Crosscourt: Michael Randall’s Likes and dislikes out of Round 2 of the 2024-25 NBL season
Justin Tatum and the red hot Illawarra Hawks are the one of only two undefeated teams in the league. They’re playing unlike any other side in the competition. NBL ROUND 2 LIKES AND DISLIKES
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Fair play to Scott Roth on his self awareness and classy reset after a tough few weeks leading into the season.
The reigning championship coach, last week, copped criticism over a prickly pre-game interview with NBL reporter Jo Healy and his unwillingness to speak about the JackJumpers’ NBL24 triumph.
An open and honest Roth said Tasmania’s crammed schedule, which took the JackJumpers from Tassie to the Gold Coast to Singapore to Perth, jamming in six games in the space of a couple of weeks, had a “weardown factor” that left him needing to “hit the reset button”.
An eight-day break between games gave the Jackies a chance to spend time with loved ones and find some normalcy, culminating in a revenge win over Melbourne United — on the night they unfurled their championship banner.
“I think everyone felt like getting home was going to be a great remedy and, for myself, I had told these guys on Wednesday I had to hit the reset button for myself just personally and just mentally to regroup because there’s a lot of stuff going on with us off the court,” Roth said following his side’s 81-72 win.
“Being there this week and finally having our normal practice week and preparation moving into this weekend, I think just settled the group in general.
“It did wonders for me.”
Roth had already apologised to Healy via text and said on SEN Tasmania midweek: “Ultimately I just have to do better. I was obviously quite grumpy and moody and really not myself.”
Exhibit A of why Roth is one of the finest coaches in the country.
LIKES
NBL’S HOKBALL LEAGUE’S BIGGEST SHOW
We’re only two rounds into the new season but Justin Tatum and the red hot Illawarra Hawks one of only two undefeated teams in the league after they shocked title favourite Sydney on their home floor.
Kind of like how the happy Hawks of the AFL variety have a spread of contributors all over the field, the Hawks of the Illawarra kind have had a different top scorer in each of their three victories over Cairns, Brisbane and now their state rivals.
Like the Hawks of the brown and gold kind, the round ball Hawks are playing with a genuine joy and togetherness.
And it’s death by a thousand cuts from this team with six players averaging double-digit scoring, led by smooth import guard Trey Kell (19.7 per game)
Against the title favourite Kings, the Hawks turned on the afterburners late, scoring 12 of the last 16 points of the game to run out convincing winners, 96-89.
Fresh off a 30-piece against Brisbane on Friday night, import Trey Kell made it 50 for the weekend, while captain Tyler Harvey poured in 21.
Justin Tatum and company have drawn first blood in the Freeway series and are making a big statement, early doors, showing their stunning surge to the NBL24 semi finals was no flash in the pan.
TY DOLLA SIGNS
After an eye-catching pre-season, the Brisbane Bullets are yet to win a game, but they have locked in a key piece in Tyrell Harrison on a two-year extension that will keep him at the club until at least the end of NBL27.
It’s a massive early hit for the Bullets, given Crosscourt has been told several clubs had been keeping a close watch on Harrison, with the view to launching a poaching raid on the 214cm Kiwi monster.
But Harrison, who has been at the Bullets since 2017 and is in his eighth season with the club, has stayed loyal and is now off the table.
“I’ve invested so much into my development at the Bullets, and I’m eager to contribute to the team’s future success,” Harrison said.
“It’s a privilege to continue my journey here, and I’m committed to helping us achieve our goals.”
Still just 25, injury struggles plagued much of Harrison’s early career. But he has found a new lease on life under Justin Schueller, appearing in 27 games and averaging career highs across the board of 9.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.
A massive pre-season, where Harrison claimed the Ray Borner Medal for NBL Blitz MVP signalled an expanded role and early nominations for the league’s Most Improved Player.
“This is an important and positive signing for the club,” Schueller said.
“Tyrell … has consistently developed his craft through his daily habits, and we look forward to knowing he will continue that journey with us for some time.”
HOW JACKIES MANAGED ‘AWKWARD’ ASPECT OF BANNER UNVEILING
Tasmania chief executive Christine Finnegan consulted Melbourne United to ensure the championship celebrations were respectful, coach Scott Roth admitting he felt “awkward” about dropping the banner in front of the team the JackJumpers beat to secure the NBL24 title.
Roth was in Florida when the NBL schedule dropped and said he’d been concerned about the prospect of celebrating in front of their vanquished foes, especially given they’d just played them in Perth — a quirk of the Hoops Fest schedule, understood to have been dictated by the WA Government, who asked for a grand final rematch to open the event.
