Decider "A Game of Confidence": Williams

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Everything is at stake for both the Breakers and Kings in tonight's Game 5 decider. Pressure is the key word as game time approaches

Everything is at stake for both the Breakers and Kings in tonight's Game 5 decider. Pressure is the key word as tip-off time approaches.

Both teams have looked like they could snatch victory at any time in this series, but they've also both played with their backs against the wall. It's been a battle to try and get the edge approaching each new contest.

In fact, it's entirely likely that if the series wasn't capped at five games it could go on forever.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ?<br><br>It's Game 5. It's win or go home. It's championship or bust ?<br><br>Who takes the title in front of a roaring Qudos Bank Arena Crowd - the reigning crowned Kings, or the Cinderella story Breakers ? <a href="https://t.co/jBlfDr9WzE">pic.twitter.com/jBlfDr9WzE</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1635776966937944065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Former NBL MVP Corey Williams has predicted the Breakers will take home the crown in front of the Sydney crowd.

“This is a game of confidence,” Williams said on NBL Overtime.

“New Zealand in Game 2 got smacked, but they couldn’t react in favour to that game.

“They couldn’t figure out the zone, and that tough defence. What do they do in Game 4? They figured out the zone, and they handled the on-ball pressure of Will McDowell-White.

“He [McDowell-White] was wearing them like a cheap suit in Game 2 and Game 3. He got freed up in Game 4 and what was he able to do? 19, 6 and 5,” Williams said.

“So how are you going to beat this team?” he said.

A concern for the Sydney Kings is league MVP Xavier Cooks who has a lingering ankle injury which was sustained in February.

The fitness of Xavier Cooks will be the primary cause of concern for the Kings heading into the do-or-die clash, as the reigning MVP winner has battled ankle and corky related injuries for the bulk of the series.

Williams says Cooks' fitness struggles could be a defining factor on the defensive end.

“Your best player, your Draymond Green is on one leg, and that leg, injured, is also on a flight,” Williams said.

“If you’re Xavier Cooks, what do you do in this situation?

“Pressure, pressure is now on that team, Sydney Kings,” he said.

Tip-off for the biggest game of the season is 7:30pm AEDT at Qudos Bank Arena. Watch the game live and free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, and live on Sky Sport and Prime in New Zealand.