Preview: Bullets tip-off new season with historic clash against JackJumpers

Your Brisbane Bullets will tip-off their NBL22 campaign in an historic clash against League new-comers Tasmania JackJumpers at Hobart’s MyState Bank Arena on December 3^rd.

Brisbane are in a rich vein of form coming into the new season, having won three of their four pre-season matches in the NBL Blitz. The Bullets started this tournament with a win over the JackJumpers before playing Perth, Cairns and Adelaide.

The match against the Bullets was the JackJumpers’ first taste of NBL competition in the history of the franchise, with a strong second-half seeing the Bullets take out the match 89-79..

While the Bullets will come into NBL22 full of confidence after a largely successful NBL Blitz series, the team will be eager to back it up with a perfect start to the regular season.

Match Details

Tip-off: Friday, December 3^rd at 6:30pm AEST

Venue: MyState Bank Arena, Hobart

Broadcast: Live on ESPN via Kayo or Foxtel

Tale of the Tape

While they weren’t playing for competition points, the Bullets’ promising pre-season began with a 10-point win over the JackJumpers on November 14^th.

Playing at the same venue that they will be again tonight, the Bullets showed plenty of heart and character to win this clash. The JackJumpers led by three at quarter time, but four point advantages in both the second and third quarters helped steer the visitors to a 89-79 win.

In what was a close game throughout, the Bullets were trailing by one-point with just under six minutes to play, before American import Robert Franks converted a three-pointer from beyond the arc.

The Bullets controlled the match from there, earning a confidence-boosting win in Hobart.

The experienced Nathan Sobey led the way with 17 points, while Franks also put up 16.

Pre-season Form

Bullets: W-W-W-L

JackJumpers: L-W-L-L-W

The Bullets come into round one on the back of three wins from their four pre-season matches, including a 10-point win over last year’s NLB runners up Perth Wildcats.

As for their one loss, it was a tight match against the 36ers on Sunday which the team will undoubtedly take plenty out of heading into NBL22.

As for the JackJumpers, they bounced back from their loss to the Bullets with their first win against NBL opposition, beating Cairns by 15-points.

Tasmania then lost to both Adelaide and Perth, before finishing the pre-season with another win over the Taipans.

Key Players

Nathan Sobey - Brisbane Bullets

Nathan Sobey led the way for the Bullets in the pre-season clash against the JackJumpers, and could very well be looked to again in key moments this Friday. In that match against Tasmania, he had 17-points to his name, as well as seven rebounds and four assists.

The 31-year-old had himself a game in the Bullets’ third pre-season matchup too, scoring 27-points against the Taipans, as well as eight assists.

The man known as Sobes is also coming off an historic Olympics with the Boomers, winning bronze in Tokyo earlier this year.

But as for his feats in the blue and gold of the Bullets, Sobey was named in the Leagues All-NBL first team last year, having averaged over 21 points per match. He’s also been named in the All-NBL second team twice.

Lamar Patterson and Robert Franks were also among the players to watch ahead of the regular season.

Josh Magette - Tasmania JackJumpers

The JackJumpers recently announced that Clint Steindl would captain the side in their inaugural season, while Jarrad Weeks would support him as the vice-captain.

Steindl, who went to school at Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane, also has championship experience with the Perth Wildcats.

But in their last meeting against the Bullets, 28-year-old Josh Adams led the way with a game-high 18 points.

But across pre-season, one player who started all five of the JackJumpers’ matches was guard Josh Magette. The American has played for both the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic in the NBA, but is now set for his first NBL season Down Under.

Against the Bullets last time around, Magette put up 12 points. But he’s coming into the regular season on the back of a 26-point game against the Taipans, where he shot at 45% from the field.

Don't miss your chance to see the Bullets in action when they return to Brisbane on Dec 19. Get your tickets HERE.