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.
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