Sixers should win comfortably, which has me concerned.

Sixers by country runway..

While I think the Sixers should win, I can't forget that they lost to Brisbane only a couple of weeks ago.

Everything suggests Adelaide should win, so I tip Sydney by 5

First 5 minutes will be telling, Sixers like to be frontrunners, albeit they had a massive comeback against SEM the other week. Both teams are pretty fragile mentally so if get down early, body language will tell.
Also how do Kings react to Cooks controversy. Adams and Oliver are known quitters, probably can't wait to say goodbye to Brian. But it may bring them together, and even shortening the bench may help Brian. If Adams, Oliver, Noi, and Toohey play major minutes with just cameos from Le'Afa and Kuol, and come out fired up, then whoever lands the first punch, maybe literally, will be well on their way. Can't have Kuol hacking his way against Davis and Le'Afa will be a disaster. Put Bruce on Davis and try and niggle him a bit. Plus make Toohey a focus on offence, has no matchup from Adelaide. If Sixers get up early, it's all over. Can probably let David have a big one, but not Harrell. And apart from Oliver who'll get cheap fouls, who matches up on him and Humphries.
But Brian will make plenty of excuses, Cooks out, injuries, not getting another ball handler etc.

Adelaide's shot chart should be entirely within the key and if Humphries and Harrell aren't attacking the basket every 2nd possession, Sixers should sack the coach at halftime.

Sixers have underachieved so far, but until they're eliminated they have the ability to change that narrative.

It going to be steam train. Sixers too much talent too good. Momentum is building. Confidence..has that feel to it.. to much weapons for kings who are lacking.

Kendric playing for himself even an elimination game.

Martin looking as fit as he's been all season but he’s still playing crap. Kings would be happy with that quarter even though they trail by one.

DJ feeling it tonight. Giving up too many offensive rebounds again though. 6-0 in that regard

That's what you need from Humphries there. Strong rebounding.

Interesting game so far. Sydney hanging around despite taking terrible options and adams looking like he's never dribbled a basketball before.

If I may digress, confirmed to be cocaine for Cooks. What's the suspension/ban like for that?

A suspension of up to 4 years, Screeningnick

Down to a little as a month if he can prove it was recreational.

From The Age:
A suspension of up to four years can be imposed for using cocaine in competition, a window that begins at 11.59pm the day before a match and extends until any sample is collected after the game.

However, the World Anti-Doping Agency's substances of abuse provisions, introduced five years ago, allow for an athlete’s period of ineligibility to be slashed to three months if they can successfully argue it was ingested before the day of competition and was not for improving performance. That sanction can be further whittled down to a month if the athlete agrees to a treatment plan endorsed by Sport Integrity Australia, an outcome reached after Penrith Panthers player Brent Naden tested positive for cocaine after the 2020 NRL grand final.

A bit sloppy at the end of the quarter, but stop sending Adams to the line and improve the rebounding and they can keep this lead in the second half.

DJV saying adams is the only guy that can initiate for the kings. I think he's right. The rest looking like they want to get rid of the ball rather than create something, other than Oliver maybe

Kings hanging about, hopefully Sixers can go on with it.

Davis could punch a guy in the face and he'd be calling for the challenge.

Goorj hasn't provided the kings with any type of system to play within. Players now just taking it upon themselves individually. Surely they can't win this

God damn, Humphries. Absolute scenes missing that.

Humphries inability to make wide open layups may have just cost Adelaide their season

Just dunk the ball you mutt! I felt bad for him not getting many looks early on.

The problem with that too is Humphries is gonna be in his own head now too.

If he's not psyching himself out, he is whinging because he isn't getting touches. Then he gets the ball and does that bullshit.

All gd. Suxers finish this rmble off..

DJ getting hot in a very big time of need.

big 4th quarter for whoever wants it

All gd. Suxers finish this rmble off..

Humphries is still playing D, Martin has contributed nothing, Noi eyes lit up when he saw him in front of him. Kings have played well, hopefully Sixers can finish it.

Both of Humphries missed wide open layups as a 7 footer led to 3 points (6 total) for Sydney.

Kings gotta pressure sixers down the floor, particularly KD. The problem is leafa clearly the best defensive guard but no threat at the perimeter so limits the offence so much

Gonna be a fun last quarter. Sixers will take it i think and hope

Tight games generally don't go Adelaide's way, so they'll want to get moving

Lat Mayen, ladies and gentleman.

