With National Basketball League pre-season games getting under way and the regular season just around the corner, the time has come to preview the nine teams that will be running around in 2011/12. During the NBA lockout negotiations, many NBL teams have had high hopes of securing top level import talent and have been holding off signings until market conditions had become apparent. However, with less than eight weeks until tip-off, many of those imports are now being announced and it’s time to get training camps together.
Sydney Kings
2010-11 Regular Season: 8-20 (ninth)
Where are they coming from?
The Kings entered 2010-11 on the back foot, re-entering the NBL after a hiatus induced by a string of mismanagement and fraudulent ownership. With less than the normal length of time to assemble a squad, the franchise from the Harbour City was fortunate to secure star big man Julian Khazzouh, surrounded by a mix of young talent and league cast-offs. Notwithstanding the roster, Sydney was elated to have their team back and drew fantastic crowds for a cellar-dwelling club.
Outside of Khazzouh, Ben Madgen was a major bright spot, rising from sitting outside the 10-man roster to a starting role and NBL Rookie of the Year honours. His outside shooting and tenacity saw him earn a call-up to the Australian Boomers training camp recently.
2010-11 was always going to be a season of learning and development and whilst the Kings went through plenty of struggles on the court, one thing they proved that they still know how to do is put on a great show around the court. Game night entertainment at the Kingdome proved to be a major drawcard with fans turning out to see the sideshows and “be there” where the celebrities were.
Who are the stars?
Once again, Khazzouh will be the marquee player that every team tries to stop. The big man, who finished second in MVP voting last season to the outgoing Gary Ervin (Wollongong Hawks, now in Europe), is arguably the best player in the NBL once again. Many will claim that the Kings’ centre only missed out on MVP honours due to his team’s poor record and there is scope for even more improvement in the 25 year-old’s game, with his amazingly soft hands and all-round game. Most of the Kings’ offence will key off Khazzouh’s ability to draw double-teams and score inside and out; similarily, his shot-blocking at the other end of the court is as good an anchor as you can get.
Meanwhile, the newest announced signing, import Jerai Grant, may challenge Khazzouh for level of impact on some nights. The son of former NBA forward Harvey Grant (and nephew of ex-Chicago Bulls star Horace Grant), is a hustle player with eye-catching athleticism, an ability to get fans out of their seats with dunks in traffic and enough swatting ability to handle the biggest swarm of bugs. Khazzouh could not ask for better assistance at the power forward slot to complement his game at both ends of the court. When Khazzouh sits, the 6’8″ Grant can easily slide across to the centre position and use his 7’0.5″ wingspan to alter opposition shots and throw down dunks like this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=l4i8CRIViMA
On the rise?
Whilst the Kings have the aforementioned firepower (pardon the use of the word) down low, the two players to look out for on the up and up will be scoring from the outside. After his ROY performance last season, Madgen will be looking to assert himself even more in this league as a gunner to be feared. Being able to start the season in the rotation, along with his off-season training with the Boomers, will surely pay dividends for the South Australian’s game as he continues to attract opposition key wing defenders and similarly looks to continue to improve his defensive game.
Meanwhile, newcomer Anatoly Bose comes to the Kings with a solid Division One NCAA career under his belt at Nicholls State University. Originally born in Kazakhstan, the 6’6″ swingman has a brilliant knack for scoring, ranking ninth in the NCAA with 22.1ppg in his senior year. He is essentially a Sydney product, having grown up for most of his childhood in the Eastern Suburbs and attending Waverly College — bringing another local touch to the Kings. Like teammate Madgen, Bose was called up for a run with the Boomers in recent months, showing no fear to shoot the rock.
Both Bose and Madgen will be called upon to draw defences away from the big men and knock down the outside shot when left open — essentially giving the Kings an inside-outside combo not to be sneered at.
The wildcards?
There are two key wildcards that could make or break the season for the 2011 wooden spooners:
1. The first import signing for the Kings was met with many blanks faces from the non-hardcore basketball community. However, swingman Kevin Ratzsch can play basketball. The American, who fits coach Ian “Moose” Robilliard‘s hustle mentality, is the type of all-rounder that keeps teams together and does all of the little things that others don’t. Whilst still relatively young at 25, the 6’7″ Northern State University product has proven both in Spain and around the traps in Australia, that he is determined to do whatever it takes to prove that he belongs. Being compared to former NBL import Mike Kelly, Ratzsch can shoot from the perimeter, dunk the ball, pass the rock and plays exceptional defence. In short, he is the type of player that every team wants, even if he doesn’t make the sexy plays that casual fans go ga-ga for. The question is, will he be a mere role player for the Kings, or will he emerge as a star performer, demanding focus from opponents on a weekly basis?
2. Whilst many contend that an import point guard is what is needed to compete in the NBL, Robilliard (himself a former NBL guard) is squarely in the opposing camp. He has previously made it clear that the standard of homegrown point guards in Australia is such that it is unnecessary to waste an import slot on the position. And true to his word, the Kings have sourced an Aussie point guard rotation in returnees Luke Martin and Luke Cooper, alongside new signing Aaron Bruce. The big questions here are: (a) who, if anyone, will emerge as the clear starter here?; (b) how will Cooper return from injury that saw him miss much of his fine rookie season?; and (c) will Bruce return to the form that once saw him as a much-touted future floor leader for the Boomers? Bruce is a big guard who should impress, given a full off-season of training, after previously querying his own future in the sport. Meanwhile Cooper is a big enigma, given his strong rookie start, followed by injury, rehabilitation, a call-up to Boomers camp and some disappointing performances from there over the off-season. The team may rely on the known-quantity that Martin is to keep the point position steady in the early-going.
How is the roster shoring up?
At this stage, based on talent and longevity the most likely starting lineup would consist of Martin, Madgen, Bose, Grant and Khazzouh. Of course, Robilliard will tell anyone that listens that players have to earn their minutes and that training camp will go a long way to determining those spots. Ratzsch will certainly push hard for one of those starting wing positions, whilst Bruce and Cooper will do everything in their power to garner the point guard duties too. The other player to look out for is Australian NCAA recruit Alex Gynes, who Robilliard looks forward to coaching as his type of player. He may well secure some rotation minutes at the two and three spots. The man not to be forgotten here is 2010-11 Sydney Kings team defensive player of the year, Graeme Dann. The man who famously lost his front teeth at the Kingdome last season, was as hard-working as any King and did a huge job of rebounding, defending and assisting with ball-handling as an undersized power forward. At this stage it looks like Dann will be the key backup to Grant at the four spot, as part of a three-man rotation at the PF/C positions.
Whilst they are not yet officially announced, the Kings have signed a Sydney-born, potential-laden backup big man to the 11th roster slot and four development players who will struggle to see any minutes in the current deep lineup. At this stage it certainly appears that there is no room for 2010-11 captain Ben Knight, who is training with the Wollongong Hawks for a likely roster spot.
Where will they finish?
No more cellar-dwelling for the Sydney Kings in 2011-12 — that is the prediction from this writer. A combination of Khazzouh’s brilliance, the youthful scoring punch of Madgen and Bose and the excellent recruiting of imports that complement the Australian content of the roster, mean that the Kings should find a way to finish in the range of 5th to 7th with a record of about .500. It’s not back to the three-peat days yet, but the Kings are on the rise.
