The Property Brokers Manawatū Jets (5-4, 6th) v The Northern Group Tauranga Whai (5-3, 4th)
The Jets have held home court with 2 straight wins to move into the top 6 after starting the season with a big road trip, but if they want to stay there they will need to tame the defensive prowess of the Tauranga Whai who are looking to solidify their standing in the top 6.
When: Thursday 24th April, Rapid League 6pm, Sal's NBL 7pm
Where: Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North
Watch: Live in New Zealand on Sky Sport 2 | USA: ESPN3 | International: FIBA YouTube
Last Time Out:
The Jets welcomed a Hawks squad that had previously bested them, even without 3 current starters who were yet to join the team making for what looked like a difficult home game for the Jets, especially as they needed a win to rise back into the top half of the ladder. But the Jets came out firing, flying to a slender 2 point lead at the quarter before watching the offense explode for 30 points in the second quarter as Corey Webster (29pts, 4rbs, 8ast) and Dontae Russo-Nance 2opts, 4stls) kept the scoreboard ticking over to take a 6 point halftime lead. Dan Grida (24pts, 9rbs) and Jackson Ball (20pts, 8rbs) would respond in the 3rd quarter but the Jets would keep the Hawks at arms distance as Miles Gibson (30pts, 5rbs) would lift his scoring in the second half to hold Hawke's Bay off to grab a 103-91 lead.
Tauranga hosted a Sharks team that needed wins to stay in the finals hunt while the Whai were looking to stay near the top of the table with a win. The late confirmation of Josiah Allick (27pts, 13rbs, 4ast) would be a lift to the Sharks interior play but a defensive lift was needed to give the Sharks a chance to steal a win on the road. The defense would rise as Tauranga would struggle offensively, with just Chris Jones (16pts, 7rbs, 5ast) and Kruz Perrott-Hunt (15pts, 4rbs) hitting double figures, but it was enough to give the Whai a 6-point lead at halftime. With Keylan Boone (26pts, 10rbs) joining Allick to lift the offense as the defense played to its highest level this season, the Sharks would fight back to tie the game heading into the final quarter where Caleb Asberry (11pts, 5rbs, 6ast) would find his form down the stretch to secure a huge 84-78 victory for the road team.
What to Look For:
The Jets have 7 current players that average over 14 minutes per game with Corey Webster (24.8ppg, 6.6apg in 37.2min) and Miles Gibson (23.4ppg, 8.4rpg in 37min) carrying the heaviest loads, making them very reliant on starting talent. Isaac Miller-Jose's (6ppg) insertion into the starting lineup has lifted the size and defensive rebounding and allowed Eric Williams Jr (11.9ppg, 6.1rpg) to bring his top level athleticism off the bench, offering energy and multi-positional versatility off the bench which wasn't there early in the season. Dontae Russo-Nance (20.9ppg, 5.1rpg, 4.1apg, 2.78stls) has been steady on offense and sits 3rd in the league in steals, giving the Jets an option to pressure opposition ball handlers. Kenny Goins (11.6ppg, 7.8rpg) doesn't have the biggest statistical impact but may be the squads most important player with his ability to hold the fort down low while stretching defenses with his 39% 3pfg shooting. They are the second highest scoring team in the league, but do it with a league worst free throw rate and the 11th highest 3-point rate, making them reliant on the mid range game to a higher degree than other NBL teams, which you can do when you have mid-range scorers like Webster and Russo-Nance and an offense that plays the fastest pace in the league and turns the ball over less than any other squad.
The Whai have the stingiest scoring defense in the league, but they need it, having topped 90 points just twice this season. They look to play with speed when transition opportunities arise but overall feature the 2nd slowest pace in the league, making their transition in this match up even more important. They take good care of the rock and swipe it from an opponents at a league best rate. Chris Jones (17.8ppg, 6rpg, 2.25stls) facilitates for teammates such as Kruz Perrott-Hunt (16.3ppg) early but then looks to lift his scoring load late in games. Sean Baristow (11pg, 6.8apg) has been elite in transition but has yet to find consistent space in the Whai halfcourt offense. Upfront Talib Zanna (7.9ppg, 6.7rpg) provides the thunder while Carter Hopoi (12.4ppg, 5rpg) brings the lightining, with his ability to play above the rim offering a real game changer. Jayden Bezzant has been a consistent weapon off the bench but the big question in this game is who will take the responsibility of slowing down one of the top scoring backcourts in the league.
Matchup to Watch: Kenny Goins v Carter Hopoi- The backcourts will provide more scoring but this game is likely to be won or lost in the trenches. Can Goins use his shooting to pull interior defenders away from the hoop or will Hopoi find freedom in transition and be able to use his vertical leaping abilities to protect the rim?
Stats that Might Matter:
| Stat | Jets | Whai |
| Scoring Offense | 99.33ppg (2nd) | 82.63ppg (10th) |
| Scoring Defense | 93.22 (7th) | 77.13ppg (1st) |
| Effective Field Goal % | 52% (7th) | 46% (11th) |
| Field Goal % Defense | 47% (9th) | 43% (3rd) |
| Free Throw Rate | 23% (last) | 29% (5th) |
| Free Throw % | 68% (10th) | 72% (4th) |
| Three Point Rate | 38% (11th) | 43% (4th) |
| Three Point % | 34% (5th) | 30% (11th) |
| Turnover Rate | 9% (best) | 12%(2nd) |
| Assist Rate | 52% (11th) | 53% (10th) |
| Offensive Rebound Rate | 27% (5th) | 29% (3rd) |
| Defensive Rebound Rate | 74% (7th) | 70% (11th) |
| Block Rate | 8% (6th) | 5% (9th) |
| Steal Rate | 12% (2nd) | 13% (1st) |
all advanced stats courtesy of spatialjam.com