Sixers.. yeah baby

That's some bad timing to lose Adams. Only saving grace is it's not his shooting hand.

goodnight sydney

Five nil the foul count in the last quarter to kings obviously.

Not a convincing win by the Sixers, will need to play a lot better to beat SEM at JCA

2517 days since Adelaide last won a post-season game. The drought is over.

More importantly, where does Sydney this season rank in terms of all time failure seasons by a club?

Sixers Perth GF series. It's on its way...the good old days are back..

Looks like Brian wasn't the Messiah, despite all his sermons.

And Sydney don't make it. Like some said pre-season.

I hope Rucker has some nice long distance running shoes!

Sydney hahahahahahahahaha

Hands off coach and management and players.great work sixers. Been too long.. new identity

Harrell clearly the best player on the floor and I'm a Davis fan, Harrell controlled it. If you look past his showmanship he’s one hell of a player. Congratulations Sixers , imo they have had a very good season with a lot of crap thrown at them.

Not a sixers fan, but happy for all of you in hear that probably deserve some positive after years of frustration.

Also didn't mind DJ’s shooting execution hand gesture to someone in the crowd with a minute to go, and Trez waving everyone goodbye/blowing kisses to finish of the Kings.

Sydney's motto - it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you place the blame

LOL

I can already hear Bogut throwing out barbs about the "big spending" Sixers.

Shout out to the refs, did well, far better than that rabble the other night.

LOL @ Kings

I remember Brisbane pulling that against the 36ers back in 05 I think it was, Simon Kerle & co.

Gosh Humphries with his missed bunnies and Mayern with the ambitious dunk attempt makes you put your hands in your face.

DJV came up bigggggg. Harrell came up bigggggg AND played defence!

Davis is a bit of a rollercoaster player with some dumb stuff but came in biggggg at the end.

Kings without Cooks and Lepepe so I don't particularly take the result with confidence against a stronger Phoenix side.

But boy am I happy to see Adelaide finally make and win a finals game.

Well the preseasonfavorites are dead and buried.

Goorijan needs to retire.He's past it.

Cooks needs to apologise to his team and spectators for being a dickhead.

Deserves to be suspended for a couple of years.Too much money and time on his hands.

Bet Paul Smith not saying very much.Spends all that money and they finish 6th.His big mouth is shut.

Bogurt and Longley would be pissed big time.Maybe they should get involved with another team.

Congrats to Adelaide.A good way for Cadee to finish his career and hope they go a lot further.Cadee and Vajsilivec would be rubbing their hands together and laughing all the way to next game.

Paul Smith sold the team. Say what you will about him but he knew how to run it.

More importantly, where does Sydney this season rank in terms of all time failure seasons by a club?

Sydney's motto - it's not whether you win or lose, it’s how you place the blame

LOL

Sixers smiling all the way. Very Wells done. Gunna be humble pie being shared in Sydney town tonight. Kings were cooked. Oven too hot. Sixers still got room to get scary better. Well played well done.

Smith not spending much money, he sold most of the shares, they have not been the same since he hasn't had control. He opens his mouth to get people talking, it’s the modern way, he’s been very quiet for the last few seasons.

I have no clue how it works for the NBL but honestly surely two strikes and a small suspension is a fair approach to recreational?

Sydney: Hoops Capital!

Goorjaian poor coach failed with the boomers. His assistants are putrid kickett is a thug billy T Jesus awful . Roberson is a joke Adam's and Oliver are lazy and cooks thinks he is jokic until they see this the kings are a joke

A lot closer game than I expected. Oliver and Adams were both solid, and happy we managed to make a game of it after the way the 2nd Q went. On the Sixers side, not overly convincing I'd say - they'll be happy to win, but should have absolutely pantsed us tonight.

Definitely one of the best games I've seen DJV play when it counted. He cops a fair bit of criticism on here and a lot of it justified but he should get credit for performances like this. For the main, his shot selection was very good and he hit 2 big threes at the back end of the 3rd qtr that were desperately needed. He also played some of the best D I've seen him play. I thought he was the player of the game, not KD.

Also interesting to note how differently this game was called compared to the one on Tuesday night. Tonight there were 29 total free throws attempted (and some of them in junk time when the Kings were trying to stop the clock) compared to 77 free throws attempted on Tueday night! Bryce Cotton attempted more free throws than the entire Sixers team tonight.

I bet they wish they had Hunter and Glover tonight.
Cannot see what Tomlinson brings except stroking Brian's godlike ego.

