36ers ready to kick campaign off against JackJumpers

Adelaide will key off their NBL23 campaign at home on Thursday night against NBL22 grand finalists Tasmania JackJumpers.

The JackJumpers, who have won just one of their first four matches, will travel to Brett Maher Court looking to make a statement and get their season back on track.

The 36ers, with confidence high after stunning the basketball world with a 134-124 win over Phoenix Suns last week, will finally get to play in front of their home fans after eight games on the road this pre-season.

THE KEY

Tasmania’s new import Milton Doyle has found his stride, with a game-high 32 points as the JackJumpers stormed back from 16 points down to beat Brisbane 90-86 last round.

The versatile swingman can score from multiple positions and will give Adelaide head coach CJ Bruton some headaches.

Doyle, who is averaging 10.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game in NBL23 looms large as a key weapon in Scott Roth’s side, look for Antonius Cleveland to pay close attention to the Tasmania sensation.

Point guard Josh Magette will also play a key role for Tasmania, running the offense and he can score in bunches.

Magette was one of the key reasons Tasmania road a wave of momentum all the way through to the NBL22 grand final series.

THE SECRET

Tasmania, all through last season, are getting their results done by committee. The JackJumpers have a number of players who can step up on any given night, but one player who will be keen to succeed is Jack McVeigh.

McVeigh, who spent three seasons at the 36ers, has found his groove in Tasmania as an undersized power forward who can stretch the defence, but also can attack the basket and pull down his fair share of rebounds.

The 203cm swingman is not short on confidence and has had some big NBL moments on the Adelaide Entertainment Centre court, so expect him to come out and play hard.

Import Rashard Kelly has also found a niche coming off the bench for Scott Roth’s side. Kelly can play multiple positions for the JackJumpers and cannot be underestimated.

THE FINAL WORD

Adelaide will have the confidence of not just the home fans, but the entire competition will be hunting them from the moment they run out onto Brett Maher Court on Thursday night.

Everyone will expect the 36ers to show the form that was good enough to beat the Phoenix Suns, the team with the best record in the NBA last year, earlier this month.

From hoping for an Adelaide win, fans will now expect success and with the “championship or bust” narrative being prominent this pre-season, the opening fixture is a must watch.

How the 36ers adjust to this expectation will be an interesting watch and with Thursday night’s game the first for this roster in front of their home fans, fireworks are anticipated.

DEPTH CHART

PG Magette I Macdonald

SG Kenyon I Weeks I White

SF Doyle I Brown I Tomasi

PF McVeigh I Kelly

C Krslovic I Bairsow I Forsyth

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