Take a look at the 10 most populous cities in the UK, and you'll find that only 3 have a team competing in the BBL this season (and 2 of them are disputable). Glasgow Rocks and Sheffield Sharks (respectively numbers 3 and 7 on the list) are the certainly good examples, while Liverpool-based Mersey Tigers have found themselves in grave financial difficulties early in the season and might not even be able to field a team this year, despite being the reigning BBL champions.
The other seven go unrepresented, and they are pretty big names. Cardiff, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, and yes, even London. And the league includes teams from Durham, Milton Keynes, Chester and Worcester.
The main issue appears to be sustainability. All the London franchises went bust a few years back, they have been joined by the Manchester Giants (once one of the league's biggest success stories) and two separate Birmingham teams.
So why can't the UK's biggest cities sustain basketball franchises? There are an awful lot of basketball fans in London, so surely filling a venue seating perhaps 2,000 people shouldn't be that difficult. But time and time again the BBL has proved that it is.
If the BBL is to succeed and prosper it needs more high profile events. I remember, as a Brighton Bears fan, a particularly sickening event in the BBL in which the Bears produced probably the media event of the decade for the league by signing Dennis Rodman for a few games.
Rodman played for the Bears and the rules were slightly contravened. Bears won a match against Guildford, and the win was subsequently over-turned and the Bears were fined. Utterly short-sighted by the BBL, punishing a team for helping basketball gain popularity nationwide.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Vinnie Darpino signs for Thunder
Worthing Thunder have added 5'9'' American point guard Vinnie Darpino to their roster. Darpino holds an Italian passport, and therefore counts as a European player. From YouTube videos he looks like an offensive-minded shooter/scorer who should be very exciting to watch.
Thunder's back-court now looks pretty decent; with a starting combo of Darpino and American shooting guard Chris Talley backed up by team captain James Brame. A genuine point guard next to him should allow Talley's sharpshooting to thrive in Worthing's offense, leaving plenty of holes in the defence for Courtney Small to drive through.
I'd still like to see Worthing sign an extra player, probably a big. But I think Darpino solidifies the lineup and will hopefully solve quite a few of the issues.
Thunder's back-court now looks pretty decent; with a starting combo of Darpino and American shooting guard Chris Talley backed up by team captain James Brame. A genuine point guard next to him should allow Talley's sharpshooting to thrive in Worthing's offense, leaving plenty of holes in the defence for Courtney Small to drive through.
I'd still like to see Worthing sign an extra player, probably a big. But I think Darpino solidifies the lineup and will hopefully solve quite a few of the issues.
Sunday, 2 October 2011
Worthing 75 - 79 Brixton Topcats
It was a disappointing night for the Thunder on Saturday, as they lost in close run affair with the Brixton Topcats. A late rally even gave Worthing a three point lead in the final quarter, but some shoddy decision making and lacklusture passing proved to be their ultimate un-doing.
The Thunder started poorly missing a number of open threes and turning the ball over. Courtney Small missed three (yes, three!) fast break dunks that could have been easily finished off as lay-ups. Worthing seemed to struggle to work the ball inside, and would often settle for outside shots, eventually connecting on just 5 from their 27 attempts from downtown.
A couple of strange refereeing decisions including a technical foul, and an apparent unsportsmanlike foul on James Brame, increased both the Thunder's frustration and Brixton's lead. Thunder seemed to be their own worst enemies, often throwing a sloppy pass or jacking up a tough shot, just as they were beginning to go on a run, which would inevitably lead to a fast break from the Topcats.
Things were looking bad in the third quarter, with Courtney Small in foul trouble and Francesco Amato on the bench, the Topcats stretched their lead to double figures. But Thunder finally got their act together in the fourth and despite still needlessly throwing the ball away on a few occasions, they managed to give themselves a 73-70 lead. In the last minute or so the Thunder slipped back into their old ways, turning the ball over, and taking ill-advised shots (including a bizarre panicked, long-range three from James Brame when the Thunder were down 2. It was as if the shot clock was at the last second and he thought he just had to throw the shot up). In the end the Topcats didn't win the match; the Thunder lost it.
Brixton played as expected; like a typical London team. The defense was constantly pressurising the ball-handlers, and Worthing's lack of a natural point guard became apparent. The Topcats ran double-teams and traps and forced the Thunder into a final tally of 18 turnovers.