He's there to find Goorj's misplaced wallet and keys.

^ Also you never know when an opposition coach might need a post-game shove

I agree Rat10. He threw up one silly three when they had momentum early but other than that was outstanding and as you said even his D was solid.

He looks so much better when he's willing to drive and get his defender on his hip. Gives more space for his three shoot too

"I have no clue how it works for the NBL but honestly surely two strikes and a small suspension is a fair approach to recreational?"

If it was an in-competition test the NBL doesn't get a say in it, the penalty will be in line with ASADA/WADA rules. Given it has been made public, I'm guessing it was an in-competition test.

Yes I understand that the NBL may be beholden to ASADA/WADA, that's why I said for the NBL rather than by the NBL.

But the point remains, it feels like an excessive punishment that could become an outrageous punishment

Out of all the Assistants Goorijan has Billy is the most experienced of them all has worked with Goorijan for all those years.

Kickert would not have a clue and Shaun Rogers is not the greatest support either.

He only got the gig because he worked with Goorijan at the Hawks which does not mean a lot either.

Both of them would only be yes men and not offer too much imput of value.

They were needed to pass the ball to the players during training so Bill did not have to.

Btw - I really like how Cadee has often been used this year especially lately.

I feel like he'd be capable of fulfilling the same role next year - I hope the 36ers tried to convince him not to retire.

He’s the kind of role player that a club like Perth would have maximised the value out of, whilst Adelaide swayed between liking him and wanting to push him out.

Shaun Roger's is no yes man, very good high iq quality assistant.

Goorj saying he wants three imports and two marquees, he’d better read the rules. Also how he changed the culture, better talk to Cooks about culture. I’m a fan of Goorj always have been but it’s one excuse after another, uses other teams as examples including united, again he better look at there roster, two imports that come off the bench and locals. JJs last year third import was a budget guy. Again Cooks missing was because of himself, no one else, Adams should not have been there, interesting times ahead for kings.

Yep agree, the Kings were like rockstars this year, not a hardened basketball team. Have never said that about a Goorjian-coached team before, indicates he has lost what made him great as a coach.

"Goorj saying he wants three imports and two marquees, he'd better read the rules. Also how he changed the culture, better talk to Cooks about culture. I’m a fan of Goorj always have been but it’s one excuse after another"

If Goorjian said all that he really should be moved on. I don't know what the Kings were thinking giving him a 3 year deal. Pongrass also threw Shane Heal a coaching lifeline at the Flames just typical Kings. Paul Smith and Bogut can stick that in their pipe and smoke it, tried to buy another championship and it blew up in their faces.

On the Sixers not a very convincing performance against a mediocre Kings team missing two of their bigs. Still not sure how we'll go against SEM we went 0-2 there against them this season and 0-4 overall in Melbourne.

KET - Yea, I was hoping Cadee would stick around, I think with a team that's had as many chemistry issues as it has the veteran leadership he's provided has been a massive hand at getting things back on track when it looked like it was going completely off the rails. I just think of the last time we played SEM where that big run was started off the back of Cadee coming on, getting the 5 together and getting them on the same page.

Definitely need to find another veteran player like that next year if we run back with a similar style roster.

I just think they were poorly coached and poorly constructed. Kuol is a really solid player who I rate quite a bit, and just woefully underutilized offensively all season long. I get why Goorj would get the shits with Cam from time to time, but he had by far the shortest leash of any player on our roster this season when he fills arguably the most important role on the team given our lack of size and the lack of any capable backup.

Bringing in a (failed) import guard late in the season just completely defied belief given how badly we were get pounding in the paint most nights... we have three PGs on the roster and 1 capable C in Cam, who is playing out of position.

I was lukewarm on Goorj coming in as it felt like fanservice, and that's what it turned out to be. Happy to have the season over with and hoping for a significant retooling this offseason regardless of what happens with Cooks.

I was thinking there might be a 'trade' with Brisbane, Cadee for Isaac White. I know White's not a vet but I want to see him come back home, seems to turn it on against the Sixers too.

Hopefully for the last time, Smith and Bogut are minor players at the kings, Smith got rid of his shares and Bogut got his through playing there, yes they are still very interested in the kings which is fine as they helped put kings back on the map and having a good kings team is good for the nbl. When Smith oversaw the operations Pondgrass did a lot better.

Question for Sixers fans, has Wells earned a repeat season?

"Happy to have the season over with and hoping for a significant retooling this offseason regardless of what happens with Cooks."

