JackJumpers beat Melbourne United to reach NBL Grand Final
The JackJumpers have been forced to wait for their triumphant return to Tasmanian soil after their flight was turned around over Bass Strait. FIND OUT WHY>>>
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The JackJumpers have been forced to wait for their triumphant return to Tasmanian soil after their flight was turned around over Bass Strait.
The Tasmanian side, fresh off its thrilling 76-73 win over Melbourne, was scheduled to land at 2pm but are now scheduled to arrive at 4.25pm after mechanical issues forced them to return to the Victorian capital.
The JackJumpers will be back in the air to travel to Sydney for game one of the NBL Finals series on Friday night, before game two in Hobart on Sunday afternoon.
‘That’s the game!’: Adams’ game-winning three-pointer stuns
The JackJumpers are just three wins away from writing themselves into Australian sporting folklore after stunning Melbourne United on Monday night to make their way through to the NBL Grand Final series.
In just their inaugural season the JackJumpers have defied all odds to remarkably outlast eight other NBL teams to earn a mouth-watering grand final series matchup with the Sydney Kings.
The JackJumpers earned their way into the NBL Championship series after a thrilling 76-73 win over United on Monday to end the defending champions season and keep their own fairytale debut season alive.
With the best of three series tied at one all it all came down to Monday’s win or go home encounter at John Cain Arena and with its back to the ropes Tasmania proved yet again that hard work beats talent with a gritty three-point win.
After United lost star guard Chris Goulding to a calf injury just an hour before tip off the home side came out firing to take a 25-21 lead at the first break before the JackJumpers fired back to tie the scores at 40 apiece at the half.
THE WINNING THREE >>
The JackJumpers then put in a crucial third quarter performance to outscore United 20-14 to take a 6 point lead into the final term before hanging on in gritty fashion to register the best win of its short existence and book a spot in the NBL Grand Final series.
JackJumpers guard Josh Adams further enhanced his reputation on Monday night with the All-NBL second team guard proving to be the difference in the end with the high-flying American scoring 30 points in a starring clutch performance.
After going scoreless in the opening period Adams scored all 30 points in the final 30 minutes to help book the JackJumpers a place in the NBL Grand Final and into the history books as the first expansion side to make the grand final in its inaugural season.
With the JackJumpers up 71-68 with just a minute remaining Adams put a dagger in the heart of United with a clutch step back corner three to push the lead to six points and all but seal the victory for Tasmania.
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - TASMANIA JACKJUMPERS VS SYDNEY KINGS
Game 1: Friday 6 May
- Qudos Bank Arena, 7:30pm AEST
- ESPN via Foxtel and Kayo Freebies
Game 2: Sunday 8 May
- MyState Bank Arena, 2:30pm AEST
- ESPN via Foxtel and Kayo Freebies, 10 Peach
Game 3: Wednesday 11 May
- Qudos Bank Arena, 7:30pm AEST
- ESPN via Foxtel and Kayo Freebies
Game 4 (if required): Friday 13 May
- MyState Bank Arena, 7:30pm AEST
- ESPN via Foxtel and Kayo Freebies
Game 5 (if required): Wednesday 18 May
- Qudos Bank Arena, 7:30pm AEST
- ESPN via Foxtel and Kayo Freebies
If Adams was Batman then Jack McVeigh was his Robin with the sharp-shooting forward scoring 16 points to once again provide a huge scoring punch for the JackJumpers.
American point guard Josh Magette was also crucial for the JackJumpers to finish with nine points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Following the remarkable win Adams and his teammates were ecstatic and said they never lost hope despite losing six of their first eight games.
“We are on top of the world right now,” Adams said.
“It’s a surreal feeling especially to do it here against the reigning champions.
“We believed it from the beginning, even when we were 2-6 we bought into what we were doing.”
For United She Ili (18 points, five rebounds, four assists) and NBL MVP finalist Jo Lual-Acuil (16 points, seven rebounds and two blocks) led the way for United who were missing the firepower of Goulding.
The JackJumpers’s mission to cap off their fairytale season with an NBL Championship will get under way on Friday night when the newcomers take on the Kings at Qudos Bank Arena in game one of the best of five game series.
Game two will take place on Sunday at MyState Bank Arena at 2.30pm
United lose star player for crunch JackJumpers clash
THE JACKJUMPERS fairytale grand final hopes have been given a major boost with Melbourne United star Chris Goulding remarkably ruled out of Monday night’s crucial clash less than an hour before tip off.
Goulding is believed to have injured himself in the warm up ahead of the crucial game three decider in which the victor will advance to the NBL’s Grand Final series against the Sydney Kings.
