Sydney Kings coach Damian Cotter demands better play after loss to Adelaide 36ers

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/sydney-kings-coach-damian-cotter-demands-better-play-after-loss-to-adelaide-36ers-20150924-gjui3o.html



Sydney Kings coach Damian Cotter demands better play after loss to Adelaide 36ers

September 25, 2015

Roy Ward


Sydney's Julian Khazzouh wrestles for position with Adelaide's Daniel Johnson on Thursday night
Sydney's Julian Khazzouh wrestles for position with Adelaide's Daniel Johnson on Thursday night Photo: Alix Sweeney



Sydney Kings coach Damian Cotter has demanded his side learn to deal with adversity after its loss to Adelaide 36ers at the NBL Blitz on Thursday night.

The Kings were without NBA star Josh Childress and had a busy day of activities in Townsville then fell 16 points behind the speedy Sixers' lineup.


While the Kings did fight back to get within four points in the final term, they lost 95-84 and Cotter was in no mood for excuses.


Boston Celtics' NBA draft pick Marcus Thornton scored a game-high 24 points and five assists while Jason Cadee added 14 points and Julian Khazzouh scored 10 points in just nine minutes before fouling out.

Sixers centre Daniel Johnson led his side with 26 points while import guard Kenyon McNeail scored 19 points and Mitch Creek 18 points.

"We had a long day with stuff on and I don't think we responded well to that," Cotter said.

"We were given the schedule and we accept that but in the end whatever that was leading into it that doesn't matter - you have to be responsible for your own performance.

"Every team gets adversity through the year, it's a fact of sport.

"I don't think we are arrogant, not one bit, but I do think we were flat and when they upped the anti in the third quarter we were sloppy in our execution.

"Those games, from my experience of Adelaide, if you turn that into a running game it's going to favour them."

Cotter said his side would learn from the match and had to avoid fouling as much after they committed 26 fouls to 17 from the Sixers.

With their big men in foul trouble, the Kings were forced into too many three-point shots 13 of 44 shots.

Cotter said Childress was making great progress on his groin injury and was a day-to-day prospect of playing in the Kings' remaining Blitz' games.

"Josh was moving very well today [at training] we feel as an organisation we have found the source of the problem," Cotter said.

"We are quite optimistic with how he is responding - we feel really good about it."

Sixers coach Joey Wright said his side had to play fast this season and use athletes like Mitch Creek and Lucas Walker to find fast break points.

"That's what we are going to have to do," Wright said.

"You look at stuff Marcus Thornton did in that game - that's a big money player making big money shots.

"But he still has to get out and run.

"We are going to use our 10 guys to play against their seven or eight guys."

Wright said veteran import Ebi Ere wouldn't be risked during the Blitz but would be ready to go from the regular season.

"He still has all his old tricks," Wright said with a laugh.

"He has too many tricks."

The Kings play Illawarra Hawks on Saturday night then play Melbourne United on Sunday to finish their NBL Blitz schedule.



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