That's the thing there won't be Goorj gave them all 3 year deals like himself. All the Kings can do is change imports the Aussies are all locked in.

Cooks (2 years left), Noi (2 years), Kuol (2 years), Galloway (2 years), Leaupepe (2 years), Robertson (2 years), Le'afa (1 year), Bruce (1 year)

FA's: Adams, Oliver, Toohey, Maluach

3 new imports and a new coach is retooling enough for me!

Not sure three imports would be on the cards, that would mean taking Kuol off of marquee which would hurt them even more financially. Plus Toohey's production can only really be reproduced by another Next Star unless replacing Maluach which would suggest a cheaper player.

It all looks pretty grim to me and other than the 2/3 imports the only other meaningful thing would be to fire Goorj, and with 2 years to go on his contract I can't see the Kings eating that. The only hope might be if they're able to get out from under the $2.4 million remaining on Cooks' contract but given it's just coke I doubt it.

Kings are fine, just need to be fully healthy
We saw what happened in Adelaide when you take 3 starters out of the team .

Contracted or not, I just can't see how Cooks comes back into this team if he is found guilty and cops even a short suspension.

Do the kings or the nbl want to be related to the stigma that will follow Cooks. If so it could be one hell of a cover up, right up in the afl territory of nothing to see here. A very famous afl player I believe said you just got to know how to beat the testing I believe. This player spent a lot time in the US in off season like a lot of them do.

The mainstream media have photos and videos of AFL guys consuming and nothing gets done as the AFL is so powerful and such a source of income for newspapers

And given most NBL fans are AFL/NRL fans too is why I think Cooks will get a slap on the wrist. Hell even the AFL wives get into the coke, it's rampant no one cares.

I should add this story only had currency because it could be steroids now that we know it's coke it's a nothing story now.

The real interesting thing was it was The Age not News Corp who revealed it was coke, like they did with the Baynes/Forde leaked video that the NBL was furious about. News Corp is part of the media rights deal, The Age isn't. Typical Rupert if News Corp are involved financially, no news lol

Ket cookes is highly paid professional athlete surely that comes with some responsibility I don't feel sorry for him at all it’s a bad example to be setting for young players definitely deserves more than a slap on the wrist

"And given most NBL fans are AFL/NRL fans too is why I think Cooks will get a slap on the wrist. Hell even the AFL wives get into the coke, it's rampant no one cares."

If the test was done on a game day he will get the international penalty. It would be completely divorced from league policies. If it's outside of comp he might get lucky with time-based penalty that hardly sees him miss any games, plus some compulsory rehab etc.

Surely the test must have been carried out recently, which would mean in season or is there a thought that it was carried before season started. If so it took a long time for results to show up. Any ideas.

In-competition is defined as game day for a league like the NBL.

Cocaine can stay in the system for a couple of days, if he can argue he took it days before and not as a performance enhancer it may reduce penalty from what I've looked at. May have taken it on a Friday night and had a Sunday game.
Wouldn't blame him if it's not a big ban to head elsewhere till heat dies down and play overseas. I wonder how overseas leagues view this behaviour, if they have strict laws would imagine clubs would stay clear of the publicity.
Maybe go play in Columbia and get mates rates.

Any FIBA associated league will be bound by an ASADA suspension. Whatever day he took it, if it's in his system on game day when he's tested he's in a spot of bother. Hopefully for his sake it was during the week.

Got to love Brian and his excuses. Poor old Kings who have been notorious for not getting players, provided him with dud players from the start. Makes Cairns look like the Lakers in buying players. And Brian also notoriously doesn't have a say in roster constructions, so is someone else's fault for recruiting. And for all his coaching experience couldn't formulate an offence apart from giving Adams the ball. Oh, and Kuol was injured all year. Has created a great culture (obviously can't read body language), but he's going to need a couple of Boomers and 3 great imports to even compete with Melbourne and Perth because his current players can't play. And he needed a backup for Oliver despite him riding the bench the whole year.

As if his Boomers tenure (don't count the medal, he was just in right place and time) was disappointing, he's really tarnishing his legacy.




Brian Goorjian couldn't fault the fight his Sydney Kings showed, but felt their NBL25 ended on the back of not having the gun players to make plays when it mattered most which will be the focus to rectify next season.


