Matthew Dellavedova is ruled out of the Sydney Kings' game against the Hawks with a lower leg injury and has no return date. Brian Goorjian says he will not be rushed back: "No, no, definitely not."
Andrew Carr came off the bench for the Sydney Kings so Harry Wessels could take the matchup on Grant: "that's Wessels' best matchup as opposed to Wagstaff." Brian Goorjian says foul trouble among his bigs, Carr and Xavier Cooks included, has been shaping his rotations.
"I played that lineup into the ground." Brian Goorjian blamed his own rotation for late fatigue in the Sydney Kings' New Zealand game. After the bench scored 4 points in Canberra, he says the plan is pace and more use of the bench.
Will Johnston's job at the Sydney Kings is to take the ball out of Kendric Davis's hands, and Brian Goorjian says he has developed faster than expected: "It's important that Will's on the floor in order to get some stuff so it's not always in his hand."
Torrey Craig says he is dropping his usual habit of working into games and attacking from the start instead, after two Sydney Kings losses the team felt it should have won. The aim: "imposing my will early to help us get off to better starts."
Harry Wessels sat because Brian Goorjian judged guarding New Zealand Breakers big Sam Mennenga, who steps out to shoot threes, too difficult a matchup. The Sydney Kings coach likened it to Humphreys sitting two quarters on matchups in last year's playoffs.
Tyler Robertson guarded the centre for the Sydney Kings when the Breakers went small. Brian Goorjian said it shows "there's just groups that are uncomfortable right now." He backed Robertson's 0-for-6 from three as good shots: "he's been making them, and I'm sure he will."
More minutes may go to Sydney Kings' young players. With the bench scoring four points and Torrey Craig, Kendric Davis and Xavier Cooks wearing down, Brian Goorjian said that is on him. He may "just play those young guys a little bit more and... let them figure it out."
Brian Goorjian only glimpsed the late exchange between Bryce Cotton and Kendric Davis, but the Sydney Kings coach said the rivalry from last season's finals "hasn't gone anywhere": "What you see just shows how we feel about each other. And I think our sport needs it."