For the Tasmania JackJumpers, those three words aren’t just a slogan. It’s their heartbeat. Their identity.
For coach Scott Roth, meanwhile, those three words are his “everything”. His “driving force”.
From the moment Roth was appointed as the franchise’s inaugural head coach to when he took the Jackies to an unlikely Championship Series berth in their first year in the NBL, Roth has embraced the people of Tasmania and they have reciprocated.
First, they were the feel-good story of the NBL. But feeling good only lasts so long. Feeling content with exceeding expectations wears thin after a while.
Now that the JackJumpers are back here again, three wins away from a first-ever NBL title, they are determined to defend the island once more.
And few people are more determined than Roth. Not because it will change his life.
“But it will change 500,000 peoples’ lives if we can bring something like that back into the state,” the American said after Tasmania’s 100-84 win over Perth to book a spot in this year’s Championship Series.
Roth and the JackJumpers have already brought plenty to Tasmania and the proof is in the way the state has rallied around the NBL’s newest expansion team, with their allocation of memberships for the 2022-23 season selling out in just 26 minutes.
For the third season in a row, meanwhile, the JackJumpers sold out every single home game.
Tasmania has got around the JackJumpers. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“It has been an extraordinary story,” Australian basketball great Andrew Gaze said on ESPN’s ‘The Jump’.
“And [with] Scott Roth you could see and hear the emotion at the end of that series win. It was just heartwarming to see a coach so invested in his team.”
Not just invested in the team but invested in what the team represents or, perhaps more accurately, who they represent.
“My driving force is to bring something back into Tasmania and win a championship to allow these people to celebrate the moment,” Roth said after last week’s series win over the Wildcats.
“People like to step onto Tasmania with whatever they want to say about us and not give us the respect we deserve. The people down there are hardworking, loving families who really just want the best for whatever’s going on in the state.”
Despite their rousing success since entering the league, the JackJumpers will again be underdogs once more when they take on the NBL’s most consistent team — Melbourne United — in this year’s Championship Series.
The JackJumpers are eyeing their first NBL title. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
It is a position they know all too well, having been doubted from their very inception.
Will Magnay, primed from his experience with the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA, was the big-name addition for the NBL’s newest arrival alongside import trio Josh Adams, MiKyle McIntosh and Josh Magette.
Then there was the local presence, starting at the top with captain Clint Steindl and rounded out by Jarrad Weeks, Jack McVeigh, Sam McDaniel and Fabian Krslovic.
“I think we were in studio and I had referred to them as the replacements, the bad news bears, because no disrespect but these are players that aren’t really high on the recruiting teams,” NBL legend Corey ‘Homicide’ Williams said on SEN 1116 this week.
“A lot of them would not have probably had a job in the league if it weren’t for the JackJumpers.”
They weren’t the most talented bunch. But talent can only get you so far. Instead, Roth prioritised players with strong character and a tenacious will to win. And win they did.
Magnay goes huge as Jackjumpers win | 02:00
“That first year a group was put together where it was, I guess, a little bit mismatched and you’re trying to figure out roles,” Steindl said after last week’s series win.
“We went on a bit of a rollercoaster season and we were just putting things together as we went. As we found our identity we improved and into year two and year three we have a pretty good understanding of the people we need, from front office to coaches to players, and we gelled together and found this core group that can lead the way forward so that when we bring new personnel in they know what’s expected of them and how to, for lack of a better word, behave within our team and the culture we have established.”
That culture meant that even after losing Magnay early in the season to injury, the JackJumpers were still able to fight and claw their way to a stunning Championship Series berth.
Still, the next challenge was building on that success in the 2022-23 season and with a few new faces after losing both McIntosh and all-NBL guard Adams in free agency.
The JackJumpers were able to prove their instant success was not just a flash in the pan, going on to fall short in the semi-finals against the New Zealand Breakers.
The JackJumpers are close to NBL glory again. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The consistent success Tasmania has had since entering the league is something few Australian expansion teams have been able to achieve and for coach Roth the key to building a sustainable franchise starts with building a “core group” of players.
For the JackJumpers, once again, that starts with skipper Steindl and Tasmania’s key trio in its series win over Perth — McVeigh, Milton Doyle and Magnay.
“We have six or seven guys now that have been through this process for the third year,” Roth said.
“One thing I learned while I was at the Wildcats was establishing a core group that was functioning and then someone will eventually retire and someone steps in and they’ve had that here for many, many years.
“I think Jesse [Wagstaff] and BC [Bryce Cotton] are probably the last group of that going through but establishing that core group of driving culture, driving what it means to be a JackJumper, what it means to be in Tasmania.”
“He’s had a vision from when he first took that job,” added Steindl.
And that vision meant blocking out the external noise. Blocking out those who said this Tasmania team wasn’t talented enough.
Roth was the perfect coach for the JackJumpers. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“That is a myth,” Roth said, and in case you didn’t hear it the first time, here it is again.
“That is a myth,” he repeated.
“You might like strawberry ice cream, I might like mint chocolate chip but the guys we have are fantastic in what their roles are and they’re quite talented.”
To that point, Roth brought out Jarred Bairstow, who has been with the JackJumpers since the inaugural season. And yet, he’s not the sort of guy you typically hear about. Why?
Well, he’s averaged around 4.5 minutes per game this season. But his impact goes beyond time on the court according to Roth.
“He doesn’t play but he is a culture driver,” the JackJumpers coach said.
“He is a guy who shows up every single day and is accountable and our guys see that. Those guys, to me, are irreplaceable of what you’re trying to do to establish what we’ve tried to do here for three years.
“To build some foundations so when I move on hopefully things are still functioning in a sound way and the culture we’ve established stays with us.”
JackJumpers players get around coach Scott Roth. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Roth hasn’t moved on just yet though. First he deserves to finish off what he started and win a title.
Because even if it isn’t about him, this team and this state wouldn’t be what it is without him.
“Scott Roth is not only a class act but one of the best coaches to hit the shores of Australia… they [the JackJumpers] have been remarkable,” Williams said.
“Two grand final appearances in three years… they were underdogs, nobody believed in them. The more they had success, people continued to doubt them more and more.
“This team is for real.”
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The two best teams are left standing in the NBL with the Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers to face off in the Championship Series but they had to battle hard to overcome the brave Cairns Taipans and Tasmania JackJumpers.
The NBL Championship Series is now set between the Kings and Breakers, but it could have easily been different with the Taipans and JackJumpers forcing both semi-final series to three games.
The Breakers dominated the JackJumpers in Game 1 at home 88-68 last Sunday but Tasmania hit back impressively in Hobart on Thursday to win 89-78 in Game 2 to force the decider back in Auckland on Sunday.
New Zealand proved too much led by the season-high 32 points from Barry Brown Jr to win 92-77 and book in their place in a first Championship Series since 2016.
It then turned out quite the spiteful and heated series between the Kings and Taipans including Sydney coach Chase Buford ejected in Game 2, and he and centre Tim Soares fined for incidents in that game on Friday.
Sydney did beat Cairns at home 95-87 in Game 1 on Wednesday but the Snakes hit back to win 93-82 in that Game 2 setting up a decider on Sunday. The Kings prevailed 79-64 on a standout defensive performance led by Jusin Simon.
The Kings and Breakers will now meet in a best-of-five Championship Series beginning Friday March 3 at Qudos Bank Arena.
The delayed start is due to the FIBA window this week which sees the Australian Boomers play Bahrain on Thursday and Kazakhstan on Sunday, both in Melbourne.
It’s Breakers vs Kings in the NBL Grand Final.Source: FOX SPORTS
PLANNING PAYS OFF FOR BREAKERS COACH TO LIVE DREAM
When New Zealand Breakers coach Mody Maor put together his plans of building his team for NBL23, he had a clear vision both in terms of play and culture he wanted to create. It’s fair to say it’s worked and now there’s nothing he’s looking forward to more than battling the Sydney Kings.
It was quite the mission that Maor embarked upon at the end of last season. He replaced the man he’s worked under around the world, Dan Shamir, and took over a team and club just exhausted after the last two years thanks to COVID and that needed an overhaul.
Maor’s focus firstly was on working out the culture his team wanted to possess, the characters he wanted involved and how they wanted to conduct themselves. Secondly was the style of play to be based on intense, physical defence for 40 minutes and then efficient offence.
On both fronts, Maor and the Breakers organisation have hit the spot perfectly to have now reached the Championship Series for the first time since 2016 as they attempt to win a fifth championship when things get underway against the Sydney Kings on Friday March 3.
To start with, the Breakers nailed their imports. Dererk Pardon could be the best genuine big in the league at both ends of the floor and Jarrell Brantley is quite the all-round talent as a power forward as well.
Then there’s Barry Brown Jr who provides that lethal scoring punch highlighted by his 32 points in a match-winning display in Game 3 of the semi-final series against the Tasmania JackJumpers at Spark Arena on Sunday.
