Mark Worthington drives to the basket against the Townsville Crocodiles last month. Source: Ian Hitchcock / Getty Images
FORWARD Mark Worthington says the in-form Melbourne Tigers are eyeing a top-two finish as it shoots for its fifth consecutive win in Townsville on Friday night.
The third-placed Tigers shape as the team most determined to make a post-Christmas run following its double-overtime road win over Wollongong on New Year's Eve.
They meet the Crocodiles before returning home to face Cairns at The Cage on Sunday.
Melbourne's self-belief is sky high and Worthington said they now had the second-placed Adelaide 36ers in its sights.
"It is nice to have a two- or three-game break on fourth place," Worthington said.
"But we still have three more games in a very short period of time, so there is still an opportunity to put a bit more of a gap there and even close in on second place.
"That's our goal now, especially after the results of the weekend.
"We feel like we are one of the teams that are definitely there as contenders."
The Crocodiles are a coming off a 90-89 home loss to Adelaide on New Year's Eve.
They sit second bottom on the ladder with a modest 4-8 record.
Melbourne expects them to play desperate tonight and are wary given they beat them at home back in November.
"They are always tough up here and they probably let one slip against Adelaide," Worthington said.
"It will be interesting to see whether Josh Pace plays or not.
"But we are worried more about us and what we can do, which is put more space between us and fourth place and gain on second place."
The two-time Olympian said fatigue would not be an issue despite tonight being the side's third game in eight days.
"We got up to Townsville yesterday and we are taking it pretty easy as we recover," Worthington said.
"I think the group feels pretty good at the moment.
"I feel like we're in a good space mentally and physically."
If anyone should be feeling the pinch, it is Worthington.
The big man - who has battled a back issue this season - has been on the court for every second of Melbourne's last two games.
That includes two overtime periods in Tuesday's thrilling win over the Hawks.
"That doesn't bother me," he said.
"It is always better to be playing than on the bench. "I don't mind it - I think I'm one of the fittest people in the league.
"Even after 50 minutes I still felt pretty good the next day.
"If I play one minute or 50, it doesn't bother me if the team is winning."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Tigers eye top-two finish
Dengan url
http://sportifoclube.blogspot.com/2014/01/tigers-eye-top-two-finish.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Tigers eye top-two finish
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar