‘I’m not a good coach’: Stunning admission as title defence fails

Tasmania JackJumpers championship mentor Scott Roth has made the shocking claim despite his successful record. Now though, with a title defence all but over, we break down the next big decisions for the club.

Jackjumpers coach Scott Roth during a timeout this season. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Scott Roth’s affection for Tasmania has always been apparent.

But when it comes to his team’s title defence effectively ending, Jackies coach Roth kept an even keel after they gave up a big lead in Saturday’s road defeat to Melbourne United.

He’s stated this before, but he reiterated his low opinion of his own coaching skills despite guiding the Jackies to a title in their third year in the NBL.

“I just don’t get too one way or another (emotionally) about basketball. It’s what I do, it’s not who I am,” Roth said.

“We go about our business down there and develop our players. I’m not a good basketball coach, I’ve never been a good basketball coach, I just try and lead these guys and help them do the best they possibly can.

“I’ve got great assistants who actually coach, I’m just this big fat guy from the States who stands on the sidelines.

“I don’t wake up thinking about coaching basketball. I think about trying to lead these guys and impact their lives.

“I care about showing up and doing what I need to do for Tasmania. The impact we’ve had there the last four years is what I’m quite proud of.

“The winning or winning a championship isn’t changing my life, but the impact we’ve had with our players throughout the state (is).

“If you’re not from there you won’t understand it. It’s been ginormous and it’s been the thing that drives me to make sure we’re doing the right thing by the people there.”

Scott Roth (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Asked why Tasmania has made such an impact on him, Roth said: “I think the biggest thing for me was their values are how I was brought up. It’s a blue collar work ethic they have down there.

“The underdog mentality, unfortunately they’ve been punched down at different times in the history of sport down there.

“It’s an overlooked place that’s looked down on a bit. Those things resonate with me, but the important thing is those people on the island are just like me... just trying to be gritty and tough.

“My joy of my career has been to defend the island for them. It took me 58 years to find Tasmania, and it’s been a wonderful journey of representing the state and trying to do my thing.

“I don’t consider myself a coach that’s of any value other than just showing up and keeping them organised.”

WHAT’S NEXT

Put simply, after six straight losses the Jackies need a turning water into wine-type miracle to make the playoffs.

Sixth-placed Adelaide’s loss to South East Melbourne on Sunday leaves the door ever so slightly ajar. But Tasmania would need to thrash Cairns at home on Saturday, and rely on the 36ers losing heavily in Perth on Friday to overcome the percentage difference required to steal sixth spot.

It’s almost certain their season is over, so what do the Jackies need to do to become a contender again.

WHO’S THE THIRD WHEEL

They couldn’t fire a shot without the point guard early in the season after he suffered a pre season injury, going 4-8.

When he returned they won seven straight games, part of an eight game win streak, to get right back in the finals race.

They lost back-to-back games before Macdonald was ruled out for the year with a foot injury.

They’ve gone 1-6 since, their only win a last gasp overtime victory against Adelaide.

The wildly contrasting fortunes when Macdonald is on or off court doesn’t feel coincidental.

Back court imports Milton Doyle and Jordon Crawford are great players, but have never been able to greatly impact the same game at the same time.

Macdonald’s elevation to the starting team allowed Tasmania to play Crawford off the bench, resulting in better scoring balance.

Having Macdonald around to take on most of the ball-handling responsibility also allows Doyle and Crawford to spend less energy, and find better shots.

Macdonald average 11.2 points and 3.8 assists across nine games, shooting 47 per cent from the field and 45 per cent from three point territory.

Jordon Crawford. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Roth admitted after the Melbourne United loss, where Doyle scored 19 points and Crawford 20, the workload forced upon the imports by injury had taken its toll.

“It’s one of the first games in two years these two have actually had a balanced scoring night,” Roth said.

“They both had about 20 points and that’s never really happened since they’ve been together, it’s always been one or the other.

“But it’s also too many minutes for them. That’s quite taxing without having a ball handler, and obviously relying on those guys to score for us and create offense. It’s a big ask for them to play those kind of minutes.”

A potential return by last season’s finals hero Jack McVeigh would be an instant fix for the JackJumpers, who have struggled to score enough points all year.

McVeigh signed a two-way deal with Houston Rockets, who have been one of the surprise packets of the NBA season with a 32-16 record.

Tasmania is the NBL’s lowest scoring team 83.75 per game, but only narrowly behind Sydney in lowest points conceded (88.21).

Milton Doyle. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

INJURIES BITE

Take 40 per cent out of any sports team’s run-on line up and it’s likely to have a major impact.

That’s what happened to the Jackies, and to arguably their two most important players structurally in Macdonald and Boomers centre Will Magnay.

Other players have been in and out with niggles, but the absence of that duo in particular derailed their mid season emergence completely.

Macdonald’s second injury came not long after Magnay suffered a season-ending ankle issue at training.

Already struggling offensively, it was too much to overcome.

Roth refused to use it as an excuse after the United loss.

“It doesn’t really matter, no one cares and no one’s going to feel sorry for you,” he said.

“We’ve been dealing with this (injuries) for four or five weeks, and ultimately nobody really cares other than our group.

“We don’t get too high or low about anything. It’s basketball and it’s life, it’s not gut wrenching to me at all.

“We just do the same thing we do every day and show up.

“Since I’ve been here we never talk about the ladder, where we are. I don’t follow it, I don’t know what place we’re in and I don’t care. It doesn’t matter until the season ends, you’ll be where you deserve to be.

“We don’t discuss those things internally, we talk about trying to win a day and get to the next day. The guys show up and do the best I can, that’s all I ask of them.”

JACKIES’ SEASON

* One game remaining at home against Cairns on Saturday.

TEAM

Record: 12-16 (seventh)

Points per game: 83.75

Points conceded per game: 88.21

Home record: 8-5

Away record: 4-11

PLAYERS (per game)

Points: Jordon Crawford 15.85, Milton Doyle 14.68, Will Magnay 13.77

Rebounds: Will Magnay 7.08, Milton Doyle 4.96, Majok Deng 4.88

Assists: Jordon Crawford 4.41, Milton Doyle 4.25, Sean Macdonald 3.78

Turnovers: Milton Doyle 3.18, Sean Macdonald 2.22, Jordon Crawford 2.15