The Topcats were led by a triangle offence; the aggressive drives of 6'4'' forward Sam Toluwase, the slashing and shooting of Arturo Noha-Pascual, and the inside presence of big Tom Adorian. These three combined for 66 of the Topcats 79 points, with Toluwase leading the way on 26.
Worthing were once again reliant on their main six, and it was slightly worrying that Courtney Small, and his 18-point performance, laced though it was with errors, was by far Thunder's most effective player.
Young Liam Mitchell once again impressed, although his defence was occasionally prone to over-aggressiveness, perhaps in an attempt to match the rough style of play employed by the South Londoners.
Captain James Brame, riled by some poor refereeing decisions, had a quiet and inconsequential night.
Greek big-mam Frankie Amato, is as strong as an ox and matched up well with Adorian, who scored the majority of his points with Amato sat on the bench. The Thunder didn't get the ball inside enough, were you feel Amato could have scored well.
American guard Chris Talley is yet to impress me in either of his performances I've seen. He can certainly shoot the ball (even though he was badly off today) but he's not a playmaker and can't create his own shot. In my humble opinion he doesn't give enough that an import guard should be looking to do.
Super-athletic Marcus Tullis had some nice blocks, and seemed to have a decent touch inside. Unfortunately my praise for him ends here. He never imposed himself on the game, despite being by far the most athletic big on the court. Too many of his points came from put-back layups. He attempted high risk moves and flashly passes constantly, even when he had failed to pull off previous ones. He forced a couple of threes beyond his range. It's still early in the season, but he needs to step up his game quickly and start playing to his strengths.
Okolie Ugbana and Dominic Baker played a small role, but were largely ineffectual.
It might be too early to judge, but I feel that Thunder need a couple more competant players who can give solid minutes, including a genuine point guard and a big. Either that, or the Americans need to start taking over the game in a way that only Canadian/Brit Courtney Small appears to be capable of so far.
The Thunder started poorly missing a number of open threes and turning the ball over. Courtney Small missed three (yes, three!) fast break dunks that could have been easily finished off as lay-ups. Worthing seemed to struggle to work the ball inside, and would often settle for outside shots, eventually connecting on just 5 from their 27 attempts from downtown.
A couple of strange refereeing decisions including a technical foul, and an apparent unsportsmanlike foul on James Brame, increased both the Thunder's frustration and Brixton's lead. Thunder seemed to be their own worst enemies, often throwing a sloppy pass or jacking up a tough shot, just as they were beginning to go on a run, which would inevitably lead to a fast break from the Topcats.
Things were looking bad in the third quarter, with Courtney Small in foul trouble and Francesco Amato on the bench, the Topcats stretched their lead to double figures. But Thunder finally got their act together in the fourth and despite still needlessly throwing the ball away on a few occasions, they managed to give themselves a 73-70 lead. In the last minute or so the Thunder slipped back into their old ways, turning the ball over, and taking ill-advised shots (including a bizarre panicked, long-range three from James Brame when the Thunder were down 2. It was as if the shot clock was at the last second and he thought he just had to throw the shot up). In the end the Topcats didn't win the match; the Thunder lost it.
Brixton played as expected; like a typical London team. The defense was constantly pressurising the ball-handlers, and Worthing's lack of a natural point guard became apparent. The Topcats ran double-teams and traps and forced the Thunder into a final tally of 18 turnovers.
The Topcats were led by a triangle offence; the aggressive drives of 6'4'' forward Sam Toluwase, the slashing and shooting of Arturo Noha-Pascual, and the inside presence of big Tom Adorian. These three combined for 66 of the Topcats 79 points, with Toluwase leading the way on 26.
Worthing were once again reliant on their main six, and it was slightly worrying that Courtney Small, and his 18-point performance, laced though it was with errors, was by far Thunder's most effective player.
Young Liam Mitchell once again impressed, although his defence was occasionally prone to over-aggressiveness, perhaps in an attempt to match the rough style of play employed by the South Londoners.
Captain James Brame, riled by some poor refereeing decisions, had a quiet and inconsequential night.
Greek big-mam Frankie Amato, is as strong as an ox and matched up well with Adorian, who scored the majority of his points with Amato sat on the bench. The Thunder didn't get the ball inside enough, were you feel Amato could have scored well.
American guard Chris Talley is yet to impress me in either of his performances I've seen. He can certainly shoot the ball (even though he was badly off today) but he's not a playmaker and can't create his own shot. In my humble opinion he doesn't give enough that an import guard should be looking to do.
