"Damn good" JackJumpers ready for Red Army

Derek Rucker believes Tasmania is every chance of emerging from Friday’s Playoff clash against Perth with a victory, which would mean the JackJumpers would return to MyState Bank Arena needing a win to progress to the Championship Series.

The Wildcats have been waiting patiently for their post-season campaign to begin courtesy of their second-placed finish, while Tasmania had to earn their way in through a Seeding Qualifier win over Illawarra.

Tasmania lost two of the three regular season clashes between the sides this season, but holds an overall positive 5-4 record against the Wildcats.

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“Tasmania are looking damn good,” Rucker said on NBL Now.

“They can go into Perth and get this game, they are so finely tuned at the moment and it’s a game I cannot wait [for], and I love being here on the east coast with the late-night Perth games at RAC Arena.

“I wish it was a regular thing like the Sydney Kings did with the Sunday afternoon.”

JackJumpers assistant coach Jack Fleming said on Tuesday that injured center Marcus Lee is currently “day-to-day” in his recovery from a shoulder injury, and that the club is “optimistic” about the import’s chances of playing some part in Friday’s clash.

RELATED: JackJumpers optimistic on Lee

The matchup between Lee and Will Magnay and Perth duo Keanu Pinder and Alexandre Sarr is looming as one of the key battles in the upcoming series, however the serious looking shoulder injury suffered by Lee 20 seconds into the JackJumpers’ Seeding Qualifier clash with Illawarra looked to likely end his season.

Roth said in the immediate aftermath of the clash that the injury didn’t look as bad as first feared, and Rucker has called on Lee to play 15 strong minutes in support of Magnay against Perth.

“The good thing for Marcus Lee is he’s not asked to do a lot of difficult things on the basketball court. Protect the rim, run up and down the basketball court rim to rim, set screens and rebound. I think for 15 minutes I’m pretty sure he can provide that,” Rucker said.

“As I said on the Coca-Cola Cool Down, the lift in performance from Will Magnay takes a lot of pressure off of other guys on the floor to perform. Everyone else is really able to lock into what they do well and that’s the case for Marcus Lee.

“Just give me five minutes, three minutes, two minutes, five minutes. Now we’re up to 15 minutes, Magnay plays his 25 and we’re good to go.”

Game 1 of the Playoff Series between Perth and Tasmania will tip off at 9:30pm AEDT, live on ESPN via Kayo and 10 Peach and 10 Play on Friday night.