Preview: Melbourne vs Tasmania - NBL24 Championship Series, Game 1

Friday, March 15, 2024

Who can set the tone at take and early advatange with a win at John Cain Arena?

Sunday, March 17 at 4pm AEDT | John Cain Arena

Watch: Live and free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies | 10 Peach and 10 Play | International viewership details
Box scores: Download the free NBL App

Melbourne and Tasmania are set to contest the NBL24 Championship Series following their Playoff victories over Illawarra and Perth respectively. Both teams were forced to play the entirety of their best-of-three series’.

This will be Melbourne’s first shot at the title since its NBL21 triumph over Perth, in which current Houston center Jock Landale was named the Larry Sengstock Medal winner. Tasmania last contested a Championship Series in NBL22, where the JackJumpers were swept 3-0 by the Kings.

United topped the ladder for the entirety of the regular season and entered the Finals as the top seed due to their 20-8 record, while the JackJumpers claimed the third seed with a record of 16-12.

Tasmania won the three-game regular season series between the two sides 2-1. The JackJumpers demolished United by 21 points in their most recent clash in Round 16.

Tanner Krebs
Melbourne United, like most teams, has shortened their rotation during the Finals, but given the difficult physical matchup presented by Milton Doyle ahead of Game 1, could we see Tanner Krebs earn more time on court to potentially attempt to slow down the All-NBL Second Team nominee?

Of course, it’s likely a combination of defensive terriers Shea Ili and Matthew Dellavedova will be sent to defend the former Brooklyn Net, but as we’ve seen on multiple occasions over NBL24, injuries or foul trouble can put pay to the best laid plans.

Yes, Ili and Dellavedova are exceptional defenders, but if early fouls forces one or both to the bench, Dean Vickerman will be forced to look to his second unit to step up and provide defensive stability – and that’s where Krebs could shine.

The former Saint Mary’s Gael has played everywhere from shooting guard to power forward across the last two seasons. He’s got the length and agility to keep up with Doyle should he stay on the perimeter, but he also has the strength and bullishness to stay in front and contest him close to the basket.

While Melbourne’s starting five, Ian Clark, and Ariel Hukporti tend to get the most recognition as United’s top group, we saw Angus Glover step up in a big way in last season’s Championship Series when two of Sydney’s top stars – Xavier Cooks and Derrick Walton Jr – struggled with injury.

Could it be Krebs who is called upon to play that Glover-esque role in this season’s decider?

“I think whoever gets the defensive job on Milton Doyle is going to be important. I could see them going with someone a little bit longer like a Tanner Krebs to come in and play some vital minutes there. If he can knock down some shots and play a defensive role, I feel like he could be a significant contributor.” – Former South East Melbourne head coach Simon Mitchell.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BIRTHDAY BUCKETS <a href="https://twitter.com/TannerKrebs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TannerKrebs</a> <br><br>? ESPN via Kayo <a href="https://t.co/bpOBetPxCx">pic.twitter.com/bpOBetPxCx</a></p>— Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited/status/1742845758972518757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jordon Crawford
Tasmania’s ‘big three’ for the bulk of NBL24 has been Milton Doyle, Jordon Crawford and Jack McVeigh, but the emergence of Will Magnay and a handful of wayward performances from Crawford has seen the diminutive guard fall out of the reckoning somewhat.

Crawford struggled to find his mojo in the Playoff Series win against Perth. In Game 1 he was close to his magnificent best with 18 points, however he made just one of six three-point attempts, but in the second and third games of the series he scored a combined five points with five assists.

Across the whole series, he made just 9-33 field goal attempts (27.3 per cent), and 2-12 threes (16.6 per cent).

The perceptions of Melbourne and Tasmania heading into this series are at opposite ends of the same spectrum. Melbourne is the star-studded champion elect, while Tasmania is the less talented, gritty, hard-working competitor.

Those perceptions take away from Melbourne’s grit and Tasmania’s talent, but they exist for a reason. If Tasmania is to win, Crawford will likely need to return to his polished, high-scoring self to support the other superstars in this team.

“When you’ve got Jordon Crawford quiet, you can’t afford to also have Milton Doyle quiet ... they want more, not only Scott Roth and his players, but that Ant Army in Tassie. They want to take that next leap and they feel good about their matchup with Melbourne United.” – Liam Santamaria on the Coca-Cola Cool Down.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jordon Crawford with an absolute DIME ?<br><br>Catch the action live on ESPN via Kayo ? <a href="https://t.co/AljLmWBQJN">pic.twitter.com/AljLmWBQJN</a></p>— NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1758787805197602861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Luke Travers vs Jack McVeigh
In a league where matchups between key imports largely tend to be crucial deciding factors of a Championship Series, having potentially the most important, series-affecting one-one-one matchup be between a pair of talented, emerging locals is a breath of fresh air.

Luke Travers’ battle with Gary Clark in Melbourne’s Playoff Series with the Hawks made for incredible viewing. Travers was up and in defensively, and whenever Clark got off the handle, Travers was usually not on the floor. The Melbourne forward also stood tallest with the game on the line in Game 1 and was a rounded, holistic influence on offence.

Jack McVeigh has threatened to have a season like he has in NBL24 ever since he got to the JackJumpers, but with his All-NBL Second Team nomination from the stellar campaign, he’s launched himself into that top realm of locals to be plying their trade in the NBL.

He was lethal in all three games against the Wildcats, and it’s no coincidence that the game in which McVeigh was quietest, Tasmania lost.

Both these players are multi-dimensional, precocious talents, but they both have a serious element of toughness and grit to go along with that polish.

Perhaps, most importantly, they both have the ability to win games on both ends of the floor, but are more than content with playing second fiddle to the likes of Chris Goulding and Milton Doyle should those soaring stars get a hot hand.

And, who knows – it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that both could be in Boomers calculations for the Paris Olympics, and this series could prove crucial to those international hopes.

Untitled 1
Luke Travers and Jack McVeigh.