Super-athletic Marcus Tullis had some nice blocks, and seemed to have a decent touch inside. Unfortunately my praise for him ends here. He never imposed himself on the game, despite being by far the most athletic big on the court. Too many of his points came from put-back layups. He attempted high risk moves and flashly passes constantly, even when he had failed to pull off previous ones. He forced a couple of threes beyond his range. It's still early in the season, but he needs to step up his game quickly and start playing to his strengths.
Okolie Ugbana and Dominic Baker played a small role, but were largely ineffectual.
It might be too early to judge, but I feel that Thunder need a couple more competant players who can give solid minutes, including a genuine point guard and a big. Either that, or the Americans need to start taking over the game in a way that only Canadian/Brit Courtney Small appears to be capable of so far.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Saturday 1st October - Worthing Thunder vs Brixton Topcats
On Saturday at The ThunderDome (or Worthing Leisure Centre, to give its less-glamorous-but-technically-correct title) will host a match between the home town Worthing Thunder and one of London's finest and most well known clubs; the Brixton Topcats.
The Topcats are famous for having developing the youthful talents of current GB internationals Luol Deng, Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Justin Robinson and Ogo Adegboye. Fortunately for the Thunder none of these 4 will be making an appearance on court, but the Topcats are likely to put out a strong side, brimming with the kind of confidence and aggression that is synonymous with London basketball.
With the Essex Pirates pulling out of the BBL, 6'4'' athletic forward Samuel Toluwase has moved back to his home hardwood of London. His raucous dunks and flashy style will serve as a talisman for the Topcats. However, there is no doubt that on paper Worthing will have the pick of the talent. Brixton are unlikely to field import players, relying wholly on locals.
The Topcats might lack "star power" as much, but Brixton are a stereotypical London team, and they are guaranteed to play defense with endless energy and enthusiasm making up for any gaps in talent. They wont punish Thunder from the outside, but they will be muscular and athletic, and Worthing will have to match their intensity from the tip-off.
Big men Tom Adorian and Laurie Lewis will be a force inside, and it will be up to Amato and Tullis to work their hardest and stop them. Ultimate I think Thunder's guards should have the better of the Topcats', but this will depend on who is on Brixton's teamsheet at the start of the game. 6'2'' veteran Marcus Knight was a Brixton player last season, and is consistently one of the best British players outside of the BBL. If he plays on Saturday, the Thunder will have really have to work hard.
The Topcats are famous for having developing the youthful talents of current GB internationals Luol Deng, Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Justin Robinson and Ogo Adegboye. Fortunately for the Thunder none of these 4 will be making an appearance on court, but the Topcats are likely to put out a strong side, brimming with the kind of confidence and aggression that is synonymous with London basketball.
With the Essex Pirates pulling out of the BBL, 6'4'' athletic forward Samuel Toluwase has moved back to his home hardwood of London. His raucous dunks and flashy style will serve as a talisman for the Topcats. However, there is no doubt that on paper Worthing will have the pick of the talent. Brixton are unlikely to field import players, relying wholly on locals.
The Topcats might lack "star power" as much, but Brixton are a stereotypical London team, and they are guaranteed to play defense with endless energy and enthusiasm making up for any gaps in talent. They wont punish Thunder from the outside, but they will be muscular and athletic, and Worthing will have to match their intensity from the tip-off.
Big men Tom Adorian and Laurie Lewis will be a force inside, and it will be up to Amato and Tullis to work their hardest and stop them. Ultimate I think Thunder's guards should have the better of the Topcats', but this will depend on who is on Brixton's teamsheet at the start of the game. 6'2'' veteran Marcus Knight was a Brixton player last season, and is consistently one of the best British players outside of the BBL. If he plays on Saturday, the Thunder will have really have to work hard.
2011-2012 BBL Preview
No Worthing in the BBL this year. So unlike last year, this preview will be short and sour.
Cheshire Jets
Sadly, the dream of signing LA Lakers forward Ron Artest (or Metta World Peace, as he is now known) never came to fruition due to insurance problems. The Jets, therefore, have had to rely on more conventional means of recruitment. Returnee's include US centre Matt Schneck, and 6'7'' Irishman Colin O'Reilly. However, last season's American stars Jeremy Bell and Quemont Greer are conspicuous in their absence. Replacing them are 6'4'' Adam Brown, and 6'9'' Bill Cole, both fresh out of college. Gareth Murray has headed back north to Glasgow, prompting veteran Shawn Myers to make a return to Jets for what seems like his billionth season. Young Manchester born guard Keith Page will also compete for minutes.
