Rocks & Lions @ Raiders: BBL Championship previews
The UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders play their third set of back-to-backs in as many weeks as they host the Glasgow Rocks on Saturday before welcoming the London Lions to the Plymouth Pavilions on Sunday.
It’s been an emotional week for the Plymouth Raiders with home-town favourite, Anthony Rowe, departing and Jamal Williams returning. Two wins out of two this weekend will end the week on a high and could see them move to joint third if all results go their way.
The Raiders showed their desire to compete at the top last weekend; taking the Leicester Riders to the closing seconds of an enthralling contest, before suffering a tough 83-80 loss and on Sunday, travelling to Durham where Coach Love’s small squad beat the Wildcats 113-68.
Over the two games, guard Jeremy Bell scored a combined 52 points, whilst another former Jet, Matt Schneck, held down the paint admirably.
The visiting Glasgow Rocks enter the Plymouth Pavilions having won their last two games (against the Worcester Wolves and London Lions) and will feel confident heading down to the South Coast.
Coach Davis has got his side well drilled at the early stage of this season, although the offensive production from his bench unit (Wedemire, Fantazia and McNally) is only at 19 ppg.
The Rocks will have added pressure on them to get the win against the Raiders on Saturday with a second road game taking place the following day against the 7-1 Heat.
The London Lions are slowly coming into form this season as they adapt to a new roster as well as new surroundings following their move to Crystal Palace in the summer.
The Lions are 3-1 in their last four league games having registered wins against the Sharks, Wildcats and Jets while losing only to the Rocks. During those wins, BBL rookie sensation Orlan Jackson, averaged 20.6 points with 7.6ft attempts per game. In Jackman, Ogedengbe and James, the Lions have three of the top four leaders in free throw attempts this season – a combined 171.
Saturday’s tip-off between the Raiders and the Rocks is at 7:30pm. Sundays start time between the Raiders and Lions is at 4:00pm.
