Andrew Gaze wants proof his Sydney Kings have NBL play-off credentials and hopes he'll see it against their bogey team, Melbourne United.
Veteran coach Gaze wants his side to stop relying on the individual skill of stars such as centre Andrew Bogut and start gelling if they're to make the post-season.
The Kings' three-game winning run will be put to a stern test by the defending champions in Melbourne on Monday.
Not only have second-placed Melbourne United won their last seven clashes the average margin in last year's four-game sweep was 21 points.
That sort of all-round authority is what Gaze and his team aspire to, but they think it's some way off yet.
"We look at ourselves and say 'we have got a long way to go to consider ourselves a play-off team'," Gaze said.
"Too many times we have just relied on really good skill and we haven't balanced that with what we need to get out of our system."
Gaze said it's too simplistic to compare Bogut with influential Melbourne centre Josh Boone, who is producing the sort of rebound and block numbers that aren't far off those of the 2015 NBA champion.
However, Gaze said Bogut has introduced a selfless passing game which sets him apart from most centres and makes his value almost intangible.
While the battle under the hoop shapes as critical, the ball-handlers will also have a big say.
Melbourne's hopes may hinge on the fitness of guard Chris Goulding, whose knee injury could deny the hosts a chance of fielding their title-winning backcourt, in conjunction with Casper Ware.
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