The following are previews with betting tips for selected fixtures in Round 4 of the 2021/22 NBL season.
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Sydney Kings vs Tasmania JackJumpersWednesday Dec 22, 7:30pm |
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The Kings came out absolutely flying in their last game, as they thoroughly beat the Phoenix 84-73 in the Olympic Park precinct. The highlights including their 29-14 Q1 triumph, in addition to pouring in 27PTS during Q4. This has helped them even their season record to 2-2, after they posted just 47 points in their previous 42-point humbling at the hands of Melbourne in Victoria. As for Tasmania they are fighting hard in their debut campaign, but their lack of scoring is severely hurting them as they now posses a 1-3 record and sit second-last on the ladder, ahead of only the poetically bad Breakers. Averaging just 77PPG, their latest defeat came at the hands of Perth, as they went down by 18-points. Will the Kings continue to push their historical defeat to the back of their minds, or can the JackJumpers cause some away day ruckus?
Leading Sydney was Xavier Cooks who did a bit of everything with 19PTS, 11REB, 2AST, 1STL and 1BLK. Jarell Martin also wasn’t afraid to do his thing with 12PTS, 13REB, 1AST and 1STL. Whilst Angus Glover converted four threes en route to 15PTS. For the JackJumpers, their efforts were conjured up by the two Josh’s, as Magette made 4/4 FTs to contribute to his 17PTS, along with 7REB, 6AST and 1STL. Meanwhile Adams came up with 15PTS + 3REB, 3AST and 1STL. Off the bench Clint Steindl scored 7PTS.
When it comes to this encounter it’s impossible to ignore the impact that Ballarat-born Forward Cooks could potentially have. The Australian Boomer’s stats are up in nearly every major category this season. He averaged 10.3PPG last season and is now getting 13.8PPG. For REB he averaged 5.1 and now is pulling in 8.8. This includes dimes as well, going up from 2.5 to 3.3. In addition, his inside accuracy has also seen improvements of 54.2% shooting to 55.9%. And even when Melbourne thrashed them the round prior, he was still the only King to score in double-figures – 12PTS. While he also had 6REB that game. Most opposition players find it a fairly arduous task to stop him close to the rim, whilst the fact that he can contribute in so many other areas as well makes him a genuine all-round threat out on the court. Given Sydney’s major inconsistencies this season, he is the key player for Tasmania to put a hold on in this clash.
Betting tips: Pick the Kings to prevail at $1.27 (BlueBet, UniBet)
Also pick them to produce the highest scoring Q at $1.42
Finally pick them to win Q1 at $1.54 (UniBet) and Q4 as well at $1.66 (UniBet)
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Illawarra Hawks vs South East Melbourne PhoenixTHIS FIXTURE HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO COVID |
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Both Illawarra and South East Melbourne have started the season on fire! The hosts sit in 3rd with a 3-1 record, while S.E.M sit in 2nd with an identical win-loss record. However, both teams are coming into this match-up on the back of defeats. The visiting Phoenix went down by 11 to the Kings at Qudos Bank Arena, meanwhile the Hawks lost to the Bullets 96-92 in an affair that went right down to the wire. Allowing Sydney to post 18 of the games first 27-points certainly did them no favors. Whilst for the Hawks, scoring 20+ points in each Q ultimately proved not enough as they fell to a resilient and pesky Brisbane side, in part thanks to Lamar Patterson’s game icing FT. So the question here is which team will be the first to bounce back from their unexpected losses? With two top sides going head-to-head, regardless of who the victor is, it’s guaranteed to be a can not miss affair.
Coming off the pine for the Hawks, Harry Froling was a beast as he came up with a stat line of 15PTS, 3REB, 4AST and 1STL. Duop Reath also scored 15PTS, along with 7REB, 1AST, 1STL and 1BLK. There was also Sam Froling with 11PTS and 11REB, not too mention Justinian Jessup, who also produced 11PTS, while his other stats also included 4AST. Meanwhile for Melbourne, their biggest contributors were Mitch Creek with 22PTS, Zhou Qi with 17PTS and 13REB + Izayah Le’Afa who fashioned 13PTS, 1REB, 4AST and 1STL.
Tyler Harvey is the name of the game right here ladies and gentleman. The PG is a humongous part of Brian Goorjian’s side’s offensive bursts this season, as he’s averaging 15.8PPG, to go along with 2.8APG. Last season’s All-NBL First Team Member is similar to that of Steph Curry in that he can quickly get scorching hot from deep. In the ex-G-League mans latest effort against the Bullets, he managed to get 3REB, 2AST and 2STL despite his shooting struggles, signifying how good he actually is and he quick on his feet he is. While in the match prior against New Zealand, his confidence was on display as he hit three three’s from beyond the arc. A man not afraid to shoot the ball until he gets it right! And when you asses Harvey’s dashes up against someone such as a Qi, who doesn’t exactly have that close to the basket, Harvey could be in for a pretty big-scoring effort here and he might need it too if Illawarra want to close out with a W.
Betting tips: Look for the Hawks to etch out a victory at $1.67 (Sportsbet)
While you can also look to them to produce the games highest scoring quarter at $1.68
Also pick them (Hawks) to win Q1 at $1.83 (UniBet), but pick the Phoenix to win Q4 at $2.02 (UniBet)
Best Bets of the Round:
Pick the Kings to prevail at $1.27 (BlueBet, UniBet)
Also pick them to produce the highest scoring Q at $1.42
Finally pick them to win Q1 at $1.54 (UniBet) and Q4 as well at $1.66 (UniBet)