“You’re dropping this banner on a team you’ve just been battling, really unbelievable games we’ve had with them,” Roth said.
“There’s eight other teams we could have played on this night.”
A short ceremony for the players and fans took place prior to the game, with United, understandably, remaining in the changerooms for its duration.
“Christine Finnegan worked closely with United’s group and we came to this happy medium, which I thought was good,” Roth said.
“We worked with United over the last two or three weeks to make sure they were comfortable with being off the floor in that certain amount of time and we were very respectful of not sticking it back in their face in any way, but allowing our fans really to celebrate.
“They’re a gold standard club, one of the teams, in my short time here, that has been at the top of how they go about their business.”
Shout out to big Will Magnay for going about his business against United, too.
Off the back of his Olympic campaign in Paris, Magnay produced one of his best performance in Ant green, dominating on both ends of the floor with 18 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks and three rebounds. He was the difference in the game — The Jackies were +21 with him on the floor in a nine-point win.
GAME OF THE SEASON SO FAR?
Two heavyweights went at it in the late one on Friday night, the stacked Sydney Kings just prevailing over Perth Wildcats in a one-point thriller that stamped a way-too-early MVP pick.
There were monster performances everywhere as the Kings and Wildcats traded haymakers, but the rejuvenated Jaylen Adams’ composed dominance was a sight to behold.
Brian Goorjian’s arrival has unlocked the NBL22 MVP and the re-engaged former NBA man tore the Wildcats apart with 27 points, six assists, a Kings-40-minute-record-tying six steals and a big win.
The Kings are that good they’re bringing a prime Cam Oliver — who averaged an elite 17-10 in two seasons in Cairns — off the bench and they’ve got a guy in Xavier Cooks who has returned to the NBL an even better player than the one who claimed the NBL23 MVP trophy.
A little shout out to Perth rookie Elijah Pepper, who was called into action with fellow young gun Ben Henshall out sick, and proceeded to carry the Wildcats at times, hammering in 18 points — 10 of those coming in the fourth quarter.
He’s a walking bucket who wouldn’t look out of place as a nuggety in-and-under midfielder in the AFL with arms and legs like tree trunks.
If you wanted evidence the NBL’s competitiveness has lifted, look no further than Friday night.
CONFIDENT MAN WHITE AMONG LEAGUE’S BEST
Got a text half way through Thursday night’s Throwdown from a SuperCoach asking “has Jack White arrived at the court yet?”
It’s the kind of thing that pops into the head of a SuperCoach who might not necessarily have been watching the NBL all that long when they see one of their players on a low score.
White had no points, no rebounds, no assists, no steals, no blocks and was on zero in SuperCoach as the cadence of the game left Chris Goulding and company with a ton of wide open looks that led to 22 three-point attempts at the half — minimising his opportunity.
He lifted a little in the third but arrived with a massive boom that proved the difference in the game.
White was everywhere when it mattered most, pouring in 13 points on 4-5 shooting and 5-5 from the free throw line to go with seven rebounds in eight minutes of fourth-quarter dominance that put paid to the Phoenix hopes.
The 27-year-old NBA champion was typically self-effacing: “multiple guys can step up … that’s the beauty of our team” etc.
But, in truth, an effort like that proves to White what we all know — when he steps over that line in the NBL, on most nights he’s one of, if not the, best player on the floor.
Two night’s later, you could see he knew it, as he took it upon himself to keep United in the game during a dirty night in Tassie with 21 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals as his teammates struggled.
The most-traded player in SuperCoach after round 1 with 1,254 jumping off the dynamic forward, each will be kicking themself after White compiled 71 points across his two games, easily eclipsing his break-even of 40.
BITTEN SNAKE’S BIG BOUNCEBACK
Cairns was bitterly disappointing at Hoops Fest in a 27-point loss to Illawarra and 208cm Kiwi Sam Waardenburg copped some heat after he managed just one rebound in 24 minutes as the Hawks annihilated the Snakes on the glass 53-37.
Fast forward a week and it was as if Waardenburg was a different man and the Snakes were a different team.
The Taipans captain scored the Snakes’ first six points of the game on his way to 21 but, most impressively, crashed the glass to rip down 11 boards. Add four assists and three blocks and it’s the kind of complete game that will take the Taipans a long way this season.
That and superlative explosions from import guard Rob Edwards, who poured in an NBL season-high 31 points on 6-8 from deep to condemn the Sixers to an 0-2 start.
