Whippy fed up with Rams’ costly slow starts
Some things never change, and that’s what is galling Canterbury Rams forward Marques Whippy.
He’s fed up with his team’s zombie-like starts to National Basketball League (NBL) games this season, a significant contributor to the fourth-placed Rams’ stumbling 7-7 campaign.
Sluggish starts hampered the team last year, prompting cocaptain Whippy to single out the frustrating trend before this year’s season tipped off.
But 14 games into the season, they continue to crawl out of the gates and give up early leads.
‘‘I don’t know if it’s a Rams’ thing or not, but we’ve definitely got to change the culture of that,’’ Whippy said.
‘‘I know basketball is a team sport, but we also need to come individually prepared for the game. We need to come into the game running, rather than walking into the game.’’
The lingering and unwelcome habit has even prompted coach Mark Dickel to spend more time on mental preparation with the team.
That will be tested against the 9-5 Southland Sharks at Christchurch’s Cowles Stadium on Saturday night, the third and final regular season match between the teams.
Southland can sweep the Rams with a win, a result Whippy is desperate to avoid as his team chases a rare win against a top-four opponent.
Already swept by the 14-0 Wellington Saints this season, the Rams are a measly 1-6 against fellow top-four teams, with their sole win coming against the Supercity Rangers in March.
‘‘This game is very important to us,’’ Whippy said.
‘‘Going into the playoffs on a winning streak, that’s the main key. We’ve got four games left to get on a roll.
‘‘Southland will be a great test to see where we’re at. All the guys are more focussed than we’ve ever been.’’
Led by McKenzie Moore’s triple-double, the Rams shot down the Bay Hawks last week and, more importantly, were balanced offensively.
Six players scored in doublefigures, while the bench poured in 37 points.
‘‘That’s what Mark [Dickel] has been stressing, if we can play as a team.
‘‘It’s getting better now, we’re moving the ball better. Everyone is enjoying playing basketball now,’’ Whippy said.
‘‘I just want to see how we will do under pressure when we’re behind.
‘‘Do we still play that team basketball or do we go more individual? And that will kill us.’’
The 31-year-old, now in his third season with the Rams, likes what he saw during training the past week, when he said the Rams were locked in as if they were playing a game.
Whippy, who coaches Hillmorton High School, is soaking up as much as he can from Dickel as he casts an eye on a potential future in coaching.
‘‘Eventually, I would love to coach the Rams, but we’ll see how that goes,’’ Whippy said.
‘‘Maybe in the next 10 to 20 years. No time soon.’’