Sydney Kings coach Andrew Gaze wants his team to rebound by committee and lighten the load on his newly minted NBL MVP Andrew Bogut, heading into the semi-final series against Melbourne United.
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Former NBA centre Bogut led the league in rebounds during the regular season averaging 11.7 boards a game.
Melbourne have two of the leagues' other top five rebounders in Josh Boone (8.4, fourth), and DJ Kennedy (7.3, fifth), while Sydney's next best after Bogut is Brad Newley (4.6, 22nd).
"We've got to get on the glass by committee and that includes our guards," Gaze said ahead of Thursday's series opener in Melbourne.
"We've got to make sure that that everyone is in there chipping in. Boges is going to do his thing and he's going to be the dominant presence in that particular department, but he needs help."
Kings guard Kevin Lisch said it was important Sydney's backcourt players cleaned up the rebounds that went to ground.
"He (Bogut) is going to get his 12 to 14 boards a game but as a team we need at least 40, so there's a lot out there still," Lisch said.
Gaze said guard Jerome Randle, who missed Sydney's last regular season game, with a glute issue, had looked good in practice over the last couple of days.
"He's been working out with our physio's and getting some extra conditioning stuff going, because he missed a couple of weeks and it doesn't sound like much, but your rhythm, your timing those things can start to come into question," Gaze said.
Melbourne won their first three clashes of the season, but Sydney ended their drought against United with a 97-85 home victory in their most recent encounter.
Gaze described both teams as "world class" and said the series would be enhanced by the Sydney-Melbourne rivalry.
He pointed to Sydney's 9-5 away record this season and welcomed rather than feared the hostile reception his team could expect in Melbourne.
"Virtually every stadium we've played in this year has been full and been very aggressive in trying to show support for the home team, so I don't believe we will see anything different," Gaze said.
"I think with the experienced guys that we have on our team, we're not going to get intimidated by that environment, we embrace it, we love it."
Australian Associated Press
