Royal rumble against champs awaits

After swooping home late to pluck the Hawks at home, Adelaide 36ers head to the Harbour City on Friday night for a battle against the reigning NBL champion Sydney Kings.

Craig Randall II’s 17-point explosion in the final 10 minutes against the Hawks is now in the past as Adelaide prepare to tackle the crowned Kings on their home floor.

Sydney bounced back last Sunday to easily account for Brisbane Bullets 102-85 on the road after a stunning 83-78 loss to Cairns Taipans at Qudos Bank Arena just 48 hours prior.

The loss to the Snakes would still be stinging the Kings and Adelaide should expect the champions to still be breathing fire and out to rectify the last up loss at home.

THE KEY
Whenever you lose the MVP of the competition in a championship season, his replacement is under pressure from the outset.

But Derrick Walton Jnr has not only filled the shoes of NBL22 superstar Jaylen Adams, he is making them his own.

Walton Jnr, who is averaging 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds per night in NBL23, is running the Kings’ well-oiled offensive machine with great effect and will need to be quelled for Adelaide to have the opportunity to win on the road.

A point guard battle against Mitch McCarron looms as the likely match-up for the former Detroit Piston, but expect Sunday Dech and Antonius Cleveland to both have a chance to shut him down.

THE SECRET
Kings coach Chase Buford brought Justin Simon back to the NBL to be the defensive stopper he’s been renowned to be.

The NBL21 Defensive Player of the Year will no doubt be chasing Craig Randall II around Qudos Bank Arena all night on Friday, but Simon can also be a threat at the other end.

Simon scored 23 points on 8/10 shooting against the Bullets in Brisbane and he should not be disregarded as a just a defensive specialist.

In an interesting twist, the former Hawk will be at small forward and up against Cleveland, who replaced Simon at Illawarra and went on to win the same award in NBL22.

THE FINAL WORD
There are stars and matchwinners all over the floor in this one, and anyone has the ability to step up and take the game over in an instant.

Xavier Cooks and DJ Vasiljevic fit that bill for the Kings, Cooks will be a nightmare at both ends of the floor and is a real barometer for Sydney, while Vasiljevic can get hot from beyond the arc in patches and can shoot his side to victory by himself.

The Kings bench runs deep and can cause Adelaide a lot of headaches. Big man Jordan Hunter is getting back to full fitness after missing last season with a foot injury, Angus Glover can be a microwave and Shaun Bruce can run the offense and loves to get his teammates involved.

Former NBL Next Star Kouat Noi has been impressive for the Kings after his off-season move from Cairns Taipans and is starting to play at the level expected a few seasons back when he was in NBA Draft conversations.

The champions have retooled and are loaded and ready to continue firing on all cylinders, the perfect first road challenge for Adelaide to face straight away.

DEPTH CHART

Walton Jnr | Bruce | Bayles

Vasiljevic | Glover

Simon | Noi | Makoi

Cooks | Galloway

Soares | Hunter