Rucker’s harsh call on Phoenix

South East Melbourne raced out to a 21-point lead in Sydney on Sunday, then shot themselves out of it. Now NBL great Derek Rucker says the Phoenix need to take a long, hard look at themselves.

“I don’t think you can win a championship playing this type of live-and-die-by-the-three basketball,” Rucker said on Moments that Mattered, presented by Mitsubishi Pajero.

“They play such extreme basketball.”

The Phoenix piled on 38 points in the opening quarter, knocking down eight threes and dominating the Kings on the glass.

“It looked like they had Sydney on the ropes,” Rucker added.

“I think the lead got out to 21, 22, and then in the second quarter they can only score 13 points.

“The three ball dries up, then they become ineffective on the defensive end.”

Josh King’s side kept letting it fly but made just 5/21 from deep across the next two quarters, and Rucker didn’t hold back.

“South East Melbourne really, really have to take a harder look at themselves in one of the strongest mirrors that you can find,” he said.

“That mirror’s got to be microscopic. They’ve got to look hard.”

With answers needed fast, Rucker believes the short-term fix may be harsh, but necessary.

“Unfortunately, the time is probably up on Skylar Mays,” he said.

“He only played 10 minutes and 40 seconds, and he was a minus 27. He was one of seven from the field.

“It really pained me to watch him struggle like that, because we had high expectations and hopes for him.”

South East Melbourne return to the court on Wednesday against Illawarra, in an Ignite Cup fixture at the State Basketball Centre.

That fixture tips off at 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.