NBL23 Review: Tasmania JackJumpers

Saturday, April 1, 2023

With the NBL23 season in the books and Free Agency officially opened, the time to review the season is now.

From bottom to top, NBL Media will be running through each side’s most recent campaign and assess the good, the bad, the ugly, and the upcoming off-season.

The JackJumpers were back to prove their NBL22 performance wasn't just a fluke, but after three losses to start the season questions were being asked of the side.

Those questions were answered, and then some, over the rest of the season.

New import Milton Doyle led the side to a 16-12 record for the season - just one win fewer than Tasmania had managed the season before - and the JackJumpers secured Playoff basketball for the second time in their two season existence.

The Good – Running it back
There were whispers that Tasmania’s remarkable run to the NBL22 Championship Series was a flash in the pan. A once in a lifetime sporting achievement that captured the hearts of the nation, before the side drifted back down the ladder back towards where it should rightfully be.

In NBL23, the JackJumpers proved that their rightful place is at the top end of the table, and their debut season in the competition wasn’t just the perfect storm of a number of uncontrollable factors.

The loss of Josh Adams saw plenty ring the death knell for Tasmania’s NBL23 hopes – but they went and found an even better player in Milton Doyle.

Clint Steindl and Will Magnay entered the season under injury clouds and threatened to test the depth of the side early doors. In comes Isaac White to shore up the guard spots.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A reminder that is just Will Magnay's ????? game back from injury. This guy ?<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live and free on 10 Peach and 10 play | live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel ? <a href="https://t.co/Mt36gjT8Ah">pic.twitter.com/Mt36gjT8Ah</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1599271475063595009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Magnay returned to a level that resembled his breakout season in Brisbane, Jack McVeigh continued to not only improve, but thrive under Scott Roth. Sean Macdonald emerged as a genuine NBL talent in the absences of Steindl and Magette over the course of the season.

The core local talent of the JackJumpers remained the same, and that gritty, determined, take-no-prisoners style of hoops was on full display once again this past season.

If the second consecutive fourth-place finish and the ability to push the Breakers to a third game in their Playoff Series is anything to go by – the JackJumpers are here to stay.

The Bad – Early season defence
After creating their brand of basketball in NBL22 off the backbone of stingy defence, the JackJumpers opened the season uncharacteristically open at the back.

In fact, they gave up 100 points for the third time in their history in their second game of the campaign – a 106-84 loss to Cairns, off the back of giving up 84 to the Phoenix in their opener.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jack McVeigh wanted to see some nastiness from his team tonight, and he's taken it upon himself to NOT. BE. NICE ???<br><br>Follow the action live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel. <a href="https://t.co/NQq3W1mNGs">pic.twitter.com/NQq3W1mNGs</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1605855302808522752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In NBL22, the Tasmania averaged giving up 86.2 points per game in losses, and 74.8 points per game in wins. Across NBL23, those numbers increased to giving up an average of 88.6 points per game in losses and 77.6 points per game in wins.

Tasmania lost one more game last season than they did the season prior – so the overall metrics show their defence wasn’t at the standard it was the season before.

That being said, their offence improved enough to help cover for the added deficiencies.

The JackJumpers won just one of their six regular season games against the Breakers and Kings over the course of the campaign and gave up at least 90 points in three of those five defeats.

Tasmania was still a force to be reckoned with this past season, but their slight reduction in defensive quality led them to not be the championship contending force they ended up being in NBL22.

The Ugly – Josh Magette’s eye injury
Josh Magette’s eye injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for Tasmania.

After copping an accidental elbow to the face in Tasmania’s final regular season game against the Hawks, the JackJumpers’ leader and floor general required surgery to fix a broken cheekbone and fractured eye socket.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tasmania's Josh Magette went straight to the sidelines after this collision with Illawarra's William Hickey. <a href="https://t.co/VDJ8t7nHkG">pic.twitter.com/VDJ8t7nHkG</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1621777553697677312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Although he was a small chance to return to the court if his side had made it all the way to the Championship Series, his tenacity and experience on both ends of the floor was sorely missed as the JackJumpers fell to New Zealand in Game 3 of their Playoff Series.

Young pair Sean Macdonald and Isaac White filled in well for the veteran guard, and although he could still influence proceedings as something of an extra coach from the bench in Game 2, his inability to fly because of the injury meant he couldn’t be involved in Games 1 and 3.

That accidental knock to the face could prove to have been the crucial sliding doors moment for Tasmania’s championship hopes and, given Magette is currently out of contract heading into NBL24, it could indicate the last time we see him grace an NBL floor.

The Off-Season – Project Milton in full swing
Tasmania head coach Scott Roth has not been shy about his ambition to re-sign Milton Doyle over the NBL off-season, and he’s not been shy about saying all the club’s other moves will revolve around Doyle’s decision about whether or not to return to Tasmania.

The former Brooklyn Net was electric in his first season in the NBL. He averaged 17.2 points per game on 44.1 per cent shooting across the regular season and Playoffs, and was Tasmania’s go-to guy when the game was on the line.

His performances saw him rewarded with the first ever All-NBL First Team selection by a JackJumpers player.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 2022/23 Tasmania JackJumpers Most Valuable Player is Milton Doyle <a href="https://t.co/FhWetOo8by">pic.twitter.com/FhWetOo8by</a></p>— Tasmania JackJumpers ? (@JackJumpers) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers/status/1629434065744187392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Import pair Josh Magette and Rashard Kelly are both free agents heading into next season, while Sam McDaniel has already confirmed he will explore his free agency options.

Key cogs Jack McVeigh, Clint Steindl, Will Magnay and Sean Macdonald are already contracted for next season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again… MILT DIFFERENT ?<br><br>Watch live + free on ESPN via <a href="https://twitter.com/kayosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kayosports</a> Freebies <a href="https://t.co/H6h8rLfo55">pic.twitter.com/H6h8rLfo55</a></p>— Tasmania JackJumpers ? (@JackJumpers) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers/status/1627186286619660288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Given McVeigh and Magnay would likely start alongside Doyle should he re-sign, the 29-year-old’s future looks set to have serious impact on the pieces placed around the trio as Tasmania looks to return to the Championship Series.