Championship Series Game 2 Preview

GAME PREVIEW –

Tasmania JackJumpers V Melbourne United

Championship Series Game 2

Friday 22 March, 7.30pm tip-off AEDT

MyState Bank Arena

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

State of Play

 Melbourne is one up after a dominant display in Game 1, but it’s a whole new ball game as the series travels to MyState Bank Arena and arguably the most passionate fans in the League.

It’s likely to become a battle of the big men at MSBA and while both Lee and Ariel Hukporti will have crucial roles in determining the result of the interior matchup in this game, the main card is undoubtedly the impending physical battle between Magnay and Lual-Acuil Jr – and the main question hinges on both of their abilities to stay out of foul trouble.

Magnay being able to stay on the floor is going to be absolutely crucial to Tasmania’s hopes of stopped JLA if he begins to run rampant again, and we saw how the talented big can be slowed as recently as against Illawarra in the recent Playoff Series.

In Game 1, Magnay was still effective when he managed to be on the floor – he ended the game with 10 points and five rebounds in 13 minutes – but his absence cost the JackJumpers dearly.

United was the more efficient of the two from the line on the night of Game 1 and connected with 60 per cent of its looks, but has been the worst free throw shooting team across the NBL this season.

Last time they met  

HUNGRY JACKS NBL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAME 1 – 17 MARCH

MELBOURNE UNITED 104  (Goulding 22, Lual-Acuil Jr 20, Dellavedova 11)

TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS 81 (Drmic 19, Doyle 16, McVeigh 13)

Melbourne United gained an early edge in the Championship Series, claiming Game 1.

Chris Goulding and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr starred as Melbourne United drew first blood in the best-of-five NBL Championship Series with a 104-81 thumping of the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Veteran shooter Goulding nailed 6-of-10 three-point attempts on his way to a game-high 22 points - his best tally in two months - at John Cain Arena on Sunday.

In-form centre Lual-Acuil got the better of tough opponent Will Magnay in a key battle and posted a double-double, with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Melbourne were also well served by experienced leader Matthew Dellavedova (11 points, six assists), while Ian Clark posted 18 points off the bench and Luke Travers had nine points and four blocks.

SRT Logistics Coaches’ take

Assistant Coach Jack Fleming “We usually get back in defense and transition really well and we usually finished pretty well, so we need to get back to those strengths that we hang our hat on, coming into Friday night and those are things we've done before so we have good confidence in making those changes.

“There'll be some subtle changes in terms of the matchups and lineups but also the very basic things we need to fix first. Scoreboard might look dramatic but for us it’s nothing major that needs to change. We learnt a bit and got smacked around particlaurly in tat second half but being on home floor is a different story.

“United have been unbelievable all year long so we're looking forward to having that extra defender out there for us on Friday night and hopefully putting on a great performance of Jackies basketball”.

Ins & outs 

Tasmania JackJumpers: TBC

Melbourne United: TBC

Opponents on the Radar

Chris Goulding
Chris Goulding accounted for over a third of Melbourne’s total three-point attempts in their Game 1 win on Sunday night, but if Matthew Dellavedova's words are a guide, United want their sharpshooting captain to account for even more of their shots from range over the rest of the series.