Round one game 1 Tasmania JackJumpers VS South East Melbourne Phoenix
Round one game 1
Tasmania JackJumpers VS South East Melbourne Phoenix
I had originally called this game as an easy win for Tasmania but who could have predicted this:
Kyle Adnam came out to make a statement, hitting the opening shot of the game and he was on fire when he walked on the court.
He dominated the first quarter to create a strong lead for the Phoenix which looked like the Jackjumpers could not get close. Milton Doyle opened scoring for the JJ's and I expected a lot from him here and it was good start driving to the basket for the layup.
Phoenix had help in multiple areas to keep the Phoenix in front, with Mitch creek and reuben Terangi playing steady consistent play but Creek still does not look 100%.
Both teams played consistent ball with Phoenix holding the JJ's at arms length most of the first 3 quarters until a crossover mid range J from Milton Doyle and then huge Dunk by Rashad Kelly off a pick and roll with Doyle and you could feel the enery shift in the game, to make it 57- 46 and this was the turning point and play of the night.
This is where the Imports for the JJ's step up. The JJ's played a ball movement offence all game trying to get everyone in the team involved, but struggled to find enough scoring to keep up with the hot shooting Phoenix. With Josh Addams gone Tasmania are without the pure scorer who could lift the side when they needed a bucket.
However the Kelly and Doyle team up looks to be an excellent pairing as the they take over the game on both sides.
Kelly and Doyle go on an 8-0 run and its a ball game 57-53 after a tip in from Kelly to open the 4th quarter.
Junior Marduk opens scoring for Phoenix and stoped the JJ's run.
But some good ball movement from Tasmania got Rashad Kelly a layup, which he immediately follows up with an interception on defence, runs the court and will not be denied getting to the cup. Kelly takes over the game as the JJ's mount their come back from 18 down to be 59-58 early in the 4th qtr.
Mitch Creek stoped the run but he looks tired making one of two, foul shots
Kelly comes off for a rest with 7:30 left in the game and the score 62-58.
Kelly and Doyle both made their case as as the offensive key plater as Doyle continues to push the JJ's offence while Kelly was on the bench, as he drops back to back floaters to die up the game 62-62 with 6:00 left in it.
Kyle Adnam checked back into the game and looks like he pops his shoulder out of place, which would have been a huge loss for Phoenix, but he pops it back in, and then follows it up with this little crossover, step back 3! Adnam will not be denied!
Mitch Creek has a couple of strong plays with an and one layup off an out of bounds play from Adnam followed by an Adnam steal and Creek three ball, and the lead is back out to 8, with 4:30 left in the game. Kyle Adnam seems to be everywhere!
Good ball movement keeps the JJ's offence ticking and staying right with Phoenix.
But this is Adnam's night and he just could not be stopped! As he drops back to back inside jumpers with a classy high off the glass fadeaway with 2:30 left and lead is back out to eight, 76-68.
Tasmania push late with a 3 ball from Kelly and Mcveigh to bring it back to a 2 point deficit, with 13 seconds left to play, but some foul shots from the cool shooting Mitch Creek extend the lead to 4 points to confirm the Phoenix win.
Adnam got fouled in the closing moments of the game and got a trip to the charity stripe to complete his 30 peice!
Phoenix win 82-79.
Who picked Kyle Adnam to have a 30 piece in the opening night of NBL23!
I still think my pick for Tasmania was the right call but I never expected 30 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists from Kyle Adnam!
Rashad Kelly, Jack McVeigh and Milton Doyle all played exceptionally to make it close in the fourth quarter, but this was Kyle Adnams game and if he can play like this consistently, maybe Phoenix will do better than I expected.
No comments:
Post a Comment