EUROPE has been a hot potato at the Pavilions this week. Raiders have been granted the green light by FIBA commissioner Will Jones to enter the third-tier EuroChallenge in 2009/10 – IF (and it is a big if) they finish in the top two in the league this season and qualify.
Fans have been torn between applauding Raiders’ ambition or mocking their folly. It is a tough one, but The Raider believes it is grossly unfair to scoff at the club’s dream.
Put yourself in the shoes of fans of other BBL clubs, like Worcester or Leicester, who struggle to make real progress from one year to the next, appoint coaches who lack discipline and the inevitable conclusion is a ragged team to support.
The Raider knows who he would rather follow. Whether you love or hate Raiders coach Gary Stronach, you can never question his desire, work-ethic, professionalism and sheer will to win and realise his and the club’s goals.
The progress Raiders have made in four and a bit years in the BBL is startling, and now Europe is looming larger than ever before on the horizon.
Will it happen in 2009/10? Clinically, the odds are against it, but where there is a will there is a way and there is clear will at Raiders to make it happen, so anything is possible. In the cold light of day, Raiders need to find the money to fund the extra travelling, to cover court improvements at the Pavilions – and finish first or second in the BBL Championship this season.
At present a two-horse title race involving Newcastle and Everton appears most likely, but In the Year of Living Dangerously (aka 2008/09) that can all change very quickly. Cue said contenders both getting turned over, AT HOME last Friday night. Who’d have thought that? Very few.
Okay, Raiders could finish third or even fourth again and still be invited in by FIBA, but personally, The Raider would like to see Raiders EARN the right to represent the BBL and compete in Europe. Raiders also talked of increasing their wage budget to recruit a bigger squad to compete on two fronts (never fight on two fronts – ask Hitler!).
Okay, Raiders would need at least 12 solid players – they have 10 this year – to make a decent fist of it. But The Raider would feel uncomfortable if players who had worked hard to get the club there in the first place to then be discarded for bigger names on bigger wages.
Guildford coach Paul James went down that route last summer and recruited a Dream BBL Team of sorts to conquer Europe. It didn’t work; players were rumoured to be unhappy; and the club badly overstretched themselves and are this season paying a high price – and will probably continue to pay the price for several years to come, as they bid to reestablish themselves as a powerhouse in the BBL.
The Raider doesn’t think Stronach would choose that path. He didn’t when he took the club up from the EBL to the BBL in 2004, and retained players like DeAntoine Beasley, Terrence Durham and Gavin Love, who had helped get them there. He sensibly strengthened where he saw fit, in particular by adding starting centre Gerrick Morris and reserve forward Ryan French, and the club retained a happy dressing room, despite finishing ninth and 12-28 that season.
The same would be true in Europe. There would be some heavy lessons, particularly on the road, but promises to be famous nights at the Pavilions that will live long in the memory.
That 2004/05 season almost has cult status among fans and players alike, and early trips into Europe would arguably only be more memorable.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: How good was Anthony Martin in Raiders’ three recent wins? Very.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK 2: What got Leicester coach Rob Paternostro's goat at the Pavilions last Sunday? Raiders director Ian Buse clearly, because Paternostro did not let up giving Buse, also game announcer for the day, earache all game! Perhaps Paternostro could have concentrated on coaching his team, or would that have been too much for ask? Clearly. The Raider expected a lot from Leicester in light of their encouraging early season results, but bar a lively point-guard, Matt Martin and decent big-man Phil Missere, Leicester were much like they have been for the duration of Raiders' time in the BBL - messy, and certainly lacking the threat big-men Terrence Woodyard and Carlo White gave them last season.
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
What went wrong against Rocks? What went right, more like
WHAT went wrong against Scottish Rocks on Sunday?
It’s easier to start by asking, ‘What went right?’ Nothing.
Kwbana Beckles’ three-pointer gave Raiders their only lead of the game, 3-0 at the beginning of the first quarter.
After that it was one-way Rocks traffic.
For the record, it was Raiders’ heaviest home defeat since their record BBL loss – 114-66 against Rocks on October 23 2005 – and snapped a 14 game home streak in all competitions overhanging from last season.
