JackJumpers vs Bullets Prediction & Tips: NBL27 Round 6

Round 6 of NBL27 gets underway in Hobart on Wednesday night, with the Tasmania JackJumpers hosting the Brisbane Bullets at MyState Bank Arena.

The JackJumpers have made an impressive start to the season and will be looking to continue their strong home form, while Brisbane arrive with a bit of renewed confidence after snapping a three-game losing streak last round.

These sides met just over two weeks ago in Brisbane, with Tasmania coming from behind to win 109-99 in overtime. Can the Bullets turn the tables in Hobart, or will the JackJumpers prove too strong again?

We take a closer look at the matchup and our NBL best bet below!

Tasmania Jump to the top of the Standings

There's plenty to like about what Scott Roth has been getting out of this Tasmania side.

The JackJumpers haven't had everything go their way on the injury front, but they've continued to find ways to win games. They knocked off Melbourne United in a thriller earlier this month, followed that with road wins over Brisbane and Illawarra, and bounced back from a narrow loss to Adelaide with a 98-82 victory over New Zealand on Sunday.

Taran Armstrong was outstanding against the Breakers, finishing with 32 points in another reminder of just how important he's become to Tasmania's offence. He's giving them the ability to create something when possessions break down, which hasn't always been a strength of this team in previous seasons. Will Magnay has been a beast defensively, while David Johnson and Dakota Mathias provide the offensive spark to make the JJ's dangerous in attack.

There's still plenty of the familiar JackJumpers identity, though. They compete hard on the glass, make opponents work for their shots and rarely give away an easy game at home.

It's worth remembering that their recent 109-99 win over Brisbane wasn't nearly as comfortable as the final score suggests. Tasmania trailed by 14 points during the first half before turning things around after the main break, and the game was still tied at the end of regulation.

They'll be looking for a better start this time around, particularly with Brisbane coming off one of their strongest offensive performances of the season.

Bullets Rebounding

Brisbane finally had something to smile about last Thursday, beating South East Melbourne 115-105 at home to end a run of three consecutive defeats.

What made the result particularly encouraging was that the Bullets managed it without their injured starting point guard Arnas Velicka.

Max Mackinnon stepped up with 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and is emerging as a fresh young start of the league. Jaylin Williams contributed 19 points, while Nate Hinton, Tyrell Harrison and Lat Mayen also reached double figures in a much more balanced offensive performance.

The Bullets were able to move the ball, find good shots and keep the scoreboard ticking over even when the Phoenix threatened to get back into the contest.

Of course, the obvious question is whether they can reproduce that sort of performance against a much more disciplined Tasmania defence.

Brisbane won't get the same freedom offensively that South East Melbourne allowed them last week. The JackJumpers are a more physical opponent, particularly at home, and the Bullets will need to look after the ball and compete on the boards.

There are also some concerns around Brisbane's frontcourt, with both Tyrell Harrison and Jacob Holt suffering ankle injuries during the final quarter against the Phoenix. Their availability will be important, particularly given the size and physicality Tasmania can bring inside.

If Brisbane can get another strong performance from Mackinnon and find enough support around him, they're capable of staying competitive. But doing it for four quarters in Hobart is a different challenge.

JackJumpers vs Bullets Betting Tips

The market has Tasmania as a clear favourite, which is understandable given their early-season form and home-court advantage, however there's not much value in their head-to-head price.

Tasmania have already shown they can get on top of Brisbane, particularly when they increase their defensive pressure and start winning the possession battle. They outscored the Bullets heavily during the third quarter of their previous meeting and eventually pulled away in overtime.

Brisbane deserve some credit for last week's performance, but I'm not convinced one good offensive night against a struggling Phoenix defence is enough to suggest they've turned the corner.

The Bullets are also still adjusting to life without Velicka, and any limitations on Harrison or Holt would make this an even tougher assignment. The matchup between Magnay and Harrison could be a key to this contest.

I expect Brisbane to have their moments, but Tasmania's defence, rebounding and ability to finish games strongly should give them the edge over four quarters.

Tasmania's home-court advantage and stronger defensive structure should be enough to cover a manageable handicap. Brisbane's improved form makes this a lower-confidence selection, particularly if the Bullets get their injured big men back.

JackJumpers -7.5

$1.80

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