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| Everton @ Leicester; Post Match Analysis | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 4 2009, 07:47 PM (464 Views) | |
| The Mayor | Oct 4 2009, 07:47 PM Post #1 |
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Right first things first, the score - we lost 98 - 95 right thats the bad news out of the way because the rest is really positive and bodes well for the season. Arrived at Riders venue about 20 minutes before the tip - this was my first visit to the John Sandford, I think last time I saw the Riders at home they were playing in Loughborough!!! The set up seems alright but the low ceiling means any team traveling there best reduce the height of their long range efforts. I had a text off Henry on the way over so I knew that Stephen Rush was not yet in the country and we would also be without two as yet unnanounced Players - another not in the country and a final GB passport holding 3 spot who was injured and would not be suited up. I also knew Olu was struggling with an illness. What I didn't realise until speaking with Diego was that Kevin Bell was not so much Jet lagged but totally without sleep in over 30 hours. He had flown from Fresno to LA and onto Manchester being picked up by Diego and more or less driven straight to the team bus for the game against Leicester. So that was 7 players - Fresno's finest (Kevin Bell), GB's Flo Larkia, Andy Thomson, Daryl Bethune along with Bang Bang, JJ & Olu. I will come clean at this point, my hopes were not high for this game - undoubtedly we have one of the most talented squads in the league but stripped bare of 3 high quality players, another one poorly sick and another no doubt suffering from duvet deprivation - I only hoped that we could be competitive against one of the quickest teams off the blocks this year in Rob P's Leicester Riders. I was in for a surprise - it was backs against the wall stuff with a team that had never played together before the first tip. Rather than break it down by quarters and relive the tension I tried to impart with the twitter-feed I will summarise and say that we led for most of the game, seemed in control but lost it at the end following some good shooting by the Riders. We looked tired sure, we were threadbare, but man we are fighters and in my opinion and that of a couple of the neutrals I spoke with, were unlucky to come away without the win. No sour grapes though, some great offense by Leicester particularly in the last two minutes. So what can Tigers fans look forward to when we all assemble for our first Arena game of the season? Kevin Bell - Fresno States starting Point Guard is a superb player and looks to be a true point guard. He played last year in Turkey and for a guy who had not slept in a long time looked sharp and in control. He will shoot about 40% from down town and is capable of leading the team in scoring - he did last night with 23 points (also 8 Assists and 5!!! Steels). But with the team being assembled he is also clearly going to be a commanding presence when running the offense. Some of the passes he picked out were jaw dropping - bullet, no look you name it he found team mates open all over the place. He is very quick and has fast hands as Minor found out to his cost last night. Flo Larkai - Is an exceptionally talented British forward who will prove to be a powerful inside threat at both ends of the floor. He gets up exceptionally high for rebounds and really likes to throw it down with the dunk. Good post moves and a smooth shooter under pressure. 22 Points last night and plenty more to come. An early prediction from me is that Flo will easily average a double double over the season. Also there are going to be plenty of Alley oops courtesy of Flo. Andy Thomson - Another exceptionally talented Brit who can rebound for fun. Andy seems to be a real team player who will quietly go about putting numbers up with points and boards. He also has a great long range shot for a big fella and will cause teams match up problems from the arc to the paint. His three last night was as good as you would want from your two guard. Playing alongside Flo will be good for him as he can afford to step outside more with such a commanding presence covering the paint. Another great GB player who I wouldn't be too surprised to see too far from Chris Finch's thoughts come May. Daryl Bethune - Another good young British prospect who seems comfortable playing the 2/3. Has good handles and seems to think pass first rather than dribble and shoot. Didn't see as many minutes as the other guys but saw enough of him last night to know that we are going to enjoy watching this GB Under 20 international develop as the year continues. Then of course we have Chris Haslem, Olu Barbalola and James Jones from last year. What I will say is all of them looked hungry - very hungry. JJ was out rebounding everyone and his hustle last night showed a desire to prove something this year. Olu, despite being under the weather, looked quicker than last year and almost seemed to pick up where he left off with his excellent performance (along with Midge) in the 2009 Championship game. Coming in we also have Steven Rush who will give more balance to our back court an EU Player and another secret weapon who was sat on the bench last night. This is yet another Team GB prospect from a good NCAA 1 College. Another athlete who will light up this league. There were a fair few of the Whatsbev Tigers contributers in attendance last night and no doubt they all have their own take on our new players - but what I will finish with saying that what I saw last night from our new and returning guys bodes well for another great season at Greenbank and the Arena. I cannot wait .... |
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| dave f | Oct 4 2009, 07:56 PM Post #2 |
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All-Star
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sounds interesting. But the stats only have larkai with 3 boards. So he is a bit behind on his double double quest at this stage. And that doesnt compare particularly well with durrants 16 or indeed johnsons 11. |
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| hersey427 | Oct 4 2009, 08:06 PM Post #3 |
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Franchise Player
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I'd be interested to know how he got his licence from EB. Because they require to see a copy of his pasporty with a work permit stamp in it - which you only get when you enter the country. |
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| The Mayor | Oct 4 2009, 08:51 PM Post #4 |
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Dave F - I cannot believe that Flo only got three boards - simply cannot be true IMO? But as they clocked something like 12 assists for Minor at least 8 of those also passed me by so I may need an eye test. However I have no trouble believing the boards that Leicester clocked up or that they outrebounded us - good positioning and boxing out. When either Flo or Thommo were on the bench in a 7 rotation they simply cleaned up. particularly Durrant. But no way did Flo just pull down 3!!! Without seeing the stats I would guess that JJ was our most prolific rebounder of the night and that is not likely to be a typical situation this season. Interesting line up though and I am looking foraward to our first home game. |
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| dave f | Oct 4 2009, 09:08 PM Post #5 |
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All-Star
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they are on the bbl site : I think you are right and JJ and AT had 9 boards each (from memory). |
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| The Mayor | Oct 4 2009, 09:14 PM Post #6 |
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Hadn't checked the BBL site as I assumed we were on reduced service until the new site is up! Would personally question Flo's boards total and Minors assists but we all see different things and really the only stat that matters is the scoreline which should have been halted after 37 minutes!!! |
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| dave f | Oct 4 2009, 09:19 PM Post #7 |
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All-Star
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go to the link for the scores. Larkai did have 22 points in 25 mins on 9/12 shooting. assists are always given out in a friendly manner for players playing at home! Unfair to judge Bell on one day in the country so will give him a pass on his 8/23 effort. But you are right, the scoreboard is all that matters and just look at wierzbicki, couldnt make a shot all night but made the big one. |
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| The Land of Plenty | Oct 4 2009, 11:00 PM Post #8 |
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I was surprised to see that Larkai only had 3 boards but our stats team is usually on the money with regards to getting things right. Tigers will be right up there, no doubt. |
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www.ridersbasketball.net The Independent Riders website. | |
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| 20yearfan | Oct 5 2009, 01:27 PM Post #9 |
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All-Star
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Minor assists must have stacked up from the short passes to Williams and Windless for 3's! Thought Tigers looked good, Bell will be a star of the league. Ok you were tired but so were the Riders having run Newcastle close the previous night |
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11:56 PM Nov 25
