The Basketball Diaries – 4 January 2012

We see in the New Year with another BBL edition of The Basketball Diaries.

Euro bashed

Fab Flournoy’s men have returned from European competition a little the worse for wear with Joe Chapman, Flournoy and Paul Gause all sustaining injuries. The Eagle’s tied for third in the tournament and the value for them of taking part can only be judged over time. But Gause has been a big miss when he has had to sit out already this season through injury and Chapman is also obviously key, and the trip overseas could prove to be a bad move for Newcastle at least in the short term and in the context of this season’s title hopes.

In the ascendancy

It might not be their title hopes that are the immediate concern though as the Eagles need to get their players off the treatment table in time for the BBL Cup Final in 11 days time. Plymouth play caller Gavin Love was named December’s coach of the month for leading his side to the Cup final and three wins out of three in the Championship. The Raiders have the opportunity to move within one win of Newcastle in the Championship if they win all their games in hand. With their involvement in other competitions however, we aren’t going to see the true Championship picture shake down for a while yet.

Gordon getting it done

As Gavin Love picked up December’s coach award, the player of the month was awarded to Worcester Wolves’ center Richie Gordon. Gordon has been consistentently filling up the stat columns all season. His averages have him currently ninth in the scoring charts and fifth for both rebounds and blocks. In December he helped his side to five Championship wins out of six.

Who’s next?

There are three games this Friday night in the BBL with the ususal week night tip-off time of 7:30pm. The games are MK Lions @ Mersey Tigers, Glasgow Rocks @ Newcastle Eagles and Cheshire Jets @ Sheffield Sharks.

On Saturday night there is just the one Championship game as the Wildcats host the Riders (7pm tip-off).

Sunday sees several of Friday’s sides back in action with the Guildford Heat @ Cheshire Jets (5:30pm), Newcastle Eagles @ MK Lions (5pm) and Mersey Tigers @ Plymouth Raiders (4pm).

Happy New Year – the BBL Championship race is just getting started!