BBL 2013/14 Preview: London Lions

As London Lions prepare for life in their new home, they welcome some familiar faces in terms of the BBL, London and the Lions brand.

Five of the new faces at the Copper Box are familiar to BBL fans including Albert Margai, Julius Joseph and Mike Martin who have all previously dressed for Surrey, Joe Ikhinmwin brought in from Newcastle and Australian centre Adrien Sturt who is a former MK Lion.

Joining them on the roster is point-guard Rod Brown who has a wealth of experience of playing for several BBL past and present franchises in and around the capital and elsewhere. Laurent Irish (centre) and Perry Lawson (guard) have also been around the British basketball scene for several seasons and both return to London for this campaign.

The Lions took the final playoff spot last season but didn’t make it past their first playoff matchup, and failed to make much progress in the BBL Cup and Trophy competitions.

Hoping to see the progression in year two of the new incarnation, Vince Macaulay has also utilised his import options this off season bringing three Americans in to the London ranks. Nick Freer, Kramer Knutson and Ben Smith are the new kids on the block hoping to impress in their first year in the UK. Swingman Freer and power forward Knutson bring European experience to the table while Smith has signed his first professional contract in London.

With the instability of the British basketball summer and the numerous roster changes it’s hard to predict how the Lions will gel and perform in 2013/14. However, Margai, Brown, Joseph, Martin and Sturt have all impressed in the past and if those new to the BBL are the right players to complement their games then they would expect to finish higher up the table at the end of this term. Macaulay’s new roster is certainly not going to fall short when it comes to the physical side of the game.

Most franchises will feel they are capable of a good knockout run with the right draw and getting their game plan right on the night. The Lions’ BBL Cup draw does suggest that they can make the last four with a couple of good wins. That said, I think that there are too many other rosters shaping up to look like they have a better claim to a top four finish and some silverware, and while London should improve, some good nights at the Copper Box Arena are probably all the homers can hope for right now.

London Lions Roster:

Guards: Rod Brown, Perry Lawson, Albert Margai, Ben Smith

Centres: Adrien Sturt, Laurent Irish

Forwards: Julius Joseph, Joe Ikhinmwin, Mike Martin, Nick Freer, Kramer Knutson (PF/Centre)

Predictions for London Lions:

BBL Championship: Seventh
BBL Play-offs: Quarter-Finals
BBL Trophy: First Round
BBL Cup: Semi-Finals