Rucker confident about JackJumpers' title dream

The Tasmania JackJumpers have had an outstanding run in their first three years in the NBL, and now have a chance to cap that work with an inaugural title when the Championship Series begins against Melbourne United on Sunday. 

Coach Scott Roth has led Tasmania to two Championship Series appearances in three years, and 1990 NBL MVP Derek Rucker believes this is their strongest chance to win the title.

“A lot of people will probably look at this series and say Melbourne are the favourites…right now I’m flipping the coin,” Rucker said on NBL Now.

“I think Tasmania come in with a greater margin of victories coming into this. They did a really good job against Perth.”

The JackJumpers completed their mission of taking down the Wildcats at RAC Arena in game three of the Playoffs, and now look to continue their strong form at John Cain Arena against United.

In six meetings against the sides at John Cain Arena, Tasmania has won five. 

“The bottom line is, they blew Perth out pretty much in six straight quarters of basketball. To go over there and do it in Perth, I think it hadn’t been done in an elimination game in something like 22 years,” Rucker said.

"I like the JackJumpers' chances of stealing one game in Melbourne better than I like Melbourne's chances of stealing one of two games in Tasmania."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“It’s all about defending the island and taking care of this state.”<br><br>An emotional Scott Roth spoke to John Casey following the <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackJumpers</a>’ series clinching win ? <a href="https://t.co/WB5KgJ7QnX">pic.twitter.com/WB5KgJ7QnX</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1767896702936387843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Roth’s personal development as coach was also praised by Rucker.

“We’re seeing his personal development as a coach. His first season in the league, they were really strong and you could see the foundations being laid. They got to the Grand Final which far exceeded the timeline that even the most optimistic JackJumpers fan could’ve had,” he said.

“Then last year it wasn’t a bad season, but they still progressed. But this year we’re really seeing what I believe is the full culmination of what Scott Roth sees as good basketball, and winning basketball.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is what it’s all about ?<br><br>Championship Series action between the <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackJumpers</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/MelbUnited?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MelbUnited</a> begins Sunday, March 17th ?<br><br>? ESPN via Kayo<br>?? <a href="https://t.co/hyiDI5lxxc">https://t.co/hyiDI5lxxc</a> <a href="https://t.co/MDzxnsuMwB">pic.twitter.com/MDzxnsuMwB</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1768051362393383087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Rucker explained the almost three-week break United had from the regular season to their first Playoff game may have created a slight disadvantage for the ladder leaders. 

“I keep waiting for Melbourne to stick it to someone, I’m not talking about just in this series, I’m talking about in the back end of the regular season,” he said.

“It’s making for a very fascinating Championship Series.”

Game one of the Championship Series is on Sunday at 4:00pm AEDT at John Cain Arena. The game will be broadcast live and free on ESPN via Kayo Freebies, 10 Peach and 10 Play.