...and Ithought that Bris would do that to Cairns, didn't we all?

Should be an easy Kings win, but the Hawks are more than grindy enough for an upset. Hoping for a good game either way... kinda regret not making the trip down to Wollongong for this one.

I'm not so sure guys. I think the Kings look more together, happier and more into team success as a group than the Hawks do this year. Usually it is reversed but I think the Hawks have a couple of personalities within their lineup who are detracting from their togetherness. Most unlike a Bevo coached team

Sorry I mean I agree Kings win in a romp

With the Kings stifling defence they could hold this offensively inept Hawks team to a seriously low score if they wanted to hopefully it doesn't happen after the flogging they took on NYE.

Heal: "It's paying dividends"

Yes Shane, unlike your businesses that paid out nothing to investors.

3rd Hungry Jacks gift from Kickert this season... at least the home team fans get to take advantage this time.

Kickert doing his best Conger impersonation early.

Is this the most most vocal and most involved the 'Gong fans have been all season?

Sounds like the good old days. I hope those at the game tell their friends and crowds pick up.

Crowd size?

Kings look like they're still nursing new years eve hangovers.

@UTA it's a derby that's why.

PW

I know how close they are geographically, but the crowd is def louder for Illawarra.

Their crowds have been crappily small and uninvolved. Gotta look for something to build from.

Bogut trying to calm Gaze and get him back on task.

I don't know if it was just the timer they had on the screen, but the clock stuck on 1 second for about 3 seconds on that last shot. Might have been what Gaze was upset about?

I guess one positive for Sydney is that usually the Kings wait until the second half to score 26 points in two quarters. Maybe a big 3rd and 4th Qs to come.

Gibbo posted a vid on Twitter. The clock operator stopped the clock at 2 seconds for some reason.

Angus, the TV clock often bears no relation to the stadium clock.

Either way the shot was clearly released before time expired, so it should have counted.

You could see it on the clock on the replay they showed after half time KR. The on screen clock was correct.

Interesting tid bit from the commentary team re: Conklin and Ced.

Two fugly shots in a row by Bogut hands momentum back to Illawarra.

I actually think Adnam would handle Ogilvy, if push came to shove.

You could see it on the clock on the replay they showed after half time KR. The on screen clock was correct.

Only saw the second half but great effort from Hawks so far. I like the lineups much better in this game ie. playing Ced and Conklin less

Randle is bricking the kings out of this

how is that unsportsmanlike? Heavy contact yes but Bogut was legitimately making a play for the block. Refs shouldn't be influenced by the crowd

Kings don't deserve this, but I’m a little bit sick of these ridiculous unsportsmanlike calls.

If Conklin doesn't make that call himself the refs don’t even review that foul.

Down 3, why would the Kings foul when they had a chance to force a miss and have about 10 seconds to get a score?

Agreed AngusH.. couldn't have said it better

If Conklin doesn't make that call himself the refs don't even review that foul.

I don't think it was an unreasonable call. Borderline for me.

Well at least we found one person who thinks so.

Tough call but the hand on the shoulder before the swipe made it look bad

Yes it certainly was a match winning appeal.. but this isn't cricket.

Kings shooting was bound to return to the mean at some point, but a disappointing ending all the same. Really hope the unsportsmanlike rule gets a hard look this offseason, because at this point I think something like 2/3rds of the ones being called are garbage.

Well ..... two titanic battles

1) which coach can have the worst 5 on the court to win at the end of the game

2) which import will do the worst job in the last 5 minal minutes to ensure a loss ?

1) Andrew gaze not having bogut fronting the inbounds pass is just is slightly more effective than Bevo who refused to play his most effective player of the game

2) Randle ( I can shoot) just edges out Jackson ( I can dribble into danger anytime).

If Bogut was looking to block the shot, he would have been reaching up, and almost certainly would have got it, he did not complain becasue he knew that he decided to stop the shot by hacking down as per NBA, and forgot that it would be called unsportsman like in the NBL and FIBA rules
.

Whoa!

