Kings Flop Despite All The Fanfare
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday March 21, 1988
Just when the Sydney Kings had 3,600 reasons to show their mettle, the star-studded side crashed to the Melbourne Giants at the Kingdome on Friday night.
The 111-95 loss by the fourth-placed Kings to a side seven places below them and with only one win to their credit this year was, to say the least, ill-timed.
Performing in front of one of Sydney's largest National Basketball League crowds and needing a win to consolidate their place in the top six, the Kings failed to reproduce the sort of form that carried them to a stirring win over the Newcastle Falcons the previous week.
The game and all its fanfare was certainly entertaining, but if the Kings are to keep and build on the spectators in attendance on Friday, they must bury sides such as the Tigers on their home court.
The 3,600 fans drawn by the prospect of a title-chasing Sydney basketball team were quietened by a side which showed superior rebounding strength. It is the one chink showing consistently in the Kings armour and one they must counter if they are to be considered serious challengers this year.
In Melbourne, the Brisbane Bullets overturned league leaders North Melbourne Giants on Friday night, shooting 15 points in overtime to record a 137-132 victory in front of 4,200 fans.
Eastside Melbourne Spectres picked up their first win from seven outings when American Arne Duncan, with 32 points, led them to a 111-96 win over rivals Westside Melbourne before their home fans on Saturday night.
Geelong Supercats, winless after seven games, gave NBL champions Brisbane Bullets a tough match before succumbing 99-91 at the Arena on Saturday night.
The Supercats appeared to be heading for the season's major upset when they led 71-70 at the three-quarter break, but Leroy Loggins responded with 10 points to make it a successful weekend for the Bullets.
In Newcastle, the Newcastle Falcons staved off a late flurry from the Melbourne Tigers to win 130-117 at the Broadmeadows Stadium on Saturday night.
In Canberra, the Canberra Cannons kept a game Westside Melbourne Saints side at bay to record a 108-100 win at the Palace on Friday night.
In Adelaide, the Adelaide 36ers delivered the coup de grace to the Illawarra Hawks on the dreaded Perth-Adelaide road trip when they raced to a 112-81 win on Saturday night.
Despite aggressive tactics by the visitors, who lost the previous night in Perth, the 36ers kept their composure to lead at all the breaks.
In Perth, the Perth Widcats, inspired by the "Alabama Slammer" James Crawford, regained top spot when they downed the visiting Illawarra Hawks 97-89 on Friday night.
Crawford, with 30 points, put in one of his best performances for the Wildcats, keeping the spirited Hawks at bay in a match of high quality.
© 1988 Sydney Morning Herald
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