Goorjian: 'Kings need more playmakers'

Chris Pike for NBL.com.au

"It is very apparent coming down the back stretch that it's about making plays and just with our group right now and what we were playing with, we were shorthanded there."
Brian Goorjian couldn’t fault the fight his Sydney Kings showed, but felt their NBL25 ended on the back of not having the gun players to make plays when it mattered most which will be the focus to rectify next season.


Coming into the season, all the talk was how stacked and deep the Kings were and how most saw them as just about unbackable favourites, but Goorjian never bought into that.


He saw so many other clubs around the league with the formula that he feels brings championship in the modern NBL - having three standout imports and two marquee local players with good role players around them.


The Tasmania JackJumpers had that last season with imports Milton Doyle, Jordon Crawford and Marcus Lee, and then two Australians who went to the Olympics, Jack McVeigh and Will Magnay.


The team that eliminated the Kings in Thursday night's Play-In Qualifier at Qudos Bank Arena, the Adelaide 36ers, had imports Kendric Davis, Montrezl Harrell and Jarell Martin along with Australian starters Isaac Humphries and DJ Vasiljevic.


By Thursday night, Sydney did have two imports with Cam Oliver and Jaylen Adams who you couldn’t ask more from. Then as a marquee local, Bul Kuol did his best but he hasn’t been 100 per cent all season.


What stood out was that third import never materialised to help Adams in the back court, and then Oliver was left as the lone soldier up front in the absence of Xavier Cooks and Keli Leaupepe.


"It just became apparent down the back stretch that we're under the bar of the top teams. What it came down to was figuring out who we are going to move forward with after this first year and what's missing, and the next step," Goorjian said.


"We were in a situation with a lot of guys playing their arse off but when the ball got swung or moved, they don't have the ability to make a play.


"So it kept coming back to JA in the middle of the floor to do something at the end of the shot clock. It is very apparent coming down the back stretch that it's about making plays and just with our group right now and what we were playing with, we were shorthanded there."

"We made a mistake on the guard, our backup big to give Cam a couple of minutes here and there with Keli was gone, and then at the end of games whenever we've been in a home court like this, it's been JA and Xavier with shooters around them," Goorjian said.


"We didn’t have that and it sounds like excuses, but this is now four, five games where we're playing for your life and there were times we dropped, but tonight we battled all the way and they gave it everything they had."

"Moving forward if you want to win a championship, I think we've got some really nice young pieces and the glass is half full, but we're gonna need three imports and two marquee players to beat a Perth or United coming down the back stretch."

I don't think people understand the gravity of the situation for Cooks. The NBL (well any basketball competition in Australia) is SIA compliant (previously ASADA) to their anti-doping code, which sits under WADA.
This is not like the AFL or NRL, who have their own separate drug policy which are currently deemed to not be SIA/WADA compliant (there’s other sports in Australia who also are not compliant). The NBL and BA has no influence or decision making on the punishment, whatever punishment is handed out is applied globally to any FIBA recognised competition or affiliation (this means no NBL1 as an example, as that’s under Basketball Australia).
Looking at suspensions handed out to swimmers previously caught might give an indication that he’s looking at multiple years out of the sport, up to 4 years for being positive for a recreational drug taken in-competition (defined as the day of a game up until a sample given after the game). If it’s in his system, that’s what matters, there’s no arguing he took it some other time unlike what may happen in the AFL/NRL.

Thanks BigD, I'm in agreement. I’m off the belief that nbl players get test at games end and not during the week. It’s a world sport, the afl are not so they can dodge around the rules. There are arguments to defend him but as some have said he’s been very stupid. I heard from a person close to the kings saying he’s gone. It could be a very costly life lesson.

I watched the BG presser too phantom and was amazed at his excuses.

It was bewildering to hear him talk like he has no ability to impact what Sheba his team run and getting good looks.

Apparently it's just up to his team not having players that can make plays and other teams have players that can!

And the roster was incomplete and flawed, even though he put it together.

Absolute joke but the kings deserve what they are getting putting up with his BS including supposedly being an import guard short. Good luck for next year guys!

This is what Australia sports integrity website says. Suggests maximum is indeed 4 years, but can just be months if proved.

So what is it, years or months? Doubt he had a line in the change rooms to get a boost. Good lawyer argues he took it days before and gets a slap on the wrist in terms of formal ban. But contract could be ripped up, but a team will give him a chance somewhere.

Here's the gist of the integrity website.

