Wildcats in "real jeopardy"

A wild double-overtime loss to the Cairns Taipans on Saturday could be the difference in the Perth Wildcats finishing in the top two, according to 1990 NBL MVP Derek Rucker. 

Rucker had the Wildcats picked for a top two finish, but two straight losses at home has seen Perth fall to fifth with just three games remaining. 

“I had them locked in for the number two spot going into the post-season, but now that’s in real jeopardy," Rucker said on Moments That Mattered. 

“The Taipans one (loss) is the one that could come back to bite them. 

“They’ve actually proven me wrong. I thought they were going to win majority of these games going down the stretch. They’ve now dropped two in a row in front of the Red Army."

One key piece that's been missing from the Wildcats' line-up has been Tai Webster, who suffered a hamstring injury in Round 12, and hasn't returned since. 

Webster is a "seasoned pro" that Rucker says the team needs back on the court. 

“I think we’re starting to see the importance of Tai Webster in the past couple of losses for the Wildcats," Rucker said. 

"They just need someone with a bit more experience who can capitalise off the attention Bryce Cotton continues to receive. Tai Webster is able to score the basketball himself, he runs the offence pretty well, and his size on the defensive ends gives him a threat. 

“Tai Webster is a seasoned pro. I’m not sure what his injury status is but I think he might be the injection at this time of the year that can lift their prospects."

The Wildcats host the fourth-placed Phoenix on Friday night at 9:30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.