NBL Round 1 (Regular Season): Melbourne Utd take a leadership position

The Regular Season in NBL just started. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

United smashed Breakers in Melbourne 114-82. Melbourne Utd dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Breakers' 40. Melbourne Utd looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. 24 personal fouls committed by NZL Breakers helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Dutch center Jesse Edwards (211-2000, college: WVU) stepped up and scored 22 points and 6 rebounds (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field) for the winners and American Milton Doyle (193-1993, college: Loyola, IL) chipped in 15 points and 6 assists. At the losing side American guard Izaiah Brockington (193-1999, college: Iowa St.) responded with 21 points and 6 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Breakers will play next round against Perth trying to get back on the winning streak. United will try to continue on its current victory against SE Melbourne. It will be extra interesting game as SE Melbourne is their local rival from Melbourne.
Taipans recorded a loss in Melbourne. Visitors were rolled over by Phoenix 114-77. The former international guard Nathan Sobey (190-1990, college: Wyoming) nailed 13 points and 8 assists for the winning side and Angus Glover accounted for 18 points and 5 rebounds. The former international guard Reyne Smith (188-2002, college: Louisville) came up with 19 points and 6 rebounds for Cairns in the defeat. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Phoenix's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Melbourne to the arena Melbourne Utd.
A very close game took place in Perth between JackJumpers and Wildcats. JackJumpers got a very close victory on the road over Wildcats. JackJumpers managed to escape with a 3-point win 75-72 on Saturday evening. Bryce Hamilton fired 26 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. Jo Lual-Acuil produced a double-double by scoring 15 points and 14 rebounds for lost side. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. JackJumpers will meet Illawarra H. in the next round. Wildcats will play against NZL Breakers in Auckland and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 1 Brisbane won against NZL Breakers on the opponent's court 104-95. Bottom-ranked Tasmania JJ lost to Melbourne Utd in a home game 84-88.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 22 points and 10 rebounds by David Johnson of Tasmania JJ.



NZL Breakers - Brisbane 95-104

Very expected game in Auckland where Breakers were defeated by Bullets 104-95 on Friday. Brisbane made 20-of-25 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. New Zealand center Tyrell Harrison (214-1999) fired a double-double by scoring 24 points and 15 rebounds (made all of his eight free throws) for the winners. American swingman Casey Prather (198-1991, college: Florida) chipped in 27 points. American point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (180-1995, college: Arizona) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points, 5 rebounds and 12 assists and New Zealand forward Sam Mennenga (206-2001, college: Davidson) added 14 points and 8 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Breakers' coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Bullets will meet Adelaide in the next round. Breakers will play against Perth and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
NZL Breakers: I.Brockington 16+2reb+1ast, P.Jackson-Cartwright 16+5reb+12ast, S.Mennenga 14+8reb+3ast, C.Davison 12+5reb+4ast, R.Baker 12+5reb+1ast, R.Te Rangi 12+4reb
Brisbane: C.Prather 27+2reb+1ast, T.Harrison 24+15reb+1ast, J.Freeman-Liberty 17+6reb+5ast, J.Adams 14+7ast, S.McDaniel 10+5reb+2ast, A.Ducas 10+1reb+3ast

SE Melbourne - Cairns 114-77

Taipans recorded a loss in Melbourne. Visitors were rolled over by Phoenix 114-77. SE Melbourne made 22-of-24 charity shots (91.7 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 Cairns turnovers. SE Melbourne players were unselfish on offense dishing 23 assists. The former international guard Nathan Sobey (190-1990, college: Wyoming) nailed 13 points and 8 assists for the winning side and the former international guard Angus Glover (192-1998) accounted for 18 points and 5 rebounds. The former international guard Reyne Smith (188-2002, college: Louisville) came up with 19 points and 6 rebounds and the former international forward Jack McVeigh (203-1996, college: Nebraska) added 18 points respectively for Cairns in the defeat. Five SE Melbourne and four Cairns players scored in double figures. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Phoenix's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will travel locally in Melbourne to the arena Melbourne Utd.
Top scorers:
Cairns: R.Smith 19+6reb+1ast, J.McVeigh 18+3reb+3ast, A.Schofield 12+6reb, M.Lee 10+12reb+1ast, K.Stattmann 8+5reb+5ast, L.McVeigh 5+1reb
SE Melbourne: A.Glover 18+5reb, H.Maldonado 16+2reb+5ast, J.Brown III 14+4reb+4ast, N.Sobey 13+3reb+8ast, O.Foxwell 12+3reb+1ast, G.Gak 11+6reb

