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The Jank 15
Topic Started: Jan 22 2008, 09:06 PM (385 Views)
Bada Bing
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El Crack
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29 OCT SCRAPPY BUT VICTORIOUS


Hi People! I apologise for my absence from Badaball and I am delighted to inform you that I am here and Blogging regularly (whilst getting my money’s worth from my season ticket!)

Having said that I am a die-hard Leicester Riders fan, tonight was actually the first game I have been to as a season ticket holder this season, which is part of the reason why I haven’t been blogging as of late. Work commitments and college work as well as my own basketball have meant that I have finally got to see ‘the Reds’ in action about five weeks into the season.

Tonight, I realised why Riders is what Saturday night is about. I ask myself, what did I do on Saturday nights throughout the summer when there was no Riders? Well I don’t think Badaball is really interested in that, but the atmosphere in a shabby but thunderous John Sandford Sports Centre is still electric, despite the Riders never experiencing a sell-out. This was shown in the fourth quarter as the fans really stepped up a notch-good job!

So now down to the game! It was the first round of the cup, and the do or die nature of the competition soothed intensely through the air, as both teams got ready to deliver. Actually, judging by the warm-up, the Panthers were itching to play and Riders were not. Riders put out a starting five that surprised me greatly, purely in the fact that it did not feature Chad McKnight, and he was the game’s joint leading scorer and a cut above the rest. I don’t know if anyone can throw any light on this…

The first half was, as the headline says, scrappy. Neither team moved the ball well on the break or the secondary offence, but Birmingham at least hit just under half of there jump shots, I would say as an estimate. Riders, by contrast were poor shooting wise, especially considering that apparently they boast two of the league’s best guards in Mindaugas Janiska (MD) and Kyle Greathouse. However, nobody shot well and the majority of the first half points were scored inside. The fact that we were tied at the half with what should be a poor Birmingham side was shocking. However former Riders Rob Paternostro and Adam Williams (despite the two air ball free-throws) stepped up right through the game. The Riders though, who on paper are a much better outfit, never really broke away.


Defence wins games! Well it didn’t win this one, because Riders did not play any for the first three quarters. Birmingham hit dozens of short jump shots throughout the game, and managed to catch the ball in the post all night! They showed that they get a lot more shots up than us each day! The only thing the Panthers lacked was an inside presence. Paternostro’s temper was as legendary as it always was last year. What a player, he had sixteen points and I would love to have him back, for his fire and ball handling. He is also a great personality off the court!

Now a quick comment on the team we have assembled. Both teams tonight had ‘step-up’ players, and our men were low post duo Chad McKnight and Rod Wellington. Greathouse also proved why he is worth being an import, and silenced a few critics. Terrence Woodyard, when he shot, was pretty consistent from three point range. He surprised me as I had the impression he was an athletic forward, but he is not bad from three point land, he just needs to shoot more! In terms of sheer passion and hard work, the man for me tonight was Russell Jordan. He is athletic, gets a lot of Rebounds, plays within his capabilities and works extremely hard! MD was not really in the groove tonight but he is one I can see being a good leader.

I said earlier that Defence did not win this game, and we should never have been down to the opposition we had tonight. The Panthers defence though, made us look shocking. As a team, we were. Free throws won us the game, as Rod Wellington, Kyle Greathouse and MD stayed cool from the Charity Stripe as did Chad McKnight and they did a great job of grinding out the win and closing out the game, something which is a God-send compared to last year. Rebounding wise, we were strong in the first half and not in the second. The same applies to our shooting which, even though it was diabolical, got better in the third and fourth quarters.

Finally, from a Chemistry point of view, I noticed several times that Greathouse and MD both wanted the ball off an inbound pass. They both wanted there rightful role as point guard. Greathouse had the edge tonight as far as running the show offensively, and hitting the three were concerned, but this friction could be a weakness, as I know from experience that each player has to know what they do best and what role they fit into. MD has been awesome in a couple of games this year, according to other fans, but we will watch this and see how it develops!

Until next time, keep reading and watching Badaball and the Jank 15!
Gareth


 

21 NOV WINNING…..

SO…We are now well into the season down at the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders, with a cohesive, and, on paper, a very competitive team performing, or not as the case may be, week in, week out at the John Sandford Centre.

My blog title this time gives a very concise introduction to what my third blog for Badaball will be about- how to win in whatever situation you face as a team. I will also update you all on how the issues raised have developed.

The facts are that we have won just five out of twelve games, with four of our losses being by less than ten points. What does this show? Well seven and five is not a terrible record, but are the Americans doing their jobs?

 This is a topic of fascinating debate on the Whatsbev forum, particularly about the fact that Kyle Greathouse is not a scoring Point Guard.

 In my opinion, it is unfortunate for Kyle that we have had in the past three years, three pure scoring ‘go-to’ point guards, who can attack the rim, have a midrange game, step up, hit the three and are aggressive and passionate.

I am not claiming that Kyle is not hard-working, aggressive and passionate, but he just doesn’t fit that scoring Point Guard role. It is that simple.

I like him for his knowledge of the game and given time he will shoot the lights out in this league.

He already showed his shooting ability against the Scottish Rocks three games ago, and I think he is doing a far better job than MD, who has failed to impress me at all. I love his passion and heart, and he can go to basket nicely, but he seems to not do enough offensively for somebody who is ‘one of the better guards in the league’ to quote Martin Ford.

Terrence Woodyard has certainly surprised me and my money is on him becoming, along with Chad McKnight and perhaps Rod Wellington, the scorer of the Leicester Riders, as he is proving he is not one dimensional and has an inside-outside game. Rod got off to a blistering start, and his frustration was evident when he was taken off, in one of many bizarre substitutions.

Yet another situation where we will see how it develops..

The main problem from a team perspective is that we cannot close out games, which is where I can understand criticism of our Point Guards.

My friend said to me on Saturday night before the agonising defeated to what I think are a team of bullies in the MK Lions, ‘they have Ronnie Baker as Point Guard, and he won’t mess up- he has experience.

’ I think ‘experience’ or our lack of it, is at the heart of the problem of why we are always leading by as many as nineteen points on our home floor, and then we end up losing.

Anyway, less of the negative and more of the positive. Hopefully the team has begun a winning streak now, after beating the BIG Storage Cheshire Jets at their place on Sunday, and after being hurt by a former Rider, Yorick Williams, on Saturday night, they contained another old star, Shawn Myers on Sunday at the Northgate Arena.

Terrence Woodyard, who could well become my favourite player, dominated once again and was the deciding factor between the two teams.

I am thrilled that the team seem to be developing a team spirit, but they also seem to have a few scorers who can stand up and be counted. Leicester have never been hot on closing out games, but it is something that needs to be addressed.

Commenting on the chemistry issues from my last blog, the two Point Guards seem not to have shared the duty of running the offence as much in the past two games. MD has slashed effectively, but not often enough, to the basket as a two guard, and Kyle is now where he should be.

I maintain my view on Russell Jordan as just the kind of sixth man the Riders need, and love the way he grafts for every point or rebound he gets and Darren Mills is playing a crucial role very well and getting generous court time.

 I have tried not to be too critical this time as I know that both Chad and Rod have had a tough week, and feel almost like they have a brother in intensive care. Brian Dux is such a fantastic player, a worker, a fighter, and a true professional, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish him a speedy recovery and send my best wishes to his family.

That’s all for now, and I must warn you that the next piece will be a little different!

Keep up with the Jank 15!
EuroLeague Women because women's basketball is the most important thing in life after family and good health!
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