Big challenge for Riders after last-gasp defeat
PHOENIX HAVE INFLICTED ONE OF ONLY THREE LOSSES ON LEICESTER
LEICESTER Riders will be looking to maintain their good run of form at the top of the BBL Championship when they take on Cheshire Phoenix at the Morningside Arena tonight (6pm).
Phoenix are responsible for one of Riders’ three defeats in the Championship, when they won 93-91 thanks to a last-minute three-point shot by their point guard Kahron Ross just under three weeks ago in Cheshire.
That win sparked a four-game winning streak for Phoenix that has seen them move up to third place in the table, while Riders have won three on the bounce since that defeat.
Cheshire’s good run includes wins at home to Sheffield Sharks and Manchester Giants, and away at Bristol Flyers.
In fact, Phoenix have swept the series with the Sharks 3-0 and have also taken the scalp of London Lions at home.
Cheshire had a disjointed start to the season with late arrivals of players, and injuries and personnel changes, and were swept out of the BBL Cup.
But head coach Ben Thomas has recruited shrewdly, particularly in the back court, where Ross and partner Mike McCall are a dynamic pairing.
Ross is averaging 38 minutes per game, and is still good for 18 points, five rebounds and five assists, while shooting over 48 per cent from the floor and 35 per cent from the threepoint line. McCall previously played with Manchester, and is not far behind Ross, with an average of 33 minutes per game, while he puts up 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.
On the front line, the Phoenix go with two legitimate “bigs” in the vastly experienced 6ft 10in GB international forward Matthew BryanAmaning, and 7ft American centre Jimbo Lull, a recent graduate from the University of San Francisco.
Both are capable of big games and are tough to keep off the boards.
The X factor for Phoenix is returning American forward Jalen Hayes, who piles up the minutes at over 33 per game, while scoring 16 points and pulling down nine rebounds per game.
The supporting cast does not rack up big minutes, but are solid performers who can hold their own, when required, including Brits Disraeli Lufadeju and Pharroh Gordon, GB player Kyle Carey and French forward Sehill Mouliom.
Riders head coach Rob Paternostro says his team will not be underestimating Cheshire.
“We have not forgotten what happened up there the last time we played – it is seared in the memory.
“Their guards caused us a lot of problems, and we need to learn from that.
“And we thought we had got back into the game, and made the huge defensive turnover, but somehow they came down and made a really tough last-second shot.
“Their backcourt is very talented, and we need to do a much better job of containing them.
“They also have guys who can crash the boards so our rebounding will be key.
“But we had some good spells up there and know what we have to do.
“You have to respect their results – they have shown they have the mentality to win close games.
“But we also are in good form and coming off a weekend off to recover from the exertions of the last few weeks.
“We expect it to be a very close game.”
Leicester Riders: Corey Johnson, Jamell Anderson, Geno Crandall, Zach Jackson, Darien Nelson-Henry, William Lee, Conner Washington, Ali Fraser, Aaron Falzon, Mustapha Heron, Greg Wild, Kyle Jimenez, Justin Hedley, Mo Walker.
Cheshire Phoenix: Mike McCall, Kahron Ross, Kyle Carey, Pharroh Gordon, Jimbo Lull, Sehill Mouliom, Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Robbie Graham, Jalen Hayes, Reiss Haggith, Disraeli Lufadeju.