Bringing New Zealanders home with Izayah Le’afa and Tom Vodanovich was important too as was retaining local veterans Tom Abercrombie and Rob Loe, and adding yet another future NBA first round draft pick Rayan Rupert.
Add in the experience of Cam Gliddon, the continued growth into one of the best point guards in the league of Will McDowell-White and the Breakers have not only been an outstanding team, but also one that plays with great heart and character.
That clearly starts with their coach and the energy Maor displays is infectious, but his pure love of the game of basketball shines through too. That rubs off on his players and that’s why even when he’s demanding more of them, there is a genuine love there.
Maor now can’t wait to take on the regular season champion Kings in the Championship Series starting next Friday and is proud of what he’s helped to build.
“There is nothing in the world I am looking forward to more,” Maor said.
“They’re the defending champs, best team in the league and this is what finals is supposed to be. You get to play against the best to see what you’ve got and we’re looking forward to it.
“You don’t drag in what happened before into what’s happening now. The beautiful thing about basketball is that every season is a new book, not even a new chapter and we knew exactly what kind of people we wanted in the building. That’s where it starts.
“The second thing we knew was how we wanted to play and we brought in people that fit what we wanted to do on defence and who we wanted to be as an organisation and as a team. Those were the first steps and the main ones.”
Coach ejected after dodgy flop call | 01:45
POST-GAME ACT SHOWS WHY JACKJUMPERS HAVE CONNECTED
The Tasmania JackJumpers have won the hearts and minds of the community of the Apple Isle and what captain Clint Steindl did to try and brighten up a young fan in Auckland highlights just how genuine that connection is.
Even if you just look at what the JackJumpers have accomplished on the court in their first two seasons in the NBL and reaching one Grand Final, and being within one game of reaching a second is quite the feat.
It’s a better start in the NBL for any expansion franchise in the history of the league and they gave themselves a real shot of back to back Grand Final appearances with a stirring win in Hobart on Thursday night in Game 2 against the New Zealand Breakers.
While winning Game 3 on the road like they did a year ago against Melbourne United in the semi finals might have eluded them with the Breakers winning on Sunday, it shouldn’t take away from what the JackJumpers have done.
When Scott Roth arrived as coach, the club didn’t exist, the fight for the hearts and minds of the Tasmanian community was up for grabs and there was no such thing as a JackJumpers brand.
Not only have the JackJumpers been successful on the court after two seasons, but what they’ve done within the community of Tasmania is even more remarkable.
Suddenly so many youngsters in the state is dreaming of playing for the JackJumpers and are wearing the green proudly every day, and feel like they have a sporting team on a national stage that is truly theirs.
That has taken a lot of work. The entire JackJumpers organisation has put in enormous time and effort to connect with the community and it’s paid off.
The connection the state of Tasmania has with their team is unlike anything else in the NBL and it just happens to be a bonus that the team itself has battled above their weight and given them plenty to be proud of on the court.
It’s that connection with the community that has a young fan like Henry travel with his family to Auckland for Sunday’s Game 3 and why he was so devastated his team couldn’t quite get over the line afterwards.
When captain Clint Steindl saw that, he put aside all of his own emotions having just had his season ended and put Henry first. That’s why not only have the JackJumpers won the hearts of so many, but why Steindl himself has been the ideal first captain.
“We did the handshake line and were walking off the floor, and the little fella was in tears,” Steindl said.
“So I just had a chat to him and kind of walked off but saw my shoes and took them off, went back and gave them to him. He was still in tears but I just told him to keep his head up.
“He travelled all the way out to see us get a win and unfortunately it didn’t happen so it was just something I thought I could do try and put a smile on his face.
“As much as I tried, he still had the tears but maybe he can put them up in his bedroom or something and it will give him something to aspire to. That’s what we’re trying to do in Tassie and I just tried to help the little fella out.”
Xavier Cooks wins NBL MVP | 00:45
DELAYED START TO BENEFIT KINGS AND COOKS
The league’s MVP Xavier Cooks battled through an ankle injury to help his team into the NBL Championship Series but now the 12 days before Game 1 against the New Zealand Breakers will be of great benefit to him and the Sydney Kings.
The Kings came into this season as the defending champions and while they did have expectations by many of being favourites to go back-to-back, it shouldn’t be undersold their achievements to now be back in the Championship Series.
Sydney lost all three imports from that title winning team with the departures of Jarrell Martin, Ian Clark and league MVP Jaylen Adams. To replace them was never going to be easy but they’ve done tremendously with the additions of Tim Soares, Justin Simon and Derrick Walton Jr.
However, the key to any success the Kings have had this season has gone with their captain Cooks. Fresh off becoming a championship winning captain and Grand Final MVP last season, he has gone to another level in NBL23.
Despite any arguments over the merits of Bryce Cotton winning a fourth MVP award, it’s hard to deny Cooks was a deserved winner and after all he was the best player on the best team in the league.
Cooks showed his MVP credentials with a spectacular performance in Game 1 of the semi finals against the Cairns Taipans where he produced 27 points and 14 rebounds in a match-winning performance.
He rolled his ankle early in the second half of Game 2 in Cairns on Friday night and didn’t return. There were questions over whether he would play in Sunday’s decider or indeed what impact he could have.
Clearly he was not close to 100 per cent, but he shook off the pain to still deliver 11 points and 11 rebounds in his team’s eventual 79-64 victory over the Snakes to book a spot in a second consecutive Championship Series.
The Kings will now host Game 1 against the New Zealand Breakers on Friday March 3 at Qudos Bank Arena and this is where the near two-week break thanks to the FIBA window before the Grand Final starting will benefit Cooks and the Kings.
“Going back to the other night and they told me if I really needed him that he could play, but I just felt like in the moment he wasn’t very good in that game anyway, and it didn’t feel like we were having much of a chance to win it,” coach Chase Buford said.
“It just seemed smarter to shut him down and give him every chance for this game. I know he was hurting and he battled like hell to play in the game and to play as well as he did.
“He had 11 rebounds and I just can’t thank him enough, and couldn’t be prouder of him. He’s just a warrior and hopefully this extended layoff will give him time to get healthy.”
TAIPANS DEFY THE ODDS TO GET EVER SO CLOSE
Cairns Taipans coach Adam Forde always knew he’d feel up against it trying to battle the bigger clubs and whether it was the change in officiating in Game 3, his team’s injury woes or a rough finals schedule, one thing never changed and that was the pride he had in his group.
The Taipans did end their season frustrated on Sunday after losing Game 3 of the semi finals to the Sydney Kings, but they deserve to be proud of everything they overcame to get so close to the Championship Series.
Even just in the semi-final series against the Kings, the Taipans started it having already played two Play-In Games just to reach it having lost to the Tasmania JackJumpers and then defeated the Perth Wildcats.
Then they started the series against the Kings missing superstar forward Keanu Pinder and energetic guard Tahjere McCall. Then while McCall returned for the last two games of the series, they lost their cool-headed and efficient point guard Shannon Scott with a hamstring injury.
The Taipans did win Game 2 on their home court on Friday night to force a deciding game back in Sydney on Sunday, but coach Forde always knew his team would be up against it with the dramatic way that game in Cairns unfolded.
With the Kings unhappy with the way the game was officiated which ended up with coach Chase Buford ejected late in the game after disputing a flop call against Kouat Noi that the NBL later revealed as the wrong decision, there was a chance Sunday’s game would be called differently.
As a result, the Taipans high pressure defence was getting called tight right throughout the game on Sunday and at one point the Kings had attempted 22 free-throws to just 11 from the Snakes.
That was just one source of frustration for Forde post-match.
The other was that with his team fighting so hard even without key players and with a shorter rotation with really only Sam Waardenburg, DJ Hogg, Lat Mayen, Ben Ayre, McCall, Bul Kuol and Jonah Antonio playing significant minutes, that they just ran out of gas.
With the Kings having had nine days from the end of the regular season to the start of the semi finals, the Taipans had to play the games against the JackJumpers and Wildcats in that time.
So by Sunday, the Taipans had played five games from the previous Thursday and it clearly took its toll.
Despite the reflections on all of that, Forde was rightfully named Coach of the Year and he deserves to be proud of how competitive a team he oversaw all season long despite what they had to battle through.
“A lot of that is skewed because they 17 foul shots in the first half so that’s bang for your buck if you’ve ever seen it,” Forde said.
“We knew what it would be like going in because this is history repeating itself and they did it last year, and got the benefit of it. We talked about it before the game about the changes that will take place after fines had been paid and everything else.
“So you flag it but that still doesn’t mean you let them off the hook when you see it coming, you’re just prepared for it. It is what it is, it’s a business right and about what’s more entertaining.
“That’s the reality and we know what we’re battling with and we don’t shy away or pretend we’re something we’re not. We know we’re a community owned club who will have to find the diamonds in the rough and play our style, and not always get the benefit of things.”
