Rucker: ‘Kings don’t have enough to win’

Friday, December 27, 2024

"If management actually believed they need a big, I would tend to side with management."

In third place and with a run of home games to come, the Sydney Kings look right in the mix for a deep Finals run.

But according to Derek Rucker, their current roster simply won’t get it done.

Speaking on NBL Now, the former MVP said the Kings have a huge decision to make, between another ball-handler to take the pressure off Jaylen Adams and a big to tackle the likes of Sam Froling, Rob Loe and Marcus Lee when things really heat up in Finals.

Co-host Jack Heverin hinted Sydney’s coaching staff and front office may be at odds as to the best approach, with Brian Goorjian favouring a guard, and management a big.

It comes off the back of Goorjian calling it "D-Day" for the Kings in their search for a "missing piece in the backcourt".

“Right now (Shaun) Bruce and (Izayah) Le’Afa ... and Le’Afa knocked down some shots last night. Bruce was decent. But both of those guys, when you look at their analytics, they're not faring well at the net rating,” Rucker said.

“They're really poor in that regard, even though they show signs of being really productive. And I'm sure the Kings’ coaching staff is looking at that as one of the primary reasons why they need a ball-handler and wanting to play Jaylen Adams off the ball more.

“However, I think a bigger problem is the rebounding and what they do against size. If management actually believed they need a big, I would tend to side with management. I'm looking for three for a four or five, something like that.

“I know the market right now ... it’s hard to find bigs. So it could be that the three, four is the more likely type of player, the physical profile that they're probably going to have to go for.

“They don't have enough right now to win the championship. Let me be clear about that.”

“Sam Froling in a five-game series would feast on that Sydney Kings lineup,” Heverin added.

“Even Rob Loe and Marcus Lee ... not quite the same calibre of player, but together they're a good combination. The bigs is it seems like it's a glaring problem.”

Rucker suggested the Kings needed an Andrew Bogut type.

“Obviously it's going to be really hard to find a guy like that. If you could get a scaled down version, a guy that can rebound, who's going to be good behind the line of the ball, defensively, that's going to clear the glass and that can play smart, intelligent defence against opposing bigs, that's exactly what the Kings need.”

Rucker was also critical of the Kings’ decision to bench Alex Toohey at a vital stage in the Christmas night game against Illawarra.

“I went so hard on the Sydney Kings and the coaching staff for removing (Alex) Toohey from the game in the middle of the second quarter, and I wasn't sure if my analysis was too critical and too harsh,” Rucker said.

“Did it balance out what was really happening on the court? I think it did. I think that turned the game.

“That was a moment where the Sydney Kings had to take full advantage, and Brad (Rosen) was saying the lead was not as great as it should have been. They made that substitution, and I believe the score went from 48 to 39, to 58-58.

“I just thought Toohey was going to be in a situation where he might go for 35-plus. It disrupted his rhythm and it put the Kings in a situation where they were reeling and never really found their way until five minutes to go in the fourth quarter.”