Why is cocaine a banned substance in sport?
All prohibited substances are added to the Prohibited List because they meet two of the three following criteria:

Use of the substance has the potential to enhance or enhances performance.
Use of the substance represents an actual or potential health risk to the Athlete; and
Use of the substance violates the spirit of sport.
What is the 'In-Competition' period?
The In-Competition period commences at 11.59pm the night before a competition in which an athlete is scheduled to compete, through to the end of that competition and any sample collection process undertaken.

International Federations may apply to WADA for permission to change their ‘In-Competition’ period if they have a compelling justification. Athletes should check with their International Federation to ensure that their ‘In-Competition’ period aligns with the 2021 Code.

Is it an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) to test positive to cocaine?
Yes, an athlete faces a ban of up to 4 years if a Substance of Abuse, such as cocaine, was deemed to be used In-Competition. Cocaine is a stimulant that is classified as an S6 Substance under the 2023 Prohibited List.

Substance of Abuse arrangements introduced in 2021 recognises drugs frequently abused in society, outside the context of sport, however under the World Anti-Doping Code, Sport Integrity Australia is obliged to vigorously pursue all potential Anti-Doping Rule Violations within its authority.

If we become aware of information to indicate a further Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) in a Substance of Abuse matter, leniency is not available. Other Anti-Doping Rule Violations that may arise from an investigation are Use and or Attempted Use, Possession and Trafficking or Attempted Trafficking.

What is the penalty for testing positive to cocaine?
An athlete faces a ban of up to 4 years if a Substance of Abuse is in their system In-Competition.

As of 1 January 2021, if an athlete tests positive to a 'Substance of Abuse’, then the Athlete’s period of Ineligibility may be reduced to three months if the Athlete is able to prove that the substance was ingested or Used Out-of-Competition and was unrelated to sport performance.

The ban could be further reduced to one month if the athlete completes a Substance of Abuse treatment plan that is approved by the responsible Anti-Doping Organisation. The treatment plan adopted by Sport Integrity Australia includes the athlete being seen by a medical practitioner and the athlete completing a specific education program approved by Sport Integrity Australia. This treatment plan will be at the cost of the athlete.

Congratulations Sydney on lucking your way out of an all-time moronic player contract.

It's too bad for them that they can't get rid of a bumbling Brian.

So Goorj only heeds 3 top imports and 2 marquees including one that is by far the highest paid player ever to turn this team into a contender?

Surely that's not much to ask?

The Dude is delusional.

So Goorj only heeds 3 top imports and 2 marquees including one that is by far the highest paid player ever to turn this team into a contender?

Surely that's not much to ask?

The Dude is delusional.

Did I hear correctly too that he said in the presser bul kuol is a marquee? Does that mean he's on a large salary or can marquee just be any player

BG also said he would've been one of their leading scorers so he really has lost the plot

Did I hear correctly too that he said in the presser bul kuol is a marquee? Does that mean he's on a large salary or can marquee just be any player

BG also said he would've been one of their leading scorers so he really has lost the plot

Kuol is on a large salary and marquee deal.

Wow. Normally it's fringe nba level players in those deals. I guess they overspent most of the way down their roster

Does Brian realise that he's paid so highly for quality coaching rather than quality excuses? SMH

Another club looking for quick expensive answers rather than doing the hard work and building a culture and roster that deserves success.

Got to admit it doesn't sadden me to see it go wrong

Agree, Kolzee. Given that Bogut and Longley would have been strong 'culture guys', that’s why I’m surprised that Sydney gets it so wrong.
Perhaps it gets back to the old stereotype about Sydney valuing style over substance.

Years ago, I remember a French soccer coach said something like "yeah, I know that we lost, but we played so beautifully". Not saying that’s the Sydney attitude, of course ...

Does Longley have any actual high-level involvement? I thought he was basically just an assistant coach.

https://nbl.com.au/news/longley-joins-kings-ownership

Did anyone watch the Wells press conference also? Probably the third time he's let it slip that he came here to be a HC, lol. Not that we needed any validation, it's just funny how when he says this he remembers he probably needs to be coy about it, so quickly corrects what he meant. other than that, you're basically watching the same PC over and over.

Credit to Adelaide for getting it done, that game was never going to be easy for them.

What are our chances tommorrow?

If Adelaide advance and then are to challenge, does anyone else feel like Martin could be a bit of an X factor?

I loved how BG during the presser actually self reflected on how much bs he was talking and tried to justify it as not being excuses!

Good luck to Adelaide. I don't think they've got the consistency in their roster (other than KD) to go far but happy to be proven wrong