UNFINISHED BUSINESS JUST ONE FACTOR IN PINDER’S DECISION
Keanu Pinder will have a sour taste in his mouth this entire off-season having not made it back on the court during the NBL finals and that could factor in his decision in wanting to return with the Cairns Taipans, but it’s just one consideration.
What a three-year ride already it’s been in the NBL for Pinder. He started off in Adelaide as a big man seen as being supremely talented with great athleticism for his size and a decent outside shot.
Well, things never clicked and then coach Conner Henry struggled to find a role for him and to have confidence in him to be able to go out and do what was asked of him.
It’s fair to say it was a mutually agreed decision from both Pinder and the 36ers to part company at end of that 2020/21 season.
That’s when Adam Forde came calling to Pinder fresh off being appointed coach of the Taipans. The two had already previously worked together in underage state programs in Western Australia so that connection was there.
Forde was then prepared to back in Pinder to play a key role on his team and really, build around him with him being a focal point while giving him the confidence that he could be a genuine star in the league.
The rest is history. Pinder has gone back-to-back in winning Most Improved Player awards turning himself into a quality player last season, and then one of the very best players in the NBL this season.
Had he not missed nine of the last 11 games of the season through injury, he would have been genuinely a candidate for the All-First Team and in the MVP discussion, that’s how good he was.
Pinder returned for two games from an ankle injury but against the South East Melbourne Phoenix on January 25 copped a stray elbow from Dane Pineau and hasn’t been able to play since.
He suffered a fractured orbital socket and was bed ridden unable to let any light into his eye for some time, but this past weekend he was hounding coach Forde to let him play against the Kings.
Common sense prevailed and Pinder wasn’t allowed back on the court, but had the Taipans reached the Championship Series and with almost two weeks until they are to start, he would have been right to go.
That’s why he was so frustrated to have missed the chance to try and help Cairns win a championship this season, but now offers will come thick and fast for him.
His two-year deal with the Snakes is over and given any club in the league could legitimately build around him, there’ll be no shortage of offers coming his way. On top of that, big money European and Asian clubs would love to secure his services too.
It’s going to be the biggest off-season of Pinder’s career because this could very well be the biggest contract he ever signs and it could be life changing.
So he has a lot to weigh up. There’s that love and appreciation he has for coach Forde and the Taipans for helping him reach his potential. There’s also the unfinished business to try and help them win that first NBL championship.
Pinder has to weigh that up against also doing what’s best for his future both in terms of basketball and life. Right now, he will get over the frustration of missing out on getting back on the court then will focus on his big decision.
“Honestly not being out there hurt more than I thought it would because I was very close to coming back,” Pinder said.
“I felt like if we had won this game I would have been able to come back to play the Grand Final so I was really looking forward to that, and I was ready for that.
“I wanted to play the last game honestly but they didn’t let me obviously so it’s all good. I’m very upset about it and I’m just going to deal with it in my own time I’ll be alright.
“Something you will always think about is where you feel most comfortable and play your best basketball,” Pinder added.
“I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m not playing my best basketball and stuck in a pigeon hole as just another piece of the puzzle.
“I would rather be in a place where I can be the man and play the best basketball I can so I can reach my goals in life. So obviously it’s going to play a factor in the decision and we’ll see how things go.”
The Sydney Kings, New Zealand Breakers and Tasmania JackJumpers are all one win away from the NBL Championship Series but the Cairns Taipans almost pulled off the stunner in Game 1 against the defending champions and can’t be ruled out.
The four teams in the NBL semi finals were confirmed on Sunday with the Taipans eliminating the Perth Wildcats and now both series’ are delicately poised with the Grand Final teams to be locked in by Sunday.
The first team into the Grand Final could come as early as Friday night with the Cairns Taipans hosting the Sydney Kings in Game 2.
Sydney beat Cairns 95-87 but the Taipans did open up a double-figure lead at Qudos Bank Arena on Wednesday even without Keanu Pinder and Tahjere McCall, and will fancy their chances to force the series to a deciding Game 3.
Taipans and Breakers earn playoff wins | 01:25
The other semi-final series is already confirmed to be going to a Game 3 with the Tasmania JackJumpers beating the New Zealand Breakers 89-78 in Game 2 at MyState Bank Arena on Thursday night.
That Game 3 will be played at Auckland’s Spark Arena on Sunday with the Kings to also host the Taipans at Qudos Bank Arena should the Snakes prevail in Game 2 on Friday on their home court.
TAIPANS SHARPSHOOTER TAKES OFFENCE TO KINGS COMMENTS
Jonah Antonio had the best performance of his NBL career in Wednesday’s Game 1 for the Cairns Taipans but Sydney Kings coach Chase Buford talked about taking advantage of him up the other end creating another level of intrigue for Friday’s Game 2.
The story of the first half of Wednesday night’s Game 1 between the Kings and Taipans at Qudos Bank Arena very quickly became little used Cairns sharpshooter Antonio.
He is in his first NBL season and did arrive with the reputation of being a knockdown shooter, but he just hasn’t been able to find a regular spot in the Taipans rotation and had made just 14 three-pointers all season long in just a total of 184 minutes.
However, he was unleashed by coach Adam Forde on Wednesday night and started throwing rockets starting with a three-pointer on the quarter-time buzzer.
The 25-year-old originally from Perth before playing college at both Wake Forest and UNLV and then spending last season in the Czech Republic hit another four three-pointers in the second quarter to help the Snakes open up a 12-point lead.
He had 17 points to half-time on 5/6 three-point shooting and while he ended the night with a career-best 20 points on 6/9 shooting from beyond the arc, Kings coach Buford didn’t mince words afterwards.
Jonah Antonio defended himself online. (Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
When talking about Antonio post-match, Buford did credit Antonio’s shooting performance but actually felt that him playing more minutes than usual might have benefited the Kings as his team tried to take advantage of him defensively.
The Kings did do a good job of creating mismatches and caught Antonio undersized and out of position matched up with their bigs on several of occasions. Buford was quick to point out that despite Antonio’s shooting heroics, the Taipans were outscored by four with him on the court.
That felt a little harsh and Antonio was quick to respond cryptically on Twitter afterwards adding some extra spice to Game 2 in Cairns on Friday night.
As for what Buford said, he made his feelings clear about trying to take advantage of Antonio.
“We just let Antonio go nuts. He made shots, give credit to him, but we could have guarded him a whole lot better than we did,” Buford said.
“The fact that they had Antonio come in and flame torch us in that second quarter, and he’s still minus-four. He’s got to deliver that to make up for his deficiencies at the other end of play against us, and it will be hard to replicate that performance.
“I thought we did a really good job in the second half on Waardenburg as well, I think he was a key for us in the way we wanted to guard him.
“In the second half we did a much better job and on DJ Hogg, he takes seven attempts from three but only made one and I thought we had a lot of good contests on him.
“To not allow him to make a bunch of triples is important. We might have given up threes to them, but we dominated the rim and I think we can dominate anybody at the rim especially with this group’s outs.”
Taipans’ Jonah Antonio in action. Picture: Brendan RadkeSource: News Corp Australia
JACKJUMPERS LOOK TO REPEAT THE DOSE
The Tasmania JackJumpers find themselves in familiar territory. Last season they pulled off a shock on the road in the semi finals to knock out Melbourne United in Game 3 and now the chance presents against the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday.
What a story the JackJumpers were in their inaugural NBL season. With nobody giving them a chance of success and then being shocked they even reached the playoffs, even fewer gave them a sniff of knocking off the regular season champion Melbourne United in the semi finals.
That was even more so the case when Melbourne won Game 1 before Tasmania forced that series into a decider by winning Game 2 at MyState Bank Arena.
The rest is now history with the JackJumpers winning that Game 3 in Melbourne to reach last season’s Grand Final to become one of the best stories in Australian sport as the ultimate underdog story.
They might not quite have pulled off the championship losing in the Grand Final to the Sydney Kings, but the mountain was perhaps even steeper to climb this season.
Fans are getting behind the JackJumpers. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Once again they were written off by all and sundry, but they found a way to reach the finals once more from fourth position and then earned a spot directly in the semi finals by beating the Cairns Taipans in Far North Queensland last Thursday.
However, the JackJumpers were missing their floor general Josh Magette, captain Clint Steindl and had no answers in Game 1 of the semi finals against the New Zealand Breakers on Sunday.
The Breakers won 88-68 with the JackJumpers unable to have much impact defensively and then not get anything going offensively shooting just 33 per cent as a team and star imports Milton Doyle and Rashard Kelly combining for just 22 points on 5/19 shooting.
That meant the JackJumpers were up against it even with Game 2 at home on Thursday night against the Breakers.
It was a tight contest for three quarters and just when the Breakers were threatening to take control up five late in the third, the JackJumpers went on an 11-0 scoring run to take charge and end up winning 89-78.
