Kings battle looms for final frontier

With the playoffs still alive and the defending champions coming to town on Friday night, this is the ultimate assignment for the Adelaide 36ers.

Sydney Kings arrive at Brett Maher Court on top of the NBL23 standings and their results this round can shape to top six playoff positions.

With the 36ers needing to win both games and hope Perth lose both, the Kings play both Adelaide and Perth, so how the league leaders tackle the last round will be interesting.

Home court advantage throughout the playoffs is already assured for the Kings, so head coach Chase Buford may use this weekend to get some rest into this squad, or Sydney could just keep on rolling through the competition.

THE KEY

Xavier Cooks is not an NBL23 MVP finalist by mistake.

Cooks has been the reason the Kings sit on top of the ladder and will have home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

The 203cm power forward is averaging 16.3 points, eight rebounds and 4.6 assists per night in NBL23 and recorded the first triple double in the league since Josh Giddey last round.

Cooks’ 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists were enough for the Kings to get past South East Melbourne Phoenix 111-106, which all but locked up top spot for the defending champions.

THE SECRET

Sydney swingman Justin Simon will have a point to prove on Friday night after the Kings import was left out as a finalist for the Damian Martin Trophy for the league’s Best Defensive Player.

Simon, a former winner of the award with Illawarra Hawks in NBL21, will go head-to-head with one of the finalists, Antonius Cleveland, on Friday night and expect fireworks.

Both Cleveland and Simon have won the honour as a Hawk and the reaction to Simon’s snubbing during the week will be more than enough ammunition for the Kings swingman to fire.

THE FINAL WORD

After all the mathematics, for Adelaide to make the playoffs not just a win is required, but a healthy victory.

The 36ers have to win both games this round and rely on the Perth Wildcats losing both of their matches at home, against Cairns and the Kings.

If all four results occur, the magic number for Adelaide to make the top six is 62.

That’s how many points differential Adelaide will have to make up along with the four game results.

DEPTH CHART
Walton Jnr | Bruce
Vasiljevic | Glover
Simon | Noi | Galloway
Cooks | Vodonavich
Soares | Hunter