The question: can Adam Brown replicate Jeremy Bell's success? Bell attained BBL MVP last season, and led the Jets in scoring. The 5'11'' Bell's shoes are going to be tough to fill, as they are much bigger proverbially than they are physically.
Prediction: assuming they can avoid injuries, Jets should be aiming for home court advantage in the playoffs, though top 4 might be a bit of a push. Certainly they would be bad to finish outside of the top 6.
Durham Wildcats
Ralph Bucci will probably be the key to Wildcats season. The 35 year old has finally got his chance to show the BBL what he is made of (admittedly taking a few years to ply his trade in the top Greek league) after playing a few seasons in the EBL for the Teesside Mohawks. Bucci is a skilled scorer, and will be dangerous every night. The Wildcats have added American forwards 6'9'' Mario Flaherty, 6'7'' Fred Hinnencamp and 6'6'' Mike Capocci none of whom appear likely to set the world alight, but should be solid contributers. DJ Glavan, a 5'11'' American guard also appears to have been signed, however, this would raise Wildcats number of non-EU imports to 4, which is 1 too many. Perhaps one of the four Americans has an EU passport, making him eligible?
The question: are the Brit's ready? Paul Elderkin, Chris Pearce, Stephen Jones and a few others return from the EBL team of last year. They did a decent job at EBL level, but whether they are up to the BBL's standard is yet to be seen.
Prediction: they are new to the league, and they'll take a while to find their feet. I expect a few early season blowouts against the good teams, but by the end of the season they will be well drilled and a legitimate challenge for everyone. I'd be surprised if they didn't finish last, however.
Glasgow Rocks
An eclectic mix of experience, youth, veterans, new-blood and unknown quantities make the Rocks a difficult team to predict. You pretty much know what you're getting from EJ Harrison, Sterling Davis and Gareth Murray, and these guys will be the backbone of the team. But new Americans 6'4'' guard Mychal Green and 6'9'' big-man Deaundre Cranston are more difficult to call. 6'6'' swing man Andrew Wedemire, is a Canadian with a British passport - he's new too, but is endearing himself to fans during the pre-season with some gritty performances. 6'4'' Danny Huffor also has a UK passport, but hasn't really proved himself yet.
The question: is one big-man enough? Deaundre Cranston will be manning the middle his own, and championship contenders without back-ups are scarce.
Prediction: this team should have the talent to make the playoffs, but with little in terms of strength on depth or post-presence, I think it's unlikely they push any of the top teams too hard. On the other hand perennial under-achievers MK Lions, Leicester Riders and Plymouth Raiders might falter, leaving an opening for the Rocks to sneak into the upper echelon.
Guildford Heat
Guildford's team has plenty of familiar faces, including English stars 6'7'' Mike Martin, plus 6'5'' swing-men Julius Joseph and Tayo Ogedengbe. Martelle McLemore, the Heat's 6'5'' American guard is also back for his second season. However, there is some new-blood too; new import point guard Brandon Shingles has made the move from a low level German division, and the Heat have snagged a couple of European big men: 6'10'' Austrian Herman Opoku, and 6'8'' Belgian Kandi Mukole. Potentially waiting on another import too.
The question: can Martin and Joseph do it again? Guildford's English stalwarts Mike Martin and Julius Joseph have a tendency to carry the team, but they are both another year older, and Joseph was looking noticeably slow in pre-season; how much do they have left?
Prediction: there's room for another import signing, so the Heat could conceivably become stronger, but right now I see them struggling on the edge of the playoffs.
Leicester Riders
Probably the BBL's deepest team, with considerable depth at a number of positions. New import point guard Cameron Rundles, joins two ex-Riders who have returned for this years campaign; GB ace Flinder Boyd, and sharp-shooter Bradd Wierzbicki. It remains to be seen as to whether US/Italian guard John Griffin (who Flinder Boyd was drafted in to replace when he sustained a thumb injury) will return later in the season. Riders have a couple of highly capable new swingmen in 6'5'' American Ayron Hardy, and 6'7'' Brit Jamell Anderson, one of the few bright sparks in Essex Pirates whipping-boy performance last season. There is plenty of talent in the Riders front court too, with 6'9'' US returnee Frank Holmes clogging the paint, alongside veteran Robert Youngblood and experienced Brits Tom Sherlock and Barry Lamble.
The question: will they find a balance? There's an awful lot of talent there, and trying to fit these guys all into one 40-minute basketball game will be a tough task for coach Rob Paternostro.
