The following are previews with betting tips for selected fixtures in Round 5 of the 2021/22 NBL season.
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Cairns Taipans vs Perth WildcatsFriday Dec 31, 8:00pm |
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Cairns currently have a 2-1 record on the season, while Perth are at 4-1. The Taipans are situated in 4th, with the Wildcats in 1st, in what is sure to be a classic battle between two raring NBL teams. For the hosts, their triumphs this season have come from a new found defensive grittiness under ex-King turned head Taipan Adam Forde. As he has overseen his side give up just 62 points against Tasmania and only a further five against Adelaide. And they like to start off fast too! Having poured in 22 & 31 points in each of the opening Q’s against those previously mentioned rivals.
As for Perth, despite the loss of Trevor Gleeson to the Raptors in the NBA, they have hardly missed a beat under Scott Morrison, picking up where they left off last season after reaching the Grand Final Series, by having posted some absolutely crushing victories. The ex-Celtics assistant has helped propel his squad to a 23-point win over their opposition for this encounter, as well as among others, an 18-point dub over the JackJumpers. With the Cairns clash in particular seeing Bryce Cotton go off for 6 three-pointers, en route to 31PTS, along with 3REB, 5AST and 3STL.
Carins will no doubt be seeking vengeance for what happened earlier in the season, but that’s easier said then done! It will take a balanced-scoring effort, as well as limiting Bryce Cotton’s opportunities for Cairns to salvage something from this one, which I believe they just might.
Betting tips: Pick the Taipans to claim a shock victory at $3.05 (UniBet)
While you can also pick them to win Q1 at $2.40 (Sportsbet)
And look for the total points scored in the match to be odd at $1.91 (Sportsbet)
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Tasmania JackJumpers vs Melbourne UnitedSaturday Jan 01, 5:30pm |
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The JackJumpers have two victories this season, that while United are at three. And when you mix in each sides poisonous ability to produce either a very hot or an extremely cold performance, the prospects of who will win this affair become quite muddied. It’s anybody’s to take! Playing at home last round, Tasmania would’ve been very happy with their performance as they outdid a solid New Zealand side to the tune of an 84-75 scoreline. Only aiding their win was their hot start which saw them win the opening three Q’s, Q1-25-16, Q2-25-23 and Q3-19-17. Part of that was their ability to shoot the ball accurately from deep, as they converted 9/20 attempts from beyond the arc. Josh Adams led the way with 21PTS, 4REB and 2AST, while Sam McDaniel bagged 10PTS, 6REB, 1AST and 3STL. Meanwhile off the bench, Clint Steindl produced 14PTS and Fabijan Krslovic had 11.
As for Melbourne, despite their supposed ‘Championship hangover’ this campaign, they’re still faring very well offensively as they are fashioning 82.8PPG. And they couldn’t have highlighted their focal points any better during their latest clash as they pulled the Kings to bit in Homebush, prevailing 82-64. That being the second time this season that they’ve put a real scoreline on the ‘Violet Crumble’s’. Right at the end too was what did it for them, as they prevailed in Q4 16-9, as they suffocated Chase Buford’s men. Caleb Agada was electric with 24PTS, while Chris Goulding had 20. Jo Lual-Acuil also had 12, while Mason Peatling has 9 off the pine. Agada also hit three 3’s from deep, as well as having gotten 14REB, 3AST, 4STL and 3BLK! In what was a monster performance from the Nigerian international. Goudling’s other stats also included five 3’s, 5REB, 1AST and 2STL.
It’s never easy having to travel over to the MyState Bank Arena, a venue where the JackJumpers have claimed both their wins this season. And while you can expect it to be close for large periods of the game, Melbourne should ultimately have them covered by the end of it.
Betting tips: Pick Melbourne to win at $1.37 (UniBet)
While you can also pick the total game points to be over 163.5 at $1.90 (Sportsbet)
And look for the total points scored throughout the encounter to be even at $1.91 (Sportsbet)
Best Bets of the Round:
Pick Melbourne to win at $1.37 (UniBet)
While you can also pick the total game points to be over 163.5 at $1.90 (Sportsbet)
And look for the total points scored throughout the encounter to be even at $1.91 (Sportsbet)