DrinkWise Preview: NBL23 - Round 14 v Tasmania JackJumpers

Written by Melbourne United Media

Melbourne United will make the trip to Tasmania for a huge matchup against the JackJumpers in their lone game of Round 14.

Riding four wins in their past five outings, United will be hoping to push through the barrier the JJs have put up in recent memory.

Tassie have gotten the better of United in each of their past four meetings, and will be hoping to extend their streak, further solidifying their spot in the top four.

PLAYER TO WATCH

A common thread in United’s pair of losses to the JJs thus far in NBL23 was the absence of Shea Ili, who will celebrate his 200th NBL game on Saturday.

The Kiwi guard has led from the front since his return, helping Melbourne to a 7-3 record when he’s on the court.

With so much of Tasmania’s offence coming from their pair of import guards, look for Ili to play a major role in slowing down the likes of Milton Doyle and Josh Magette.

KEY MATCHUP

When you think of the purest outside shooters in the NBL, Chris Goulding and Clint Steindl both come to mind.

CG43 is coming one of his best shooting seasons of his career, cashing in on 3.5 triples per game at a near 40% clip.

Steindl on the other hand has been uncharacteristically wayward with his three-ball, knocking down just three long-range looks and shooting just 15.8% from outside over his last seven games.

As showcased in MU’s win over the Bullets in Round 13, Goulding’s shooting has the potential to break open any game, and if he is able to have another successful night from beyond the arc while keeping Steindl in check, United will be well poised to take home a win.

THE OTHER GUYS

Sporting a deep lineup full of contributors, the JJs can be hard to stop, especially in their home gym.

Their trio of imports, Doyle, Magette and Rashard Kelly can all get hot, while Will Magnay and Fabian Krslovic lock down the middle with their size.

Young guns Isaac White and Sean Macdonald have each thrived in their opportunities this season, providing Tassie with a much needed spark in the adsense of Sam McDaniel and Matt Kenyon.

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GAME INFO

Who: Melbourne United vs Tasmania JackJumpers

Tip off: 5:30pm (AEDT), Saturday 7 January, 2023

Where: MyState Bank Arena, Tasmania

Watch: ESPN via Kayo and Foxtel