Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth stresses the importance of home wins ahead of Illawarra clash

After getting off to their best ever start in the NBL, Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth has stressed the importance of playing well at home. See why.

Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth believes the key to achieving any kind of success this season is to bank wins at home ahead of a “dangerous” game against Illawarra on Thursday night at MyState Bank Arena.

The JackJumpers are riding high after two consecutive wins in round 2, defeating both Sydney Kings and Melbourne United, to enter Thursday’s clash with a 2-1 record.

While happy to have secured an important away win on Sunday, Roth stressed the importance on winning at home after finishing last season with a 7-7 record.

Tasmania JackJumpers coach Scott Roth has led his side to it’s best ever start – 2-1 – but has stressed the importance of continuing to win at home ahead of Thursday’s game against Illawarra at MyState Bank Arena. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

“This league is super tough and Thursday’s game is going to be quite dangerous,” he said.

“The results will be the results and to win on the road is something that gives you a little bit of confidence but winning at home to me is really the key to success for getting to where you need to go.

“The last two years we’ve been okay at home, not great, and we’ve been better on the road so any road win to me is just about running out of the arena and being humble and thankful.”

After giving up 101 points in defeat to Perth on the road to open NBL24, the Jackies have conceded just 72 and 75 points against two sides tipped to be championship contenders this season.

But Roth didn’t expect that trend to continue throughout the season with Thursday’s opponent already averaging a league high 97 in the first two rounds.

“I think a lot of that (opposition scores) comes down to our shot selection offensively and how we control the game,” Roth said.

“Those two scores are probably a little on the extreme side of being low. In this league in general I think its high scoring so to expect those scores (every week) isn’t overly realistic.

“We’ve had two in a row but for us it’s just about playing at our pace and getting teams to play a little more of a grinding game.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 08: Superstar Milton Doyle has been outstanding in the first three rounds, averaging 21.3 points and 4 assists. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

While NBL24 has been the JackJumpers best start to a season in their short three-year history, Roth was also well aware that it wouldn’t be all smooth sailing from now until the playoffs.

“There is still a lot of ebbs and flows that will probably happen over the next few weeks in this league,” he said.

“There will be some upsets, teams losing at home and winning streaks so I think the team that can be the most consistent in their approach (will be the most successful) and when you do get knocked around if you can have some resilience and come back to your identity.

“For us the next three to four weeks before we get to the next FIBA break is about locking in on our style of play and if we can get better at what we are doing we will see what kind of shape we are in.”