'Tasmania can make sporting history'

Jack McVeigh’s incredible game-winner in Sunday night’s clash against Melbourne has put one hand on the title for the JackJumpers. Now, the equation is simple - win one game to win it all.

MyState Bank Arena will play host to what could be the game that sees the JackJumpers hoist their first ever title, but a United win would force a decisive fifth and final game in the series back in Melbourne.

Derek Rucker the JackJumpers winning it all in front of their home fans would be a moment that will go down in Australian sporting history.

“If they go in Game 4 and win a championship on their home floor, we may not get out of there,” Rucker said on the Coca-Cola Cool Down.

“This is going to be one of the greatest victories in Australian sporting history, I know people say I exaggerate all the time, no, you just don’t like my honesty – I’m telling the truth. If Tasmania win this title after decades of struggle with the Hobart franchise, it will be just an incredible accomplishment.

“I work on my vocabulary, but I’m not sure I’ve got the word to describe what I’m anticipating down there on Thursday night. Super electric, nuclear, all those things put in a blender mixed up and then throw the most virulent acid you can find in the world and then put that in there – that’s going to be the environment at MyState Bank Arena.

“I may not sleep this week because I’m hyped. I love the game, I love this type of passion, I love the energy the players brought, the coaches are so heavily invested and the product is outstanding. I don’t know what more you can ask for from a sporting event.”

McVeigh has rightly taken the plaudits following Game 3 because of that ridiculous game-winning shot, but Rucker praised the impact of both Majok Deng and Fabijan Krslovic in Tasmania’s two victories this series.

Krslovic was injected into Game 2 to great effect to take on Melbourne’s two-headed center monster of Jo Lual-Acuil Jr and Ariel Hukporti, while Deng scored 15 points in the final quarter alone to keep Tasmania within striking distance in Game 3.

“I’m going to go back to Game 2 where I think it started with Krslovic. He was injected into the game instead of Magnay and he changed that game subtly. In this game they gave Krslovic a go early and he did OK, but then they came with a guy who has more offensive potency in Majok Deng,” Rucker said.

“He made Melbourne Untied pay a serious price. He hit his first four shots and he finished 5-6 in that fourth quarter, 15 points, a huge tip-in, he changed the shape of the Melbourne United defence.

“Not only that, he forced Dean Vickerman’s hand. Dean Vickerman had to remove both his bigs off the floor and play with Kyle Bowen as a small-ball five.”

Game 4 of the Championship Series between Tasmania and Melbourne will tip off at 7:30pm AEDT on Thursday night, live on ESPN via Kayo.