The Tasmania JackJumpers will be hoping for an early Christmas present as they aim for first road win in round 3.
They take on the Perth Wildcats on Sunday afternoon followed by a visiting the Kings in Sydney on Wednesday.
Both opponents are in the discussion as potential NBL finalists, so the matches will test where the JackJumpers are at this season.
Defensively the JackJumpers have been one of the best in the competition averaging 73.3 points against them while forcing 18.6 turnovers per game. But converting that defense into offence that has been the JackJumpers challenge.
Through their three games in NBL22 the JackJumpers are shooting at 37% from the field including 22% from outside. The outside shooting in particular needs to lift as that accounts for 43% of their total shots.
The team has plenty of strong shooters, but Scott Roth will be hoping to create better quality shots.
Will Magnay in particular will be keen to bounce back after a couple of quiet games last week. The JackJumpers confirmed he is still working his way back to full fitness after missing a component of the preseason training following foot surgery.
JackJumpers (1-2) vs Wildcats (2-1) @ Perth Arena Sunday 19 December 5.30pm (AEDT)
This is a game we highlighted as one of our top 5 games for Tasmania this season when the schedule was released. The JackJumpers head out of Hobart on Friday afternoon and will be heavily restricted by COVID protocols while in WA.
Perth are coming off a shock overtime home loss against Brisbane last week. They will play the Bullets again this Friday night before taking on the JackJumpers on Sunday.
This is the Wildcats last of a 5 game homestand. They’ll then embark on a 40 day roadtrip that will see them locked out Western Australia until the border reopens February 5.
Their only matchup to date was the pre-season Blitz in Ulverstone. Which saw the Wilcats easily accounted for the JackJumpers to the tune of 30 points. But the atmosphere will be next level at with the Perth Arena crowd, which has been a fortress for the Wildcats in recent years.
Keys for the JackJumpers will be to improve their shooting, particularly from outside. But maintaining thier defensive pressure to stop the import duo of Bryce Cotton and Vic Law. Both already this season have shown how they can single handedly impact a game to get Perth over the line – Cotton 31 points vs Cairns, Law 37 points vs Adelaide.
The JackJumpers will also be contending with Michael Frazier, the Wildcats import will be making his debut on Friday night against the bullets.
The match will be a homecoming of sorts JackJumpers Clint Steindl, Will Magnay, Jarred Bairstow, Scott Roth and Jacob Chance. All of who made the jump from the west to the south this season.
Although a debut trip to “the Jungle” seems daunting, the JackJumpers should have confidence from Brisbane winning there last week. In addition, earlier this season Cairns and Adelaide on the road were both sticking with the Wildcats on the scoreboard until periods in the second half when Cotton or Law took over the game. If they can limit their impact on the game, they may have a chance to sneak out with a win.
JackJumpers (1-2) v Kings (1-2) @ Qudos Bank Arena Wednesday 23 December 7.30pm (AEDT)
The JackJumpers will go direct from Perth to Sydney on Tuesday for game two of the road trip. The Kings had ;looked promising in their first game with a win against Melbourne. But suffered a close loss to the Illawarra and then a humiliating 42 point loss to Melbourne.
The Kings are yet to have a full squad available far this season but are welcoming back DJ Vasiljevic from injury this round. They are still awaiting the return Jaylen Adams who is still sidelined with an ankle injury, and sharp-shooting two-man RJ Hunter. Both are an outside chance to return for the JackJumpers.
The Kings play the undefeated South East Melbourne Saturday night before they take on the JackJumpers. A loss to the Phoenix could see the Kings 1-3 and suddenly makes the Tasmania match critical to get their season back on track. But the vulnerable Kings could spell an opportunity for the JackJumpers.
The Kings lost the opening quarter to Melbourne 34-5 earlier this round. The JackJumpers this season have started off games strong, opening up a lead early in this game could go a long way to securing an historic away win for Tasmania.