Basketball On The Internet.

SYDNEY Kings teammates, coaching staff, management, ownership and fans last night had every reason to ask 'where the hell has this guy been all season?' as Cam Oliver showed up to play, albeit too late and against an Adelaide 36ers team bound for the next round of NBL playoff action.

Oliver, pitted for much of the night against Sixers strongman Montrezl Harrell, finished the knock-out contest with 19 points at 50 per cent, a game-high 12 rebounds, three assists, a steal and three blocks in easily his most complete performance of the season.

In fact if he played the season the way he played Adelaide, no doubt the Kings would have won more games, possibly already be waiting in the semi finals and looking the championship contender so many predicted preseason.

Instead they are no better off than last year, going out in the 5v6 elimination contest just as they did under much-maligned Mahmoud Abdellfatah.

For that matter though, before 36ers fans get too carried away with the 95-88 elimination win, their team finished the regular season on 13-16 this year - which was one win more than the 12-16 and ninth place delivered last year in a season with one less match.

Not really what you'd call a massive improvement, given the tumultous off-season and monies spent.

No question they were impressive in packing off Sydney and every inch the team many said pre-playoffs no-one would want to face. To Sydney's depleted credit, it made much more of a game of it than many expected or predicted.

On a night when it seemed inevitable its wayward imports Oliver and Jaylen Adams would simply "phone it in", they played with a purpose and commitment so often absent this season.

Adams delivered a match-high 30 points at 56 per cent and went close to a triple-double, albeit with 10 assists and a whopping nine turnovers as 7,321 Kings fans made it out to Qudos Bank Arena to witness the erasure of their hopes and dreams.

Kings championship-winner Dejan Vasiljevic largely was the architect of his former club's demise, his 25 points including 7-of-11 threes for Adelaide.

Harrell tickled a triple-double with 18 points at 63 per cent, eight boards, seven assists, sending Kings fans into another off-season of introspection and head-scratching with a wave and kisses.

Making some amazing baskets, MVP runner-up Kendric Davis - did one so-called "journalist" in Sydney actually write the 36ers should cut him early in the season? - compiled 24 points, five boards, six assists and two steals, five turnovers his only real blemish.

Having reduced its playing rotation to eight - starters Davis, Vasiljevic, Lat Mayen, Harrell and Isaac Humphries, with Jarell Martin, Sunday Dech and Jason Cadee providing the bench input - Adelaide looked a team on a mission.

From what at times this season looked a "Mission Impossible" for the 36ers, it was "mission accomplished" in Sydney.

South East Melbourne awaits on Sunday in Melbourne after its 3v4 road loss to Perth, the Wildcats on to the semi finals against Melbourne United.

Coincidence they too are looking good now with the main rotation reduced to eight?

YEP: Score one for the dinosaurs.