Preview: Tasmania v Illawarra (Round 12)

When: 7.30pm (AEDT), Thursday 22 December 2022

Where: MyState Bank Arena, Hobart

Broadcast: ESPN; Kayo; Foxtel; Sky NZ

Who won last time?

Illawarra 91 (Cleveland 22, Jessup 17, Reath 16) d Tasmania 65 (Adams 21, Steindl 17, McVeigh 10) – Round 16, NBL22, Silverdome, Launceston

Illawarra put a seriously lockdown on the JackJumpers in their final meeting of NBL22, Antonius Cleveland the undisputed star at both ends before celebrating in front of the scorers bench to show his displeasure at Tassie coach Scott Roth doing likewise a week prior in Hobart. Josh Adams and Clint Steindl fired for the JJs on an otherwise forgettable evening.

What happened last game?

Tasmania would like to forget Round 11, which saw them fall to both Cairns and Adelaide within 48 hours, conceding 92ppg as the absence of defensive specialists Matt Kenyon and Sam McDaniel continues to bite. The Hawks also went 0-2 last round, giving both Sydney and Melbourne a scare but their inability to keep the scoreboard ticking over, scoring just 78ppg for the round, meant the cellar-dwellers’ losing streak extended to four.

What’s working

Frugal Hawks – After going into Round 11 the NBL’s second-worst team for cough-ups at 14.6 per game, Illawarra committed just 16 across two contests, allowing only 13 points from turnovers in the process. Key playmakers Peyton Siva and Michael Frazier dealt an impressive 16 assists to just three turnovers, and if Tyler Harvey can improve his one dime, eight cough-up effort the Hawks can starve opponents of open-floor opportunities.

Isaac White – On a weekend where the JackJumpers were uncharacteristically outhustled, 'Ice' brought the heat at both ends of the floor, scoring 14 points in less than 20 minutes of action while adding four boards and two dimes. Tassie were +13 in White’s minutes, but -33 in the other 60:23 as no other JackJumpers registered in the positives. Isaac only saw 0:55 of fourth-quarter action across the two games though, in junk time, and he was sorely missed.

What needs to be stopped?

Fourth-quarter fade-outs – After being lauded for their late-game heroics in Sydney, the JackJumpers were outscored 47-26 in two Round 11 final terms, wasting golden chances to move hot on the heels of the top two. The JJs were reactive offensively in those periods, taking 17 of their 35 attempts from outside, only grabbing five o-boards from 26 misses and watching their opponents score 25 points from turnovers and defensive rebounds.

Opposition o-boards – Illawarra wasted their excellent ball security by giving up 26 o-boards in Round 11 at 33 per cent, with Melbourne’s perimeter players combining for seven of their team’s 13 on Sunday. Tasmania are 13-3 and +64 on second chance points this season, including 8-0 and +45 in their eight wins. Rashard Kelly and Jack McVeigh rank sixth and eight in o-boards, meaning Deng Deng must continue his recent strong form on the d-glass.

Who’s matching up?

Will Magnay v Sam Froling – When Froling’s presenting to good receiver spots in the middle cylinder the Hawks are a different offensive team. He’s found consistency lately, scoring 13 or more in three successive games for just the second time in his career, and when Magnay goes hunting blocks, Froling needs to present and finish. Magnay is searching for his own consistency upon return from injury, but given the Hawks have given up 20.3ppg and 13.7rpg to the five-spot in the past four games, here’s a chance to dominate at the rim.  

Milton Doyle v Michael Frazier – After being the late-game hero in Sydney, Doyle produced just seven points across both fourth quarters against Cairns and Adelaide while shooting a wayward 2/10. The JJs don’t have enough late-game playmakers for Milt to go missing. At the defensive end, he’ll likely have the job on Frazier if he recovers from illness, the Hawks import still impressing with 19ppg at 48 per cent after six games, but he’s landed only 2/12 from deep the past two games, so expect Doyle and Co to play him as a driver early.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome back to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> Michael Frazier II ?<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> live and free on 10 Peach and 10play | live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel ? <a href="https://t.co/TxhCKkZd6C">pic.twitter.com/TxhCKkZd6C</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1596735894232276993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Who’s saying what?

