Game Details
Round Three – Melbourne United (2-1) vs Tasmania JackJumpers (2-3)
2PM AEDT Sunday 16 October 2022 @ John Cain Arena
Watch: 10Peach, 10Play, ESPN and Kayo
Listen: Cluch Radio
Game context
Both sides had been under pressure early in NBL23 for their underwhelming performances on court, but big wins on the road in round 3 have them respond to their critics in impressive fashion. Tasmania beating the highly fancied 36ers in Adelaide on Thursday. Then on Friday night United conquered one of the toughest road trips in Australian basketball by beating the Wildcats at RAC Arena.
For Melbourne, they are returning to John Cain Arena a week after being blown out by the Sydney Kings. The final score might of only been a 20 point differential, but it was the 57-23 halftime score that was the most disappointing for their home fans. United will be wanting to put on a much improved performance improved performance against the JackJumpers.
Embed from Getty ImagesLineups
Sam McDaniel is still not ready to return from a preseason rib injury, with his spot taken by Sean Macdonald. He’ll join Will Magnay (knee) and Clint Steindl (shin) on sidelines, who are both are eyeing a November return from thiri long term injuries.
For United, they will be missing Shea Ili who is still recovering from concussion, and Ariel Hukporti who is out for the season with an achilles injury.
What has been said
After their win in Adelaide, JackJumpers Scott Roth commented if there was any rivalry between Tasmania and Melbourne United based on last years playoffs.
“It was just a situation last year and how it ended. But I don’t think there’s a rivalry, I don’t think we’ve created one yet,” he said.
“We’re isolated in an area there, its not like South-East and Melbourne sitting next to each other there, that’s a rivalry to me, or Illawarra and Sydney. So we just defend the island and try to do the right thing by Tasmanians, it doesn’t matter who we play,” Scott Roth said.
Meanwhile, Melbourne United Coach Dean Vickerman commented on how his team responded with a win on Friday night in Perth.
“It’s pleasing to make a response, and that’s who we are and who we’ve been as a club over these last five or six years. If we’ve been poor we’ve come out and responded the right way,” Vickerman said.
“They’re team-building wins, we needed a win like that for this group to really believe. When we got down heavy last week we didn’t have a response.”
Recent meetings
The focus of the matchup will be on the last years semi final series, where Tasmania dramatically came from one game down to win the three-game series.
Game three in Melbourne in particular will be fresh in the minds of both teams. After the opening two games were won by the home team, Tasmania were given little chance to turn the tables and pull off an upset win on Melbourne’s home floor.
Embed from Getty ImagesA late withdrawal of Chris Goulding was a blow for the home team, but were confident Matthew Dellavedova, Jo Lual-Acuil, Yudai Buba and Jack White could get the job done.
Melbourne appeared in control for the first half, with Tasmania staying in touch due to some impressive baskets from Josh Adams. Adams had been well-held in the series so far, averaging 10.5 points across in the two games. But exploded for 30 points, and several huge three’s in the final quarter that propelled Tasmania into a very unexpected grand final in their debut season.