The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz vs. Sydney Kings: Keys to the Game

Jared Woodcox|
TRARALGON, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Brad Newley of the Kings competes for the ball during the 2017 NBL Blitz pre-season match between Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings at Traralgon Basketball Centre on September 9, 2017 in Traralgon, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
TRARALGON, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Brad Newley of the Kings competes for the ball during the 2017 NBL Blitz pre-season match between Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings at Traralgon Basketball Centre on September 9, 2017 in Traralgon, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 11: Sydeny based players Katie-Rae Ebzery – Sydney Flames and Brad Newley – Sydney Kings pose during the NRL Qualifying Final match between the Melbourne Storm and the Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park on September 9, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 11: Sydeny based players Katie-Rae Ebzery – Sydney Flames and Brad Newley – Sydney Kings pose during the NRL Qualifying Final match between the Melbourne Storm and the Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park on September 9, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Key #1 – Don’t Sleep on the Aussies

Even though the Sydney Kings are far from being a team that is talented enough to hold its own in the NBA, these guys can still play. And while most NBA teams usually take a bit of a lackadaisical approach to the preseason as the games’ results have little lasting bearing, international teams such as the Kings who get to go up against such fine competition will want nothing more than to prove that they can hold their own against the best.

Therefore, look for the Kings to come out swinging. In a recent piece, my J-Notes counterpart Ryan Aston included a perfect quote encapsulating the mindset of Sydney’s head coach Andrew Gaze and his Kings team. Coach Gaze said:

"“We’re going out there, we shake their hands and might want to get a couple of autographs. But once that ball’s tipped, we are fiercely competitive. They understand that we’re going to provide a very stern challenge. We’re not going to be submissive, we’re going to go out there and be very aggressive at both ends of the floor.”"

Therefore, while the Kings may look to come out and punch the Jazz in the mouth, Utah absolutely must avoid an offseason hangover of any kind and even though a preseason game won’t have any affect on their success once the real season gets underway, they still cannot overlook what is bound to be a determined Kings team.

A little respect for their opponent should go a long way and as long as the Jazz are focused and prepared, keeping the Kings in check shouldn’t prove too daunting of a task.

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