JackJumpers searching for a spark

It’s certainly not doom and gloom in Tasmania just yet, but two home losses over the weekend have put a significant dampener on their strong start to the season.

With star import David Johnson and veteran Anthony Drmic sidelined, the JackJumpers are crawling toward the FIBA Break, and NBL champion Peter Hooley says they’re “struggling to keep their head afloat.”

Tasmania conceded a 17-point first-quarter lead against Perth on Wednesday night, before faltering against the lowly Taipans just three days later.

“The way they fell apart was really poor and leaves me with a lot of question marks about the team,” Hooley said of the Wildcats loss.

“I’m really high on what they can achieve when they’re healthy. Scott Roth’s been talking about how desperately they want to get to the FIBA Break to get those guys back, get David Johnson back who’s so crucial to their success. Right now they’re struggling to keep their head afloat.”

Fellow commentator Damon Lowery said the JackJumpers were beaten at their own game.

“I was shocked they lost two games in Tasmania, but even more shocking was offensive rebounds. They used to be the team that beat you up on the glass, now they’re getting beat up on the glass,” he said.

“I think they gave up about 15 or 16 offensive rebounds to the Perth Wildcats. That is not what Scott Roth has been preaching since he’s been here.”

The absence of Johnson has had a significant impact on the JackJumpers’ ability to score, and Hooley says they simply must find more playmakers.

“I think without David Johnson and TJ Starks not playing a whole lot, this is where I’d like to see Tyger Campbell be a little bit more aggressive,” he said.

“We’ve called those games where he comes out shooting the ball and getting into the paint. They need more playmakers while David Johnson’s out, outside of Bryce Hamilton.

“You can’t just say, 'Hey Josh Bannan, you’re our next playmaker in the power forward spot', because he doesn’t play like a playmaking power forward such as a Xavier Cooks type.”

But at five wins and five losses, there’s still plenty of time to turn things around.

“I’m still high on what they can achieve once he’s (Johnson) back and healthy, alongside Bryce Hamilton, Magnay, Bannan, Deng coming off the bench,” Hooley said.

“I really do like the roster makeup, but it’s more about those games where we’ve seen the slippage and how quickly they can patch that up.”