Tasmania finding "perfect" form ahead of Finals?

Are the Tasmania JackJumpers hitting their straps at the right time of the NBL24 season?

Last season’s Playoffs contenders have established themselves in third position on the ladder, and while they’re highly unlikely to finish the season in the top two, they’ve been leading the Finals charge behind Melbourne and Perth.

Despite their relatively comfortable positioning in the standings, Tasmania has already lost more games this season than it did in its inaugural NBL campaign, during which 17 wins was just enough to scrape into fourth position and a Playoff series against Melbourne United.

The JackJumpers have already lost 12 games in NBL24, but Derek Rucker says they’re hitting their stride at the perfect time.

“I think last week was the perfect Tasmania JackJumpers weekend,” Rucker said on NBL Now. “They limited teams on the offensive end – they really did a good job defensively – and they executed well.

“Most importantly I think we saw the resurgence of Milton Doyle, he looked like that high-level player that everyone anticipated seeing consistently this season, and if he’s arrived and is starting to play at that level, now they’re a real problem.

“McVeigh has been crazy consistent all year, Magnay has got to stay healthy, they’ve got a few other guys who are doing a fantastic job coming off the bench, Sean Macdonald has been great – he’s a real candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.

“Jordon Crawford, while he hasn’t been at the level I thought he was going to be throughout the season he’s still really, really dangerous and he’s a match-winner.”

“It’s when you hit your straps.”

Following their pair of Round 18 wins, the JackJumpers will travel to face South East Melbourne in Round 19.

The clash will tip off at 5:30pm AEDT, live on ESPN via Kayo.