Rucker labels key to Tassie's Game 2 hopes

Tasmania started its Game 1 Championship Series clash in strong fashion. They scored 24 points to quarter time and the game looked primed to become another NBL24 Finals nail-biter.

But then Melbourne took control, and eventually ran out as comfortable 23-point winners to take a foothold into Friday night’s Game 2.

None of the JackJumpers vaunted quartet of stars – Will Magnay, Jack McVeigh, Milton Doyle and Jordon Crawford – ever really got going in the clash. Magnay dealt with foul trouble, McVeigh was blanketed inside, and Doyle and Crawford were walled up by Melbourne’s defensive stalwarts in Shea Ili and Matthew Dellavedova.

Should the JackJumpers drop Game 2 at home, Melbourne will firmly be in the driver’s seat to take its first title since 2021, and Derek Rucker believes Tasmania’s point guard rotation holds the key to unlocking the side’s offensive potential and equalling the series.

“I thought the first quarter in Melbourne was a good quarter for the JackJumpers. They moved the ball, they ran their offence, they got good looks. They scored 24 points, which if you score 96 points in Game 1 it would have been a much different look. If they score 96 in Tasmania I think they win the game,” Rucker said on NBL Now.

“Now, how do they get that done? It’s just discipline, patience, and the point guards – Jordon Crawford in particular, and to a lesser extent Sean Macdonald – they must perform better.

“We haven’t seen Sean Macdonald have a down game, but he wasn’t good in Game 1. Both those guys are intelligent players I’m sure Scott Roth has coached them up during the week, and they must move the ball and stick to who they are on the defensive end.

“They’re number two in the league defensively all season, and that defensive performance in Game 1 was not up to standard, you naturally defend better at home and I expect that to be the case.”

Macdonald was named the NBL’s Most Improved Player in NBL24, however the emerging guard has struggled in every appearance against United this season.

He was kept scoreless in both of Tasmania’s regular season wins over United, and scored four and six points respectively in the Round 5 and Game 1 defeats.

He’s scored a combined four of 20 shots across those four appearances.

Rucker says there are two obvious reasons as to why Macdonald has struggled against Melbourne.

“The reasons are Shea Ili and Matthew Dellavedova,” Rucker said.

“As a young player you’re going against highly experienced and credentialed guys who take extreme pride in their defensive performances.

“It’s a real learning moment for Sean Macdonald and a moment he needs to step up, show his value, and show he can play Playoff basketball against internationally high-level defenders.

"I’m very curious, this is a game within the game, and can he come off the bench and get that done? Melbourne Untied have two elite defenders in his position, and he can’t escape them. One of those two guys is generally on the court, so there’s no getting around it.

“He is going to have to tackle that situation and continue to provide what he did against everybody else other than Melbourne United.”

Game 2 of the Championship Series between Tasmania and Melbourne will tip off at 7:30pm AEDT on Friday, live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, 10 Peach and 10 Play,