Scott Roth returns to Tasmania with a different squad but the same defensive philosophy.
“Different but exciting” is how Tasmania JackJumpers Head Coach Scott Roth described the 2023/24 playing group as he arrived in Hobart on Tuesday.
Roth returned ‘home’ to Tasmania to pick up his new CX-8 wheels from Mazda Hobart, following a two-month off-season journey to the United States to relax and recover from NBL23.
“I’m looking forward to the season, and I believe the lengthier break will help me avoid having to rush back. The past two years have been fantastic, but we’ve been on a treadmill.
“I mean, it’s just been nonstop, so I’m going to pump the brakes a little bit to get through these, uh, last few months and just kind of step back and be on a regular schedule. “I believe it will do wonders for everyone,” Roth added.
When asked if the squad assembled for NBL24 was the best yet for the JackJumpers, Roth replied that it remained to be seen.
“I don’t really consider it the best roster. I’m just trying to think of any incremental gains we can make, and it’ll all come down to how well we defend and how soon we create chemistry.
“We have four or five individuals to integrate, and you have to be lucky and avoid injuries.
But I’m pleased with some of the issues that we were attempting to address, and I know the men who will return next week are anxious to be back in the market.
“I believe Crawford will create a buzz. He has certain distinct skill sets.
“Obviously, everyone will remark about his height, but he has been a great basketball player for quite some time. To go over to Turkey and lead that league in scoring while playing against perhaps eight clubs in the Euroleague, Eurocup, or Champions League, and be able to do what he has done there is really incredible.
“Those two guys should be fun to see. “And then you have an athletic guy like Lee who can be on the rim and help do some things, so it looks different, but it’ll be exciting to watch,” Roth explained.
Despite six changes from last year’s playoff-bound team, Roth said the JackJumpers’ style will remain rooted in the rugged, defense-first roots set in the club’s first two years.
“I believe it has been proven not only here, but around the world. The best defensive teams advance to the finals and the grand finals. There are occasional anomalies, but this is what has happened to us during the previous two years.
“I spoke with him and Majok Deng yesterday; he had 39 points and 19 rebounds [in NBL1]. He was a little enthusiastic over the phone, but I just reminded him that ‘you won’t play for me unless you rebound and defend, and the rest will happen’. He took that on board really well, and he recognizes that coming here will be a new atmosphere for him, but he is also prepared to embrace it,” Roth said.
The Australian contingent of the JackJumpers group will attend a mini camp next week before Deng, Junior Madut, and Walter Brown report to camp for their respective national squads for FIBA World Cup qualifying.
Tasmania JackJumpers’ official preseason will begin in August.
