Rucker: Phoenix will survive without Walton Jr

While the injury couldn’t have happened at a worse time, Derek Rucker believes the South East Melbourne Phoenix can maintain their momentum to make the Finals without star guard Derick Walton Jr.

Walton Jr suffered a high-grade hamstring injury in Saturday’s game against Brisbane and will now miss the rest of the regular season.

However, the Phoenix have experience in managing without Walton Jr, showing resilience when he was hurt earlier in the season. Back in October, he suffered a hamstring injury and South East Melbourne maintained a record of 4-2 (including the game he was injured in), only losing by a total margin of 11 points against Illawarra and Sydney respectively. 

Rucker explained that given their understanding of what the team looks like without Walton Jr and their current form, the Phoenix will be able to maintain their momentum heading into the season’s final rounds.

“He gave them the impetus from which now, they can continue to go even without him in the line-up,” Rucker said on Moments That Mattered.

“I think South East Melbourne now can still advance deep into the playoffs, it’s going to be much more difficult than it would have been but I think they have enough guys who gained confidence.”

Rucker explained the guard trio of Nathan Sobey, Angus Glover and Owen Foxwell have had their seasons revitalised under new head coach Josh King, believing they can bridge the gap in this stretch.

“I think between the three of them, they can get enough done,” Rucker said.

“Now the margin for error has definitely decreased without Derrick Walton Jr, we’re not sure how long he’s out for, but if they can handle their business and just finish within the top four…if they finish five or six, then it becomes even more difficult for them to make that nice post-season run.”

During Walton Jr’s absence earlier in the season, the team elevated Glover to the starting line-up. Now with more of a sample size, Rucker stated that Foxwell should take that starting slot to finish out the regular season.

“I think I might roll the dice a little bit and put Foxwell into the starting line-up,” he said.

“I’d bring Glover off the bench and let him go to work against second stringers, where he’s definitely overqualified for that position.” 

Rucker praised coach King’s efforts of adapting to the NBL this quickly and repairing the team into a Finals contender after a 0-5 start.  

“He’s coaching a winning style and a style that is perfect for the NBL,” he said.

“I’m confident in their prospects going forward.”

The Phoenix take on the Taipans in Cairns tonight from 7:30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.