It was a stirring performance in front of their raucous home crowd and now the chance presents back in Auckland on Sunday in Game 3 for the JackJumpers to repeat what they did last season and shock a team at home to reach the Grand Final.
Coach Scott Roth has no doubt his team is up for the challenge.
The JackJumpers continue to prove the doubters wrong. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“You know that these opportunities don’t come along very often and to be in a Game 3 to get to the Grand Finals in our second year is just an incredible effort by my players, and really by staff to put us in this position again,” Roth said.
“I just think in this game we were just trying to make sure we took a swing at them and making sure we’re not going to walk out of this game, win or lose, second guessing what we do in general and how we continue to try to play throughout most of the season.
“I thought we had moments where we were really good and smart in some areas, and some areas we need to clean up but I just thought our aggression in a win or go home situation, I just thought let’s swing. And these guys swung.”
JackJumpers fans celebrate. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
MVP MAKES A STATEMENT IN KINGS’ GAME 1 WIN
Anyone unsure of the credentials of Xavier Cooks as the league’s MVP this NBL season only needed to watch the way he dominated Game 1 of the semi-final series on Wednesday night against the Cairns Taipans.
If anybody still questions if Cooks deserved to be MVP this NBL season they didn’t watch Wednesday’s semi-final Game 1 against the Cairns Taipans where he was the major difference in Sydney’s eventual 95-87 victory.
Unfortunately we won’t get to see that marquee power forward match up Keanu Pinder sidelined with a fractured orbital socket for the Taipans and who knows what impact he could have had, but Cooks was able to show all of his all-round abilities.
Whether it was being a primary ball handler, throwing down dunks or finishing around the rim or crashing the boards or creating for his teammates, Cooks was at the peak of his powers.
Xavier Cooks leads from the front. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
He finished the night with 27 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block on the back of shooting 11/19 from the field.
It’s a dazzling stat-line but his actual performance was even more significant than the numbers suggest with the Kings outscoring the Taipans by nine points in the 33 minutes that he was on the floor.
Whether the Snakes tried to guard him with the size of Sam Waardenburg, the smooth moving DJ Hogg or with Lat Mayen or Majok Deng, they couldn’t quell his influence and the league’s MVP put his team on his back.
It’s far from the first time. After all, Cooks is already a championship winning captain and Grand Final MVP. But for him it wasn’t about proving anything personally or any grudges with the Taipans, he simply wanted to do what he could to get close to winning back-to-back titles.
After a slow start with the Taipans leading by 12 during the first half, Cooks was delighted with his team’s response.
Xavier Cooks made a statement. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“It was very frustrating and to give up 60 points in a half is unacceptable for any team, that’s unbelievable,” Cooks said.
“Antonio came out and hit some crazy shots, but he’s a good shooter and we’ve got to be locked in there. That really slowed our pace down, but we brought the energy and figured it out in the second half.
“My intent was to just bring the energy. I don’t really ever come out and say I’m going to get 20, that’s not my game style. I can control my effort levels and I try to go out and play as hard as I can, and get on the boys for not playing hard. It worked out.
“It’s nothing personal in this match up, I’m just fired up to bring the energy because it’s playoff time. I’ve got a lot of respect for those boys on the other side of the court and it’s nothing personal.”
BREAKERS VOW NOT TO LET OPPORTUNITY SLIP
The New Zealand Breakers have overcome everything thrown at them this season with nothing coming easy and they are determined to not let the chance slip to take advantage of hosting Sunday’s semi-final Game 3 against the Tasmania JackJumpers.
On the back of a horror last two years through COVID, the Breakers deserved things to be a little easier in NBL23 but it’s been anything but that throughout the season.
Whether it’s a tough injury run, some rough travel schedules, an enforced break thanks to COVID or even floods and cyclones at home in Auckland, the Breakers have had plenty thrown in their path this season.
Xavier Cooks wins NBL MVP | 00:45
However, they have answered every challenge, never wanted to make any excuses and that’s why they ended the regular season in second position and are still one win away from reaching a first Grand Final appearance since 2016.
New Zealand dominated the opening game of their semi-final series at home to the Tasmania JackJumpers on Sunday.
The Breakers won the game 88-68 on the back of having eight players scoring at least seven points in a tremendous team performance where they shot 53 per cent from the field, hit 9/21 from downtown and put in a commanding defensive showing.
That had them in the box seat to be the first team to win their way into the Championship Series, but playing in Hobart hasn’t been fruitful for the Breakers now the last two years and that continued on Thursday night.
Tasmania prevailed 89-78 with New Zealand unable to get the same bite at the defensive end while offensively, they shot just 44 per cent overall and 6/23 from beyond the arc.
The positive is that they now get to host Game 3 on Sunday back at Spark Arena with the winner to advance to the Grand Final.
Maor has full faith in his team. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Coach Mody Maor continues to have full faith in what his group can produce and this is the time where all that work during the season to earn home court advantage needs to pay off.
“I honestly don’t think it’s going to be very hard to refocus for the next game,” Maor said.
“We never expected it to be easy, these are the playoffs of the NBL and every team that comes here is great. This is supposed to be high level competition and you’re supposed to be challenged and tested, and this is exactly what we’re looking forward to.
“We went through a really tough season and played well through it in order to earn home court advantage. It’s a huge thing in playoffs, I’m happy to bring Game 3 to Spark Arena and I’m really looking forward to it.”
NZ Breakers lock in second spot in NBL | 00:57
INTRIGUING VETERAN POWER FORWARD DILEMMA
Perth Wildcats captain Jesse Wagstaff has earned the right to make his own decision on his playing future, but there’s every chance his retirement could open the door for a long-awaited homecoming for seven-time Adelaide 36ers MVP Daniel Johnson.
Now that the Wildcats season is over after their loss in the Play-In Game to the Cairns Taipans, captain Wagstaff has a decision to make whether or not to continue a career that has seen him play 446 games and win six championships.
He deserves to be able to make that decision himself and there’d be nothing wrong with him deciding to play a 15th season, but what he chooses to do could have a significant impact on the immediate future of one of his great rivals, Johnson.
This time last year it would have been almost unfathomable to imagine Johnson ending his career anywhere but in Adelaide. While he grew up in Perth, he’s now settled in Adelaide where he’s played 366 of his career 414 NBL games and with seven club MVP’s to his credit, he’s a 36ers all-time great.
What does Jesse Wagstaff’s future in the NBL hold? (Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
There has constantly been intrigue over whether he might get to play for his hometown team one day, but with the Wildcats being well stocked for power forwards during his career including Shawn Redhage and Wagstaff, it’s just never been a good fit.
That’s not to say overtures haven’t been made. It did almost happen a decade ago when Rob Beveridge was Wildcats coach, but ultimately Johnson went to Adelaide and has put together a standout career.
So much so that no other current player has scored more points or collected more rebounds. He has been quite the reliable force whether coached by Marty Clarke, Joey Wright, Conner Henry or for the last two seasons, CJ Bruton.
However, Johnson’s minutes and overall production were at the lowest in a decade in his Adelaide time this season as he and coach Bruton clearly weren’t seeing eye to eye.
That appears to mean that Johnson’s NBL career would likely continue outside of Adelaide in NBL24 despite the fact he has built a life and family in the City of Churches.
Should Wagstaff decide to retire, it feels a natural fit for Johnson to get that long-awaited opportunity to play in Perth. One of the Wildcats’ all-time greats, Damian Martin, feels it makes sense should it all come together.
Is a reunion on the cards for Daniel Johnson? (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I don’t think they go after Daniel and then say that DJ’s in and then say that unfortunately we’re pushing Jesse out,” Martin said on SEN.
“I think they wait to see what Jesse wants to do and will be respectful. Knowing that DJ probably wants out of Adelaide and he’s from Perth, they have probably made an initial call at least just to gauge that if Jesse steps aside and says this is it for me, then they can quickly pull the trigger on Daniel.
“But they would also make it very clear I would assume to DJ that it’s only available if Jesse makes the decision to retire. They might even fast track Jesse’s decision because two weeks after the final game of the Grand Final Series is played, that’s when free agency begins.
“You’re kidding yourself if you don’t think that agents aren’t talking to other GM’s right now, but you can’t any sign any deals or announce them until the two-week period is over.”
A final quarter to remember from Bryce Cotton has helped Perth turn a 13-point deficit into an incredible 106-99 play-in qualifier victory, bringing a shell-shocked South East Melbourne’s season to a sudden end.
Thanks largely to Alan Williams, who had a first-half double-double, the Phoenix dominated the first-half rebounds (27-19) and offensive boards (13-5) and, with some help from Gary Browne and Mitch Creek, they wrested back control of the match to lead by a game-high 13 (74-61) late in the quarter on the back of a 10-0 run.
However, just as they looked like they opened a match-winning lead, the Phoenix capitulated spectacularly as the Cotton-inspired Wildcats turned the game on its head to grab a 100-93 lead with 1:16 to go.
