The following is a preview with betting tips for the best-of-five Grand Final Series in the 2022/23 NBL season. The game covered is Game 3 between the Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers.
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Sydney Kings vs New Zealand BreakersFriday March 10, 7:30pm |
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With the Grand Final series locked at one game a piece, whoever wins at Olympic Park on Friday night will be just one win away from a historic Championship victory. For both rivals their triumphs so far are a testament to the hard-working, resilient and incredibly talented coaches, players and staff within their respective organisations. Kings head coach Chase Buford a Man who has copped many barbs this season, some necessary, yet a lot completely uncalled for. However, he a Man who also keeps on soldiering on no matter what the circumstances may throw at him ie both Derrick Walton Jr. & Xavier Cooks being in the trenches for Game Two. Whilst Mody Maor in his debut campaign as head coach of the Breakers has used a smaller budget and a last-place finish last-season to propel his club to the current point they’re at now. He a Man who publicly broke down upon New Zealand officially securing a playoffs berth, such is his raw passion and commitment towards the club. And in just a couple of days time, in front of what is expected to be a record Grand Final crowd of around 16,000 + spectators, both Men will be calling their shots from the sidelines with absolute ferociousness, as they each attempt to boost their team one step closer to the ‘holy grail’, in a game that can’t be missed!
In their latest meeting at Spark Arena a next man up mentality effort from Sydney saw them edge out New Zealand 81-74 in what was a defensive battle for the ages! The Kings started out the encounter in style, prevailing 21-9 in Q1. However the Breakers quickly made it a game come half-time, as they won the second period 21-13. However Sydney once again blew the lead out again in Q3, triumphing 23-11. And despite the hosts best effort in the fourth, winning 33-24, it wasn’t enough as the visitors heroic efforts saw them regain control of the series. A big reason for the Kings dub was Forward Justin Simon, as the former Bulls training player came up with a humungous 6STL + 9REB + 12PTS, as he shattered the Breakers hopes of a win via his multiple consecutive steals in Q3, something that completely and utterly swung around the momentum of the affair. Kouat Noi was also massive for the visitors as he poured in 20PTS, while Dejan Vasiljevic hit 4/6 from deep, en route to 16PTS, 4REB and 2AST. And Angus Glover collected 12PTS to his name, meanwhile Jordan Hunter pulled down 10REB and Shaun Bruce six.
For the hosts Barry Brown Jr. was impeccable as always gunning down 4/9 from long range, contributing strongly to his 21PTS + 3REB + 2AST + 2STL. Jarrell Brantley was also very close behind him with 20PTS, 6REB, 1AST, 1STL and 1BLK. And Izayah Le’Afa was very crafty when out on the floor, as the Tall Blacks Guard shot 50% via his 14PTS. Alongside that he also locked down 3REB, 3AST and 1STL. His points tally for the evening being impressively well above his season average of 10.6PPG. Whilst Derek Pardon ‘pardoned’ no one with his 6PTS, 11REB and 4BLK. As he was not to be messed with throughout the matchup.
As referenced briefly before, both Derrick Walton Jr. and the reigning MVP/newest member of the Washington Wizards ala Xavier Cooks are both under significant injury clouds at the moment. Walton Jr. featured for just five-minutes in Game Two & Cooks only ten. However Kouat Noi showed that he’s more than capable of making it rain when he’s called upon. Because if it weren’t for the impact of him and fellow tough dawg Justin Simon then this series would probably all ready be over. Noi to his credit should trouble the Breakers traditionally stingy defence a lot, just because of how good of a catch-and-shoot type Forward he is. Whilst for Simon he turned New Zealand’s attack around in circles on Sunday afternoon. While in Game One he fashioned 18PTS for himself, showing off that he is far, far, far more then just a one-dimensional player.
Combined with their efforts, the stats work heavily in Sydney’s favour ahead of Game Three as well. In New Zealand they grabbed 35 DEF REB to the Breakers 31. While they also took better advantage of their FTs as well, shooting 22/34 (65%) from the line, as opposed to 11/19 (58%). Oh and the purple & gold visitors had 12 steals, one more than Mody Maor’s troops. Chase Buford has never lost the three previous finals series in which he’s coached the Kings in and with momentum currently favouring them, I am strongly against the ‘belief’ that he plans to stop here.
To finish off this preview I want to cast your minds back to last year, where when playing in Auckland against the Breakers, the Kings triumphed in what was a somewhat ordinary game of Basketball, 81-77. The Kings two top scorers that day via Justin Simon & Xavier Cooks had just 13PTS a piece. Whilst star performers such as Derrick Walton Jr. produced just 9PTS and Dejan Vasiljevic only eight. They also ended the game in very ordinary fashion too, going down in Q4 31-17. This match proved that even when the Kings are doing badly, they always find a way to see it through. Because they have such a fighters mentality backing them up. I’ll back Sydney to win here in an extremely close all-time NBL Grand Final affair.
Betting tips: Back the Kings to win this clash at $1.53 (BlueBet)
Also back Q2 to be all theirs at $1.73 (UniBet)
However look for the Breakers to reach 20PTS first at $2.15 (Bet365)
And look for both teams to score 75+ PTS each at $1.071 – Sydney and $1.20 – New Zealand (Bet365)