The injury is huge blow for Melbourne United who will now host a confident JackJumpers side without its second leading scorer (15 points per game).
With a 7.30pm tip off the Jacks are just moments away from the biggest game in their brief existence as they prepare to face off against United for a spot in the NBL Grand final series.
After losing to United 74-63 at John Cain Arena on Thursday in game one of the best of three semi-final series the JackJumpers bounced back with a thrilling seven-point win over the defending champions on Saturday to force the deciding game three at John Cain Arena on Monday night.
The JackJumpers monster win over United on Saturday entered the record books as the first brand new expansion team to win a playoff game in their first season.
If Tasmania can achieve the unthinkable and beat United on its home court on Monday night it will create further history as the first ever NBL side to make the grand final in its inaugural season.
The winner of Monday’s matchup will earn themselves a blockbuster five game grand final series against the red-hot Sydney Kings after they beat the Illawarra Hawks in the first two games of their semi-final series to advance to the big dance.
Despite creating history with their thrilling win over United on Saturday, JackJumpers coach Scott Roth said there was more left to give from his relentless side.
“We are not satisfied,” Roth said.
“These guys have done the work all year and have the right to be in this position with all the hard work they’ve done.
“They continue to fight and scrap and defend the island and obviously I’m super proud of the group.
“I’m proud to be here representing the state and we are not done.”
A key to the JackJumpers chances on Monday will be their ability to contain United’s NBL MVP finalist Jo Lual-Acuil who the Jacks harassed all night in their game two win to contain the star big man to just 13 points and six rebounds.
Roth said he expected Lual-Acuil to bounce back at home but said his side would continue to get under its opponents skins as it searched for a fairytale spot in the grand final.
“He’s a heck of a player and super skilled and I expect him to bounce back on Monday and probably be really good.
“But we’ll continue to do what we do which is play hard and be an irritant and get after people and make them uncomfortable and we’ll see what happens.”
Ahead of the huge road game star JackJumpers point guard Josh Magette said his tight knit squad were prepared for the hostile crowd at John Cain Arena and would find energy within each other in search of a historic victory.
“We’ve kind of stuck together on the road all year and we’ve found a nice little rhythm on our road trips.
“We know when we go on the road it’s just the 12 guys in the locker room against whoever else is in the stands.
“We stick together and our intensity and our effort is something we feed off and that’s going to be huge for us.
“To bounce back and respond the way we did [in game two] there’s a lot of positive vibes in the locker room right now but we know that the job is not done.
“It’s first to two wins and we’ll be ready to go …”
The JackJumpers and Melbourne United will tip off at 7.30pm at John Cain Arena.
FOUR KEYS TO VICTORY
PUNCH ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT
The JackJumpers ability to crash the boards and fight for loose balls was a huge factor in their game two win and will once again be critical to their chances of pulling off a huge upset win on Monday.
After the JackJumpers were out-rebounded 52-32 in game one in Melbourne they bounced back in a big way in game two to lose the rebound battle by just three to restrict the numerous second chance opportunities it gave up in game one.
With star big man Will Magnay sidelined for the majority of the second half of the season Tasmania has relied on its ‘gang rebound’ mentality to counter its severe lack of size on the interior and it will need to do so once more if it’s any chance to beat United.
STOP JLA
United’s NBL MVP finalist Jo Lual-Acuil was a force in game one at John Cain Arena and whether the JackJumpers can contain the star centre on Monday will be pivotal to who comes out on top.
In United’s game one victory Lual-Acuil had 15 points, seven rebounds and six blocks to be a dominant force on both ends and if he puts up numbers like that again the JackJumpers will have little chance of another upset win.
JUMPIN’ JOSH ADAMS NEEDS TO BOUNCE BACK
Adams has been a star for the JackJumpers all season long with the high-flying American leading the team in scoring (16 points per game) to recently be named in the NBL’s All-Second Team.
However in a rare poor night Adams scored just six points on 2/8 shooting in Saturday’s huge home win.
While the JackJumpers were still able to win on Saturday without the scoring punch of Adams the Jacks will not have the benefit of a roaring MyState Bank Arena behind them on Monday and will need the athletic guard back to his scintillating best if the Jacks are any chance of winning.
DEFEND THE THREE
Melbourne have shot the three ball at a clip of 34 per cent this season but in its five games against the JackJumpers have struggled to overcome their stifling defence to connect on just 22 per cent of its shots from deep.
In Saturday’s win the JackJumpers held United to a miserly 17 percent (6/34) from three and will be aiming to keep the defending champions ice cold from downtown again on Monday.
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