Cotton headed into the final quarter with six points on 2-10 shooting, but the MVP runner-up turned his stinker into an all-time post-season performance as he exploded to score 20 points after the last change, including nine of an 11-0 run, to finish with a game-high 26, including 4-8 from three-point land.
A Trey Kell triple got the hosts back within three (102-99) with 44 seconds remaining, and 15 seconds later, Ryan Broekhoff had the chance to level the scores with a wide open three attempt, however he missed badly.
A pair of TaShawn Thomas free throws pushed the Wildcats back out to a 104-99 buffer with 16.5 seconds to go and Broekhoff had the chance to cut the margin to two with another three with 13 seconds remaining, but he failed again.
TaShawn Thomas held his nerve in the final quarter to maintain the Wildcats’ leave. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
And, fittingly, a couple of free throws from Cotton rounded out a famous win for the Wildcats, ending South East’s seven-game winning streak at John Cain Arena and ensuring their first ever post-season home game ended in disaster.
Luke Travers also came up big in the final quarter for Perth, with three slam dunks and a trey, to play a pivotal role in the fightback.
After making the top six in thrilling fashion with the last two points of the regular season, the Wildcats have continued to ride their luck and will now face either Cairns or Tasmania in Sunday’s play-in match.
The much-maligned Brady Manek, who nailed those definitive free throws last week, had a spectacular first half, scoring 19 of his 24 points and was the main reason why the visitors had a chance at an unlikely win. At one stage he had six of Perth’s eight treys.
For South East, fresh from inking a new two-year deal, Williams was brilliant with 16 points, 17 rebounds, three steals and a block, while Creek had a team-high 24 points (9-16 shooting) and Gary Browne had 20 points, five assists, two steals and a block.
Each one of Perth‘s starting five, as well as Mitch Norton, ended with double-figure points.
The Phoenix had no answers for Cotton in the final quarter. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
PHOENIX ANSWER HOT MANEK START
A pair of Brady Manek threes saw Perth jump out to an early 8-2 lead, but Gary Browne and Trey Kell joined forces to inspire a 13-0 run which gave the Phoenix a seven-point advantage (15-8) late in the first period.
APPALLING EARLY SHOOTING
Both teams made horrendous shooting starts, combining for 6-25 (24 per cent) from the field in the first five-and-a-half minutes, and although South East were quicker to fix their radar, Perth scored 10 of the next 14 points to get back within one (19-18) in the shadows of quarter-time.
MANEK PUTS PERTH BACK ON TRACK
Three consecutive made free throws from Mitch Creek put the hosts back up by seven (25-18) early in the second stanza, but while the rest of his team struggled from the field, Manek had the hot hand for Perth, throwing down a couple of dunks and making a three to be prominent in a 17-8 run which gave the visitors back the lead (35-33) halfway through the quarter. Little separated the teams over the next four minutes with three lead changes and five instances of tied scores taking place.
TASSIE INTO SEMIS AFTER CAIRNS UPSET
A Milton Doyle masterclass has sent Tasmania into a mouth-watering semi final series against the Breakers after dispatching of a cold Cairns in the tropics on Thursday night.
Cairns was wildly off-target to start the seeding qualifier as the JackJumpers, who were without star Josh Magette for the first time, and captain Clint Steindl, made their moments count in the 87-79 win at Cairns Convention Centre.
While Cairns improved their accuracy and at one stage in the third quarter closed the gap completely, the JackJumpers couldn’t be stopped – and Doyle was at the centre of it.
Doyle hit the first bucket of the game – a clean three – on his way to a game-high 25 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Doyle led the scoring on the night. Picture: Emily Barker/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
The All-NBL First Team was huge for the visitors, hitting a triple with 60 seconds left to claim a second straight win in Cairns and punch the JackJumpers ticket to the three-game series with New Zealand.
Isaac White was huge, coming up with 18 points (70 per cent from the field), while Rashard Kelly brought up his double-double midway through the fourth quarter as he finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
The Taipans, meanwhile, will have to do something they haven’t been able to do this year – beat the Wildcats in Cairns – if they want to extend their season.
Tahkere McCall put his body on the line for the home side, with 24 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Shannon Scottt had 17 points.
But Cairns simply couldn’t buy a bucket, hitting at one stage hit just 16 per cent from range (three-from-18) before improving to 23 per cent (5/21), and will need to find a spark before Sunday afternoon when they host a Perth side who produced a miracle comeback to end the Phoenix’s season.
Isaac White was also strong for the JackJumpers with 18 points. Picture: Emily Barker/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
DOYLE RULES
Milton Doyle showed why he was selected in the All-NBL First Team with some incredible plays throughout the seeding qualifier.
Doyle was always expected to be the man who would become the centrepiece of the JackJumpers’ offence in the absence of Magette, and he delivered on that.
He started both halves in similar fashion – sinking a tough three – and was an absolute handful for the Taipans’ defence to handle.
He led Tasmania on the score sheet throughout, and while he was credited with only a handful of assists he played a key role in the JackJumpers’ offence.
They were certainly not a one-man band, but Doyle was massive.
Doyle ran the JackJumpers’ offence on the way to a big win. Picture: Emily Barker/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
MCCALL THE MAN
It is no secret this Cairns roster was built around McCall, but he deserves a lot more credit than what he gets.
A certainty for an All-NBL Defensive team if they had one, McCall puts his body on the line night in, night out, to get a result for Cairns, whether that’s a bucket, rebound or win.
It’s become more obvious in the absence of star forward Keanu Pinder, who was in the MVP conversation before suffering a serious ankle injury.
In the eight games without Pinder, McCall has led this team with an average of 17.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists (per NBL), and when the going got tough for the Snakes, it was that man again who delivered.
He finished this one with 24 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Tahjere McCall (R) left it all on the court for the Taipans. Picture: Emily Barker/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
OFF TARGET
Home court advantage means absolutely nothing if the shots don’t drop, and that’s exactly how the Taipans’ night started.
Early in the second term they had hit just 28 per cent of their shots from the field – a startling 8-28 for a team renowned for its defensive but built with some gun shooters.
The JackJumpers led by nine at quarter time despite having far fewer shots, the difference being they made them count.
Cairns clawed their way back into the contest, but couldn’t finish the job.
What an NBL23 season we‘ve just had. The finals are still to come over the next month but the regular season came down to the very last second to determine which six teams would take part in the post-season action.
Aron Baynes returning to basketball through the Brisbane Bullets and the Adelaide 36ers shocking the NBA‘s Phoenix Suns saw the NBL in the headlines before the season even started, and put those teams in the spotlight.
Watch every game live of the 2022/23 NBL Season on ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Wildcats nick NBL finals spot late | 00:30
While their seasons never went to plan, the race for the top six positions proved fascinating with the Perth Wildcats needing to beat the Sydney Kings by 11 points in the last game of the regular season, and winning by 12 to finish sixth and knock out Melbourne United.
It was a fitting way to end an NBL season that delivered so much from the inaugural Christmas Day game, to record crowds around the country and outstanding play from everyone from Xavier Cooks to Mitch Creek to Bryce Cotton to Keanu Pinder to Milton Doyle to Antonius Cleveland and countless others.
Before the finals begin this Thursday night with play-in games featuring the Cairns Taipans at home to the Tasmania JackJumpers, and the South East Melbourne Phoenix hosting the Perth Wildcats, let‘s look at how each team performed in NBL23.
SYDNEY KINGS (19-9, First)
The defending champions had to replace all three imports for their title defence, but they‘ve done a terrific job and have been the standout team all season to claim the regular season championship and now are sitting back to find out their semi-final opponents.
What worked: Replacing championship winning import trio Jarrell Martin, Ian Clark and Jaylen Adams wasn‘t an easy task, but they did it well. Tim Soares has proven a more than handy centre, Justin Simon has been tremendous in that three spot at both ends and then Derrick Walton Jr has been more than adequate as point guard replacing MVP Adams. Xavier Cooks has gone to another level to be a strong chance to be league MVP but more than anything it’s how deep the Kings go. Jaylin Galloway, Shaun Bruce, Angus Glover, Jordan Hunter and Kouat Noi come off the bench and they lose nothing. They play at the fast pace in the league, the second best offensive rating, third best defensive rating and rightfully are the regular season champions and title favourites.
What didn‘t: Their free-throw percentage of 72 per cent is only third worst in the league, but it remains the potential to be their undoing in clutch moments when they get their second most times out of any team. If that’s your biggest concern, though, you are in pretty good shape. There has been patches of the season where turnovers have been an issue and so have fourth quarters, but at 19-9, that’s nit-picking.
