Game Preview: Sharks v Jets

Southland Sharks (1-2, 9th) v The Property Brokers Manawatū Jets (2-2, 7th)

Two teams coming off disappointing loses will look to bounce back in the Deep South. Will the Sharks be able to ride their first home game of the year to a better defensive effort? Or will the Jets be able to shake off the disappointment of their fourth quarter collapse to jump back into the top half of the ladder?

When: Saturday 29 March, Rapid League 6:30pm, Sal’s NBL 7:30pm

Where: ILT Stadium, Southland
Watch: Live in New Zealand on Sky Sport 6 | USA: ESPN3 | International: FIBA YouTube
Box score here

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Last Time Out:

Sharks- Southland traveled to the Capital looking to improve defensively after losing by 36 in their previous loss before finding similar problems in a 39 point loss to the Saints while allowing them to shoot 69% from inside the arc and 54% from outside of it while hitting the Chemist Warehouse stripe twice as many times. Josiah Allick (22pts, 9rbs) a semi-bright spot offensively but overall this was the second game in a row to forget.

Jets- In the first half of the Southern Swing the Jets gave up a huge early lead to the Nuggets, going down 18points in the first quarter. They worked their way all the way back 1o lead by 12 early in the 4th and still held an 11 point margin holding a 102-91 lead with 4:13 remaining after a Miles Gibson triple. But then the import trio and Patrick Freeman would come alive to drain 2 triples as the defense locked down for a miraculous, and heartbreaking, 108-104 Nuggets victory. Miles Gibson (30pts, 7rbs), Kenny Goins (24pts, 13rbs, 2blks) and Corey Webster (20pts, 11ast, 4rbs) driving the Jets to the lead but unable to find similar form down the stretch.

What to Look for

The Sharks will be looking for answers on the defensive end where they have given little more resistance than a training squad over their past two games where opponents have averaged 121 against them. The offense has been solid while shooting 49% from the floor (3rd in league) and 36% from deep (2nd in league). Allick has been working on the interior while Keylan Boone has at times looked comfortable but the lack of true point guard has lead to them having the worst turnover margin in the comp (-4). But the offense is not the problem and if they give up another huge margin Coach Lim will need to start looking for new solutions to the problems at hand.

The Jets will be bitterly disappointed to have given away a victory that would have propelled them to the top of the table and now need to regroup without Corey Webster, who has flown back to Auckland on personal business, leaving a gaping hole in a Jets lineup for a team that may have been the most dependent on its starters in the entire competition. Dontae Russo-Nance will get more opportunity with the ball in hand while Miles Gibson’s usage rate could hit a season high mark.

Small Sample Size Stats:

Sharks- The offense is the most efficient in the comp (61% effective fg%) but also has the highest turnover percentage (19%) in the league. A league low 11% free throw rate makes it tough to keep the scoreboard ticking over when things slow down but the 3rd highest 3 point rate (44%) makes up for some of that. The rebounding sits on the average side (68% defensive rebounding %, 9th) 28% offensive rebounding rate (5th) and when combined with the turnovers it can be difficult to win the possession game.

Jets- Manawatū plays the fastest pace in the league (89) and combines that with the lowest turnover rate (9%) in the competition while maintaining the 6th best assist percentage (54%). They get to the line at a good rate (32% free throw rate, 4th) but have the 3rd lowest three point rate (32%). The rebounding is solid (75% defensive rebounding rate, 30% offensive rebounding rate, both 4th in league) and have a middle of the pack effectiveness from the floor (51% efg, 5th).

Matchup to Watch: Josiah Allick v Kenny Goins – The battle of the bigs will determine much of the outcome with the winner of the matchup giving their squad the upper hand. Will Allick be able to affect things with his energy and effort on the glass? Or will the length efficiency of Goins be enough to tip this matchup in the favour of the Jets.