Prediction: if they can find a balance, Riders should be aiming for the top 4. They might well have the league's best back-court.
Mersey Tigers
David Aliu and Andrew Sullivan are the only confirmed names on the Tigers' teamsheet at the time of writing. Nate Reinking, James Jones, Tap Toney and Andrew Thomson have all moved on to new teams. And the Tigers appear to be having some difficulties, as they have had to postpone the first game of their season. I hope Tigers find a solution quickly, and we can all get back to enjoying basketball. I get the feeling that once they get a team together Tigers will be a decent outfit, and should make the playoffs. But again this is just a gut feeling. I will also speculate (without any inside knowledge whatsoever) that this years Tigers team will feature Yorick Williams, Alan Metcalfe and Trey Moore. Let's see how my predictions go.
The question: will there be a Mersey Tigers at the end of the BBL season? Who knows.
Prediction: if they can get themselves sorted out, they have the advantage of a very experience and very good coach in Tony Garboletto, who should see them to the playoffs.
Milton Keynes Lions
Milton Keynes are another team with plenty of depth. The front court will be held together by 6'9'' American pair Howard Crawford and Daniel Northern, and 6'10'' Brit Adrien Sturt. The Lions have done well to retain the services of dynamic guard pair, 5'10'' Manchester-born Stefan Gill, and 6'4'' American Demarius Bolds, but they have also managed to strengthen themselves with the services of Portuguese point guard Nuno Pedroso. Young British forwards Carl Josey and Nathan Schall complete the line up.
The question: how will the new big guys play together? Northern and Crawford are both unknowns in the BBL though they both have decent pedigree abroad. The Lions attempt at two bigs last year failed drastically but if these two can co-exist they will be a real force.
Prediction: Gill and Bolds can be relied upon, and Sturt should be a different man with a good team around him, so new boys Northern, Crawford and Pedroso will be the difference between the Lions as a title contender, or a disappointing scrappy battle for the 7th or 8th playoff spot.
Newcastle Eagles
If there is one thing you can rely upon in the BBL these days, it's that the Newcastle Eagles will be a title contender. This year is no different. Retaining their core of stars including Charles Smith, Joe Chapman, Andrew Bridge, Darius Defoe and player-coach Fab Flournoy, the Eagles are poised to succeed once again. Joining the old hands are rookie point guard Paul Gause, straight from the US, and one of the BBL's top British talent's, 6'10'' Andrew Thomson. There's still a permit place available for the Eagles, and the rumours seem to suggest a return for tenacious scoring guard Drew Lasker.
The question: can Defoe bounce back? Last year was a disappointing season for British big-man Darius Defoe, but he'll need to be a force inside this time round, as Eagles lack front-court depth.
Prediction: Eagles will be contenders for all the prizes.
Plymouth Raiders
This summer's big spenders are the Plymouth Raiders. They have recruited in all the smartest ways. 1) Bringing in stars from last seasons top teams including 6'10'' American centre Paul Williams from Sheffield, 6'4'' GB international guard James Jones from Mersey and towering 7'0'' centre Tomas Janusauskas from Guildford. 2) Retaining the best from last year: forwards Lehmon Colbert and Anthony Rowe have re-signed. 3) Adding genuine talents from European teams: 5'11'' American guard Ben Smith, and 6'3'' European passport holder Ryan Read. 4) Recruiting sought after prospects from college: naturalised swingman Michael Ojo.
The question: how will the team chemistry work? How long will the players take to learn each other's games, and will they mesh?
Prediction: Raiders should be aiming for a top 4 finish, and really they should have enough talent to take the title. The transition that new point guard Ben Smith makes to the BBL will be the key, as he dominated the Swedish top division.
Sheffield Sharks
Another of the BBL's perennial success stories, the Sharks once again look like a strong outfit this season. Player-coach Atiba Lyons has retained the services of star British forwards Mike Tuck and Olu Babalola, and also done a bit of shopping with two stars from last year's BBL, GB international guard Nate Reinking and American forward Justin Dobbins. The Sharks have also signed American point guard BJ Jennings. They still have a permit place available, with Danny Gilbert, a potential target.
The question: are they big enough? The Sharks have burly forwards Justin Dobbins and Olu Babalola, but with no one on their roster above 6'8'' the Sharks could struggle against taller teams.
Prediction: the Sharks should once again be looking for a top 3 finish, but I suspect they are more likely to have success in a cup competition.