Xavier Cooks of the Kings shoots a free throw during the round 18 NBL match between Perth Wildcats and Sydney Kings at RAC Arena.Source: Getty Images
The outlook: The immediate focus is freshening up and getting ready to host Game 1 of the semi finals on Wednesday February 15, and to make a run at back-to-back championships. They should be at full health too with Xavier Cooks and Derrick Walton Jr having plenty of time before that first semi-final game. They are going to be mighty tough to stop and it might only be themselves that can be their undoing if their free-throw and turnover woes rear their heads when it matters most. But if they play anywhere near their best, they are clearly the best team in the competition.
Potential award winners: Xavier Cooks is the favourite to win the MVP award while Chase Buford is right in the hunt for Coach of the Year. It was a shock to many that Justin Simon wasn’t nominated to be Best Defensive Player while point guard Derrick Walton Jr should be named in one of the All-NBL teams.
Final Grade: A. Whether it‘s an A+ or not will be determined over the next month and if they win the championship or not, because that’s the bar this team has set. But they haven’t put a foot wrong to claim top spot as defending champs despite swapping over three imports.
NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS (18-10, Second)
After a horror two years thanks to COVID, the New Zealand Breakers didn’t have it easy again this season but what they have done is come together as a cohesive unit, built everything on defence and developed a tremendous spirit and culture, and now have earned an automatic semi-final berth.
What worked: Building back the chemistry and culture that was such a key part to the Breakers winning four NBL championships in five years between 2011-15. Coach Mody Maor deserves enormous credit in achieving that and by bringing in players that fit the character and mindset he wanted to be team first, defensively oriented players. They have had plenty thrown at them, but with the leadership of their coach and the players fully buying in, they‘ve overcome it all. They got the imports right to start with. Dererk Pardon is the ideal modern day big, Jarrell Brantley is a brilliant all-round four man and then Barry Brown Jr gives that potent scoring punch. Add in Will McDowell-White and Izayah Le’afa to the backcourt, the youth of Rayan Rupert and experience of Tom Abercrombie, and then strong roles played by Rob Loe, Cam Gliddon and Tom Vodanovich, and everyone’s played their role to a tee. They are the best defensively rated team in the league and that’s what they’ve based everything on, being physical and intense defensively, and then efficient offensively.
NZ Breakers lock in second spot in NBL | 00:57
What didn’t: Being healthy. It took until their 19th game of the season to have a full roster available. Tom Abercrombie suffered a freak eye injury in pre-season and from there, Barry Brown Jr, Will McDowell-White, Rayan Rupert and Rob Loe have all been sidelined for multiple games. They also had to deal with some horror travel schedule, a three-week COVID enforced break and even the recent Auckland floods, but nothing has denied them because of the spirit and culture in the group they’ve built.
The outlook: Finishing second was every bit as important in terms of what an achievement it was for where they‘ve come from, but also because it gave them almost two weeks to freshen up and get healthy for their semi-final series against either the Cairns Taipans or Tasmania JackJumpers. They will know who they play after Thursday night’s game in Cairns and then can get ready for that Game 1 on Sunday February 12 at Spark Arena. Barry Brown Jr will have time to get over his hand injury and they should be at full strength for just the seventh game all season long.
Potential award winners: Barry Brown Jr appears just about a lock to be named Best Sixth Man by putting up 19.5 points a game. Dererk Pardon is a good chance to take out the Damian Martin Trophy as Best Defensive Player while Mody Maor is a shot at Coach of the Year. Point guard Will McDowell-White is in the mix for Most Improved Player and Brown, Pardon and forward Jarrell Brantley are all good chances to find places in the All-NBL teams.
Final Grade: A+. Coming off two years of hell, nothing has come easy for them this season either. They‘ve had some horror travel schedules, rarely been at full strength, dealt with a three-week COVID break and still have finished second to be straight into the semi finals.
CAIRNS TAIPANS (18-10, Third)
Coach Adam Forde wanted to put his stamp on the group in his second season in charge and get a team to suit the style he wanted to play. He did that and got full buy in from the group, and the end result is they finished third, only narrowly missed second and will be giving this championship a real shake.
What worked: Dealing with adversity. Tahjere McCall missed five games early in the season. Keanu Pinder missed nine of the last 11 games and Sam Waardenburg missed three games too but even without key players they played tremendously with others stepping up. That‘s especially been the case without Pinder where they’ve won eight of nine games without him. What has worked started in the off-season. Coach Adam Forde knew how he wanted to play but needed to recruit players to suit that style. The Taipans backed him in to do that and he’s found the perfect pieces. DJ Hogg and Shannon Scott have been the cool and composed imports who deliver no matter the situation while Pinder’s gone to another and formed a potent front court with Waardenburg. Bul Kuol has had a terrific second season at both ends, McCall has been a tremendous leader with the energy and hustle he brings, and then Ben Ayre and Majok Deng have played key roles. As a result, they play at the second highest pace, shoot the most three-pointers and do it at 32.5 per cent and have the second best defensive rating.
Melbourne lose out in epic final NBL day | 03:09
What didn‘t: Surprisingly playing at full strength didn’t work too well for them. They found their groove early in the season and then blending Tahjere McCall back in didn’t immediately click. And then after winning six straight without Keanu Pinder, they lost both games with him before he got hurt again. That’s more than likely just a curiosity though rather than an issue. In the end, losing three of four games before Friday night’s breakthrough win in Perth is what cost them second spot and an automatic place in the semi finals.
The outlook: They gave themselves a chance to finish second with a stirring win on Friday night in Perth despite the absence of Keanu Pinder and Tahjere McCall. They could have used the extra time and automatically qualifying for the semi finals, but it wasn’t to be. Now they have a short turnaround from playing in Perth on Friday, spending all Saturday travelling, having to go to the NBL awards in Melbourne on Tuesday, coming home to practice on Wednesday and then hosting the Tasmania JackJumpers on Thursday night. Winning that will see them straight into the semi finals or else they have to back up to play either South East Melbourne or Perth on Sunday. Pinder won‘t be back unless they reach the Grand Final but McCall should be right to play Tasmania this Thursday.
Potential award winners: Keanu Pinder slipped from MVP contention with his two late season injuries but he remains the raging favourite to go back-to-back in the Most Improved Player award. Sam Waardenburg was also locked in as Rookie of the Year before that was scrapped in favour of the Next Generation Award, which he is a chance to win. Both DJ Hogg and Bul Kuol had cases for Best Defensive Player nominations while Adam Forde would be a more than deserving Coach of the Year winner. Hogg and Pinder should find spots on All-NBL teams.
Final Grade: A+. What a performance it‘s been to go from second last to third and to have done it by putting together a playing group perfectly suited to how coach Adam Forde wanted to play.
TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS (16-12, Fourth)
Nobody gave them a chance in their inaugural season and they shocked everyone by reaching the Grand Final. Even fewer people gave them a chance of backing it up in NBL23, but they have again finished fourth and played with tremendous heart and spirit, are coached outstandingly by Scott Roth and you wouldn’t write them off from going all the way over the next month.
What worked: It surprised many when the JackJumpers didn’t bring back Josh Adams after his playoff heroics last season, but his replacement Milton Doyle has been nothing short of brilliant. Then there‘s the continued growth of Jack McVeigh who has become an inspirational presence. Will Magnay had a rough first season and-a-half with the JackJumpers, but his back end of this season has been encouraging too and the growth of Sean Macdonald has seen him emerge has one of the more effective Australian guards in the league even though he’ll still be a development player in NBL24. More than anything it’s the spirit they have once again played with and heart they’ve shown. Not everything’s gone to plan this season, but they have bounced back strongly on each occasion. Their defensive rating is just fourth best in the league but they conceded the second least points a game at 81.7 and their offence has more potency.
Jackjumpers thrash Hawks in Wollongong | 01:12
What didn‘t: Captain Clint Steindl’s season has never quite got going after he missed the first 10 games while injury has also limited the impact of fellow key players Matt Kenyon and Sam McDaniel. Consistency has also been a bit of a problem with the JackJumpers never winning more than three games straight or losing more than the three in-a-row they started with, but they did close out winning eight of the last 12 to finish fourth. They also struggled more at home than you would expect given the incredible atmosphere they play in front of, going 7-7 between Hobart and Launceston. They are another team who only played six games all season with a full squad available and they will be missing Josh Magette likely for the entire finals series.
The outlook: The JackJumpers locked away fourth spot in Wollongong on Saturday, but it came at a cost. It looks unlikely now that point guard Josh Magette will play again this season with a facial injury while there‘s an injury cloud over captain Clint Steindl ahead of Thursday’s play-in match up with the Cairns Taipans. Rashard Kelly will return and both teams will have their injury woes and a win in that game to go straight into the semi finals and avoid a cut-throat match up on Sunday with either the Phoenix or Wildcats will be crucial.
Potential award winners: Scott Roth can consider himself unlucky to not be nominated to go back-to-back in Coach of the Year awards. Development player Sean Macdonald has been nominated for the Most Improved Player award and Rashard Kelly is in the running for Best Sixth Man. Milton Doyle wouldn’t have been far off an MVP nomination and will be in one of the All-NBL teams.
