SIZZLE OR SLITHER AWAY — TAIPANS FACE DO-OR-DIE IN NBL NAILBITER
ONE is stick thin and from South Sudan, the other is from Bamaga and built like a brick outhouse, but renowned talent developer Rashad Tucker can see plenty of similarities between Majok Deng and Nate Jawai.
An NBL star at Perth, Melbourne and Cairns, Tucker discovered Deng, a promising talent within Australian basketball, at an Adelaide basketball court many years ago while he was also a mentor to Jawai in his first season as a professional basketballer.
Tucker’s protégés Jawai, now a Taipan again after a stint in the NBA, and Deng, who has announced himself as a star of the future recently, meet tonight as Cairns aim to keep their finals dreams alive.
Tucker, who played 139 NBL games averaging 13.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists, likened Deng to Jawai as they both came to basketball late, with Jawai playing AFL and Deng the round ball game.
“The one thing I see in Nate and Majok is that they both want it, they want to make it,” Tucker said.
“They both wanted someone to sacrifice the time, not to come shoot for an hour or something, but to be there for countless hours, and I was happy to do that.
“I am a basketball head and I have a sniff of what it takes to make it, and if these guys show me they want it, I will give them everything I have got and that was the same for Nate and Majok. I wish I could have spent more time with Nate in Cairns but I can see in his game, there are still things that rubbed off on him from our conversations.”
Tucker recognised Deng’s potential about seven years ago, directing him to an SA Premier League club before he went on to play US college basketball.
“Rashad Tucker was telling me all about him at the time and I must admit, he was an intriguing player being as big Tonight Adelaide v Cairns When: 6.30pm, Titanium Security Arena Taipans starters: Cameron Gliddon, Mitch McCarron, Jarrad Weeks, Nnanna Egwu, Alex Loughton Coach: Aaron Fearne 36ers starters: Daniel Johnson, Nathan Sobey, Shannon Shorter, Mitch Creek, Josh Childress Coach: Joey Wright UBET ODDS: Taipans $3.25, 36ers $1.34 Friday Perth v Melbourne Saturday Illawarra v New Zealand Sydney v Adelaide Sunday Brisbane v Perth as he is, shooting the ball as well as he does and moving like a guard,” Adelaide 36ers coach Joey Wright said of Deng and Tucker’s relationship.
Import Tucker had his contract torn up for a breach of the Taipans’ strict code of conduct in 2007 and wishes he had more time to work with Jawai.
“A lot of people do not understand how much work Nate and I put in together that first season,” Tucker said.
“I treated Nate how I treat Majok now. Nate used his strength a lot when he was younger and we always worked on finesse, his midrange jump shot and passing because that strength can only get you so far.”
IF THESE GUYS SHOW ME THEY WANT IT, I WILL GIVE THEM EVERYTHING I HAVE GOT
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TWO OF A KIND: Nate Jawai, here putting a shot up against Alex Pledger of the Breakers on Sunday, has been compared to Adelaide’s Majok Deng, who his Taipans face tonight. HERE we are.
D Day has arrived for the Cairns Taipans.
There are no ifs, ands, or buts anymore, the men in Orange must defeat the Adelaide 36ers tonight to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Hopes were high after the Snakes gave Adelaide a nightmare on Christmas Eve, the last time they met.
I went as far as to say they were the side I would pick to win the 2017-18 NBL crown around that time.
They were playing good.
But since then, Cairns have dropped three of their last four games and their season hangs on life support.
It’s not all doom and gloom, as Adelaide looked anything but convincing in their threepoint win over the struggling Brisbane Bullets on Sunday afternoon in the second game of the double-header.
In a game like this, where one club is playing for its life, bench production will be a huge factor, with several players on the Sixers’ second unit in good form.
Cairns will need to take the right shots and be methodical in their execution, or they will not be able to keep pace with the league’s best running team.
Hulking centre Nate Jawai will play his third game this season tonight, and his health and fitness will be greatly tested against the league’s most ruthless coach in veteran 36ers mentor Joey Wright (pictured).
Expect the big man to be targeted by multiple on-ball screen situations – Jawai will be tested from the outset.
Buckle up Orange army, we’re about to see what these Snakes are made of. that