Tassie battle looms large for 36ers

Tasmania will be looking for a third straight win when the JackJumpers return to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre for the second time in NBL25 on Saturday night.

The reigning NBL champions, currently with a 5-8 record, have won their past two matches after a three-game losing streak and have looked to regain that NBL24 form.

Point guard Sean Macdonald is back in the line-up and the JackJumpers now have a clean bill of health and are eager to get their season back on track.

Adelaide has already defeated Tasmania this season, a 77-73 victory on home court last month, but will be without import duo Kendric Davis and Montrezl Harrell. 

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THE KEY
JackJumpers import swingman Milton Doyle has got back to his NBL23 best form in recent weeks and is the key barometer for Tasmania’s success.

Doyle scored game-high 32 points, including eight three-pointers as Tasmania fought back from a double-digit deficit in the JackJumpers’ 95-92 win at home against Brisbane Bullets last round.

The 193cm swingman is the JackJumpers’ go to man down the stretch and can win a game on his own, averaging 16.3 points per game across his 80-game NBL journey.

Another marquee match-up with Sunday Dech looms for Doyle with curtailing the Tasmanian superstar right on the top of the game plan, but don't be surprised if Nick Marshall and Lat Mayen also spend time on Doyle.

THE SECRET
Tasmania have a number of role players who can step up on any given night against any opponent.

The JackJumpers have multiple matchwinners, including import point guard Jordan Crawford and import swingman Craig Sword.

Sword has the potential of making big shots and his defensive capabilities can be disruptive to the Adelaide offensive structure.

Crawford can get hot, as proven in the NBL24 deciding grand final game five last season, and he will be a tough cover for Adelaide who is without Davis.

The JackJumpers have a lot of sweet shooting with Clint Steindl, Anthony Drmic and Macdonald marksmen from the perimeter.

DEPTH CHART
Crawford / Macdonald
Doyle / Drmic
Steindl / Sword
Te Rangi / Deng
Magnay / Krslovic / Gak

FINAL WORD
Adelaide will be out to respond following the FIBA break and will be facing a JackJumpers side keen to get their NBL25 season back on track.

Expect the defensive pressure to be dialed up in this contest with Tasmania looking to grind out their game plan, Adelaide must match the defensive intensity in the goal to score easy points.

Tasmania will look to attack an Adelaide side minus Davis and Harrell, with Crawford, Doyle and Magnay all looming as potential gamebreakers.

The 36ers need to start well, even though Adelaide fought back from a big half time deficit last month to defeat the JackJumpers 77-73.

Adelaide will look to lift in front of another sold out home crowd and are eager to get back to playing basketball and make a statement to the competition.