Allen returns for Riders on key weekend in battle for play-offs
LEICESTER Riders take on Sheffield Sharks tonight (7.45pm) in the first of two matches on a key weekend in the race to make the BBL Championship play-offs, writes Charlie Walker.
After missing last weekend’s fixtures through suspension, February’s BBL Player of the Month Teddy “Buckets” Allen makes his return against the Sharks at the Park Community Arena.
The American guard’s last appearance saw him named All-Star MVP at the Copper Box Arena in London, and now Allen is back to face the side he dropped 35 points on last time out.
This summer’s Canadian Elite Basketball League MVP has shown British basketball how he got his nickname after arriving in the league in December.
He scored 32 points on his Riders debut, and has averaged 23.6 points per game off 47/42/86 shooting splits.
Allen’s outings this season has seen him put up four 30-point performances and a further nine 20point showings, failing to score at least 20 points just four times in his 17 games.
All eyes will be on Allen to see what he can do when he steps back out on court.
The Sharks are building their endof-season form, hitting their highs as they fast approach the post-season.
After their loss to Leicester six games ago, the Sharks have won four of their last five matches, and come into tonight’s clash on a three-game winning streak.
The addition of high-scoring forward Malek Green in late January has provided the Sharks with a consistent scoring and rebounding threat on the offensive end.
Ohio-born Green is averaging 18.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in his last six outings, and is coming off the back of an 18/11 double double.
Back-to-back wins against the Newcastle Eagles has given Sheffield a 15-15 record, setting up a battle for home court advantage in the final games of the year.
The new BBL Play-off format this post-season will see the first two rounds take place over a best-ofthree series.
The highest seeded teams will have the advantage of playing two of the three potential games at home.
With only five games remaining in Riders’ season, the battle for a top four seeding, and home court advantage in the first round, is heating up.
Two points separate the Newcastle Eagles in fourth and the Sheffield Sharks in sixth, with the Riders sitting between them.
Leicester take on the Sharks tonight and the Eagles at home on Sunday (3pm), setting up a pivotal weekend in the Riders’ play-off chances.
A winning weekend would see the Riders move up to fourth, putting them in pole position to take home court advantage in the first round of the play-offs with three games to go.