Worcester Wolves
The Wolves have reshuffled their pack, outing all three imports from last season. In their place come ex-Thunder point guard Sherrad Prezzie-Blue (who, obviously, the Thunder Chronicle wishes every success), 6'5'' swingman Tommy Freeman, and 6'9'' centre Richie Gordon, the latter two coming straight out of college. Wolves have kept hold of forwards Dave Watts and Aleksas Zimnickas, and highly rated British guard Callum Jones. There are a highly of new additions from Europe too: 6'9'' centre Arnas Kazlauskas, who continues their Lithuanian tradition, and Spanish forward Carlos Fernandez.
The question: can Jones and Watts step it up? Wolves roster does not run particularly deep this year, and it is likely that the British pair will see their minutes extended. They will be integral to any of the midland's club's success.
Prediction: Paul James stated that the reason for getting rid of his three imports was to stop underachieving. However, I don't really see a path to success for Wolves. They've signed an American point guard who played for one of the only teams to finish below them (no questioning S P-B's talent here), and also two untested imports. Arguably last season's best find: Sam Cricelli (another ex-Worthing player) has moved on to Europe. The Wolves will likely compete with Durham for the bottom spot.
Cheshire Jets
Sadly, the dream of signing LA Lakers forward Ron Artest (or Metta World Peace, as he is now known) never came to fruition due to insurance problems. The Jets, therefore, have had to rely on more conventional means of recruitment. Returnee's include US centre Matt Schneck, and 6'7'' Irishman Colin O'Reilly. However, last season's American stars Jeremy Bell and Quemont Greer are conspicuous in their absence. Replacing them are 6'4'' Adam Brown, and 6'9'' Bill Cole, both fresh out of college. Gareth Murray has headed back north to Glasgow, prompting veteran Shawn Myers to make a return to Jets for what seems like his billionth season. Young Manchester born guard Keith Page will also compete for minutes.
The question: can Adam Brown replicate Jeremy Bell's success? Bell attained BBL MVP last season, and led the Jets in scoring. The 5'11'' Bell's shoes are going to be tough to fill, as they are much bigger proverbially than they are physically.
Prediction: assuming they can avoid injuries, Jets should be aiming for home court advantage in the playoffs, though top 4 might be a bit of a push. Certainly they would be bad to finish outside of the top 6.
Durham Wildcats
Ralph Bucci will probably be the key to Wildcats season. The 35 year old has finally got his chance to show the BBL what he is made of (admittedly taking a few years to ply his trade in the top Greek league) after playing a few seasons in the EBL for the Teesside Mohawks. Bucci is a skilled scorer, and will be dangerous every night. The Wildcats have added American forwards 6'9'' Mario Flaherty, 6'7'' Fred Hinnencamp and 6'6'' Mike Capocci none of whom appear likely to set the world alight, but should be solid contributers. DJ Glavan, a 5'11'' American guard also appears to have been signed, however, this would raise Wildcats number of non-EU imports to 4, which is 1 too many. Perhaps one of the four Americans has an EU passport, making him eligible?
The question: are the Brit's ready? Paul Elderkin, Chris Pearce, Stephen Jones and a few others return from the EBL team of last year. They did a decent job at EBL level, but whether they are up to the BBL's standard is yet to be seen.
Prediction: they are new to the league, and they'll take a while to find their feet. I expect a few early season blowouts against the good teams, but by the end of the season they will be well drilled and a legitimate challenge for everyone. I'd be surprised if they didn't finish last, however.
Glasgow Rocks
An eclectic mix of experience, youth, veterans, new-blood and unknown quantities make the Rocks a difficult team to predict. You pretty much know what you're getting from EJ Harrison, Sterling Davis and Gareth Murray, and these guys will be the backbone of the team. But new Americans 6'4'' guard Mychal Green and 6'9'' big-man Deaundre Cranston are more difficult to call. 6'6'' swing man Andrew Wedemire, is a Canadian with a British passport - he's new too, but is endearing himself to fans during the pre-season with some gritty performances. 6'4'' Danny Huffor also has a UK passport, but hasn't really proved himself yet.
The question: is one big-man enough? Deaundre Cranston will be manning the middle his own, and championship contenders without back-ups are scarce.
Prediction: this team should have the talent to make the playoffs, but with little in terms of strength on depth or post-presence, I think it's unlikely they push any of the top teams too hard. On the other hand perennial under-achievers MK Lions, Leicester Riders and Plymouth Raiders might falter, leaving an opening for the Rocks to sneak into the upper echelon.
