Tasmania’s depth chart has a scary sequel coming

Backing themselves against anyone is the JackJumpers way, reigning champions included. Even so, few would have predicted they’d go into Friday night’s clash with the Sydney Kings on top of the ladder.

Tasmania is 6-2 without import star Bryce Hamilton (ACL), Majok Deng (leg) and Ben Ayre (hip). It also lost Anthony Drmic to a back injury and retirement, and started the season without Josh Bannan. It’s one of the most remarkable, against-the-odds, opening stretches in the club’s short history.

Star import David Johnson set the tone early, scoring 26, 20 and 32 points in Tasmania’s first three games. He’s quick to point out that the scoring load doesn’t fall on one player though.

“Our team, with the depth that we have, sometimes it might not be my night,” Johnson said.

“We have plenty of guys that can do the same thing that I happen to do those first couple of games.”

The numbers back him up. Five JackJumpers average double figures and seven average at least 7 points, with new recruits Taran Armstrong (21 points), Dakota Mathias (13.9) and Ben Gold (7.1) among them.

That depth has built a strong belief within the group. Johnson rates it as “one of the better teams that I’ve played on in my career”, and he’s expecting a tense battle against the champions.

“I mean regardless of who’s playing, when you’re playing against an organisation like that, defending champs, there’s always going to be a dog fight,” he said.

While the Sydney game looms large, the worrying part for the rest of the League is that Tasmania is about to get stronger.

After last week’s win over Brisbane, coach Scott Roth said Ayre could be back as soon as Friday against the Kings, with Deng to follow in mid-November.

“I think Ben Ayre will be a huge person to get back on the floor for us and alleviate some minutes with Taran on the floor,” Roth said.

Hamilton is further away, but he’s now training with the starters and is pencilled in to return around the New Year.

“When you see him out on the floor with the green group and the starting group, it’s real and you’re like, ‘Okay, we can’t wait for him to be back,’” assistant coach Nate Brereton said.

Roth said the roster was built to win without Hamilton, which makes his return a bonus.

“It was all built by if he’s available, it’s going to be a great deal for us, and if he wasn’t, this is what the roster was going to look like,” he said.

With a full squad in sight, Johnson’s goal is simple.

“Winning a championship. That’s something I haven’t done in seven or eight years, since high school,” he said.

That push continues against the Kings on Friday night, live on ESPN from 7:30pm AEDT.