War-Wounded Phoenix Losing Top-Two Ground

The Tasmania JackJumpers hammered home their playoff credentials with a 25-point win over the South East Melbourne Phoenix on New Year’s Day, and while the victory moves them back into the drivers’ seat in the race for a top six place, NBL analyst Liam Santamaria says it’s a game they couldn’t afford to drop.

The Phoenix entered the clash without star duo Gary Browne and Ryan Broekhoff, while import centre Alan Williams was playing his first game on his return from an ankle injury. The injury bug that has plagued the Phoenix all season struck again though, as guard Trey Kell was ruled out of the second half after sustaining a left knee injury.

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“They are dealing with a whole bunch of illness and injury and issues right now the South East Melbourne Phoenix,” Santamaria said on NBL Today. “Luckily for them they built a bit of wiggle room and a little bit of margin for error with their record by winning a whole bunch of games and starting to knock on the door of the top two.

“I think it’s a real shame for them that they’re quickly falling out of that picture, which looking at the standings and the way playoffs are set up this year it’s going to be a massive advantage … they were looking in that realm but they’re not going to be by the looks of things.

“Now the issue is can they win a game or two while they’re waiting for Gary Browne and these bodies to come back.

“This league doesn’t wait for anybody. They might quickly find themselves in that battle for making fifth or sixth spot.”

Despite the wounded nature of their opposition, Santamaria also says nothing should be taken away from the quality of the JackJumpers in the victory.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="nl" dir="ltr">ALLEY OOFTTT ? <a href="https://t.co/GdBPoPTQXD">pic.twitter.com/GdBPoPTQXD</a></p>&mdash; Tasmania JackJumpers ? (@JackJumpers) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers/status/1609427042474549251?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tasmania registered a massive 32 points in the first quarter alone – the highest scoring opening term in the history of the side – to open up a buffer it would only expand upon during the course of the game.

Milton Doyle was at his best with 25 points, while development player Isaac White grasped the opportunity presented to him to finish with 18.

“They put on 32 points in the opening term … off the back of proactive, aggressive Tasmania JackJumpers basketball,” Santamaria said.

“Trapping in the back court, they just completely befuddled the South East Melbourne Phoenix and their ability to handle the ball and advance it up the floor, and the Ant-Army were just getting delirious in the stands.

“This Tasmania JackJumpers team has the potential to finish top four. I predicted them to finish top four.

“So when a team rolls in without key players on their roster – without their starting point guard, without their starting small forward, and then their starting shooting guard goes down with injury – you should beat that team.

“The JackJumpers, to their credit, did it in emphatic fashion.”