Rakocevic focussed on opinions that count

Nick Rakocevic is getting used to being painted as some sort of villain by sections of the NBL media and rival fans, but it hasn’t seemed to bother him when it counts on court.

Rakocevic is fresh off three straight double doubles, including his 18 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday night in the second game of the Semi-Final series against South East Melbourne.

He was booed by sections of the crowd at John Cain Arena, presumably a legacy of the beat up of a relatively harmless incident in game one in which he received an unsportsmanlike foul.

Speaking back in Adelaide on Monday, the 28-year-old said he had been booed in different countries across his career and was used to it.

“That's nothing new to me,” he explained.

“I've been playing basketball a long time, so it's gonna continue to happen too, and it just kind of makes me go harder… it just gives me personal energy just to prove people wrong.”

Among those trying to stoke the flame was Phoenix part owner Romie Chaudhari, who labelled him “dirty”.

As they are prone to do in the NBL, commentators latched onto the comments, using them to build an unfair profile of Rakocevic.

The Serbian American said he took little notice, instead focussing on the opinions of those who matter.  

“It's funny to me how people like talking about that, but they don't want to talk about how I'm the first 36er in eight years to have a double-double in the finals.

“But (their commentary) doesn't mean nothing to me. You know, it never has. That type of chatter, that's for the media and you guys. My job is to go out there and win games and play the best of my abilities.

“If you go and ask any of the players on my team, you go ask the staff, even ask the Adelaide community, and they're going to say something completely different about me, and that's who I care about.

“They're going to back my character, back who I am as a person, and you know, everybody else that's not a part of this community, a part of our team community, I can care less about what they say.”

Rakocevic gave the Phoenix credit for the way they responded after half time on Saturday night to force a third and deciding Semi-Final game in Adelaide on Tuesday night.

But he said the side had worked hard all season to give itself the chance of home court advantage in the playoffs and would do all it could to make the most of it.

“We had a goal at the beginning of the season which was to compete for a championship and to win a championship,” he said, “and knowing that we’re one game away from being there, it means a lot to everybody.

“It means a lot to the staff, the players, everybody. So, that's our main goal. We're going to come out tomorrow and we’re going to show that.”

After 38-straight sell-outs at, Rakocevic is hoping it will again be a packed Adelaide Entertainment Centre to get the side over the line into the Championship series.

“Our fans have been great throughout the whole season,” he said.

“They've been electric and they've supported us through all our ups and downs. Big shout outs to them.

“Obviously, it's going to be a full house, no doubt, and we need them to bring the energy and just stick with us for a couple more games, because without them, we're doing all of this to get riled up in front of them, to go out there and play in front of them.

“I think it's just super important to play at home, and especially in the closing game.”

Tip off is at 7:00pm ACDT.

Limited tickets are still available through Ticketek.