Championship Series Game 1 Preview

GAME PREVIEW –

Melbourne United v Tasmania JackJumpers

Championship Series Game 1

Sunday 17 March, 4.00pm tip-off AEDT

John Cain Arena

Watch LIVE and FREE on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, 10Peach and 10Play

State of Play

The ultimate decider. 10 teams give their everything all season to compete for the NBL Championship and now just two remain.

It’s a match up made in (spectator) heaven. Two healthy squads who have had some epic battles over their journeys and line up very well against each other.

The Tasmania JackJumpers have had an outstanding run in their first three years in the NBL, and now have a chance to cap that work with an inaugural title when the Championship Series begins against Melbourne United on beginning on Sunday. 

Tasmania will need to stop the United juggernaut, undoubtedly the best team all season, not dropping two in a row and finishing as regular season champions.

If Tasmania’s shutting down of Perth’s outside shooting threats in the decisive game of its Playoff Series against the Wildcats is anything to go by, they could be the team that could relegate United to their first back-to-back losses in a row this season – and potentially take the title.

Last time they met  

HUNGRY JACKS NBL ROUND 16 -  JANUARY 19 2024

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 107 (Crawford 25, McVeigh 23, Drmic 16)
MELBOURNE UNITED 86 (Goulding 16, Clark 15, Hukporti 13)

The Tasmania JackJumpers heeded the call from their coach to rediscover their best basketball in the run to the NBL finals with a commanding 107-86 home win against the league-leading Melbourne United back in mid January.

The JackJumpers came into the game at a sold out MyState Bank Arena having lost their last two, four of the last five and six of the past eight despite remaining in third position.

Having re-signed during the week, Roth called on his team to rediscover their identity if they wanted to achieve anything still in NBL24.

United made a flying start to lead 11-1 after the opening three minutes of the contest with Ian Clark (15 points) and Chris Goulding (16) getting going.

Tasmania soon steadied and led 24-22 by quarter-time and then dominated the contest from there to win emphatically by 21 points.

SRT Logistics Coaches’ take

Head Coach Scott Roth said “Our guys have experience of being in these moments, we have eight or nine guys who have been in these moments, and I think it was hugely important coming in here and playing the right way. I thought we were on point in a lot of areas, and to say I’m proud of them would be an understatement".

Ins & outs 

Tasmania JackJumpers: TBC

Melbourne United: TBC

Opponents on the Radar

Matthew Dellavedova

Dellavedova was the linchpin for Melbourne over the course of the playoff series. He was named Foot Locker Player of the Game in the opener before he almost willed the side to a Game 2 win. His contributions to Wednesday’s win far exceeded his 11 points, six rebounds and five assists.