NBA Academy Games: Defence powers win for Australia's NBA Global Academy against The Skill Factory
The third NBA Academy games continued with a match against The Skill Factory (TSF), an Atlanta-based athlete training facility. NBA Global Academy ultimately won, 99-89.
NBA Global Academy started on with a strong defensive tone, and led 26-15 at the end of the first quarter, with the lead 52-40 going into half-time.
"We definitely defend together well," Taran Armstrong said of the team's stout defence post-game. "Everyone knows their role defensively, and when we do that all together we play well."
NBA Global Academy head coach, Marty Clarke was complimentary of the team's improved focus on defence this game.
"Certainly, defensively. We weren't great yesterday and we spent some time talking. You don't have to get time to prepare on the court, but it's interesting to see which players can just listen and then make an adjustment. And really, that's a big part of being a pro, and that's what we're trying to get these guys to be."
The Skill Factory went on a run in the third quarter to close the gap, but could not turn the game around.
"We did talk at half-time about what was going to happen after half," coach Clarke said. "We knew that, they would try and get in the lanes and be physical, which they did. I didn't think we handled that well to start with, but we got a timeout, got them settled down, off and running again, they handled it well."
Mojave King once again led the charge, this time from the three-point line. He hit 50% of his shots from deep (4/8), and ended the game with a team-high 24 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
"[King] has the athletic ability to go to another level," coach Clarke said."His shot is developing and his defence is developing, he's got all the things to work on but he's obviously, fits in here perfectly."
Joshua Giddey, who made 2 of his 3 three-pointers, had 9 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Taran Armstrong recorded 8 points on a team-leading 6 free throw attempts. He also had 5 rebounds and 2 assists. "I just try to do whatever we need to win," the guard said. "I might not need to score, might just be defence that game, need to rebound, whatever it is that we need, I try to do."
Blake Jones posted 5 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, while Dyson Daniels had 2 points on free throws, a team-high 9 rebounds and 1 steal.
NBA Global Academy outrebounded TSF 49-40, and assisted on more made baskets (23-14).
Full box score can be found on NBA Academy website.
Catch up on all NBA Global Academy games on The Pick and Roll.
Game replay - NBA Global Academy vs The Skill Factory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WApbays_xI