Following their upset victory over Melbourne United, Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth was impressed by the “breakout game” from import MiKyle McIntosh.
McIntosh’s 16 points was a season high, to go with four rebounds, a steal, a block, and a team high +/- rating of +17. But despite his great game, McIntosh admitted he has struggled on court so far in NBL 22 with the JackJumpers.
In a somewhat refreshing discussion for post game press conference, MiKyle McIntosh openly discussed his on-court challenges with Scott Roth.
“You always hear chatters of people saying things, or people online commenting on things and stuff. But at the same time you’re a professional athlete, it comes with it,” MiKyle McIntosh said.
“Some people don’t like the way you’re playing. I mean out of all the people who didn’t like how I was playing was myself. I’m was hard on myself. So I did hear some of it, I try not to listen to it, I try not to focus on that, because I’ve got to focus on my own process.
“But people have the right to feel how they feel, but I know what I can bring and that’s why I work every day and practice to be that player. So it’s about translating that to the game every single day, it’s about consistency.
Embed from Getty ImagesRoth on what he wants from McIntosh
Scott Roth explained that he has set very high standards for MiKyle and all his players in their JackJumpers first season
“I’ve driven him very, very hard, because I have high expectations for him. I think he’s ultra-talented at the things he does, that’s maybe a bit unique in the league and it’s been a grind for him,“ Scott Roth said.
“I’m sure he’ll admit that it’s not gone smoothly as he’d like but he had a breakout game today at a perfect time on the road and put things together and you know thats what I expect from him on a nightly basis.
“It doesn’t have to be with scoring it just has to be with the intent to attack and be cerebral in play and facilitate the ball, and use his great size and speed to defend people so I’m really happy for him, he definitely earned it tonight.”
MiKyle is currently playing 15 a game minutes off the bench for the JackJumpers. He is averaging 5.8 points 3.3 rebounds a game so, while shooting at 29% from the field. His numbers are down on his previous season with ESSM Le Portel in France, where he averaged 12 points and 4 rebounds shooting at 42%.
Embed from Getty ImagesMcIntosh setting high expectations of himself
The dipping numbers aren’t a big issue to Roth. The undersized JackJumpers are looking to McIintosh to bring his size and strength to the court. They want him to be constant threat down low in the post, setting solid screens, blocking out, and generally making life hard for the opposition by throwing his body around.
“I have a different standard for myself to come out here and play as hard as possible. Last game I had a couple of steals, and different things like that, as coach was saying it doesn’t have to be points,” MiKyle McIintosh said.
“I just have to go out here and do my role, whatever I can to help us, either keep this run going or just get a win on a nightly basis one-by-one, my standard is to be the best player I want to be.
“I’ve been struggling, like coach said, from the beginning and it was nice to have a win and a good game at the same time, after all the work that we put in as a team and how hard I felt i’ve been working as well.
“It was just the process of always doing the same stuff every single day, consistency, and I felt I was doing that but it wasn’t translating to the game and you gotta keep going, gotta keep going and keep having confidence in yourself and letting the stuff you do in practice come to the game.”
