“We’re in a dog fight”: Kings face uphill battle

“We cannot keep losing games like this.”

That was the pointed message from a visibly disappointed Brian Goorjian following the Sydney Kings’ defeat at the hands of New Zealand on Wednesday night.

The Kings have now lost their last two, after a string of four wins had them flying high and talk they had finally hit their straps. Now at seven wins and seven losses on the season, they are very much back in the chasing pack.

“Our situation now is we are in a dog fight to try to get into these Playoffs and we cannot keep losing games like this,” Goorjian said.

“We marked this one and had a lot of opportunity to prepare for this one, so there are no excuses. It was one that was very important with what is ahead.”

The Kings were coming off a ten day break, and even without stars Matthew Dellavedova and Shaun Bruce, should have had a physical edge over a Breakers team which had several representatives play for the Tall Blacks just two days earlier.

“No one in our group is happy. It is a very, very, very important game. We have got three more coming on the road,” Goorjian said.

“I think we were in a good position to win that game and I did not think at the end of the game we had exhausted bodies on the floor. I just thought there were mental errors.

“This is our group. I thought we had a great chance to beat a good team that has been winning on their court and let one slip.”

Goorjian said the Breakers executed better down the back stretch, with Parker Jackson Cartwright putting on a show late.

“We have got to start finding a way to win these games like this,” he said.

“On the defensive end of the floor with PJC, the scout was to try to hug and make him shoot over a hand. First half he had three points. Second half he ended up six for eight from the three ball. It was his shots at the end of the game that beat us.”

Sydney is sweating on the returns of Dellavedova and Bruce, with Kendric Davis carrying much of the load in the point guard role, while Tyler Robertson has been playing increased minutes in their absence.

“We are trying to get Delly healthy. We are trying to get Bruce healthy,” Goorjian said, admitting the longer break was key in their recovery.

“We have Kendric now and are playing a little bit different without those two.”

Asked when the experienced pair would return, Goorjian remained hopeful it would not be far away.

“Not absolutely sure, but we are definitely moving forward and they are closer and starting to move around which was not the case a week ago,” he said.

“My mindset is preparing the team that we have and hopefully the additions come. Right now we have a nice group and a group that today I thought was in a great position to win.

“This the Breakers is a good team that is winning and it is on their home court. It was a hard one to take.”