Combinations forming for Jets
More time in the saddle should help the Manawatu¯ Jets ahead of their second away double header in as many weeks.
The Jets started the season with two losses in Auckland at the weekend – 106-97 against the Auckland Huskies on Friday night and 100-99 to the Franklin Bulls on Saturday – and are on the road again this weekend.
They play the Canterbury Rams in Christchurch on Friday night and drive to Dunedin to play the Otago Nuggets on Saturday.
It’s another tough ask before the Jets finally play at home next weekend.
Coach Tim Mctamney said the first two games showed the difficulty of integrating their two new imports, Daishon Knight and Deandre Daniels, who have only been out of isolation for just over a week, but they would continue to get better.
‘‘In some ways getting wins on the road is a bonus. I felt we had a good opportunity to get two at the weekend, they were both pretty close. It’s disappointing we didn’t get at least one of them. They were there for the taking.’’
He said it was important for new players to learn the way the Jets played and it was hard to do that on the fly.
The improvement from Friday to Saturday night was noticeable and Mctamney hoped it would get even better this week with the squad training together.
Things looked promising and once player combinations form the Jets should be a force.
They had limited time before leaving on Friday, but Mctamney was hopeful of sneaking something from the tough southern double header.
‘‘We have to get through that best we can. Hopefully we can face adversity and come back with at least one win.’’
The team’s three-point shooting, something they consider a strength, was off in both games. Mctamney said they still played well, but didn’t shoot well.
There were signs in both games though with Jayden Bezzant and Knight combining well.
Ashton Mcqueen was suspended for the second game of the weekend after being involved in a scuffle with another player against the Huskies and his absence hurt against the Bulls.
Against the Bulls the lead changed 17 times and the scores were level 12 times.
The Jets had a chance to win the game at the death, but missed the shot that would have won them the game. Bezzant dropped 29 points against the Bulls and 15 against the Huskies, while Knight scored 23 against the Bulls and 30 against the Huskies.