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SYDNEY, Australia -- They came to see former NBA superstar Andrew Bogut, but if Sydney Kings are to enjoy the same booming crowd support they did for their season opener across the remainder of the NBL season, it will be because of the Australian's double-act with American Jerome Randle. And because they are winning. For as any Sydneysider knows, a sporting franchise in the harbour city will only receive continued support if they win more than they lose. After Saturday afternoon's 94-83 loss to Adelaide 36ers, Bogut and the Kings are already chasing their tail. "I thought he rebounded the ball really well; I think, like anyone, there was a few nerves in there...I think he showed great leadership throughout the game," Kings coach Andrew Gaze said of Bogut's NBL debut. "He along with everyone would look at his own performance to say there were a few breakdowns there, a few missed opportunities, and realised that we've got a lot more to give and he's got a lot more to give individually and we've got a lot more to give as a team. And we need to find that really quick...because this is a really, really tough league and he is a big part of what we're going to do and how we stay together and remain positive and keep heading in the right direction.  Qudos Bank Arena was a buzz before tip-off in the Kings' season opener as a near six-month waiting period since Bogut's unveiling as the NBL's biggest ever signing at last came to an end. As a purple and gold haze drifted into the former Olympic enclave stadium, you could sense the energy and anticipation. Bogut's pre-match introduction was met with one of the biggest roars of the afternoon, one only exceeded by the big man's block that set up the Kings' opening points; albeit after he'd missed a lay-up and hook shot himself which would have really set the fans alight. But the former Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers centre soon settled and quickly stamped his defensive presence on the match as he finished with six defensive rebounds inside the first quarter. As Bogut began to pick off boards, Randle took charge in attack. The 175cm guard showed off his full range of passes, mixing that with darting drives to the basket for seven first-quarter points. But the Kings were largely shooting poorly as the 36ers took a two-point lead into the second quarter. That trend continued as Bogut sat for the first three minutes of the second stanza. Still, Randle continued to flash his full range of skills; a mid-ranger jumper following a perfect screen from Bogut upon his re-entry helped the Kings reduce what had become a nine-point 36ers lead. The American then cut through the heart of the visitors' defence to free up countryman Brian Bowen who dropped a clutch three-pointer just before the main break. It was Bogut who turned provider upon the resumption, though, as he fired a bullet pass to veteran Brad Newley who promptly drained a three-pointer for the Kings' first lead of the afternoon. But the hosts' lead didn't last long as the 36ers again skipped clear, before a superb driving lay-up and a sublime floater from Randle drew the Kings level. With three fouls to his name, Bogut sat for much of the third quarter. But the Kings continued to work in his absence and on the back of a late three-pointer from Daniel Kickert, and some now-wayward Adelaide shooting, the hosts took a three-point lead to the final change. The man the 10,761-strong crowd had come to see was finally back in the game a minute into the final quarter and it wasn't long before he gave the partisan support base a glimpse of the skills that made him a household name in the NBA. That came in the form of a brilliant bounce pass that put Kevin Lisch on a path to the hoop, the Kings skipper's two points standing after a goal tend was ruled against the 36ers. But the best was yet to come. With Lisch turning provider, Bogut dropped in a delicate alley-oop before he was at it again in defence, this time dishing out a ferocious block on 36ers guard Majok Deng. Shaking his head in arrogance, this was Bogut's "this is my house" statement. With that, the momentum seemed to have shifted the Kings' way only for Adelaide to go on a 7-0 run to set up a grandstand finish. It didn't eventuate, though, as a Jacob Wiley alley-oop and a Nathan Sobey jumper took the 36ers out to a an eight-point lead with just over two minutes to play. And while he'd given more than enough to wow the supporters, Bogut's final action was an offensive error that saw him foul out of the contest. The 36ers finished with a 30-point final quarter to run out 94-83 winners and can head home proud of their efforts on what would have been arguably the toughest night to face Sydney since their return to the NBL seven years ago. The Kings, meanwhile, must understand their Bogut glow is now on the clock. The Aussie great can only do so much and his big-name factor will soon lose its lust at home. But in Randle they have a pint-sized playmaker who can dominate the floor, and bring the crowd to its feet at the same time. "I think Jerome made some spectacular plays, but if he has to make that level of play - we want him to do that and he has the capacity to do that - but to do that over the length of the season every single game, we have to find a way to make it easier for him," Gaze said of Randle's afternoon. "The ball was in his hands a lot and again it's about finding that balance of him with the ball and without the ball. In hindsight, I probably played him a bit too long tonight; he might have had a few more legs for us in that last quarter. That's one of the regrets I have of not finding a few more minutes [rest] for him, but he was cooking for us. "We'd fallen into this game style where we were relying on that brilliance, we went all in on that and it didn't work. And it was a mistake, and I take responsibility for that...the coach can wear a fair bit of responsibility for today's game." The Kings, Gaze and Bogut himself have gone all-in on this season and were rewarded first time out with the third biggest home crowd in the franchise's history. They came to see Bogut and for some, Randle's brilliance will be enough to return, perhaps, multiple times throughout the season. But if the Kings are to regularly rock to the beat of a bouncing Qudos Bank Arena like they did Saturday afternoon the wins will have to flow. After missing out against the 36ers, Gaze has a fortnight, and two games on the road, to sort his side before Bogut, Randle and the rest of the Kings' guard return to home court.
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