Preview: Tasmania vs Melbourne - Round 5, NBL24

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Tasmania handed Melbourne its first loss of the season back in Round 2. Can United waltz into the JackJumpers' nest and take home a season-defining win?

Friday, October 27 at 7:30pm AEDT | MyState Bank Arena

Watch: Live on ESPN via Kayo Sports | Sky Sport in New Zealand - International viewership details
Box scores: Download the free NBL App

Tasmania and Melbourne are set to meet again just three weeks after the JackJumpers’ incredible fourth-quarter comeback win over United at John Cain Arena.

The JackJumpers could conceivably be labelled as Melbourne’s ‘bogey team’, given Tasmania has won five of the past six meetings between the sides and ended United’s hopes of a title charge in NBL22.

Matthew Dellavedova will not return for Melbourne this week as he continues to recover from concussion.

United enter the clash following a brilliant pair of wins in Round 4, while the JackJumpers took their second win of the season over Sydney.

Tasmania
105-95 win over Sydney
85-86 loss to Tasmania
103-73 win over Illawarra

Melbourne
97-88 win over New Zealand
101-91 win over Illawarra
89-78 win over Brisbane

Jordon Crawford
Is there a player as red-hot in the NBL at this exact moment in time as Jordon Crawford?

He’s being labelled as “unguardable’ by pundits, and has been thrust into the MVP race courtesy of comments by teammate and fellow star guard Milton Doyle – but can he keep it up in the face of Shea Ili and Melbourne’s stingy defensive system?

Crawford was solid last time Tasmania played Melbourne with 18 points and six assists, but Milton Doyle was the JackJumper who stole the show – and the game.

That being said, Crawford hadn’t scored 14 points in a three-minute stretch in the game prior, last time out...

“I think we’ve got another person with JC who’s doing what he does and could be in the MVP conversation also. It’s a battle within the team making each other better.” – Milton Doyle mid-week.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jordon Crawford is a certified ?<br> <br>The star guard registered a game-high 32 points in the <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackJumpers</a>' win over Sydney, including a 14-point scoring barrage to open the fourth quarter?<br> <br>Brought to you by <a href="https://twitter.com/HungryJacksAU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HungryJacksAU</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/DaoJ9fTJK0">pic.twitter.com/DaoJ9fTJK0</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1716332497347518775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ian Clark
Former Golden State, Sydney and Adelaide guard has been making waves since he arrived in Melbourne prior to NBL24, and the elevated game of both he and Shea Ili have allowed United to cover for the loss of Matthew Dellavedova totally seamlessly.

Clark has one of the strongest resumes of anyone playing in the NBL this season, given his NBL and NBA titles and over 350 games in the NBA, but the way he’s integrated into the fabric of United shows just how together the club is this season.

Lanard Copeland’s number 21 hangs proudly in the rafters at John Cain Arena, and Clark received the blessing of the NBL’s fourth all-time leading scorer to carry on the legacy of his number in Melbourne colours.

It may only be a small thing in the big scheme of the season, but Ian Clark will be crucial to any success United may have this season – and it’s little things like this that show he’s bought in.

“Paying respect to the guys that played before me matters to me. I know that the 21 is retired with the Melbourne Tigers, so being under that same umbrella as United I wanted to make sure it was ok to wear it. We made a phone call and he [Lanard Copeland] was more than happy to allow me to wear the jersey.” – Ian Clark via The Age.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shea Ili in Q1, Ian Clark in Q3. United are loving their buzzer-beaters in this one ?‍?<br><br>Melbourne lead by one heading into the final quarter. Watch live & free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, 10 Peach & 10 Play. Sky Sport in NZ. ? <a href="https://t.co/Ndg7E93kGe">pic.twitter.com/Ndg7E93kGe</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1715950081424146599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Milton Doyle vs Chris Goulding
When Milton Doyle almost single-handedly led the JackJumpers to victory over Melbourne in Round 2, he did so by targeting star Chris Goulding on the defensive end and targeting the veteran wing as a likely defensive weak spot for United.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chris Goulding, that is incredible ?<br><br>And yes, he hit the free throw ?<br><br>Catch the second half live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/lJi0UyYxZN">pic.twitter.com/lJi0UyYxZN</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1715300249332335089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Some things have changed since that game though, primarily on the offensive end for each team. Jordon Crawford is having a higher scoring impact now than he was even three weeks ago, and Goulding has been taking more shots and found his scoring touch in Melbourne’s last few games.

Goulding scored just 12 points compared to Doyle’s 25 last time these two sides met. But make no mistake, regardless of who is shooting well or who has the hot hand for either Melbourne or Tasmania – this is Milton Doyle’s team, and this is Chris Goulding’s team.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">?WATCH: Tasmania <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackJumpers</a> star Milton Doyle is adamant he can take his game to another level... despite already being one of the early favourites for this season's <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> MVP award. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL24?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL24</a> <a href="https://t.co/YcJUIgyucl">pic.twitter.com/YcJUIgyucl</a></p>— Brent Costelloe (@brentcostelloe) <a href="https://twitter.com/brentcostelloe/status/1717115033682083989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

How each fare will, once again, prove to be the crucial battle.

This game is a case of the unstoppable force against the immovable object. Heading into Round 5 Tasmania leads the league in offensive rating, while Melbourne leads the league in defensive rating.