Where:
Braunstone Leisure Centre, 2 Hamelin Road, Leicester
LE3 1JN
When: Saturday 27th
March 2010
Tip Off: 3:30pm
Competition: EBL Division One
By Adam Manning
COVENTRY Crusaders head coach Scott Neely is determined not to see the
season out with a whimper as they travel down the M69 on Saturday
looking to grab some consolation from missing out on this year’s
play-offs by doing the double over Leicester Warriors.
Last Sunday’s 64-96 home defeat to Leeds now means Coventry can only
finish as high as ninth place, one short of the final play-off spot, and
Neely said that must now be the aim as he tries to motivate his squad
for the three remaining away games against Warriors, Bristol and fellow
strugglers Tees Valley.
“We want to be playing the best basketball of the season at this time of
the year” Neely enthused. “That is what I try to get the team to focus
on. We still have an opportunity to move up one spot and that is what
we'll aim for now.”
And the head coach believes the approach to beating the next two
opponents Leicester and Bristol will be very alike despite both sides
consolidating their play-off status with two games to spare. Leciester
are currently fifth from a 12-8 win-loss record, while Bristol are just
two points adrift of top spot in third place.
“I think both matches [Leicester and Bristol] will be hard fought
battles and we need to approach it that way. Both opponents will not
relax due to already making the play-offs but will want to finish strong
as they go into the play-offs. Bristol have really been rolling in the
2nd half of the season and still have a small chance of finishing top of
the league so they will be focused on those goals”.
Neely was particularly pleased with the defensive commitment of power
forward Matt Smith against Leeds, and is looking for a repeat
performance from the 6’9” American who grabbed
a top scoring debutant tally of 25 the last time these two sides met in
a 86-70 Crusaders victory last January.
Despite Smith holding a clinical record close to the opposition’s
basket, executing 60% of his two point attempts, coach Neely is
beginning to recognise the January signing’s presence at the other end
of the court. Smith
“We must limit Leicester's offensive rebound opportunities which hurt us
versus Leeds” Neely stressed. “Matt Smith did some great work for us on
the inside versus Leicester last time and hopefully he’ll bring that in
this one. He was playing well against Leeds but got into foul trouble
and had to come out of the match which really hurt us.”
In terms of player selection, Crusaders are boosted by the return of
influential captain and the league’s leading free thrower John Olinger
following his return form the US. Kane Hudson fully trained with the
squad this week and is available to play from the start for the first
time since he picked up a persisting ankle injury back in January. While
Crusaders guard Dan Taylor is still unavailable after missing the last
three games due to a shoulder injury.
Speaking on the injuries, Neely said: “Dan Taylor still out due to
injury unfortunately. He always provided consistent intensity
defensively and rebounding the ball. Kane Hudson trained with us this
week and will be available though, so that will be a boost for the
team.”
Crusaders team expected to face Leicester: 4 Joe
Francombe (guard); 5 John Olinger (c) (guard);
7 Matt Smith (power forward), 10 Simon Payne
(guard/forward); 11 Stephen Danso (guard);
12 Dave Edden (forward); 13 Ryann Samuel (forward);
14 Kane Hudson (guard/forward);
15 Ben Timms (centre/forward).
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