Game Preview – Phoenix vs JackJumpers – 10 February

After back-to-back wins in Round 18 the Tasmania JackJumpers are back on the road to face the bottom placed South East Melbourne Phoenix, a team they are yet to beat in NBL24

Tasmania JackJumpers (14-12) vs South East Melbourne Phoenix (10-16)
When: Saturday, February 10th, 5.30pm AEDT
Where: John Cain Arena
TV: ESPN, Kayo

After searching fo consistency from his squad through the second half of the season, Scott Roth appears to have his team firing at the right time following big wins against Cairns and Adelaide last weekend.

With only 2 games remaining in the regular season and a spot in the playoffs all but assured, Roth will want the team to continue its good form and finish off the regular season with some winning momentum.

But they play an somewhat awkward opponent in an undermanned Phoenix, who have lost 7 of their last 8 games. The Phoenix will be missing four their regular starters in Mitch Creek (heel), Gary Browne (groin), Alan Williams (knee), Craig Moller (knee) as well as emerging talent Owen Foxwell (ankle). But Tasmania know from experience not to downplay this Phoenix side, having found out first hand in a shock home loss on Christmas day. But with their play-off hopes all but over, the phoenix would d love nothing more to disrupt the post season plans for Tasmania and Sydney in thier final two games.

“Whenever you’re playing a team that has noting to lose its always a danger game, but we’ll stick with our processes and try and continue to improve on the Adelaide and the Cairns games when we stick with what we do and focus on ourselves that puts us in a good spot,” JackJumpers Assistant Coach Jack Fleming.

Matchups NBL24

The Phoenix are the only side Tasmania hasn’t tasted success against in NBL24. They two sides played out a high-level contest in Round 5 in Melbourne, with the home prevailing 86-85 when Majok Deng wasn’t able to convert a pair of free throws in the final seconds of the game. Jorodn Croward had a then season high 27 points and 6 assists, while Jack Mcveigh (17 points) and Milton Doyle (12 points) also scored in dobule figures. While Gary Brown (20 points0 was one of 5 Phoenix plauyers to hit dobule figures.

Their rematch on Christmas Day was build as a David vs Goliath Battle. Phoenix had just parted ways with Will Cummings and introducing Gary Nader to the squad, Mitch Creek was missing through injury while Alan Williams was hobbling down the court and played with a knee injury. Tasmania struggled to connect from anywhere, shooting 39% from the field and 27% from outside. The Phoenix did not fair much better with a 33% field goal, but won the game from the foul line. They shot 27-29 to come from behind in the final quarter to spoil Christmas for the JackJumper faithful, winning 85-77.

Keeping Phoenix off the foul line

Having led the lead in free throws attempted per game for the majority of NBL24, the the Phoenix have dropped back to third place following the season ending injuries to Alan Williams and several game by Mitch Creek. But they still average 24.8 free throw per game, which is well ahead of the JackJumpers in last place at position at 18.3 .

In thier two catchups this season, free throws have been a fact. With Phoenix is clearly leading this stat averaging 21 made free throws from 25 attempts against Tasmania, with the JackJumpers lagging in 11 made from 16 attempts.

Despite Creek and Williams missing from today’s game, who get to the line most out of the Phoenix, there will be a big effort from Tasmania to keep them off the line.

Late season offence for JackJumpers

The JackJumpers have seen a surge in their offensive efficiency in recent weeks, scoring at an average of 101 points in the last 5 games, well above thier season average of 91.7.

A lot of this can attributed to Milton Doyle, who has come back into form for the JackJumpers and averaging 17.6 points 5.3 rebounds and 7 assists across his last 3 games.

The bad news for Phoenix is they are not a strong defensive team, leading the NBL by giving up 95.7 points per game. But they will take comfort in Tasmania has only scored 86 and 77 on them so far this season, so they do match up quite well with them…..but that was when they had a few more troops on the bench.

For the record Tasmania gives up a NBL low 86.1ppg.