Game Details
Round 11, Adelaide 36ers (7-8) v Tasmania JackJumpers (8-7)
7.30pm AEDT Monday 19 December @ Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Watch: ESPN via Kayo/Foxtel
Listen: Cluch Radio
Game context
Now that we are at the halfway point of the season every game is becoming critical, especially for teams looking to cement to spot in the top 6 and finals.
Both Tasmania (5th) and Adelaide (7th) fit that category, as they both look for momentum to propel tm for some NBL23 post season action.
Tasmania enter this game with some great form of the road, having picked up three straight wins against Melbourne United, Brisbane and Sydney. However that momentum wasn’t able to translate to their home court, as they went down to 91-82 Cairns on Saturday night. In that match they were held to just 10 points in the final quarter and struggled to execute on the offensive end for big stretches in the second half. Something that no doubt will be a focus for Scott Roth against Adelaide.
Adelaide had no such worries on Saturday night as they had a big 108-77 win over the Brisbane Bullets. This was a much needed win for the sixes who had lost their previous three games.
Adelaide Entertainment Centre will not hold any concerns for the JackJumpers, who knocked off the sixers in impressive fashion earlier in the season. Their 25 point win in October was orchestrated by Josh Magette, and will play a big part in how they fare in their second meeting.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe sixers played a lot of isolation ball in that heavy loss, but have significantly improved their team continuity since that first match. So expect a much tighter matchup.
A key matchup tonight will be how defensive specialist Antonius Cleveland plans to stoa Milton Doyle, who has emerged as one of the JackJumpers offensive weapons in recent weeks. Doyle is a proven finisher and influences the JackJumpers at both ends of the court, Adelaide will need to shut him down in a similar way Cairns managed late in their game on Saturday.
Stat facts
A key part of the JackJumpers win over Adelaide in October scoring 24 points off Adelaide’s 16 turnovers. The Sixers average 14.7 turnovers per game, 2nd most in the NBL. The Sixers will need take better care of the ball and stop giving Tasmania extra opportunities to score.
The JackJumpers have an overall 3-1 record over the sixes including winning both games at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
The JackJumpers get the line the least in the NBL with just 15.3 attempts per game this season but over the last three games they have slightly improved that to 17.3. However across those same games they have sent their opponents to the foul stripe 19.3 times per game.
Embed from Getty ImagesLineups
For the JackJumpers Jarred Bairstow has a sore ankle and will not play, DP Walter Brown takes his place. Bairstow joins Sam McDaniel and Matt Kenyon on the sidelines, both are still recovering from leg injuries.
For Adelaide, Daniel Johnson is their only concern heading into the game. He’ll be a game time decision. following a gastro illness that kept him out of the sixers win over Brisbane on Saturday night.
What has been said
Following their loss to Cairns, guard Jarred Weeks spoke about the their matchup with Adelaide.
“They’re obviously a very talented team, again they’ve got some athletes, so a little bit of similarities between them and Cairns.
We’re going to go in, we’re going to do some work, watch the tape, and come up with a game plan, try and execute.
After their win over the Brisbane Bullets on Saturday, Robert Franks spoke about the teams desire to improve and make the playoff.
“we underachieved the first half [of NBL23], our desire is to play in the post season, we just have to change out mentality. Today as a good start but we have to continue to get better.
NBL 22-23 Matchups
Their only meeting this season was on 13 October 2022 when Tasmania spoiled the Adelaide 36’ers home opener with a 25 point victory. The JackJumpers were led by player of the game Josh Magette who had 23 points, 7 assists and 4 steals.
Adelaide 36ers 72 defeated by Tasmania JackJumpers 97 – Boxscore
JackJumpers lead overall head to head matches against Adelaide 3-1
Credit – Original image in title courtesy of Andrew Owens via Wikipedia commons