Final Grade: A. They might not have the same defensive grunt as they did last year, but they are a bit more offensively dangerous and in many ways this has been a better achievement this season to be fourth than it was last year.
SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX (15-13, Fifth)
At full strength, this South East Melbourne Phoenix team has looked a championship calibre unit. The problem is, they have rarely had everyone available and time will tell if that happens in the finals, but they‘ve at least made it and that’s the first box ticked for this team that is not short on talent.
What worked: Mitch Creek and Alan Williams up front proved to be quite the impressive one-two punch for the Phoenix. Creek had the best and most consistent season of his 316-game career to be in the MVP hunt while Williams became a powerful presence once he figured things out, averaging 16.6 points and 9.6 rebounds. Gary Browne when healthy became the ideal point guard for this team too and had the team running smoothly when at his best. They made it a focus to be an inside focused team and that helped them be terrific rebounding the basketball, being the strongest rebounding team in the league with 38.6 boards a game and 12.3 at the offensive end. Combined with the third fewest turnovers in the league and that helped them win the possession battle most nights, and give themselves a chance. They showed good heart throughout the season too. They had personnel issues the whole way, but rebounded from an early three-game losing run and late five-game losing streak to go on winning runs on both occasion to end up deservedly in the finals.
What didn‘t: Being at full strength has been their biggest problem. They started the season missing imports Gary Browne and Trey Kell III along with Ryan Broekhoff. Then the signing of Zhou Qi never paid off, he only ended up playing nine games and never returned after heading back to China for family reasons. He had the potential to be a real difference maker with his size and like to offset the powerful presence Alan Williams provided. They did struggle shooting from the outside going at just 32.3 per cent from three to be only ahead of the Illawarra Hawks while they did struggle at times to contain their opponents, giving up 89.7 points a game and having the fourth worst defensive rating.
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The outlook: They had a horribly nervous wait over the past week to find out if they would reach the finals or not, but things worked out as well as could have been expected by ending up in fifth spot to get to host the Perth Wildcats this Thursday night. They will be fresh having had the week off so whether or not they come off well after a break or not will remain to be seen, but their bodies should be healthier at least. Ryan Broekhoff is an outside chance to return to face the Wildcats while they‘ll be at full strength aside from that if you don’t factor in the continued absence of Zhou Qi. Their outlook is good because of how well they match up with Perth. They have a significant advantage on the Wildcats up front and should they win on Thursday, they’ll like their chances against the loser of the Taipans-JackJumpers match up with both those teams battling physically right now.
Potential award winners: Mitch Creek is one of three nominees in the MVP award and he would be a deserving winner after the best and most consistent season of his career. He should be named to the All-First NBL Team too but it might be slim pickings for the Phoenix at the awards night outside of that. Alan Williams deserves consideration in an All-NBL Team though.
Final Grade: B. They had to deal with plenty throughout the season and to steady the ship late to win three of their last four games before the nervous wait and now earn a home final is a good effort.
PERTH WILDCATS (15-13, Sixth)
What a ride it was for John Rillie in his first season as a coach in the NBL. The pressure was on for the Perth Wildcats to return to the finals after the streak ended last year, and they‘ve ended up doing that albeit only secured on the very last second of the regular season. However, now that they are there they have enough firepower to do some damage.
What worked: It might not have been John Rillie‘s plan when he took over, but this Wildcats team became quite the offensive threat. They averaged 92.1 points a season to be ranked second with the highest offensive rating across the league. They shot the fourth most three-pointers a game and did it well with a second best percentage of 36.6 as a team. You can’t ignore the brilliance of Bryce Cotton this season, leading the league in minutes played and points scored. He didn’t always get enough help, but Brady Manek continued to grow as a scoring threat as the season went on and Corey Webster proved his ideal sidekick once put in the starting group. Luke Travers also showed terrific three-point shooting improvement the longer the season went.
What didn‘t: Rebounding and defence proved their two glaring weaknesses as the season went on. They finished with the least number of rebounds of any team across the league with just 33.5 per game with the worst defensive rebounding rating, and second worst at the offensive end. Then there’s the defence, they just couldn’t stop teams scoring and at times looked decidedly disinterested at the defensive end. They conceded 91.7 points a game while having the worst defensive rating across the league. The longer the season went, the shorter coach John Rillie’s rotation became and that became horrible news for veterans Mitch Norton, Todd Blanchfield and Majok Majok who all saw their playing time almost shrink to zero with the trio all having the least productive and fewest minutes on court in their NBL careers (aside from Majok’s lone season in New Zealand).
Wildcats nick NBL finals spot late | 00:30
The outlook: Returning to the finals was the first goal of this season after the playoff streak ended a year ago and they‘ve done that – albeit just. Now that they’ve made it, they will like their chances of making the most of it considering they have the best player in the competition with Bryce Cotton, and the offensive weapons of Brady Manek, Corey Webster, Tai Webster, TaShawn Thomas and the emerging Luke Travers. The Phoenix loom as a horror match up for them because of how dominant they were inside against them last time, but if their front court can stand up, they are a chance to get through on Thursday and then throw everything at the JackJumpers or Taipans to earn a crack at the Sydney Kings in the semi finals.
Potential award winners: Bryce Cotton is every chance to win a fourth MVP award after being the league‘s leading scorer with 23.5 points a game to go with 4.8 assists and 4.4 rebounds. Luke Travers is in the running for the Next Generation Award too and Brady Manek can consider himself unlucky to not have been nominated for that. Cotton is just about a lock for the All-First NBL Team too but it might be a quiet awards night for the ’Cats outside of him.
Final Grade: C. They made finals so that‘s an improvement, but only by the slimmest possible margin. They never got going defensively or rebounding wise, but pure talent has got them into the top six.
MELBOURNE UNITED (15-13, Seventh)
What a rollercoaster ride this season was. At 5-10 they looked dead and buried, but they went 10-3 the rest of the way and it was one solitary basket that cost them a spot in the finals. They overcame plenty to become a standout team in the back end of the season so can take heart from that.
What worked: The way they finished the season deserves a lot of credit because at 5-10 things could have capitulated. However, coach Dean Vickerman released the shackles on the team from there and encouraged them to play at a faster pace with more offensive freedom. Finishing 10-3 over the last 13 games suggests they are just about the best team across the league across the second half of the season, but they left themselves too much to do. The backcourt combination to close the season of Chris Goulding, Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Rayjon Tucker was exciting and just about unstoppable when the shackles were taken off. Marcus Lee‘s inclusion proved tremendous as well even if he didn’t get a lot of time with Isaac Humphries to show what a centre combination they could be. David Okwera’s emergence shows what a bright future he has and what they did over the last 13 games will leave them frustrated they missed out on finals – by two measly points.
What didn‘t: Things began to go wrong in the off-season when they lost Matthew Dellavedova and Jack White unexpectedly to the NBA. Then on the eve of the season, Next Star Ariel Hukporti ruptured his achilles and couldn’t be replaced due to not taking up a roster spot, so they would have been three of their five starters. There was plenty of faith put into Shea Ili to be the point guard without Dellavedova but on-going concussion issues limited his impact and he only played 14 games while Dave Barlow also missed the last five games through concussion. Jordan Caroline didn’t work out early in the season particularly as someone to step up to replace Hukporti, but Marcus Lee proved ideal. Had they had their team together for the full season, they will be left wondering what could have been had they managed to sneak into the top six. Ultimately blowing that eight-point lead with 45 seconds to go in Perth is what cost them above everything else.
Melbourne United star Chris Goulding.Source: Getty Images
The outlook: There will be a lot of dissection over what went wrong this season because Melbourne just isn‘t used to missing out on taking part in finals, but a lot of this can be put down to bad luck. Moving forward, they could do worse than bringing back the import trio of Rayjon Tucker, Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Marcus Lee. They showed great heart and chemistry in the run home. Lee and Isaac Humphries up front for a whole season would be dominant, and another season of Tucker, Rathan-Mayes and Chris Goulding in the back court will be tough. The health of Shea Ili will be a big factor. If he looks able to play a full season, he can be locked in as the starting point guard. Otherwise they’ll need to go hunt a new playmaker. They’ll also need to find some added help up front and to bring in a strong power forward either as a marquee local or an import. Basically their two needs are in what they lost – Jack White and Matthew Dellavedova. They should feel good about hitting back strongly though.
Potential award winners: If Rayjon Tucker had started the season playing the way he finished, then he would be right in contention for both the MVP award and a spot on the All-First NBL team. If Xavier Rathan-Mayes had also played as well in the middle patches as he did at the start and finish, then ditto. If Shea Ili played more than 14 games, he would be a legitimate Best Defensive Player option too. Unfortunately for United, their season was basically split in two and as a result they might not be up on stage too often.
Final Grade: C. Their first half of the season was rough and being 5-10 left them in a hole they couldn‘t quite get out of. But going 10-3 the rest of the way is to be commended.