I try so hard to follow this league but if that's an unsportsmanlike I'm out. No other serious league in the world is calling that. Stop trying to be a hero and influence the game and let the players decide it. Down 1, Bogut is in the air, desperation kicks in to stop a bucket. Heavy contact because if he doesn't it could be and 1. Is Conklin hurt? No. Explain to me logically what Bogut should do there? I guess with his time again just let Conklin score the 2. I understand the strict interpretation but how about some common sense? Does anyone, outside of Illawarra fans, objectively want to see that called? Conklin makes 2, Hawks are up 3, if someone from Kings can make a play they can still win otherwise Hawks win. Again, PLAYERS decide. Ridiculous.

It sounded like the commentators were saying two of the Hawks players don't like each other? Who were they?

The lisping guy is Nathan Strempel. Absolutely terrible commentator, the way he sucks up to Heal is nauseating.

No other serious league in the world is calling that.

Explain to me logically what Bogut should do there? I guess with his time again just let Conklin score the 2.

Duncan, have you seen what the NBA refs hand out techs for? Different call but same sentiment.

If Heal has a remotely reasonable sense of himself, he must surely cringe every time Barkley gets raised.

Ummm...aren't the Kings second place temporarily until the Breakers Wildcats game? If 1st place is unacceptable to you perhaps give up sport?

Isaac for once I felt sorry for Heal when that Nafan dude brought it up. You could tell there was a notable pause between it and Shane's forced reply after thinking to himself "FML".

^^^ thanks anon. I live in Europe and play over here but Will do sir.

Copping some heat, that's fine. My argument is not that by Interpretation it shouldn't be unsportsmanlike. My argument is 1) I don't like the Interpretation, but that's another story. I think we can agree there was a time it wouldn't have got a second look. But 2) just objectively as a fan I would rather cooler heads prevail, as mentioned earlier IF Conklin didn't ask for it they probably don't call it, then even IF Conklin makes both Lisch or someone taking a 3 to take it to OT is far more entertaining than the foul and ft fest that followed.

Anyway, I'm off to Google euroleague. Is it like Eurovision where Australian teams can enter?

The standard of refereeing in the game was embarrassing. I took several people to the game who have either not been in 15 years or never have. We get treated to 57 free throws, 3 long and non required reviews, and an overall horrible game. Yeah it was close, that's about it.

The halftime review went for 5 minutes, teams had already left as soon as the buzzer sounded, and Sydney came out and had to go back inside the rooms when they entertainment meant they couldn't do shootaround.

Basketball is a judgement call game, every single call aside from out of bounds and made shots. 'Rules' in the game are open to interpretation, and yesterday were wrong far too often. Calling an unsportsmanlike on Bogut (gladly I had left about 1 minute prior to that or I'd have lost my shit) on that play is why you have so many FTA.

That female ref should be replaced with someone competent. The other two weren't far behind.

relax everyone, the refereeeing problems in australia are soon to be over, all fixed after jan 15.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/basketball/michael-haynes-ready-to-put-out-wnbl-firestorm-20181213-p50lz0.html

https://australia.basketball/michael-haynes-appointed-head-of-officials/


although ....

Calling an unsportsmanlike on Bogut (gladly I had left about 1 minute prior to that or I'd have lost my shit) on that play is why you have so many FTA.

I struggle to understand why the people who get so incensed about flopping being a blight on the game are usually the strongest supporters of intentional fouling. There is zero sportsmanship or skill in deliberately breaking the rules by thumping or grabbing the arm of someone who's outplayed you. But so many people see this sort of cheating as not merely acceptable but recommended behaviour, while abhorring a flop. I've never got that double standard and I never will.

Kobe, I know the fta on that play are the same, plus possession. My point is the fact they'd call the game so tight as to make that unsportsmanlike reflects how they called it all game.

Sydney went from their first FTA in the final 80 secs of the game 2 weeks ago v Ill to 31 attempts yesterday.

The teams didn't change in the matchup, the ref's did.

My point is the fact they'd call the game so tight as to make that unsportsmanlike reflects how they called it all game.