Took Sydney 7mins to score a single bucket

Could the Sydney Kings beat the 1988 Geelong Supercats?

United's defence has been suffocating in this first quarter, Sydney’s has been non existent.
1.00 to go and it’s 34 - 5

5 points in a quarter , the 29 point lead is the biggest first quarter margin in NBL history.

Don't the Taipans have the record for the lowest ever NBL score? About 45 from memory? That could be in serious danger tonight..

40 -16 with 5:12 to go in the second quarter.
Sydney are terrible right now.

Sydney have picked up the scoring after a couple of trips to the free throw line but they're still looking terrible.
They might get into the twenties if they can get another bucket in the next 1:20

Even for a Hawks supporter....this is difficult to watch.

Can the Hawks please stop spying on the Kings and sharing their offence to other teams?

21 points in the first half is their second lowest score in franchise history.
55 - 21
Melbourne took their foot off Sydney's throat for a little bit but don’t look likely to choke like NZ did against the Sixers.

United has put together an elite defensive group this year. I'm liking this and good to see Agada getting sold confidence

Shades of United v Kings semi-final Game 2 2019

What a non-contest.

I'm amused since the NBL under LK has put so much hype around this rivalry.

Phew, Sydney are stinky. The old violet crumbles really melted tonight.

Lots of blame to go around for this one, but RJ Hunter really set the tone early with some horrible offense to get United going. One of the worst pro basketball performances I can think of.

"nightmare before Christmas" - perfect from Santa Maria

Just looked in to catch the score while watching the cricket and am I seeing that right, was Melbourne beat Sydney 89-47???

Sydney only scored 5 in the first period??

Wow ... just, wow.

Shitney.

Only tuned in during third quarter. 26-0 start - is that right?! Has to be a record?

NBL history and indeed sporting history is full of talented teams who didn't quite work it out.

Also rookie coaches who don't quite have what it takes.

Early days but Kings could yet tick one or both of those boxes.

After 3 games I'm feeling better about United's top 4 chances that I was before the season, despite a 1-2 record.

I stopped watching after half time, Sydney were THAT bad and typically I always watch until the end.

Sydney legit looked horrific in the first quarter, some of their shot choices were woeful.

I will admit I was wrong when I said that Dusty Hanners (sp?) will be the first import to go. It should be RJ Hunter.

Hoops Capital.

That game was horrific to watch and yeah seen absolutely nothing from RJ Hunter or the Kings to warrant the early season hype.

Only positive was the brilliant return of Dejan Vasiljevic that came on and threw up a shitload of shit... it was really good to see him out there as they will need him with Hunter gone.

I'm not sure what Thon could do to fix that effort from the Kings as they lacked leadership, when you blow two timeouts in the first (was it) 7 minutes of the game and yet STILL nothing changes from the team then they need a different voice or something because Shaun Bruce was not pulling his team mates in and inspiring them as he has done previously as a King.

It's hard to rate United in any way after that performance as they murdered Sydney and still didn't hit 90 points with everything going their way

If you call two timeouts and the team still can't manage to run anything other than "dribble the ball up, wing entry, jack a three", the coach needs to go.

A lot of people had Sydney not only in the top 4 but top 2.

That performance didn't do a lot to validate those opinions.

They were absolutely terrible and I’m not sure Jaylen Adams could magically fix their issues if healthy.
Lack lustre defence with appalling shot selection by the whole team, they just kept on spraying up shots from 3 especially in the first quarter when they were digging their hole.

Absolutely Koberules.

Mystro, if that is how they are going to play and not run any of their strengths and play no defense then EVERY single opposition supporter is looking at when they play the Kings because they were disgusting and even Cairns and Tasmania would be licking their chops at the carcass that was the Sydney Kings.

Phoenix, Jackjumpers, United, Hawks and Jackjumpers are the Kings next opponents for anyone wondering

From finals-certainties to biggest duds in the league after 1 horrific game? That's a bit tough!

But such a change in fortunes does raise questions.

Any 1 player can have a bad game.
Any team can.
But this sort of demise smells of 'conspiracy'.

Buford gives the impression that he isn't concerned with niceties in his coaching approach. May have 'lost' his team early! Could it be that the team were making a statement to Buford [just speculating]?

Credit to Melbournes defence though, they were excellent at switching and staying in front of their man the couple of times the Kings attacked the paint.
JLA was a pretty big deterrent inside for Sydney and then down the other end United made Sydney pay for not picking up their man on the 3 point line with great ball movement which got them way too many wide open looks. Once Sydney actually started defending it was already too late and Melbournes shooters were hot.

Good morning, Mystro. Just been reading the NBL article on the game. After reading your comments, thought I'd copy/paste some of the comments, but can't find the article again!

Can't disagree with any of your observations but it was so extreme, in all ways. MU were great in O and D, Kings were awful at both ends.

And lots above about the 2 very quick time-outs. Think of the message that sends to everyone...everyone, that 'Coach aint happy with his idiots out there'. Set the tone for the rest of the game?

[Why you up so early?]

I'm in NZ so it's not that early.
The biggest issue as mentioned was that despite burning two time outs in the first quarter, nothing changed for Sydney.

Honestly felt like the Kings, Bayles aside, were all hungover or something. Such a difference between that game and the first 2 games of the season - Kings' only real weakness (and a big one at that) was turnovers across 2 games, but otherwise pretty good energy on both ends and had been absolutely smashing the boards. Last night ... yikes. Both statistically and actually one of the worst performances of all time.

For those that didn't watch the game Buford could have called 5 timeouts in that first quarter and still the players wouldn't alter what they did on the court.

Yes RobT, every season the Wildcats get pumped by 25+ and look insipid throughout and we question them but it's quickly forgotten. Every team last year had one awful game but Sydney Kings 2020/21 vs Melbourne United was one of the absolute worst outings of all time and it's a shame they don't hold the record for fewest points total in history.

Yes Jordan Hunter is that hard working team first player that this selfish 'Hollywood' Sydney Kings team needs as much as Adams

Jordan Hunter isn't walking through that door...