The following are previews with betting tips for selected fixtures in Round 19 of the 2021/22 NBL season.
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Melbourne United vs South East Melbourne PhoenixThursday Apr 07, 7:30pm |
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Out of the last four games between Melbourne United and their fierce rivals the South East Melbourne Phoenix, they have split them right down the middle with two triumphant victories each. Whilst additionally, the winning margin for each of those victories has been just eight-points or less. If that wasn’t enough, then this will only add to the spice surrounding this match-up, as a win for United would ensure that they continue to sit atop the NBL ladder, whilst it would also commandingly represent their seventeenth win of the campaign. For Simon Mitchell’s men a win, a win of literally any kind, is desperately needed in order for them to stay within touching distance of the Top Four (finals berth). You have two emotive coaches on the sidelines in terms of Dean Vickerman and Mitchell, whilst the court will be lit with talent including sturdy regular-season MVP candidates such as big men Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and Mitch Creek. This is the local Melbourne Derby and it’s going to bring the passion! The fire! And the intensity!
If South East Melbourne wins this affair, then there’s a high chance it’ll be a high-scoring encounter due to their somewhat erratic playing nature of ‘shoot first and think later.’ And for that, you can’t entirely blame them, especially when you consider that they posses the likes of Mitch Creek (21PTS last game, 10/18 shooting) and Xavier Munford (20PTS last game, 8/16 shooting) in their team. Rivalling that strongly however should be former Australian God Medal winner and star Melbourne SG Chris Goulding. His play lately has been nothing short of superb as he put up 18PTS and four threes in their most recent win vs Perth. While over their latest two-game ‘mini-series’ vs the Hawks, he put up 16 and 13PTS, respectively. And prior to that, in a twenty-seven-point win against Adelaide, despite only scoring 10PTS, he chipped in with 6AST also, far and away the best dimes total of any Melbourne or Adelaide player that day. He may well be the very exact reason that the Phoenix walk away from this match-up empty handed.
Betting tips: Pick the Phoenix to edge out this encounter at $2.56 (Sportsbet)
Also back them to reach over 20.5PTS in Q1 at $1.47 (Bet365)
Whilst you can also look for United to go over 19.5PTS in the same quarter at $1.22 (Bet365)
Don’t be afraid either to pick H2 to be the highest scoring one at $2.00 (Bet365)
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Tasmania JackJumpers vs Cairns TaipansFriday Apr 08, 7:30pm |
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Expect a full house or as close to one as physically possible, as on this Friday night MyState Bank Arena should be bustling with hopeful supporters, as Tasmania will continue their unlikely charge to a first-year finals berth, as they prepare to host Adam Forde and his inform Taipans side in an exciting clash. The visitors have won four of their last five games, which is important to note, as they’ve won just eight in total on the season from twenty-two attempts. As for the JackJumpers, they sit just one-win off the 4th placed and faltering Wildcats (13 vs 14), so claiming a home win would provide a simply huge boost to Scott Roth’s side. And they have some momentum on their side too, as despite going down to the Kings at home last round, ‘Tassie’ still won the games final two quarters and scored a huge fifty-four points in the process. Lethal backcourt duo Josh Magette and Adams combined for 28PTS, 3REB, 4AST, 3STL and four threes, as they’ll again need to be powerful to help see home to their faithful supporters what they fully deserve, a crucial win.
In the Taipans latest victory, which came in the form of a strong ten-point win over the Breakers in Tasmania, Keanu Pinder was paramount, as he had a blinder of a performance with 21PTS, 10REB, 5AST, 2STL and 2BLK, as he also shot 9/14 from the floor and 3/4 from the FT line! The ex-Legia Warszawa Forward was massive, as were the rest of the starting five. Majok Deng got 19PTS + 6REB, Scott Macahdo had 15PTS + 6AST and Bul Kuol secured 11PTS + 2REB. Whilst Kuoat Noi was big with 9PTS + 14REB to his name. A similarly strong team effort in this H2H has the potential to cause a few headaches for the JackJumpers, as despite their H2 effort verses the Kings, they still lost by twenty-points overall. Meaning a hot start here from either side, no matter who’s responsible, could go a long, long way in deciding the overall outcome of the match.
Betting tips: When the match odds become available, pick ‘Tassie’ to win, as well as for them to win Q4. However, pick Cairns to be the first to 10 and 20 points respectively.
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Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney KingsSaturday Apr 09, 8:00pm |
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The Kings head to Hindmarsh on the back off a historic ten-match winning streak, punctuated by their smashing of the JackJumpers in Tasmania last round, to the tune of twenty-points. It was a result that sees the Kings stay in 2nd place, thanks to a commanding 20PTS from Jaylen Adams, as he shot 5/8 from the floor and had 7AST too. Xavier Cooks was equally as lethal in his return with a near triple-double, posting 14PTS, 9REB and 9AST. Jarell Martin meanwhile did his thing, going 2/3 from deep, en route to 13PTS and 3REB. While Dejan Vasiljevic shot 2/4 from deep, as he secured 10PTS in what was an all-round dedicated team effort. Then off the bench Angus Glover shot 4/5 and had 11PTS + 4REB. While Tom Vodanovich had himself a game in just under 15-minutes of playing time, scoring 9PTS and pulling in 3REB. As they attempt to keep up the pressure on Melbourne United in 1st place (currently situated just a single win behind them), it’s difficult to see them not pumping out a big win away from Homebush. That’s especially the case when you consider that Sydney have won eight of their last eleven games up against the 36ers.
This will be the Kings fifth straight match away from home. Despite that, the Kings have still won their last six consecutive ‘road’ games, one of which was a tightly contested 93-90 victory over Adelaide on the 27th of February this year. It was a 24-19 Q4 flurry from the Kings that day that saw them etch the result over the line and in their favour. Jaylen Adams and Xavier Cooks were the chefs that day, cooking up some huge stats, with 26PTS, 1REB and 7AST and 25PTS, 10REB and 1AST, respectively. They damaged the 36ers badly that day and with Cooks having just returned to action, albeit returning to normal form ASAP, there is the strong potential for a repeat Sydney win to happen right here barring an unforeseen and/or unprecedented Adelaide miracle.
Betting tips: With the form the Kings are in right now + the odds available, a bet on them to win the Championship at $3.10 (Bet365) and for Jaylen Adams to win the regular season MVP at $2.25 (Bet365), perhaps wouldn’t go astray.
Best Bets of the Round – Perth Wildcats vs New Zealand Breakers:
Back Perth to win comfortably at $1.30 (Sportsbet)
Look for them to also win Q1 at $1.55 (Bet365)
As well as that pick Perth to reach over 21.5PTS in Q1 at $1.45 (Bet365)
Additionally, look for New Zealand to score under 86.5PTS throughout the match at $2.50 (Bet365)