Heroes to hopefuls: Can JJ's new guard defend the island?

From championship highs to missing the Finals entirely, NBL25 was a season that never quite clicked for the Tasmania JackJumpers.

Injuries took their toll early, and by Round 8, Scott Roth’s side sat at just three wins and eight losses.

An eight-game winning streak briefly reignited their campaign, but only two victories in their final 11 games sealed a frustrating and uncharacteristic season for the JackJumpers.

Even so, few would have anticipated just how much change would follow in the off-season. Eight roster moves, including the exits of Clint Steindl, Fabijan Krslovic (to Melbourne United), and the championship backcourt duo of Jordon Crawford and Milton Doyle (United), have left Tasmania with a dramatically reshaped lineup.

"They just won the chip two seasons ago. Jordan Crawford put on one of the most blitzing, most spectacular performances Grand Final history has ever seen … gone,” Damon Lowery said on The Marketplace.

"Milton Doyle, I thought he was a rock in Tasmania. Three years. Championship. All-NBL … gone.

"So we’re going to put everything on Sean Macdonald now? Seany Mac is clearly a great, great guard. Great backup. Could start on a lot of teams. Have you ever seen a starting backcourt go that quickly after winning a chip?"

"Well, I thought they needed to make a change. And that only one out of Doyle and Crawford could survive in NBL26. I thought it was going to be Doyle,” Derek Rucker continued.

"When he signed with Melbourne United, I was really surprised. I thought Doyle would return to Tassie. He seemed like a good cultural fit.

"As a club, they did a good job covering up for his inefficiencies, which allowed him to do what he does best: play really good, streaky basketball and make big plays when it mattered most.

"To lose Doyle and Crawford in the same year is not only surprising … but it could really hit them."

Rucker believes the JackJumpers can still approach NBL26 with confidence, trusting they’ll secure quality imports to complement the returning duo of Macdonald and Will Magnay.

"Can I tell you what gets guys comfortable? When you have Sean Macdonald and Will Magnay. That gets your imports real comfortable,” he said.

"When you walk in the gym and you see a guy that can go to the top of the backboard and reject shots, and another guy that can knock down the three ball, put it on the deck with good size, and they’re championship winners, that alleviates a lot of concerns for players joining that team."

"You know what else I see with them? Same two guys in polo shirts on the bench, because they’re hurt,” Lowery challenged.

"When was the last time either of those guys played a full season?

"Jack McVeigh, Jordan Crawford, and Milton Doyle, three of your guys from the championship year, and all of a sudden, it’s gone.

"And you saw what happened to them last season. Imports … they don’t quite know where they’re going.

"So they bring in Josh Bannan, who will help, but that backcourt … we haven’t seen one like that in a while."

Reports suggest the JackJumpers will start the new campaign with two imports, including confirmed signing David Johnson.

"I don’t like that, starting off with two imports," Rucker added.

"That’s playing from behind. You lose and go 0–3 and you’re back to where you were last season.”

But don’t forget the JackJumpers’ X-factor. There’s no denying Scott Roth’s knack for getting the most out of his players.

"Remember, they won eight in a row though, and we know Scott Roth is one of the best coaches in the competition,” Rucker said.

“Of course, when you go down to Tassie … good luck trying to win a game."

Anthony Drmic, Archie Woodhill, Brody Nunn, Majok Deng, Nick Stoddart, Macdonald and Magnay are all contracted for NBL26, while the JackJumpers have brought in Johnson, Bannan, Ben Ayre, Nick Marshall and college prospect Kobe Williamson.

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