Will Magnay had every reason to be proud.<\/p>\n
The Tasmania JackJumpers captain delivered what was likely the best performance of his NBL career to lead his team to a win over Melbourne United. His coach Scott Roth was impressed. So too was rival coach Dean Vickerman.<\/p>\n
After Majok Deng starred with 21 points in Monday night\u2019s win over South East Melbourne, and Josh Bannan exploded for 17 fourth-quarter points and 25 overall in New Year\u2019s Eve\u2019s loss to Illawarra, Saturday night belonged to Magnay.<\/p>\n
He was simply unstoppable.<\/p>\n
Magnay produced one of the finest all-round performances of NBL26, finishing with 27 points on 12-of-18 shooting. He added 13 rebounds, including six offensive boards, along with three blocks and two steals.<\/p>\n
The numbers told plenty. They still didn\u2019t tell the full story.<\/p>\n
The 27 points were a career-high across his 153-game NBL career. So too were his 36 minutes and 26 seconds on the floor. Defensively, his presence was just as decisive, playing a major role in holding Melbourne to 75 points on 43 per cent shooting.<\/p>\n
Magnay also landed the definitive blow. With 35 seconds remaining, he knocked down a three-pointer off a pass from Bryce Hamilton to seal the JackJumpers\u2019 84\u201375 victory.<\/p>\n
After the game, he was rightfully proud.<\/p>\n
“I don’t know (if it was best game), maybe, but I think I’ve had more impactful games on defensive ends and stuff, but the ball was just going in tonight,” Magnay said.<\/p>\n
“That last three ball there was just half a second on the clock, so I knew I couldn\u2019t take a bad shot then and he (Roth) couldn\u2019t yell at me for shooting three three balls.<\/p>\n
“Obviously it was a good performance and I’m proud of myself, and thankful to the group who kept finding me and we’re just onto the next one now, and back to work next week.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Roth has been pushing Will Magnay to be more aggressive offensively, even if it means living with the occasional risky shot. What he never questions is his defensive presence.<\/p>\n
That balance was on full display on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
“Mags was a monster tonight on both sides of the ball, he was really impactful for us all night and he even threw a three ball in there which I was like ‘No, no, no, but great shot’ when he took it,” Roth said.<\/p>\n
“It was just a great effort by him and on both sides of the ball (best game he’s played with us), and I’m a little shocked he only has three blocks, because I felt like he had seven or eight, and numerous ones that he adjusted around the rim.”<\/p>\n
Roth acknowledged Magnay\u2019s reputation has been built on defence. But the JackJumpers have been demanding more from him offensively.<\/p>\n
“Most of his impact usually comes on the defensive side, and that’s kinda what he’s hung his hat on, and rightfully so, but we’ve been harping for the last month about him hunting a little bit more offensively.”<\/p>\n
“We want him being a little bit more aggressive on that end and he continues to do the extra work, and his stamina is getting better and those are all really good signs for us.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Melbourne coach Dean Vickerman felt well prepared for the JackJumpers, despite assistant coach Jack Fleming being unwell and Rhys Carter stepping in to handle the scouting duties.<\/p>\n
What he didn\u2019t anticipate was the level of dominance Magnay would produce.<\/p>\n
“When you look at the game and you just say that Magnay was amazing tonight,” Vickerman said.<\/p>\n
“There were so many opportunities that we had coming downhill, two-on-one and he played two people extremely well tonight with his ability to protect the rim and deflect passes.<\/p>\n
“Then he was effective at the other end as well, so it’s one of the best games I’ve seen him play for a while and he was a massive factor in the game.”<\/p>\n
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