Guildford Heat
Guildford's team has plenty of familiar faces, including English stars 6'7'' Mike Martin, plus 6'5'' swing-men Julius Joseph and Tayo Ogedengbe. Martelle McLemore, the Heat's 6'5'' American guard is also back for his second season. However, there is some new-blood too; new import point guard Brandon Shingles has made the move from a low level German division, and the Heat have snagged a couple of European big men: 6'10'' Austrian Herman Opoku, and 6'8'' Belgian Kandi Mukole. Potentially waiting on another import too.
The question: can Martin and Joseph do it again? Guildford's English stalwarts Mike Martin and Julius Joseph have a tendency to carry the team, but they are both another year older, and Joseph was looking noticeably slow in pre-season; how much do they have left?
Prediction: there's room for another import signing, so the Heat could conceivably become stronger, but right now I see them struggling on the edge of the playoffs.
Leicester Riders
Probably the BBL's deepest team, with considerable depth at a number of positions. New import point guard Cameron Rundles, joins two ex-Riders who have returned for this years campaign; GB ace Flinder Boyd, and sharp-shooter Bradd Wierzbicki. It remains to be seen as to whether US/Italian guard John Griffin (who Flinder Boyd was drafted in to replace when he sustained a thumb injury) will return later in the season. Riders have a couple of highly capable new swingmen in 6'5'' American Ayron Hardy, and 6'7'' Brit Jamell Anderson, one of the few bright sparks in Essex Pirates whipping-boy performance last season. There is plenty of talent in the Riders front court too, with 6'9'' US returnee Frank Holmes clogging the paint, alongside veteran Robert Youngblood and experienced Brits Tom Sherlock and Barry Lamble.
The question: will they find a balance? There's an awful lot of talent there, and trying to fit these guys all into one 40-minute basketball game will be a tough task for coach Rob Paternostro.
Prediction: if they can find a balance, Riders should be aiming for the top 4. They might well have the league's best back-court.
Mersey Tigers
David Aliu and Andrew Sullivan are the only confirmed names on the Tigers' teamsheet at the time of writing. Nate Reinking, James Jones, Tap Toney and Andrew Thomson have all moved on to new teams. And the Tigers appear to be having some difficulties, as they have had to postpone the first game of their season. I hope Tigers find a solution quickly, and we can all get back to enjoying basketball. I get the feeling that once they get a team together Tigers will be a decent outfit, and should make the playoffs. But again this is just a gut feeling. I will also speculate (without any inside knowledge whatsoever) that this years Tigers team will feature Yorick Williams, Alan Metcalfe and Trey Moore. Let's see how my predictions go.
The question: will there be a Mersey Tigers at the end of the BBL season? Who knows.
Prediction: if they can get themselves sorted out, they have the advantage of a very experience and very good coach in Tony Garboletto, who should see them to the playoffs.
Milton Keynes Lions
Milton Keynes are another team with plenty of depth. The front court will be held together by 6'9'' American pair Howard Crawford and Daniel Northern, and 6'10'' Brit Adrien Sturt. The Lions have done well to retain the services of dynamic guard pair, 5'10'' Manchester-born Stefan Gill, and 6'4'' American Demarius Bolds, but they have also managed to strengthen themselves with the services of Portuguese point guard Nuno Pedroso. Young British forwards Carl Josey and Nathan Schall complete the line up.
The question: how will the new big guys play together? Northern and Crawford are both unknowns in the BBL though they both have decent pedigree abroad. The Lions attempt at two bigs last year failed drastically but if these two can co-exist they will be a real force.
Prediction: Gill and Bolds can be relied upon, and Sturt should be a different man with a good team around him, so new boys Northern, Crawford and Pedroso will be the difference between the Lions as a title contender, or a disappointing scrappy battle for the 7th or 8th playoff spot.
Newcastle Eagles
If there is one thing you can rely upon in the BBL these days, it's that the Newcastle Eagles will be a title contender. This year is no different. Retaining their core of stars including Charles Smith, Joe Chapman, Andrew Bridge, Darius Defoe and player-coach Fab Flournoy, the Eagles are poised to succeed once again. Joining the old hands are rookie point guard Paul Gause, straight from the US, and one of the BBL's top British talent's, 6'10'' Andrew Thomson. There's still a permit place available for the Eagles, and the rumours seem to suggest a return for tenacious scoring guard Drew Lasker.
