Starting 5: The key talking points from Round 16

Round 16 saw Melbourne United continue to stumble, while the JackJumpers keep marching and the Sydney Kings show their incredible depth.

Pete Hooley looks at some key talking points from the round just gone.

1 – The ants are marching

The JackJumpers have won back-to-back games and are building at the most important time of the season. What was most impressive about their win over the ladder-leading Adelaide 36ers was that they did it by locking in defensively and getting back to their old proven method of slowing the game right down. If Tasmania can do that against the 36ers and the South East Melbourne Phoenix, who are the two best teams in the league, just how far can they go?

2 – The loss the Phoenix needed

At this point in the season, it’s important not to overreact to a loss, especially if it’s one that a team can learn from that can help them in the future. The Perth Wildcats took it to Josh King’s team and had them on the back foot early and it was their ability to take the Phoenix’s pressure and apply it straight back that was interesting. The Phoenix have shown that when they can force teams into turnovers or make them be passive, they can dictate the entire game. When they reflect on this result, they should be able to understand how they can deal with that going forward.

3- Is it panic stations, yet?

Melbourne United couldn’t have asked for a better round to try and string some wins together, beginning with the bottom-placed Cairns Taipans at home and then on the road to face an undermanned Sydney Kings. Unfortunately, United lost both and have now dropped eight of their last 10 games and fallen to fourth in the standings. Thankfully for them, it wasn’t as if they were blown out of the water, as they showed enough to be in a position to win both games but couldn’t get it done. United will host the JackJumpers at Hoopsfest, who beat them by 19 points just two weeks ago, and will try to get back in the win column.

4 – Kings’ injury list mounting

The Sydney Kings are flying and they’re doing it collectively and with numerous players stepping up when needed. However, their injury list is growing and it’s a cause for concern at this point in the season. With Bul Kuol ruled out for the season with an ACL, Xavier Cooks set to miss another game this round and Matthew Dellavadova in concussion protocols, the Kings need everyone else to stay healthy. Thankfully they dug deep on the back of Jaylin Galloway’s career night and came up with a huge win over Melbourne United. Can this team continue to find a way to win without some key pieces?

5- Adelaide wasting no time

The Adelaide 36ers are sitting on top of the NBL ladder and even though they are coming off just their fifth loss of the season, they aren’t sitting on their hands. With the announcement that Troy Brown Jr has been released to head home for personal reasons, the 36ers have already found his replacement. Many people have highlighted how this 36ers team, as good as they are, needs another weapon around Bryce Cotton and the signing of John Jenkins may just be that.

‍

‍