ADELAIDE 36ERS (13-15, Eighth)
The great disappointments of NBL23. They put together an exciting roster, shocked the world by beating the Phoenix Suns and then in the NBL season proper, just never clicked, never got going and the result is a fifth consecutive season out of the finals.
What worked: For everything this team promised when they beat the Phoenix Suns in the pre-season and with the roster put together, it‘s really hard to say too much at all worked given a team with such aspirations finished at 13-15. Perhaps the greatest positive was the remarkable home support they received, continually setting new records at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Antonius Cleveland lived up to his billing too, improving on what he did last season at the Illawarra Hawks. He played with great heart and defensive intensity, and his offensive game rose so he can hold his head high. Another positive was Anthony Drmic. In his second stint at the Sixers, he could very well have had the best season of his 199-game NBL career. But really, it’s not a season where they will feel much worked or went to plan at all.
What didn‘t: Bringing together so many potential stars always has the issue of developing the right chemistry, and figuring out how to play as a cohesive unit. Let’s be honest, that never happened with this Adelaide team. A lot of that early was blamed on Craig Randall but it never really improved after he left. While winning against the Phoenix Suns was a historic event, having to miss the first two weeks of the season as a result and the sideshow that created might have also done more harm than good. More than anything, though, what hurt them was an apparent lack of interest and effort defensively. With Mitch McCarron, Sunday Dech and Antonius Cleveland, this should have been a good defensive team. They finished as the third worst defensive team in the league. Coach CJ Bruton also wasn’t fully able to put his imprint on having a team play to his identity.
Adelaide 36ers keep finals hopes alive | 00:59
The outlook: Five straight years out of the playoffs and patience is wearing thin in Adelaide. The city couldn’t be more behind the team breaking attendance records game after game, but they deserve a winning team now. Robert Franks and Antonius Cleveland are locked in to return and so are Sunday Dech, Mitch McCarron, Kyrin Galloway and Nick Marshall. The writing is on the wall that Daniel Johnson‘s time in Adelaide is up and it would be unlikely for Kai Sotto and probably Ian Clark to return. Anthony Drmic was terrific and should be welcomed back. CJ Bruton has talked about wanting his team to more play to the identity of their coach next season so he’ll be recruiting to fit what he wants, but ideally a strong and powerful big man presence and then a quality point guard would be high on the agenda because they are well covered in the two, three and four spots. Without doubt it’s a make a break season in NBL24 not only for Bruton as coach, but the whole organisation.
Potential award winners: Antonius Cleveland holds the best hopes of anyone from Adelaide to grab the limelight on Tuesday night. He is nominated for the Best Defensive Player and is every chance to make it consecutive Damian Martin Trophy wins. He should also find a place in an All-NBL Team. Kai Sotto would have to be the runaway favourite to win the Fans MVP too on the back of having all of the Philippines voting for him again.
Final Grade: D. So much was expected of them but at no point did they come together as a cohesive team. They showed flashes, but equal flashes of disunity. Make or break time now in NBL24.
BRISBANE BULLETS (8-20, Ninth)
There was such excitement around them coming into NBL23. Many had them as championship fancies, but the season never got off the ground. They had three coaches in three weeks, import changes and for a while lacked competitiveness, but they at least finished off on a more positive note.
What worked: It‘s hard to say too much worked well but things really threatened to spiral out of hand with a record 49-point loss to Sydney, but they at least played with some pride and heart the rest of the season. They won three of four games directly out of that game to their credit. Bringing in Tyler Johnson proved to work well once he figured out the league and DJ Mitchell’s emergence was a definite highlight. Greg Vanderjagt’s performance as coach is something that must be commended too and he showed that he has a future as a head coach in the league either remaining with the Bullets or elsewhere. The home crowd support was also tremendous from the Brisbane locals despite the struggles of the team topped off by a sold out 5253 in their final game on Saturday against the New Zealand Breakers.
What didn‘t: The off-court turmoil in the first half of the season just got out of hand. James Duncan was unceremoniously dumped as coach just hours before the team flew out to New Zealand, with him replaced by GM Sam Mackinnon rather than one of the assistants. Then just as the team was flying to Cairns, Mackinnon was replaced by Greg Vanderjagt, it’s just unfathomable how it was all handled. Releasing Devondrick Walker was also baffling when it took them so long to bring in Andrew White III meaning they played eight games with Tyler Johnson their lone import. And as good as it was to see Aron Baynes back playing basketball, at no point did they ever fully get the most out of what he could have provided both through him not getting enough touches in the right spots and his frustrations with the officiating.
Aron Baynes.Source: Getty Images
The outlook: This is the biggest unknown out of every team. Firstly they need to decide on their coach. Do they back in Greg Vanderjagt to continue in the role after the players appeared to respond to him, do they appoint a quality local like Pero Cameron or Anthony Petrie, or look completely out of the box. That is going to be the biggest question and will determine where they go with their player personnel. Nathan Sobey and Aron Baynes are locked in contractually, but there‘s a lot to go under the bridge before Baynes is guaranteed back. That leaves them with three import spots to fill and they need to find a genuine point guard but the other two spots largely depend on Baynes. Should he not return, they’d need an import centre but if not, they could go for a three/four man as import and potentially try to lure Tyler Johnson back. They have great potential with DJ Mitchell, Tyrell Harrison, Tanner Krebs, Gorjok Gak and Kody Stattman as the core of locals to build around while it’ll largely be up to Jason Cadee if he wants to remain at the Bullets or not.
Potential award winners: It will be a quiet night for the Bullets at the Gazey‘s. Tyler Johnson has been nominated as Best Sixth Man and he deserves serious consideration for that award, but that might be about it in terms of anyone from Brisbane being recognised. DJ Mitchell made his point on Saturday night that he deserved a look in for the Next Generation Award too after putting up 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting tremendously in his first NBL season, but he wasn’t nominated.
Final Grade: D. This threatened to get out of hand with that record loss to Sydney on the back of the three head coaches in a matter of weeks and import changes. They finished the season better, though, to give some positivity.
ILLAWARRA HAWKS (3-25, 10th)
They might have finished with the worst record in franchise history, but that should be put in perspective of the fact they had a rookie coach, lost four imports to season-ending injuries and did a lot of good in the second half of the season building for the future.
What worked: They had every excuse in the world to think it was all too much for them, but the great positive is how hard they fought especially through the second half of the season. Sure, the wins didn’t come, but they gave themselves countless chances and made themselves hard to beat and provided hope for the future with that competitive spirit, and blooding fresh talent. Tyler Harvey was the almost complete defensive focus of opposition teams but he still put up 18.9 points a game including 10 straight late 20-point performances while Sam Froling had to do a lot of the heavy lifting, and strong so they provided impressive leadership as co-captains. Emerging guards Lachie Dent and Davo Hickey showed good signs while the return of Dan Grida from a horror injury run was encouraging and Deng Deng had his best career season with increased opportunities up front.
What didn‘t: The tone was set in the very first game of the season when Justin Robinson went down with a season-ending knee injury. He was ultimately replaced by Peyton Siva who only played 11 games before his own shoulder injury. George King didn’t pan out and left injured after nine games too and Michael Frazier II proved a tremendous replacement, but he broke his arm after playing eight matches. Losing four imports in one season to long-term injuries is unheard of. While they were competitive for the most part, they did struggle to close out games and execute late which is why they lost 14 games by 10 points or fewer. Ultimately they just didn’t have enough help for Tyler Harvey in the backcourt or Sam Froling up front with too much left to rest on their shoulders.
The outlook: It might seem strange to say after a team just went 3-25, but the outlook looks relatively bright. Tyler Harvey and Justin Robinson are locked in to be the import back court they were hoping to have this season before Robinson got hurt in the very first game. Having another quality playmaker alongside Harvey will only make him more dangerous. Sam Froling will only be better after the role he was put in this season and the minutes put into Lachie Dent and Davo Hickey should pay off. Michael Frazier II deserves the chance to come back but that likely depends on if they can find a quality local big man to be their marquee. If not that role would need to be filled by an import because Froling and Deng Deng need more help up front. Having Harvey, Robinson and Froling as the centre pieces, the potential of Frazier, a marquee big and then solid role players like Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, Deng, Dent, Hickey and Alex Mudronja should ensure their competitiveness provided they get a better run with luck.
Potential award winners: It wouldn’t shock to see Tyler Harvey sneak in for a spot on the All-Second NBL Team after the way he battled through the season and averaged 18.9 points including 10 straight 20-plus point games. Sam Froling has to be favourite for the Next Generation Award having put up 14.0 points and 8.0 rebounds so the co-captains could be recognised on Tuesday night in Melbourne.
Final Grade:C-. Sure, 3-25 looks horrible. But deeper investigation and losing four imports along the way, blooding plenty of young talent and the way they battled in the second half of the season deserves to be acknowledged.
