THIS WEEK’S GAMESFriday 22 April 2016
Saturday 23 April 2016
Sunday 24 April 2016
Esh Group Eagles Newcastle v Cheshire Phoenix
Where and when:
First leg: Sport Central, 7.30pm Friday 22 April
Second leg: Cheshire Oaks Arena, 5.30pm Sunday 24 April
Summary:
Esh Group Eagles Newcastle and Cheshire Phoenix meet for the seventh and eighth time this season in the BBL Play-Off Quarter-Finals.
Following Friday’s defeat in the BBL Championship decider against Leicester Riders, Eagles were beaten by Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday.
It was a year to the day since the Cheshire club’s previous victory against Fab Flournoy’s men, under similar circumstances and saw them close this campaign with three straight wins.
Eagles will be out to defend the last of the four titles they won last season, while Phoenix are aiming for a first Play-Off Final appearance since 2005.
Last time they met:
* Phoenix’s Kinu Rochford exploded for 40 points when these teams met on Sunday
* Eagles have reached each of the last four BBL Play-Off Finals
* Phoenix have reached the BBL Play-Off Semi-Finals in three of the previous five seasons
Form:
Eagles: WWWWLL
Phoenix: WLLWWW
Three Points:
Cheshire Phoenix 105 Esh Group Eagles Newcastle 84 (BBL Championship, Cheshire Oaks Arena, 17 April 2016)
What they say:
Eagles forward Scott Martin: “I think whenever you lose, you want to play right away to get back on the right track. The regular season didn’t end the way we wanted it to but the good thing is that we still have an opportunity to win more silverware this season.
“We have played Cheshire a lot this season and that means both teams will be familiar with one another, so there won’t be any surprises for either team. They are a team that often gets out to strong starts so we will have to look to match them early in the game.
“The experience [of the Play-Offs] definitely helps, however it isn’t the most important thing. For us, we have to come out and execute our game plan, if we can do that then good things tend to happen for us, so that is where our focus needs to be.”
Phoenix guard Danny Huffor: “We played well as a team this weekend and our defence turned in to our offence. Hopefully we can carry that into the Play-Offs.
“It’s Play-Off time and this is what we all play for. They will be ready to play and make their push as we will be too.
“It will come down to toughness, execution, and being mentally ready and focused for 80 minutes.”
Tickets:
First leg: www.newcastle-eagles.com
Second leg: www.cheshirephoenix.com
Worcester Wolves v Glasgow Rocks
Where and when:
First leg: Emirates Arena, 7.30pm Friday 22 April
Second leg: University of Worcester Arena, 4.00pm Sunday 24 April
Summary:
Glasgow Rocks go into their BBL Play-Off Quarter-Final against Worcester Wolves with a victory against them fresh in their minds.
Both teams were already locked into the fourth and fifth seeds, respectively before Rocks’ 80-69 triumph on Sunday.
Wolves held the third seed for much of the campaign and will be motivated to give a better post-season performance than last term, when their title defence ended at the Quarter-Final stage.
Rocks have improved markedly during the second half of the season and will be keen to carry that momentum into this match-up.
Last time they met:
Glasgow Rocks 80 Worcester Wolves 69 (BBL Championship, Emirates Arena, 17 April 2016)
Form:
Wolves: WLLWLL
Rocks: WWLLWW
Three Points:
* Wolves have won three of the last four meetings between these teams
* Rocks have not advanced past the BBL Play-Off Quarter-Finals since 2012
* The only time that Wolves progressed from this stage of the competition, they went on to win it, in 2014
What they say:
Wolves forward Pavol Losonsky: “I don’t think this last game [against Glasgow] is going to have any impact at all. Of course we wanted to win, but it was smarter to give everyone a chance to play and spread minutes wisely. It has been a long season and we have to make sure that everyone is healthy and 100 per cent going into Play-Offs.
“They have a good team and good players such as [Kieron] Achara and others. But as I always say, we have to make this be about us, and our performance. I believe if we all bring it and play hard, we are very hard to stop.
“We have to pull this as one unit. Stats, individual performances etc. are not important any more, we all have to want to win and win this last trophy together.”
Rocks forward Will Hall: “The game on Sunday [against Wolves] was an unusual one as both our positions in the league were already fixed. It was good to get the win but the games this weekend are the only ones that matter.
“In the past we’ve struggled to rebound the basketball against Worcester and we’ll have to focus on that aspect. They’re a very big team and have caught us on the break before as well so we’ll do our best to control that.
“I think we’re playing well at the moment but, as always, there are areas we can improve. We’ll be working hard this week so when the weekend comes around we’ll be ready to fight for a Semi-Final spot.”