Perth - Tasmania JJ 72-75

A very close game took place in Perth between JackJumpers and Wildcats. JackJumpers got a very close victory on the road over Wildcats. JackJumpers managed to escape with a 3-point win 75-72 on Saturday evening. American guard Bryce Hamilton (193-2000, college: UNLV) fired 26 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the winners. International forward Josh Bannan (208-2001, college: Montana) chipped in 9 points and 10 rebounds. Naturalized South Sudanese center Jo Lual-Acuil (213-1994, college: Baylor) produced a double-double by scoring 15 points and 14 rebounds and American guard Mason Jones (193-1998, college: Arkansas) added 16 points respectively for lost side. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. JackJumpers will meet Illawarra H. in the next round. Wildcats will play against NZL Breakers in Auckland and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Perth: M.Jones 16+3reb+3ast, J.Lual-Acuil 15+14reb+2ast, K.Doolittle 12+6reb+1ast, J.Wagstaff 9+3reb, B.Henshall 8+4reb, D.Russo-Nance 4+2reb+1ast
Tasmania JJ: B.Hamilton 26+6reb+5ast, D.Johnson 12, W.Magnay 10+4reb+1ast, J.Bannan 9+10reb+1ast, M.Deng 8+3reb, N.Marshall 5+5reb

Melbourne Utd - NZL Breakers 114-82

United smashed Breakers in Melbourne 114-82. Melbourne Utd dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Breakers' 40. Melbourne Utd looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. 24 personal fouls committed by NZL Breakers helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Dutch center Jesse Edwards (211-2000, college: WVU) stepped up and scored 22 points and 6 rebounds (on 9-of-10 shooting from the field) for the winners and American Milton Doyle (193-1993, college: Loyola, IL) chipped in 15 points and 6 assists. Five United players scored in double figures. At the losing side American guard Izaiah Brockington (193-1999, college: Iowa St.) responded with 21 points and 6 rebounds and Mexican swingman Karim Lopez (202-2007) scored 14 points and 6 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Breakers will play next round against Perth trying to get back on the winning streak. United will try to continue on its current victory against SE Melbourne. It will be extra interesting game as SE Melbourne is their local rival from Melbourne.
Top scorers:
NZL Breakers: I.Brockington 21+6reb+2ast, R.Baker 17+3reb, K.Lopez 14+6reb+1ast, R.Te Rangi 9+2reb+1ast, I.Le'afa 8+3reb+3ast, R.Loe 7+5reb+2ast
Melbourne Utd: J.Edwards 22+6reb, T.Krebs 16+2ast, M.Doyle 15+3reb+6ast, D.Daniels 14+5reb+1ast, T.Wilson 12+5reb+1ast, S.Ili 7+1reb+8ast

Tasmania JJ - Melbourne Utd 84-88

But JackJumpers were not able to use a home court advantage and lost to the opponent from Melbourne 88-84 on Thursday night. Melbourne Utd made 21-of-26 free shots (80.8 percent) during the game. Melbourne Utd outrebounded Tasmania JJ 47-35 including 18 on the offensive glass. American Milton Doyle (193-1993, college: Loyola, IL) fired 22 points for the winners. Dutch center Jesse Edwards (211-2000, college: WVU) chipped in a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds. Four United players scored in double figures. United's coach Dean Vickerman used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. American guard David Johnson (193-2001, college: Louisville) produced a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds and the other American import guard Bryce Hamilton (193-2000, college: UNLV) added 24 points respectively for lost side. United's supporters look forward to an exciting derby game next round, where their team will face at home their local rival from Melbourne SE Melbourne.
Top scorers:
Tasmania JJ: B.Hamilton 24+4reb+1ast, D.Johnson 22+10reb+2ast, J.Bannan 9+6reb+2ast, N.Marshall 8+2reb, T.Campbell 7+3reb+4ast, W.Magnay 6+5reb+3ast
Melbourne Utd: M.Doyle 22+2reb+3ast, T.Walker 14+3reb+1ast, S.Ili 12+4reb+3ast, F.Delany 12+8reb+2ast, J.Edwards 10+10reb+3ast, T.Krebs 6+2reb