Rd 7: Tasmania JackJumpers v New Zealand Breakers

Rd 8 –Tasmania JackJumpers v New Zealand Breakers   

Friday 18^th November - 7.30pm AEDT

Doors open – External 6.00/Internal 6.30pm AEDT

Launceston Silverdome (SOLD OUT)

Watch LIVE on ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel

State of Play

The JackJumpers come out of the FIBA break 5-5 from the first 10 games of the season, sitting at 5^th on the NBL ladder, while the Breakers have been one of the in-form teams in the first third of NBL23 and currently hold 2^nd spot in the standings.

A number of players across both teams represented their respective countries in the World Cup Qualifying games during the FIBA window, but both teams will be eager to get back on the floor and regroup.

Prior to the break both sides experienced a loss, the JackJumpers going down to the Bullets by 2 points and the Breakers went down to the Kings at home.

Last time they met  

Round 5: New Zealand 94 def Tasmania JackJumpers 62

The Breakers have had the mantle of over the JackJumpers in both meetings so far this season. In Round 5, New Zealand owned their home floor and put on a defensive masterclass.

In round 5, they held the JackJumpers to just 25 points in the first half and 62 for the game while limiting them to shooting 33 per cent from the field and 25 per cent from deep along with causing 14 turnovers.

On top of the defensive master class, New Zealand piled on 61 second half points with Barry Brown again leading the charge with 24 points on 9/11 shooting from the field and 4/5 from beyond the arc.

For the JackJumpers, Milton Doyle was a virtual lone hand offensively for Tasmania with 22 points and six rebounds.

Jack McVeigh added 11 points and three rebounds, Josh Magette seven points and five boards, and Rashard Kelly six points and seven rebounds.

Back on their home floor, the JackJumpers will use the full backing of the Launceston crowd to try and get their first win against the breakers this season.

SRT Coaches’ take

Associate Head Coach Jacob Chance said “I’ve learnt that my scout hasn’t been that good on them, I’m 0-2 against them this year. They’re a really good team, they had a tough one against Sydney but the back end of that they figured it out. I still think they’re the best team in the competition at the moment, their physicality is off the charts. We’ve tried to replicate that [in practice] but we’ll it’s more the mental preparation for what we’re looking for, and the solutions for those scenarios”.

Ins & outs 

IN: Clint Steindl and Will Magnay will return for the first time this season.

OUT: Milton Doyle, Jarrad Weeks & Matt Kenyon will miss the game with respective leg injuries. 

Opponents on the Radar 

Dererk Pardon was the rock defensively last time the sides played, finishing with 15 points and 14 rebounds while Will McDowell-White running the point had 13 points and seven assists.