and as they are totally different player roles/skills/positions there is no realistic basis for resentment from on to the other.
LV
Years ago
Gaze can probably be excused for poor morale given the horrendous season the Kings had.
If things are looking up, he'll be smiling. Guaranteed.
On Randle, it's actually a huge boost for the Kings that he's already here. The season doesn't start for 2 months, and many other teams have still been announcing their import signings over the past week.
Him and Bogut both being here and being healthy in the pre season gives the Kings the best chance of success.
Mock
Years ago
Keep chirping Kings fans. I guarantee you Trev and the boys out west will have something to say about it.
WookieE
Years ago
Hey Mock, try to identify a Kings fan that's doing the chirping... just like the last couple of seasons, it's not the Kings fans making noise about their team in the pre-season... Most of them have been around too long and are just waiting for the disappointment to kick in...
Gaze has dug his own grave, and is laying at the bottom waiting for an earthquake.
It's not just that he can't coach. He can put a team on the court ok, and may well again do well early on.
The problem is that he's completely incapable of adapting.
Even if their talent somehow drives the Kings into the finals, Gaze will still get found out. The good coaches will have a seasons's worth of tactics, and he will have no answer.
There's also the problem, that Gaze is probably the only person in Australia who doesn't know he can't coach. The players certainly know it.
They're all professionals, and this is their job, but surely there's still a difference between turning up purely for a pay-cheque, and actually believing in your team.
AngusH
Years ago
Wookie has it 100% right - I'm fully expecting us to bungle this somehow and end up outside the top 4 against all odds.
Unless Bogut misses a lot of games, they won't be missing the top 4
Bogut is so good, the Kings might get away with having a numpty coach like Gaze. All depends on if he can get through a season though. Which is debatable.
Manu Fieldel
Years ago
How good can we expect Deng Deng to be this season?
Manu Fieldel
Years ago
And for that matter, how good is Tom Wilson going to be? Because he'll be getting decent enough court time. They seem a tad lean in the backcourt. Bowen will want to be good enough for 10 minutes a game.
On previous performance Gaze only plays 7,8 maximum players, if you are 9,10,11 you not seeing the court except in blow outs. Not certain Wilson will offer to much.
Manu Fieldel
Years ago
Fair enough, but you can't afford to fatigue the older guys tho. Lower minutes to keep them as fresh as possible for the pointy end. Surely someone will recognise that
AngusH
Years ago
Tom Wilson I expect to get spot minutes and not contribute a whole lot based on what I've seen of him through 2 preseason games. Looks like a good shooter, but too much talent ahead of him.
Deng Deng looks like he could be an impact player off the bench though. If we lose Bogut for a stretch, I think his rebounding ability is going to be huge for us.
Deng Deng has been excellent so far. Athletic as hell, looks like he has decent range. The question mark is can he duplicate that against better competition. Kings haven't played anyone yet.
WookieE
Years ago
Manu has it right in that Gaze's approach to exhausting his starters with 33+mpg should not happen and doesn't NEED to happen this coming season... Bench depth is a slight issue, but he shouldn't need to run his older starters into the ground... That's a huge concern though, because as all have recognised, he can't coach worth shit and game decisions is not his strong suit...
robt
Years ago
2 points/responses I'd like to make.
1. NBL vs College teams. Sydney beating St Marys easily, says the most highly regarded team (pre-season)in NBL history just took advantage of a team NOT in the top 67 teams (tournament invitees/March madness), probably the right result. I really don't think that that deserves college condemnation.
2. Sydney's health. Bogut is the main target. The guy's gotta play fewer than 30 40-minute games in 5 to 6 months, and, forgive me for the comparison of his opposition, now and then (NBA days).
Injuries can happen to anyone any time. They could get the flu, for G's sake. Age will have an effect on healing etc. but that's all!
And, Gaze, being the same age as the veterans, if he gets injured do Sydney's chances skyrocket????
"Fair enough, but you can't afford to fatigue the older guys tho"
Have you watched Gaze coach?
I wonder if he ever changes his oil?
Or does he just buy old classics, and drive them until the engine seizes?
Back in the day, Gaze senior would play junior for 48 minutes. Seems to be the only tactic he remembers.
Which local will they sign as their 11th roster spot to start the season with? Will they elevate one of their DP's? Who is on the radar?
Singh was a publicity stunt, nothing more. Was never going to be a part of this group for an extended period. Nowhere near NBL standard. Same as the Chinese kid they had.
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