'No one can beat us': Kings throw down Finals challenge

AAP.

Kouat Noi hopes Sydney will meet South East Melbourne in the NBL Finals so the table-topping Kings can inflict more misery on the Phoenix after their fiery last meeting.

The Kings have won 17 of their past 19 games, including the last three by an average margin of 28 points, to enter the post-season as the NBL’s form team.

Sixth Man of the Year nominee Noi was asked on Friday whether any of the remaining five sides could stop Sydney’s push for a first championship since Brian Goorjian’s return.

“The Playoffs is a different atmosphere, different type of game; the energy, the game takes a lift to a whole other level,” the forward said.

“But to answer your question, no.”

Pending Play-In results, the Phoenix are one of four teams the Kings could meet in a best-of-three Playoff Series for qualification to the Grand Final.

The winner of Thursday’s knockout match between Tasmania and Melbourne United will face the loser of the Phoenix’s clash with Perth. Sydney will play the winner of that subsequent Play-In game.

The Kings’ most recent loss came against the Phoenix in January before a heated clash on February 8, when Goorjian received a technical foul following a verbal exchange with Owen Foxwell.

The veteran coach was later fined $775 for his comments, though he insisted he had been provoked by a remark that went undetected by broadcast microphones. The NBL did not sanction Foxwell.

“I don’t really mind who, but I’d love to see South East in the finals,” Noi said.

“They match up well with us, I think it’d be exciting for everyone to watch. I’d love to beat them in the finals and win that championship.”

Noi was direct when asked whether that desire was fuelled by the spiteful nature of their last clash.

“For sure,” he said.

Crowned the NBL’s Coach of the Year for a seventh time this week, Goorjian was less concerned about potential opponents.

“It was a fiery game, but we’ve had fiery games against Adelaide,” he said.

“We’ve had an overtime game with Melbourne, we lost to Tassie more than we beat them, the only team where that holds true.

“Every team presents its challenges. Whoever it is, I just feel comfortable that we’ve got what it takes. Bring it on.”