BBL Diaries

In a new series called ‘BBL Diaries’, UKamericansportsfans.com has given one BBL player an opportunity to keep a diary throughout the season. The 2012/13 BBL Diary will be kept up-to-date by Manchester Giant guard, Devan Bailey.

In Devan’s previous entries, he has spoken about the off-season and the cup game against the Glasgow Rocks.

In this month’s entry, Devan talks about the Manchester Giants season so far:

“Before the season started, the aim was to win as many games as we could and we definitely wanted to be one of the top teams. Since the beginning I don’t think the aim has changed, we all want to win and we won’t be satisfied until we do. Perhaps we thought things would be easier than they are and maybe we overestimated our own talent.

“Some teams, they click straight away and have the right system to fit the players. We are just struggling to put together a strong 40 minutes. We have good enough players to be competing and winning the closer games as we did at the beginning of the season. I do think we can play better and if everybody is on the same page then we should turn a lot of the losses into wins.

“Last year when I was with the Tigers, we were blown out and that was the worst feeling I’ve had as a basketball player. Being with the Giants, knowing you have a chance and knowing if only a few things were different then you’d be winning, isn’t disheartening, it makes you want to work harder on the little mistakes.

“I still believe we have a good enough team to challenge anyone and people know that when they play us its going to be a battle.

“Our home crowd is really intense, they are loyal and make a lot of noise which also makes it a tough place for opposing teams to come to, which is what we need especially in the first year. When we go away the atmosphere is nothing like it is at home, only a few teams have a good crowd and it helps you to be pumped up before the game.”