Most reasonable Sydney Kings fans and observers entered this season with low expectations of success. The team had a rushed off-season, limiting the amount of players that could be recruited to a team starting from absolute scratch. They also had the spectre of past financial mismanagement hanging over their heads -- meaning that excessive amounts could not be spent on building their roster. Add to these factors the rookie coach on the sidelines and the massive expectations that accompany Sydney sports teams, and you realise that it was never going to be an easy proposition running the Sydney Kings in season 2010-11.

Fast forward to now. Whilst the Kings were fortunate enough to match an unsettled Melbourne Tigers in their very first game, allowing them to snare their one and only victory of the season, unfortunately, they've endured 12 straight losses since then, culminating with Wednesday night's home loss to the Perth Wildcats. 

So, what are the Kings' main problems? These are the big ones that I see, having watched the team very closely this season.

The fans asked for it and they got it. Rodney Overby, aka Rodney O, aka The Voice of the Sydney Kings, will be back with the team as courtside announcer as of this Sunday's game against the Wollongong Hawks. 

Long known by many fans -- both casual and hardcore -- as the voice of the team, he has long been called for by many fans as the answer to boosting enthusiasm at the Kingdome. A public call went out for Rodney O's return in the media, after numerous verbal and facebook requests for him to be there with his famous chants of "Sydney, Sydney, Sydney", "D-Fence Sydney -- louder!" and "We like to call this Money Time."

Rodney O is Back at the Kingdome!

After repeated and sustained requests from fans and supporters, the Sydney Kings is pleased and excited to announce that the voice of the Sydney Kings – the ever-popular Rodney O, will be retuning to the Kingdome for their clash against the Wollongong Hawks, tomorrow night, Sunday December 12 at 6pm.

That’s right – RODNEY O IS BACK – and he will be doing what he does best – making some noise and encouraging the team and fans.

General Manager of the Sydney Kings, Bob Turner said that the Sydney Kings are back, Rodney O is back, now all the Kings need is to do is get a few more wins on the board, which he is confident will come with the introduction of the two new imports Trey Gilder and Patrick ‘The Colonel’ Sanders.

“The fans have been tireless in their efforts to get Rodney O back at the Kingdome and courtside. We listened, they wanted him, so we got him back,” Turner said.

“We are anticipating a lot of support for the team and of course, Rodney O when we play the Hawks at the Kingdome tomorrow afternoon. It will also be a great game to watch our two new imports – Patrick 'The Colonel' Sanders and Trey Gilder – our new Number 3, playing together for the first time,” he added.

Bob Turners also said thank you to everyone who had contacted the Sydney Kings and who responded to a recent media poll that overwhelmingly supported Rodney O’s return to the Kingdome and his unique courtside talents.

The Sydney Kings have acted decisively and promptly in replacing import Taj McCullough with the signing of 6'9" forward Trey Gilder. 

Gilder, formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks NBA Summer League teams, was selected to the 2010 NBA D-League All-Star Game. He appears to be long and highly athletic and will provide the assistance in the paint that star big man Julian Khazzouh has been lacking. 

The 25-year old is clearly still a young, developing product, which fits in line with most of the team and fellow import Patrick Sanders, who has impressed in his first week with the Kings. He looks like he'll be an excitement package -- just what the fans want to see.  [click through for video]

The NBL has announced that Townsville Crocodiles head coach Trevor Gleeson will face the NBL Tribunal over an incident that occurred in the second quarter of the team's Sunday night match against the Perth Wildcats. Gleeson made contact with a referee, which led to him being ejected from the game. 

Well, I was all ready to write an article about last night's Sydney Kings' loss to the New Zealand Breakers, including a renewed reference to the fact that Taj McCullough simply does not cut the mustard at the NBL level, when the Kings brass beat me to the punch. The Sydney Kings have just announced that McCullough has been released by the team, due to sub-par performance.

It has become more and more apparent that the import forward does not have the required skill-set -- or perhaps skill-level -- to make a positive difference for the Sydney Kings. The team, which is languishing at the bottom of the ladder, has had the opportunity to win a number of its games, if only they had more leadership and output from its import players.         [click through to read more]