JackJumpers guard Milton Doyle confident the JJs can silence the Brisbane Bullets

The JackJumpers are sitting towards the foot of the NBL ladder but star Milton Doyle isn’t feeling the need to sound the alarm. Here’s why he’s backing a change of fortune.

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 18: Milton Doyle of the Jackjumpers attacks the defence during the round five NBL match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and Sydney Kings at Silverdome, on October 18, 2024, in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Simon Sturzaker/Getty Images)

A “rough start” to the NBL season is nothing new to Milton Doyle and the JackJumpers guard is confident the green machine can hit top gear in its next match against the Bullets in Brisbane on Saturday night.

The Jackies are one spot away from the wooden spoon position on the NBL table with an unenviable 2-5 win-loss record to start their championship title defense.

Back-to-back losses to the Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers last weekend put the JackJumpers on the back foot and trying to regroup ahead of facing the Bullets.

The poor start is no concern for premiership player Doyle, who joined Tasmania in 2020.

“Each year I’ve been here we’ve gotten a rough start to the season,” he said.

“It has been no different to this year.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 06: Milton Doyle of the Jackjumpers dribbles the ball during the round three NBL match between Tasmania Jackjumpers and Perth Wildcats at MyState Bank Arena, on October 06, 2024, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

“We’ve been great on defence but on offence we are taking some shots and getting some good looks, and it’s about keeping everyone’s confidence up.”

Doyle said the JackJumpers never stopped honing their game style and they would go into the Brisbane game with confidence.

“There’s always things you need to work on,” he said.

“Every game is a clean slate, you don’t look at the past and worry about the results.

“We got smacked by 30 points [Hawks 109-76] and came into the next game and fought hard [loss to Kings 80-71].

“We don’t dwell on past games we just put in the work and fight for the next game.”

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 20: Milton Doyle of the Jackjumpers shoots for two during the round five NBL match between Adelaide 36ers and Tasmania Jackjumpers at Adelaide Entertainment Centre, on October 20, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

After a low-key start to the season at the net, Doyle hit the boards in Adelaide where he scored 22 points, as well as seven rebounds and six assists.

“I think it’s just a different style from different teams, you get different looks,” he said.

“I got easier looks playing against Adelaide than Sydney and Illawarra.

“I’ve been finding my rhythm with that when teams are focusing and keying in on me and learning where I get my shots from.”

The JackJumpers are second-last on the table, but equal with Brisbane in terms with two apiece.

“Every game is tough and every team has a different style of play and you have to match it and try to win that game,” Doyle said.