No defence for inconsistency, insists Jukic
HIGH-FLYING forward Zarko Jukic believes addressing defensive deficiencies is the key to fixing the Newcastle Eagles’ consistency issues.
The Danish international starred in Friday’s 104-79 win over the Plymouth Raiders, scoring 18 points – including four dunks - in an all-action display.
He insists the players will keep looking to entertain fans at Sport Central as they look to secure a spot in the BBL play-offs.
However, Jukic expects playercoach Fab Flournoy will continue to work with the team on their defensive duties in coming weeks.
Friday’s thumping 104-79 win over the Plymouth Raiders was littered with highlight moments from an Eagles team who are, at times, bigger on fun than the fundamentals.
Jukic believes Newcastle should be putting on a show with the players on the roster - but knows where their weaknesses lie.
He said: “We have great talent, we have great athletes, great length so we just have to stay consistent with it, that is our biggest issue this season.
“We have had ups and downs and lapses, especially defensively, but if we can stay consistent I think we will be all right.”
He added of Flournoy’s approach: “He is harping on at every practice about defence and we try to be as solid as we can.
“We have a lot of talent on this team so if we can get it working defensively too that would help us a lot, especially come playoff time.”
The Eagles were without captain and centre Darius Defoe for Friday’s game, the 33-year-old still suffering from an injury sustained against Leeds Force two weeks ago.
Already without injured forward Terry Martin, Flournoy has had to adapt his line-up accordingly in the absence of two of his big men.
Yet rather than using it as an excuse, Jukic sees the absences as a chance for other players to showcase to Eagles fans what they can offer.
He added: “It is a chance for everybody to step up, those are two key guys – two of our biggest.”
The Eagles have put their recent home struggles behind them thanks to big wins over the struggling Force and Raiders.
Perhaps more significantly, it keeps them second in the BBL Championship table and firmly in the running for a play-off spot.