The question: can Defoe bounce back? Last year was a disappointing season for British big-man Darius Defoe, but he'll need to be a force inside this time round, as Eagles lack front-court depth.
Prediction: Eagles will be contenders for all the prizes.
Plymouth Raiders
This summer's big spenders are the Plymouth Raiders. They have recruited in all the smartest ways. 1) Bringing in stars from last seasons top teams including 6'10'' American centre Paul Williams from Sheffield, 6'4'' GB international guard James Jones from Mersey and towering 7'0'' centre Tomas Janusauskas from Guildford. 2) Retaining the best from last year: forwards Lehmon Colbert and Anthony Rowe have re-signed. 3) Adding genuine talents from European teams: 5'11'' American guard Ben Smith, and 6'3'' European passport holder Ryan Read. 4) Recruiting sought after prospects from college: naturalised swingman Michael Ojo.
The question: how will the team chemistry work? How long will the players take to learn each other's games, and will they mesh?
Prediction: Raiders should be aiming for a top 4 finish, and really they should have enough talent to take the title. The transition that new point guard Ben Smith makes to the BBL will be the key, as he dominated the Swedish top division.
Sheffield Sharks
Another of the BBL's perennial success stories, the Sharks once again look like a strong outfit this season. Player-coach Atiba Lyons has retained the services of star British forwards Mike Tuck and Olu Babalola, and also done a bit of shopping with two stars from last year's BBL, GB international guard Nate Reinking and American forward Justin Dobbins. The Sharks have also signed American point guard BJ Jennings. They still have a permit place available, with Danny Gilbert, a potential target.
The question: are they big enough? The Sharks have burly forwards Justin Dobbins and Olu Babalola, but with no one on their roster above 6'8'' the Sharks could struggle against taller teams.
Prediction: the Sharks should once again be looking for a top 3 finish, but I suspect they are more likely to have success in a cup competition.
Worcester Wolves
The Wolves have reshuffled their pack, outing all three imports from last season. In their place come ex-Thunder point guard Sherrad Prezzie-Blue (who, obviously, the Thunder Chronicle wishes every success), 6'5'' swingman Tommy Freeman, and 6'9'' centre Richie Gordon, the latter two coming straight out of college. Wolves have kept hold of forwards Dave Watts and Aleksas Zimnickas, and highly rated British guard Callum Jones. There are a highly of new additions from Europe too: 6'9'' centre Arnas Kazlauskas, who continues their Lithuanian tradition, and Spanish forward Carlos Fernandez.
The question: can Jones and Watts step it up? Wolves roster does not run particularly deep this year, and it is likely that the British pair will see their minutes extended. They will be integral to any of the midland's club's success.
Prediction: Paul James stated that the reason for getting rid of his three imports was to stop underachieving. However, I don't really see a path to success for Wolves. They've signed an American point guard who played for one of the only teams to finish below them (no questioning S P-B's talent here), and also two untested imports. Arguably last season's best find: Sam Cricelli (another ex-Worthing player) has moved on to Europe. The Wolves will likely compete with Durham for the bottom spot.
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Welcome to the 2011-2012 Season
The Thunder Chronicle tailed off completely last season when I got a job. This year I'm planning on doing a much better job.
Worthing have taken the step of moving from the BBL (Britain's professional basketball league) to EBL1, the top tier of the semi-professional leagues below. This seems to be a wise move for now, as the Thunder where getting thumped pretty badly last season, so a step down to re-group and re-evaluate seems a good idea.
I watched the first pre-season game, a close affair with understrength BBL side Guildford Heat, which Worthing won 100-87. But I missed the first game of the season proper; another win, this time against Bristol Academy Flyers.
From now on I should make most of the home games and might even catch an away fixture or two. We shall see.
Shortly I will complete a roster preview for the season. Then a preview for Worthing's next home game against Brixton Topcats.
Worthing have taken the step of moving from the BBL (Britain's professional basketball league) to EBL1, the top tier of the semi-professional leagues below. This seems to be a wise move for now, as the Thunder where getting thumped pretty badly last season, so a step down to re-group and re-evaluate seems a good idea.
I watched the first pre-season game, a close affair with understrength BBL side Guildford Heat, which Worthing won 100-87. But I missed the first game of the season proper; another win, this time against Bristol Academy Flyers.
From now on I should make most of the home games and might even catch an away fixture or two. We shall see.
Shortly I will complete a roster preview for the season. Then a preview for Worthing's next home game against Brixton Topcats.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)