Life without Kirk - it is basketball but not as we know it.
The new-look New Zealand Breakers were outplayed, out-hustled, and, most importantly, out-scored by a determined Sydney Kings outfit 94-74 at the league's preseason Sunshine State Challenge in Queensland yesterday.
The 20-point margin was a fair reflection of each side's contribution. The Kings put more in and got more out.
Much has been made of the departure of Kirk Penney and how the defending champions will cope without one of the best shooters in the game. What is now abundantly clear is the Breakers have a lot of work to do before their opening game against the Gold Coast Blaze on October 7.
Penney's ability to hit the most unlikely outside shots is like a drug the Breakers will have to wean themselves off before they can find a new identity.
Paul Henare's departure will also be sorely felt. Henare is a leader and battler and his presence was certainly missed.
That said, it is preseason and coach Andrej Lemanis has been at pains to point out it will take time for the new combinations to gel.
Give the Kings credit, too. The athletic Jerai Grant was a colossus in the paint, scoring a game-high 22 points.
Gary Wilkinson (16 points) and BJ Anthony (11 points) were the best for the Breakers.
The New Zealanders started well enough with Wilkinson and CJ Bruton drilling a three-pointers. The Kings, though, fought back throughJulian Khazzouh and Grant. The athletic pair combined for 10 points in the opening quarter.
The Kings kept hustling in the second period. Ratzsch hit a miracle three from top of key with the shot clock all but done, Cooper pulled a classy move on Cedric Jackson and got to the hoop for an easy basket, and Anatoly Bose was in everything for his team.
Yet the Breakers kept pace and only trailed by four at halftime. The gap, though, quickly ballooned to 10 points with the Kings emerging from the break with more resolve and the Breakers scoreless for 4min.
Thomas Abercrombie broke the dreadful sequence, floating through the air and lobbing the shot over outstretched arms.
Anthony displayed some nifty footwork, turning his opponent inside out, and drawing a foul while completing a classy lay-up - two highlights in an otherwise disappointing second half.
Earlier, the Wollongong Hawks beat the Cairns Taipans 57-55 and the Perth Wildcats beat the Melbourne Tigers 85-63.
The Breakers play the Cairns Taipansin Ipswich today.
ANBL pre-season
The scores
Sydney Kings ... 94
Jerai Grant 22, Kevin Ratzsch 14, Alex Gynes 13
New Zealand Breakers ... 74
Gary Wilkinson 16, BJ Anthony 11Quarter 25-20, halftime 48-44. third quarter 70-56