Tickets:
First leg: www.glasgowrocks.co.uk
Second leg: www.worcesterwolves.org
Leeds Force v Leicester Riders
Where and when:
First leg: Carnegie Sports Centre, 7.30pm Friday 22 AprilSecond leg: Leicester Community Sports Arena, 7.30pm Saturday 23 April
Summary:
Leicester Riders and Leeds Force meet again, two weeks after their season-altering clash, this time in the BBL Play-Off Quarter-Finals.
Force stunned Riders in Yorkshire 14 days ago as part of a four-game winning streak that allowed them to snatch the final post-season spot and extend their campaign for the first time.
For Riders, that loss set up a BBL Championship title decider against Esh Group Eagles Newcastle in the last week of the regular season.
Rob Paternostro’s men produced a sensational all-round performance to win that game and seal the title with a game to spare, providing the opportunity to rest key performers ahead of this match-up.
Last time they met:
Leeds Force 81 Leicester Riders 78 (BBL Championship, Carnegie Sports Centre, 08 April 2016)
Form:
Riders: WWLWWL
Force: LLWWWW
Three Points:
* Riders have reached the BBL Play-Off Final in two of the last four seasons
* Force’s Marek Klassen was named as a starter in the latest BBL All-Star Five following a 34-point performance against Manchester Giants
* Riders set the BBL record for the lowest points against per-game in a season at 67.58
What they say:
Riders coach Rob Paternostro: “It certainly was a great moment and a great night, to win the league, and we enjoyed it.
“The schedule that we went through, when you look at it, was possibly the most gruelling I have seen in a BBL run-in since I have been here. It was extremely challenging, both mentally and physically, and I commend our guys for the effort, determination and focus to get through that.
“Now we will play on the full week, which we haven’t done in a long time, so that is something we felt would be beneficial to the whole team.
“Leeds played very well in that game [victory against Riders], give them credit. They made a lot of shots and it came down to the last few possessions. Having played that game recently it gives our guys an understanding of the Leeds team.
“They have had a very good run-in and won a lot of close games.
“You need to make sure going in that you understand the team, but hopefully over the 80 minutes, you can learn some stuff that will help you. It’s definitely a different type of game to those in league play.”
Force coach Matt Newby: “Credit to Leicester, this season they’ve been outstanding and the team to beat, and their personnel is phenomenal.
“I think we’ve got to make sure that we are prepared to go up another gear in the Play-Offs.
“This week we’ll be reviewing what we did well last time we played them.
We’ll need to try and control the tempo of the game again.”
Tickets:
First leg: www.leedsforce.co.uk
Second leg: www.leicesterriders.co.uk
Sheffield Sharks v London Lions
Where and when:
First leg: EIS Sheffield, 7.30pm Friday 22 April
Second leg: Copper Box, 4.00pm Sunday 24 April
Summary:
London Lions’ quest for a return to the BBL Play-Off Final at The O2 in their hometown, begins against Sheffield Sharks.
Sharks’ impressive second half of the season was enough to lock up the third seed while Lions’ lack of consistency saw them end up in sixth.
But on their day, Lions remain capable of beating any team in the BBL, as demonstrated bySunday’s victory against a short-handed Leicester Riders.
Last time they met:
Sheffield Sharks 73 London Lions 63 (BBL Championship, EIS Sheffield, 11 March 2016)
Form:
Sharks: WWLWWL
Lions: LLWLWW
Three Points:
* These teams have each won three of their previous six meetings
* Sharks have reached the BBL Play-Off Semi-Finals in the last two seasons
* Lions’ run to last season’s Play-Off Final was the first time they had advanced past the Quarter-Finals since 2008
What they say:
Lions coach Nigel Lloyd: “Last year we came in sixth place, this year we came in sixth place so it’s not really a step back. We easily could have taken steps back with losing a host of key players and a lot of new guys coming in. Normally you have to take a couple of steps back before you can progress.
“But to have maintained our position and still have the opportunity to move it forward, depending on how we go, that is something for the guys to be proud of and take heart from.
On former Sharks Nick Lewis, Olu Babalola and Zach Gachette facing their former club with Lions:
“I think it helps Sheffield more than it helps us. Our guys have been around for a bit so their tendencies are probably the same as when they were with Sheffield. Our goal is to show a few more twists and to change the things they have been doing to give us an edge they are not prepared for.
“We will look at it one quarter at a time. If you can win both games you are going through anyway, so you can’t look to try and win one game by a lot and lose one game by a little.
“It maybe changes at the end of the first game when, instead of jacking up a shot, you want to keep the score close. But if you win both games you go through, so that’s what we are going to try and do.”
Tickets:
First leg: www.sharksbasketball.org
Second leg: www.londonlionsbasketball.com