Roth is doubtful whether JackJumpers can right ship in six games.
Scott Roth, the Tasmania JackJumpers’ coach, confesses he has no idea whether his squad will be able to resolve their issues.
The Tasmania JackJumpers have only six games left in the NBL season, and coach Scott Roth is unsure if they will be able to quit being their own worst enemy while still making a significant impression.
The JackJumpers almost got out of jail at MyState Bank Arena on Friday night, rallying from 12 points behind with three minutes left against the Illawarra Hawks in a double overtime thriller.
Milton Doyle made four three-pointers, first to send the game to overtime and then to begin the first extra period. Jack McVeigh made some key shots, and Will Magnay opened the second overtime period with a massive block on Sam Froling and a three-point play on the opposite end.
However, all three were quickly fouled out, and the Hawks prevailed 108-107, with several of Tasmania’s weaknesses highlighted throughout the night.
The JackJumpers have lost six of their previous eight games, leaving them in third place with an 11-11 record.
The JackJumpers only shot 40% from the field, 29% from three, and 64% from the foul line; they were outrebounded by Illawarra by ten; they gave up 60 points in the paint and sent the Hawks to the foul line 35 times.
These are just a few of Roth’s concerns, as his club only has six games left over the next month to secure a third consecutive postseason appearance.
“I believe in our group but whether or not we can solve it in six games, to be quite honest I have no idea,” Roth went on to say.
“It’s truly up to the players in some of these areas, and we can’t control the fouls. We talk about foul discipline all the time, and the next thing that happens is we can’t make foul shots.
“You’re putting out one fire when another one begins, and sometimes we’re our own worst adversary, and winning in a tight situation is an art. It’s inherent in people to win and then figure out how to get across the finish line, which we haven’t been able to achieve.
“I have no idea what these last six games hold; we could lose another game for all I know, or we could win six in a row. If we are
While the JackJumpers had a successful first two seasons in the NBL, beginning with a grand final appearance and progressing to the semi-finals last season.
Roth, on the other hand, believes that their current troubles may not be a bad thing in the long run.
“This adversity, I think, is actually really wonderful for the organisation and the franchise because I don’t want to say the first two seasons have been easy, but we’ve had really good success,” Roth said in a statement.
“This is definitely more of a reality of where we are and what we’re trying to do, and one thing I appreciate about the group as a whole is that our core beliefs and ethos have not changed.
“The people come to work every day, do the right things, and have excellent character. We’re simply not getting results.”
