Roth looks forward to Ayre return, Launceston

He might not have got the three wins he hoped, but Scott Roth was glad to get through three games in six days as the Tasmania JackJumpers regroup while on top of the NBL ahead of a trip to Launceston and Ben Ayre nearing a return.

Having played just four games in the previous 23 days, the schedule for the JackJumpers racked up with three games at MyState Bank Arena in six days.

That started with a loss to the Adelaide 36ers on the Friday night before the JackJumpers hit back to beat the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday.

They then completed the run of three games beating the Brisbane Bullets 106-85 last Wednesday night which saw them get through that stretch with a 6-2 record and remaining in top spot of the NBL.

Now the JackJumpers have until Friday night when they play the defending champion Sydney Kings this Friday night at the Silverdome in Launceston before another swift turnaround to then playing the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Melbourne on Sunday.

Coach Roth was glad to get through that stretch with the JackJumpers and take stock ahead of the trip to Launceston.

"The big picture for us was the three games in six days," Roth said.

"That's what we were trying to solve and be competitive in all three games, and have chances to win in all three games, and stay healthy and the whole nine yards. I gave these guys a lot of credit and I'm not overly happy that we lost one here at home, but we showed up and competed all three nights, which is great.

"I don't care where you play in the world; you play three games in six days, it's a difficult road. We were pretty much on point with recovering, doing the video work we needed to get done to come in and play. So that point for me was the biggest takeaway out of here."

Aside from the win-loss record that the JackJumpers have in the Silverdome in Launceston over the journey, Roth likes everything about getting up to the north of Tasmania and making sure the team and club represent the entire start.

So he's looking forward to the first chance to play in Launceston this Friday night against the Kings and for that to also lead into a first Jewels game at the Silverdome on Saturday when they host the Sydney Flames in a WNBL match up.

"I love it and obviously love this state to death, and I'm probably one of the weird ones, but I love to drive through the midlands and everything through there," Roth said.

"So to be up in Launceston, I love just the whole north and northwest of being up there, and our players do a really good job with the community up there. It is a must for us to make sure that we are defending the island for everybody across the state.

"I saw it about a day or two before I left to go home, and so I saw the general makeup of what they were doing over there. Then I think Trent was just up there and I got a few photos sent to me from him.

"So any of the improvements in there are going to be really important to just basketball in general but I think that area needs some refreshing just in general too.

"Not just for us, but the Jewels being in there and the lounge has been upgraded in there, which is a huge thing just for the city in general to have another place to participate with meetings and whatever needs to happen. So, I'm very excited to go see what it looks like."

All things going well and the JackJumpers should receive a boost in the back court for the game in Launceston against the Kings as well with Ben Ayre on track to be available.

The important point guard will play a key role in offering support to Taran Armstrong in the back court and adds another ball handler, shooter and scorer, and provides plenty of leadership and voice so Roth is looking forward to his return.

"We're hoping that this break was what we were kind of aiming for with him all along, so that he would have some more time on the floor with more of our starters than these other games, the small-sided games he's been playing in practice," Roth said.

"Our hope is that he's ready for Sydney and that's kind of what we're driving towards. And he's ready to go. He just needs some more reps on the floor and knock on wood, everything goes well for the week with him."

While things can obviously change quickly, with Ayre on track to return and Majok Deng also not too far away, things are looking better on a personnel front for the JackJumpers.

That's an ominous sign for the rest of the NBL given they already sit in top spot and Bryce Hamilton is also on track to be available in the back end of the season too, but Roth has always seen any availability from him in NBL27 as a bonus and not something to be relied on.

"I'd be a little bit happier like a lot of the coaches in the league to have some of our players more available than they are," Roth said.

"And I think Ben Ayre will be a huge person to get back on the floor for us and alleviate some minutes with Taryn on the floor, and someone that's steady and has been in the league for a while. So he's a big miss for us at this point.

"Biwali and Stoddy have been trying to gobble up a few of those minutes to get Taryn some rest without moving DJ over there but he's a big one for us. And then obviously at some point, hopefully next month, in the middle of next month, Majok comes back and that will again free up some minutes for a lot of other guys if we're able to maintain what we're doing.

"This team was built with the idea of not having Bryce Hamilton really on the roster. It was all built by if he's available, it's going to be a great deal for us, and if he wasn't, this is what the roster was going to look like and we were quite pleased with who we had brought in. Bryce is tracking very, very well so we'll see how he goes but for right now, we get a little rest and are right back at it."