DISLIKES
PHOENIX OWNED BY UNITED FOR 664 DAYS — AND COUNTING
Overheard a Melbourne United person following Thursday night’s victory over South East Melbourne say something like ‘that was the most unstressful win’ — and don’t mistake that comment for arrogance.
There’s an air of inevitability about Throwdowns these days, the latest 12-point result making it 664 days and counting since the last time the Phoenix tasted victory over their cross-town rival.
The 96-84 loss was a sixth in a row for the Phoenix — by an average margin of 16.
Even when South East Melbourne squared it up at 70 with 7.35 to go in the game, it just never really felt like they were going to hang with United.
There’s some good signs there for the Phoenix. Derrick Walton Jr is truly elite and his connection with big Jordi Hunter in the two-man game is bearing fruit. New import Matt Hurt’s shown he’s a great shooter and good on the glass.
But the bench was outscored 34-10 and, while coach Mike Kelly made the adjustment and put a little more faith in Owen Foxwell, Nathan Sobey (9 points on 3/12 shooting) struggled for a second straight game in his new digs.
I wrote prior to the Phoenix’s clash with New Zealad he was too good not to turn it around and it didn’t take long - all of 48 hours as Sobey ignited for 24 points, four rebounds and four assists - but still had five turnovers - in a heartbreaking 81-79 defeat.
It’s early doors, but the Phoenix are now 0-3 on the season and is it that far out there to suggest the Phoenix look to examples like Cam Oliver in Sydney, Dylan Windler in Perth and Chris Goulding at United and bring their star off the bench to feast against second units?
It’s not who starts but who finishes, right?
SOAK IT IN, SCOTT
I’ve only put this in the dislikes because I reckon Scott Roth had every right to be on the court with his players, rather than nowhere to be seen on Saturday night as the NBL24 championship banner came down.
Roth has often stated “it’s not about me” when asked about the significance of the JackJumpers’ remarkable list of achievements and, true to form, he chose to leave the adulation to the players as the banner unfurled to a violinist’s rendition of The Ants Go Marching.
“We stayed behind,” Roth said after the game.
“This league is really about the players, it’s not about me or our coaches.
“The players drive this league and they should get all the kudos they can.
“I don’t need to be out there to do that, I get to see that banner 12 more times when I walk in this building and I’ll be quite proud of it.”
I don’t think I’m going out on a limb to say the Ant Army who packed out MyState Bank Arena for the unveiling would have loved to have seen the most popular man in Tasmania out on the floor for the celebration. Ditto his loyal playing group.
Another pinch yourself moment!
— Jack (@jacksoward) September 28, 2024
Privileged to be able to unfurl our championship banner last night, production crew nailed it 🜠💚💛 pic.twitter.com/pGM0QlJlXD
WHAT’S UP WITH ICE?
Tough to watch Isaac Humphries’ early-season struggle.
The Adelaide big man is one of the best Aussie centres in the NBL but, through two games under new coach Mike Wells, he has just five points and four rebounds and appears to be battling for touch and confidence.
It’s no coincidence the Sixers have lost both games, the latest against a Taipans side that was mashed by 27 just a week ago.
For all the hype for Montrezl Harrell — and it’s deserved, this man is a certified superstar — an unlocked, dominant Humphries is the key to the 36ers breaking their six-year playoff hoodoo.
Over his last 12 games in NBL24, Humphries averaged an elite 18.2 points, 8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.
Thursday night’s home opener against South East Melbourne will give Humphries the chance to bounce back in familiar surrounds and one suspects some early post touches against Phoenix key man Jordi Hunter will be on the menu.
UNITED SHOOTING BLANKS
Melbourne United was the worst free throw shooting team in the NBL last season, converting their freebies at a diabolical 68.9 per cent.
It was a key area identified by coach Dean Vickerman and crew to improve on for NBL25 and, through two games, they looked on the up at a respectable 78.6 per cent.
But, in Saturday night’s grand final rematch against Tasmania, United shot blanks from the free throw line and from deep.
Blame the 7-28 (25 per cent) from deep on an organised, fired up JackJumpers’ squad, fresh off watching their inaugural championship banner take pride of place in the MyState Bank Arena rafters.
But the 13-24 (54 per cent) is harder to excuse — especially given they left 11 points at the charity stripe in a nine-point result.
For United’s sake, it’s hopefully the exception, rather than the rule.
Originally published as Crosscourt: Michael Randall’s Likes and dislikes out of Round 2 of the 2024-25 NBL season
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