EXPRESS COACH BUILDING DEPTH FOR THE LONG RUN
It takes more than just a strong starting five to make a championship team.
A year ago, the Windsor Express extended the NBL of Canada final to the limit, but simply ran out of gas in the deciding game because its starting unit had played so many minutes.
“Last year, I want to say I was the bench,” said Express guard Ja'myrin Jackson, who won the league's sixth man of the year last season. “Now, we basically have a four-man rotation coming off the bench and it gives the starters more breathing room.”
Express head coach Bill Jones is reaping the benefits of a deeper bench. His team improved to 5-3 on the season with a 109-100 win over the Newfoundland Rogues on Wednesday at the WFCU Centre, where they're 3-0.
“I like the group,” Jones said. “I like the way they're ascending and I look for good things from this group.”
When Tyler Groce ran into early foul trouble on Wednesday, Jones was able to tap veteran Sam Muldrow off his bench to fill the void. The 35-year-old Muldrow, who played for the team in 2019, responded with 10 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes.
“I think we have all the pieces we need,” the six-foot-nine, 230-pound Muldrow said. “We just need to put the pieces together.
“It's a good mix of veteran guys and younger guys. Younger guys have to bring us a lot of energy and veteran guys are just trying to lead the way.”
Guard Chris Jones, who joined Muldrow in returning to the team this season, has also provided veteran leadership and a boost off the bench. The 32-year-old Jones had 21 points in Wednesday's win. Meanwhile, 34-yearold Paul Harrison led the offence with 23 points and 10 rebounds against the Rogues and Latin Davis finished with 22 points.
“We're really clicking together,” the 26-year-old Jackson said. “Over the last couple games, we've kind of jelled together. Everyone's figured out their role.”
And Jackson said the role of the veterans coming off of the bench cannot be overlooked.
“I think the majority of the team is pretty much young guys,” Jackson said. “Chris Jones and Sam Muldrow take the load. I think we only have four veterans. Chris is the most vocal guy there is. Sam is pretty much laid back. If we need that help, he's there.”
That's not to say the Express won't continue to look to strengthen its roster.
“I think we're still a player away,” Jones said. “Another interior player to defend and rebound.”
That will help keep Muldrow, Harrison and Groce fresh and allow for a deeper rotation, but Windsor's depth is already making it tough for the opposition early in the season.
Guard Trendon Hankerson had 10 points off the bench for the Express on Wednesday as Windsor's reserves outscored the Newfoundland bench 41-17.
“It was a very good game,” Muldrow said of the win over the Rogues that saw the Express regroup after letting a 10-point lead disappear in 84 seconds in the second quarter. “We stuck together as a team, we played hard, stayed together and came out with a win.
“We're still trying to figure each other out, we're still trying to learn each other and we go from there.”
The Express are back in action on Friday against the Kitchener-waterloo Titans. Game time at the WFCU Centre is 7 p.m.