Tasmania JackJumpers star Josh Magette faces an extended highway to restoration after struggling a suspected damaged cheekbone that has left him unable to journey by airplane.
The American level guard was set to return to the island state by ferry throughout Bass Strait from Victoria on Monday night time forward of detailed medical assessments.
Magette acquired an elbow to the face within the JackJumpers’ 24-point win over Illawarra on Saturday that secured fourth place and a gap playoff match towards Cairns Taipans on Thursday.
He is lengthy odds to function within the finals for Tasmania, who’ve once more made the highest 4 after final season’s gorgeous run to the grand remaining sequence of their NBL debut.
Coach Scott Roth has visited Magette’s mother and father, who’re in Tasmania, saying they had been fairly involved.
“He’s a long way away from just being out and about, to be honest,” Roth instructed reporters.
“He’s not in a very good spot right now. It’s going to take some time for him just to get back on his feet. He took a severe, severe hit to the head.”
Roth stated additional assessments of Magette’s damage could be made in Hobart.
“He’s got a long road ahead of him. It’s a shame about the timing,” he stated.
“He’s an integral part of what we do. It’s not so much his play, to be very honest.
“With our group it is in regards to the personalities of the gamers. Just lacking him on the dinners, his little quirks … that the staff has grown accustomed to.
“(But) obviously he’s a heck of a player.”
Tasmania produce other damage considerations forward of the Taipans recreation, with massive man Will Magnay battling a swollen lip that nearly wanted stitches.
Captain Clint Steindl will bear an MRI scan after leaving the courtroom early towards Illawarra with leg soreness.
Roth’s facet has at the very least some reprieve, with ahead Rashard Kelly set to return after sitting out one recreation with sickness.
Under the brand new NBL finals format, the winner of the JackJumpers/Taipans conflict in Cairns will progress to a three-game semi-final sequence towards New Zealand.
The loser goes to a one-off play-in recreation towards the winner of Thursday night time’s play-in qualifier between South East Melbourne Phoenix and Perth Wildcats.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