Raiders were lax on defence and lost Rocks’ shooters, who finished 44 per cent (15/34 attempts) from the perimeter, fatally outgunning coach Gary Stronach’s squad 45-9 in three-pointers.
It was a blueprint almost of ‘How to win in Plymouth’.
Rocks’ transition defence effectively negated Raiders’ fast-break – and in the half-court Raiders’ offence looked clumsy.
Individuals went away from moving the ball and tried to force the issue, making something happen alone. It didn’t work.
If it had been a boxing fight, the referee would have stepped in, because Raiders were failing to defend themselves and had stopped throwing punches going forward.
Solutions? The Raider isn’t a tactical expert, but Raiders simply need to be better across the board.
They visibly gave Rocks less room after half-time, but the game was gone.
And is Kwbana Beckles too slow to play small-forward? On the evidence at the Pavilions so far, yes.
In pre-season at the Pavilions against Reading, David Watts had 18 points against him, and on Sunday Rocks small-forward Gareth Murray scored 20, including 4/7 three-pointers.
Going forward, if Beckles tried to beat his man off the dribble he simply ran into a wall of Rocks.
Team-mate Terrence Durham said we could expect something special from Beckles this season. If we can, we’re still waiting.
Raiders returned from the summer in better condition than ever, so they cannot blame a lack of fitness – but match-sharpness is sadly lacking.
Raiders, by all accounts, were poor in London last Saturday night, despite a narrow 86-82 victory.
Rocks were on top of their game last weekend – and it showed. It wasn’t a contest.
It doesn’t get any easier. Raiders visit Worcester this Saturday before – intake of breathe – a run of league games against Newcastle, Guildford, Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Guildford and Cheshire.
The BBL is deeper than ever this season and Raiders need to find some form in Worcester this weekend, or face falling out of title contention before they ever get in it.
Alarmist? Perhaps. But if there isn’t an edge at Raiders in training this week, I really will be.
It’s easier to start by asking, ‘What went right?’ Nothing.
Kwbana Beckles’ three-pointer gave Raiders their only lead of the game, 3-0 at the beginning of the first quarter.
After that it was one-way Rocks traffic.
For the record, it was Raiders’ heaviest home defeat since their record BBL loss – 114-66 against Rocks on October 23 2005 – and snapped a 14 game home streak in all competitions overhanging from last season.
Raiders were lax on defence and lost Rocks’ shooters, who finished 44 per cent (15/34 attempts) from the perimeter, fatally outgunning coach Gary Stronach’s squad 45-9 in three-pointers.
It was a blueprint almost of ‘How to win in Plymouth’.
Rocks’ transition defence effectively negated Raiders’ fast-break – and in the half-court Raiders’ offence looked clumsy.
Individuals went away from moving the ball and tried to force the issue, making something happen alone. It didn’t work.
If it had been a boxing fight, the referee would have stepped in, because Raiders were failing to defend themselves and had stopped throwing punches going forward.
Solutions? The Raider isn’t a tactical expert, but Raiders simply need to be better across the board.
They visibly gave Rocks less room after half-time, but the game was gone.
And is Kwbana Beckles too slow to play small-forward? On the evidence at the Pavilions so far, yes.
In pre-season at the Pavilions against Reading, David Watts had 18 points against him, and on Sunday Rocks small-forward Gareth Murray scored 20, including 4/7 three-pointers.
Going forward, if Beckles tried to beat his man off the dribble he simply ran into a wall of Rocks.
Team-mate Terrence Durham said we could expect something special from Beckles this season. If we can, we’re still waiting.
Raiders returned from the summer in better condition than ever, so they cannot blame a lack of fitness – but match-sharpness is sadly lacking.
Raiders, by all accounts, were poor in London last Saturday night, despite a narrow 86-82 victory.
Rocks were on top of their game last weekend – and it showed. It wasn’t a contest.
It doesn’t get any easier. Raiders visit Worcester this Saturday before – intake of breathe – a run of league games against Newcastle, Guildford, Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Guildford and Cheshire.
The BBL is deeper than ever this season and Raiders need to find some form in Worcester this weekend, or face falling out of title contention before they ever get in it.
Alarmist? Perhaps. But if there isn’t an edge at Raiders in training this week, I really will be.
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