JackJumpers import Jordon Crawford speaks on career-first role change following JackJumpers 100-76 win over New Zealand
A Tasmania JackJumpers import has spoken for the first time since shifting into a role he is playing for the first time in his career. Here’s what he had to say.
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Fresh off their best offensive showing of the season, Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth says the reigning NBL champions won’t rest on their laurels and will use an 11-day break to continue to improve.
A 100-76 win over a struggling New Zealand was Tasmania’s first time hitting triple figures since last year’s semi-final series against Perth while it was also their fifth straight victory after a shaky start to the season.
Now sitting 8-8 in sixth position, the JackJumpers won’t play again until December 23 when they travel to face Melbourne United before a return game against New Zealand at MyState Bank Arena on Christmas Day.
But despite having a much-needed extended break between games, Roth said they would continue to work.
“They don’t have days off, they know that,” Roth said.
“They will have time to recover and then we will review this game on Monday and go back to work. We will pace ourselves and take advantage of this time off to pick away at some of the things we can improve on.”
It was another terrific showing against the Breakers with an even spread across the board.
Star import Jordon Crawford (24 points, three rebounds and four assists) proved his move to the bench may become a masterstroke while Sean Macdonald (17 points, one rebound and one assist) and Will Magnay (six points, six rebounds and eight assists) continued their impressive runs of form.
“The last four to six weeks our guys have just been really good at locking in on individual improvement,” Roth said.
“We pride ourselves on (that), and then as a team we’ve worked on some of the things we had to correct and everybody is buying in and getting rewarded for the work.”
After receiving high praise for the way he embraced his move out of the starting five in the win against Cairns, Crawford said he would continue to do what’s best for the team.
“It’s about the guys that I’m playing with and doing what’s best for the team, it’s not about me,” Crawford said.
“They need me regardless of whether I’m playing two minutes or 40 minutes, so when I’m on the court I’m going to bring energy and when I’m on the bench, I’m going to bring energy. That’s just what I’m going to do.”
“It’s good having all the guys back. ‘Seany’ (Macdonald) healthy brings us another guard ball handler that can create and get guys involved and just our confidence, the competition at practice has gone up another level. We are making each other better every day.”
‘This is home’: JackJumpers assistant on decision to re-sign
– Ryan Rosendale
Given his strong ties to Tasmanian basketball, Mark Radford says making the decision to extend his time as an assistant coach at the JackJumpers was a pretty simple one.
The highly respected and intelligent coach has been an integral part of Tasmania’s set-up since they entered the league and has recently put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension.
A former assistant at Perth and Adelaide, Radford was also Tasmania’s state coach between 2016-2020 and his new deal will extend his time at the JackJumpers into a fifth season.
Speaking on Tuesday, Radford said there wasn’t any desire or offers to leave the club and was humbled by the club’s desire to retain his services.
“(There was) no offers anywhere else and I’m not looking anywhere else, this is home,” Radford said.
“I have great ties to the whole basketball landscape (in Tasmania) so there was never a thought about either not taking on the extension or doing something else. I love the club and where we are at and the direction we are taking.
“I’ve been here from the start and was privileged to get that position from the beginning and I’m honoured to think the club, from where we started to where we are now, think I can continue to play an important role in that framework.”
One of three assistants working alongside head coach Scott Roth, Radford also lifted the lid on his relationship with the championship winning coach and if he had desires to one day lead a team in his own right.
“He (Roth) has really challenged me,” he said.
“It’s not easy being an assistant at my age when you have thoughts on the game, and Scott is here and it’s his program, so he has really challenged some of my thinking. We have good debate and I think that is really healthy for our program and I hope and know that will continue.
“I think, in the back of their mind, any coach wants to be a head coach at some stage but until (the opportunity) is actually there, you are really not thinking too much of it because you are too immersed in the day to day process of trying to win games in a very difficult league.”
Currently riding the wave of a four match winning streak, Tasmania will face New Zealand on Thursday night with tip-off at 5.30pm.
‘Overhyping everything’: Jackies star hits out at critics
– Brayden May
Tasmania JackJumpers star Will Magnay has hit back at critics after his side continued their mid-season resurgence at the weekend.
The round 11 win over the Cairns Taipans made it four on the trot for the reigning NBL champions who now sit at 7-8 on the season.
Just over a month ago, sitting at 3-8, coach Scott Roth and his men found themselves at a crossroads in their title defence but led by the likes of Magnay and Milton Doyle, the Jackies have found their best form in recent weeks.
“Media does a good job of overhyping everything that’s happening,” Magnay said.
“We know we’re just going to come in and attack the next day, and that we were doing the right thing at practice and that would all eventually pay off.
“They’ve started to pay off a little bit now.
“We still have a long way to go and areas we can improve in. We can’t get complacent.”
The JackJumpers have now turned their attention to a crunch clash with the fifth-placed New Zealand Breakers on Thursday night as they aim to continue improving their playoff chances.
Magnay said Breakers guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright was “probably” the NBL MVP so far this season.
But fans can look forward to seeing him take on former Boston Celtic big man Tacko Fall, who stands at a whopping 7’6”.
“He’s tough to slow down and they’re a little bit bigger now with Taco so it will be a good challenge for us,” Magnay said.
A different challenge when we played them just a few weeks ago.
“I played against him in college. He’s a big body, he’s got good touch and he can actually move pretty well for a big fella. He’s a handful.”
Last Thursday’s win against the struggling Taipans was just the second time the JackJumpers have scored over 90 points in a game this season.
Magnay said he had faith more strong offensive showings could be on the way.
“It’s good to see the team progressing on what we’ve been doing at practice and finally getting some results.
“99, it’s been rare for us this year.
“It just shows confidence in player’s abilities and them believing in themselves and willingness to make the extra pass.”
Thursday’s game against the Breakers is scheduled to start at 5.30pm.
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