A Giant-sized task awaits in home fixture
IT is very rare a team playing at home goes in to a game against a visiting team with a better record than they do in their own arena, writes JEFF KING.
However, Esh Group Eagles Newcastle face that very conundrum tonight as they prepare to play the Manchester Giants in a BBL Championship clash.
The Eagles play their third game in the new Eagles’ Community Foundation looking to record their first victory in the building.
Their opponents know exactly what it feels like to triumph in the brand-new venue.
Three weeks ago, they left Newcastle as somewhat surprising 89-71 victors, knocking the Eagles out of the BBL Trophy.
Head Coach Fab Flournoy and his players will be looking to reverse that result tonight and keep their push towards the playoffs going.
Newcastle go in to the game with confidence after producing an excellent 103-92 road win at Worcester last time out.
For forward Jamal Williams, that was a team performance much more akin to what they want going forward and one which needs to be repeated.
Williams himself produced arguably his best game of the season with 19 points and five rebounds and that added to the pleasing effect of such a sound victory.
He said: “It was a good win and one of our better all-round performances.
“We had 31 assists and five players in double figures and we all contributed well.
“It was nice because this has been one of my tougher years and it was a more consistent full game from me, which I was happy with.
“It also helped having Vic (Moses) back as he is one of the key components of our team both offensively and defensively.
“Having another “big” in the rotation helps as until we had Vic back we only really had two in the rotation.”
Moses can make a big difference for Newcastle tonight as he was injured and missed out in the last clash against Manchester.
Williams added: “This is a much better Manchester team than we have played in the past.
“This team is very good. They have some tried and trusted BBL veterans and some solid new imports and players who compliment those veterans very nicely.”