It’s coming for the Illawarra Hawks, slowly and frustratingly, but it’s coming.

“I just think it’s the little things right now. Obviously we've had some games where we haven't been in it, now the last three we've been in it and it’s just finding a way to win,” coach Jacob Jackomas said.

“Mike’s come in and given us a chance, as did Peyton when Peyton came in.”

That’s the biggest reason for the slow climb of the mountain Siva and Co are enduring, as they try to find a style that works with each significant roster change.

When Siva first arrived, the decimated Hawks put the ball in his hands, slowed the game, cut down on their turnovers, got predictable shots and made opponents play in a grind.

The return to form of Tyler Harvey and Sam Froling with a true PG running the offence, and the arrival of Frazier then gave the Hawks some quality weapons to share more of the playmaking.

That led to a faster-paced style that while entertaining, played into Sydney’s hands, but that balance improved in Melbourne, where they committed just seven turnovers and got to the foul line 33 times.

“Coach has been preaching for us to get the ball moving, getting it through hands. We took a couple of quick shots, and that can diminish your confidence a little bit,” Siva said.

“When we ran out sets, got the ball through hands, got inside-outside we were making shots.

“We did a great job of getting on the rim today, getting to the free throw line … we've just got to continue to encourage our guys to take the good shots, don’t take the challenged shots, continue to get on the rim, continue to share the ball.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DENG DENGGGG!!! ?<br><br>Catch the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL23?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL23</a> action live on ESPN via Kayo Sports and Foxtel. <a href="https://t.co/lyytqoL3Mv">pic.twitter.com/lyytqoL3Mv</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1604352397546885120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Mid-games we've got to continue to run our stuff, don’t take a break, don’t get rushed and take one-pass quick shots.

“We’ve got to limit them going forward and continue to run our sets and take the best shot, not the first good one.”

For Siva though, his team is keeping the foot to the floor and he’s confident the results will come.

“We’re just competing, everybody’s staying locked in and not giving up on the season,” he said.

“A couple of shots go in our way at the end of the game, especially in the fourth quarter when we took the lead, we had three really good looks from the three-point line that just didn’t fall. We make two of those and go on a run it’s a different story.

“I'm glad our guys are staying locked in because it’s tough to keep losing games, but they're staying locked in every day at practice, every day on trips, guys are focused, getting their work in, so hats off to them for staying professional.”

Tasmania took their foot off the pedal in Adelaide, and as a result they must now win on Thursday to stay inside the top six.

“One of our focuses was making sure we took care of the glass and they just pounded us in the second half with 11 offensive rebounds,” coach Scott Roth said.

“(They) only had one at half-time, I think there were seven in the fourth, it just fuelled them to get extra possessions and extra shots.

“Their workrate was much higher than ours and they made winning plays and that was it.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sharp shooting Clint takes the rebound and gets the 3 ? <a href="https://t.co/mUpZka1625">pic.twitter.com/mUpZka1625</a></p>&mdash; Tasmania JackJumpers ? (@JackJumpers) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers/status/1604760616497209344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That loss came on the back of another fade-out against Cairns in Hobart, their third-straight home defeat.

“You have to try and win at home, and that’s one thing we have not done very well,” Roth said.

Four of their next five contests are at MyState Bank Arena, and captain Clint Steindl knows this stretch will likely determine whether the JJs are post-season participants or spectators.

While both Frazier and Harvey are in doubt due to illness, Steindl knows his team can’t just rely on talent on Thursday.

“Any time you go home you want to play your best and we haven't shown that yet this season,” he said.

“There’s some things we have to figure out, but the effort areas can’t come into play, especially at home, they have to be nailed every time, then you have to make some winning plays.

“This is a chance for us to capitalise on our season and keep ourselves in touch in that top six, and to be able to do it at home is a really good chance, we just have to do it now.”