JackJumpers Have “Hands Full” with Taipans

The Tasmania JackJumpers are preparing to have their “hands full” against the Cairns Taipans in the Seeding Qualifier game on Thursday night.

The Taipans took the regular season series against the JackJumpers 2-1 in NBL23 - however Tasmania took the win in their most recent clash at the end of January.

The winner of the Seeding Qualifier will move directly into the Playoffs to take on the Breakers. The losing side will come up against the winner of the Play-In Qualifier for a chance to take on the Kings.

Tasmania coach Scott Roth says the game against Cairns will be tough, but it would have made no difference if they were to play any team in the finals.

“There are a lot of potential things that can happen to you, and Cairns is a heck of a team,” Roth said.

“They beat us twice and we’ll have our hands full.

“They’re all challenging, and nothing is easy for us. This league as you saw came down to the last night (Sunday).

“Everyone in this [top] six are all teams that can win the championship.”

Roth emphasised the pride he takes in his players and spoke on the mindset he and the team adopted this season to reach a 16-12 record.

“I’m more proud of this group than last year in some regard, because of the doubters and all of the things you go through during the course of the season,” Roth said.

“These guys were just relentless in their process.

“What we put around our locker room is the values of what our players are being held accountable for, and the cultural things that we hold near and dear to our heart.

“Internally our players have stuff that they’re accountable for that they start every season with and we drive that every single day.”

Roth also added star guard Josh Magette has a “long road ahead of him” to recover from a suspected broken cheek bone and fractured eye socket.

Tip-off for the Seeding Qualifier between the JackJumpers and Taipans is 8:30pm AEDT on Thursday night at the Cairns Convention Centre.