The following are previews with betting tips for selected fixtures in Round 1 of the 2021/22 NBL season.
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IMPORTANT UPDATE: border restrictions have forced the NBL to reshuffle fixtures in the opening six rounds. Please disregard the below tips. In Round 1 the JackJumpers will actually play the Bullets while the Wildcats will plays the 36ers.
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Tasmania JackJumpers v Adelaide 36ersFri Dec 3, 7:30pm |
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This exhilarating NBL season opener sees the newly formed JackJumpers play host to the reigning Loggins-Bruton Cup winning 36ers. Only adding to the hype surrounding this exciting match-up is that when these two sides went head-to-head in the preseason, only two-points separated them in a simply astonishing 82-80 Adelaide triumph. A clash that saw Dusty Hannahs and Daniel Johnson pour in 19 and 17 points respectively. Whilst working hard for Tasmania that day was Clint Steindl who produced 17 points off the bench and Josh Magette who also had 14. Neither of these sides are the flashiest with the way they go about doing things, but both Scott Roth and C.J. Bruton will have their sides firing on all cylinders in what should be an Australian Basketball classic.
Ex-Atlanta Hawks/Orlando Magic Guard and 2018 NBA G-League Assists Leader Magette should prove to be one of the major focal points of this encounter. With Atlanta he averaged a very respectable 3.2APG and was somewhat underrated in that regard. Now having most recently played over in Turkey, competing in Australia should prove a completely different type of challenge for him and that starts right here with this game. The JackJumpers squad while okay offensively, is more designed for the ‘rougher’ defensive side of things. So the onus will be on him, along with reigning Italian League Champion G Josh Adams to facilitate most of the attack. If they can come through then Tasmania are a great shot at taking out their debut NBL appearance, however if not then the 36ers damaging big man combination of Johnson and Isaac Humphries might have their number in this one.
Betting tips: When the odds become available pick Adelaide to win Q1, but for Tasmania to win the game.
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Perth Wildcats v Brisbane BulletsFri Dec 3, 9:30pm |
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How far can Bryce Cotton lead the Wildcats this season? That is the question on everybody’s lips. And every year people write them off as non-contenders and every year he silences his doubters with massive numbers and impressive performances after impressive performances. Even during the preseason most recently he’s been electric. In his sides most recent four-point contest against Adelaide he came up with a stat line of 12PTS, 2REB, 2AST and 1STL in just over 20-minutes of playing time. Prior to that in a 30-point thrashing of Tasmania he conjoured up 18PTS on 6/11 shooting, to go along with 5REB, 6AST, 1STL and 1BLK. He is an absolute menace out on the floor! Now with what can only be described as a severely weakened roster, Perth need the 3X NBL MVP + 2X NBL Grand Final MVP more then ever.
He and Vic Law are the major offensive threats that the ‘Cats’ have to offer. And it’s a good thing that the Chicago-born Law knows how to ball out, given this will be his first meeting against his former side since he bounced after the 2020/21 NBL season was done and dusted. In that same drubbing of the JackJumpers, Law shot 4/5 from inside the arc for 10PTS, as he also pulled in 9REB and dished out 2AST, with the 25-year-old displaying his major strengths. Cotton and him need to be on-point in this clash to be able to overcome the offensively crazy Bullets.
As for the Bullets, it’s impossible to ignore Lamar Patterson. The powerful SF always seems to find a way to keep the Bullets in games that they shouldn’t be in, as he proves to be a near-impossible threat to stop close to the rim. That while newly signed G Isiah Moss is certainly no slouch either as he averaged 21.5PPG and 6.1RPG last season in New Zealand. The lobs between him and Patterson could be eerily reminiscent of that between Chris Paul and Blake Griffin/DeAndre Jordan. This is going to be a quality game!
Betting tips: When the odds become available pick Perth to win Q1, but for Brisbane to win the game.