After a short two-game home stand the Tasmania are back on the road for two games, starting with a match against the New Zealand Breakers in Auckland.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen: Friday, January 26th, 5.30pm AEDT
Where: North Shore Events Centre, Auckland
TV: ESPN
The JackJumpers (12-11) are coming off a big 107-86 win over Melbourne United last round, to help get their season back on track. Prior to that game the team had lost 4 of thier last 5 games. There had been a focus on Tasmania’s inability to close out out time games, which culminated in a double overtime home loss to the Illawarra Hawks.
The Breakers recent form is somewhat similar to Tasmania, in that they are coming off a much need 31 point win over South East Melbourne Phoenix, following a couple of an agonising one point loss United and being blown out by 29 in Sydney. But with just 7 games remaining in the NBL regular season campaign, they are needing every win on the run home as they sit outside the play-in, sitting in 8th place (9-12).
NBL24 matchups
These two teams last played in a new years day in Hobart, with the home team giving up a 5 point lead in the final two minutes to go down 93-98, with Parker Jackson Cartwright leading the scoring with 27.
That match follows the trend of the previous two games, with the away team picking up the win. With the JackJumpers picking up their first ever win in NZ 97-80 in Round 10, while Anthony Lamb put on an offensive clinic in Launceston in Round 8, leading the Breakers to a 97-92 win.
Embed from Getty ImagesLets get physical
Both teams are traditionally defensive-minded teams, and with that comes a lot of physicality. This was highlighted by the X amount of free throws the breakers had in thier win against Tasmania. JackJumpers forward Jack McVeigh is expecting no different this weekend.
“Anytime you play a team four times in a year its going be a a lot. But I think they make us better and we make them better. Its going to be a typical new Zealand versus JackJumpers game – physical, fun and ther’s a lo of offensive firepower flying around this year so its going to be great game,” McVeigh said.
Return to North Shore
Usually playing the majority of the games at Spark Arena, the Breakers have moved this game across town to the North Shore Events Centre. This unmistakable dark brown floors of North Shore will be familiar to any NBL fans from the mid 2000s as this was the home for the main court for the breakers in their first 15 seasons, and will forever be the spiritual home of the Breakers
It is their first game back there in 6 years, with Breaker Captain Tom Abercrombie playing 86 of his 400+ games at the venue.
“They’ve upgraded the floor since last time we were here, we don’t have the poo-brown on the TV to look at, which is good.,” Abercrombie said to Newshub.
“You don’t get as many people as Spark, but everyone’s packed in a little closer. There’s a bit more of a buzz about it, it’s a fun environment to play in and, having been here as kid to watch games, it’s a fun environment to watch too.