Tasmania coach Scott Roth will give his players time off before a vital NBL Championship Series game at home, after conceding fatigue got the better of them during a heavy loss to Melbourne United.
Scores were tied midway through the second period of the best-of-five series opener at John Cain Arena on Sunday before the JackJumpers wilted in the second half of a 104-81 defeat.
They lost a one-sided rebound count 37-52 as United's big men took control of the contest.
The result left Tasmania staring at a 1-0 deficit in the title decider, which followed a tough three-game Playoffs series win over the Perth Wildcats.
Roth will give his players two days to spend relaxing with their families before getting back to work in preparation for game two against Melbourne at MyState Bank Arena on Friday night.
"In general we're usually quite physical ourselves," Roth said.
"It's definitely not an excuse but I think there was a slight fatigue factor with us with the travel, coming all the way back form Perth and then having a day to turn around and come here (Melbourne).
"It is what it is and it's not that big of an issue, other than the fact that we were much bouncier in Perth and a little bit more lively with some rest in general throughout that series."
JackJumpers point guard Jordon Crawford struggled in game one, finishing with seven points on 3-of-13 shooting and three turnovers.
But Roth put the heat on the entire group to get going as they try to level the series at home.
"There's no one person on this team that we need to get up and running necessarily," Roth said.
"This is a collective group of guys ... this is not a one-man show or anything of that nature.
"If a guy has a bad shooting night, he has a bad shooting night.
"I think people are trying to crucify the kid (Crawford) because he wasn't shooting the ball at some kind of percentage, but it is what it is.
"He'll get his shots and hopefully they go in for him next game."
Roth brushed off injury concerns for Marcus Lee (shoulder) and Fabijan Krslovic (ankle), who were both hurt during the second half in game one.
