"Do or die" time for Taipans?

There’s a logjam in the middle of the NBL ladder, and given how rapidly the competition’s Finals are approaching, every game matters.

The Taipans currently find themselves outside the competition’s heralded top six with just three rounds to go, and given they’ve played more games than fellow contenders Adelaide, Illawarra, Tasmania and New Zealand, they have little room to manoeuvre should they lose one of their final three games.

Only the bottom-placed Phoenix have lost more games than the Taipans this season, and even they’re still mathematically in the hunt for the post-season, and Derek Rucker believes Thursday’s clash against the JackJumpers could make or break Cairns’ Finals hopes.

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“Unfortunately for the Taipans it is a do or die game, they’ve got to get this one and they face a tough opponent, an opponent that is smarting because they haven’t been playing at the level, and that’s the Tasmania JackJumpers,” Rucker said on NBL Now.

“I’ve got the Taipans getting this game, I think their energy, the arena is going to be jam packed, and usually it comes down to who needs it most in these late game scenarios.

“I just feel the Taipans are going to come out and play one of their best games of the year. Adam Forde has been juggling, juggling and trying to get it right and I think right now it all comes together in the Convention Centre for them against the JackJumpers.”

The Taipans could enter the clash buoyed by the reports that emerging big Sam Waardenburg has signed a one-year extension at the club, as reported by ESPN’s Olgun Uluc.

Waardenburg was named the NBL’s inaugural Next Generation Award winner in his rookie NBL23 campaign, but form and fitness have seen him struggle to recapture the form he showed in last season’s run to the Playoffs under Adam Forde.

He’s played 22 of a possible 25 games so far this season and has endured reductions in his points per game, field goal percentage and three-point percentage when compared to NBL23.

Rucker believes the reported re-signing is a positive move from both Waardenburg and the Taipans.

“It’s a great pickup and I think it works well both ways,” he said.

"Sam probably needs another season to solidify himself up there because he’s been up and down.

“He’s a great talent, he’s a local talent, he’s a big guy who can get up and down and stroke the ball, he’s a smart player, but it looks like he’s experiencing a bit of a sophomore slump and a bit of inconsistent play this year.

“I think it’s also a real credit to Adam Forde that even despite guys getting consistent court time throughout the season they’re willing to stay with him, they’re willing to play hard when their opportunity comes, and I think Waardenburg committing for another year is a credit to the Taipans and Adam Forde.

“This is probably a really good move on both parts, one year for Sam to show what he’s worth and I think the Taipans have been very good to him in giving him that initial opportunity last season to show what he can do in this league.”

The Taipans play Tasmania on Thursday night at 7:30pm AEDT, live on ESPN via Kayo.