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Coach Brian Goorjian has downplayed the impact of Lamonte Turner's axing from the Sydney Kings only hours before his would-be NBL debut.
Brian Goorjian insists the Sydney Kings have moved on from Lamonte Turner's abrupt axing and had never been relying on the would-be new recruit to hoist them to an NBL championship.
American guard Turner had been due to make his NBL debut against Melbourne United as a mid-season signing on Thursday night, only to have his contract torn up on game day after he failed a physical assessment.
Turner's pass-first approach had appeared the perfect fit for a Kings side accustomed to having star player and combo guard Jaylen Adams targeted by opposition defences.
The Kings will now need to rely on veteran guard Shaun Bruce to lighten the load on Adams as the post-season approaches, but coach Goorjian is unfazed.
"It was a bonus plan over here and was, I think, laid out pretty well to the team that it was just this little piece, hopefully. But you guys, in our group, nothing changes," he said after Thursday night's 90-88 loss.
"They (the team and Turner) never met, they never crossed paths. We moved on it quickly so it wouldn't affect the group.
"I know those guys weren't sitting around waiting for boy wonder to come in and take us to the promised land."
Goorjian said the Turner saga had not contributed to the Kings' loss on Thursday night, when United watched their 20-point lead evaporate in the fourth quarter as Sydney drew level.
Despite the best efforts of ex-NBA forward Xavier Cooks (21 points, 10 rebounds), the Kings rued allowing their guests to run out to a 32-16 lead at the first change.
"It had zero effect as far as I'm concerned," Goorjian said when asked whether Turner's axing played a part in the result.
Goorjian wants to see better communication between his players in Sunday's clash with lowly Cairns Taipans after the Kings gave up 11 turnovers in a clunky first half on Thursday night.
"We keep talking about communication," the coach said.
"The talk and what we're doing out there, it's been really difficult for the group. Tonight, there were lessons learned and you learn it the hard way."