Clash of the titans at the Copper Box tonight
BBL CUP SEMI-FINAL, FIRST LEG
Friday, December 10, Copper Box
LEICESTER Riders play London Lions in the first leg of the semifinals of the BBL Cup tonight at the Copper Box (7.30pm) in one of the most highly anticipated matches of the season so far.
London are the BBL Trophy holders and their Covid-decimated squad was beaten in the BBL Cup final last season, while Riders are the reigning BBL champions and are undefeated in the league.
The Lions are also flying in European competition, the best performance by a British team in two decades, getting through to the second round of group play in the FIBA Europe Cup, where they are taking on clubs from Turkey, Denmark and Russia.
Meanwhile, the teams have met twice in the qualifying stages of the BBL Cup, with both games at the Morningside Arena, and each team has a win apiece.
Unexpectedly, the Lions were beaten at Newcastle Eagles last weekend, but that apart, and the loss at Riders in mid-October, they have been pretty invincible domestically, and have scored more points per game than any other club.
They do so via dominant play close to the basket and are leading the BBL in two-point shooting at a stunning 61 per cent.
Riders have the edge in shooting from beyond the arc where Leicester are 42.3 per cent compared to 36.9 per cent for the Lions.
Former Sheffield Sharks star guard Dirk Williams is averaging 22.5 points per game in the Championship,
the second best in the BBL, and he was a thorn in the side for Riders in both games this season because of his size, athleticism and shooting range, which makes him very difficult to stop.
But another Williams, Jordan, who joined from Worcester in the summer, has become another powerful weapon offensively and he leads the Lions in rebounds, at 8.5 per game, and in assists, at 6.8 per game.
American point guard Isaiah Reece is a ball dominant player, and he is averaging 17.3 points per game, and makes a formidable backcourt with ex-MVP of the league, former GB guard Justin Robinson.
Robinson is a bit of an X factor for Lions in recent times, making a big difference when he is fit and firing on all cylinders.
Both teams will treat this first leg with care, not wanting to give too much away, with another 40 minutes of basketball to come in 20 days’ time in Leicester, but each team will also be looking for a decisive edge if they can get on top.
Riders head coach Rob Paternostro is expecting a very tight, physical game.
“It is exciting to be this close to a final, and you are going to see two good teams going at it,” he said.
“When you play these kinds of matches every minute is vital.”
“You have to play the full 40 minutes and it is going to be a battle, and you have two very talented teams.
“London have a lot of confidence from playing so well and getting results in Europe.
“They are talented, particularly in their guard play.
“With Dirk Williams, Isaiah Reece, and now Justin Robinson back, it is a group that is explosive and very difficult to guard, no matter the matchups.
“Williams’ numbers at the moment are ridiculous and what you have to do is try and make him uncomfortable.
“If he is free and getting good looks, he is going to make them. Our defence cannot allow that.
“We have been talking all week with the guys about the special aspects of these two-legged games, so hopefully we will execute on that.”
Leicester Riders: Geno Crandall, Zach Jackson, Marc Loving, Mo Walker, Patrick Whelan, Conner Washington, Victor Ndoukou, Justin Hedley, Kimbal Mackenzie, Jubril Adekoya, Louie Jordan, Darien Nelson-Henry.
London Lions: Justin Robinson, Will Neighbour, Jordan Williams, Isaiah Reece, Lorenzo Cugini, Julian Washburn, Kylor Kelley, Josh WardHibbert, Jordan Spencer, Dirk Williams, Chris Tawiah, Andre Lockhart.
PATERNOSTRO EXPECTS FIRST LEG TO BE TIGHT AND PHYSICAL