BBL Trophy Final 2013 Preview

The eyes of the nation’s basketball fans will be firmly fixed on Glasgow’s Emirates Arena this weekend, with this year’s BBL Trophy Final providing perhaps one of the most intriguing matchups of the season.

In one corner, the dominant Leicester Riders are searching for their second piece of silverware this year, having overcome the odds and upset favourites Newcastle Eagles in January’s BBL Cup. Whilst they emerged winners against Worcester Wolves in the Trophy semi-finals, the Midlands outfit will be hurt by the fact that their impressive home record came to an end in last weekend’s second leg, and for every action, there is always a reaction.

However, in the other corner are what many will class as the underdogs; Sheffield Sharks. Enduring a tough start to the season, Atiba Lyons’ side are 9-14 in the BBL Championship, but a key signing and a Trophy run that has them riding on the crest of a wave, is set to ensure that Leicester will come up against a team very different to that which has suffered defeat to Riders on four occasions already this season.

The second BBL showpiece of the season promises much and Leicester Riders head coach Rob Paternostro is fully aware of the threat that the Sharks will pose to his team.

“I expect a team that’s confident,” said Riders’ Connecticut-born head coach.

“They’re playing well and they have a lot of veterans that have played in big games and their coach has coached the big games.

“They had a tough start to the season, so this is an opportunity for them to be involved in a big game and that has turned their season around.

“Atiba Lyons; you have to give him a lot of credit, because early on, things weren’t going well for him. He made the correct changes and they’re playing really well.”

One of the changes that Sheffield Sharks player/coach Lyons has made has been through the acquisition of guard BJ Holmes, who has averaged 14.5 points and 4.5 assists per-game since his arrival in South Yorkshire in November and whilst he won’t be drawn on an outcome of the game, is looking forward to playing on the big stage and what comes with it.

“I always look forward to playing any game,” the Texas native admitted prior to the final.

“For it to be against the best team in the league, you can’t ask for a better atmosphere than that!”

Fellow guard and team-mate Nick Lewis, however, admits that Riders are the favourites, but insists that it’s a factor that won’t faze Sheffield Sharks going into Saturday’s game.

“Everyone knows we’re the underdogs,” the 6’3” guard said.

“It’s not a problem for us at all; we know what we need to do to win the game.

“We don’t expect anything new from Leicester. They’re going to play the same way they’ve been playing against us before. I don’t expect them to throw anything new at us. We know what we have to do; it’s just a matter of execution and knocking down shots.”

Leicester Riders’ Zaire Taylor, influential during Riders’ physical two-leg semi-final against Worcester, is – like Holmes – looking forward to playing on the big stage once again. The guard from New York drained a combined 45 points as he led Leicester’s scoring in both games, but is ready for what he believes will be a ‘battle’.

“I said that the first game against Worcester was probably the toughest game that I’ve played this season, but I completely forgot about the BBL Cup Final. That was tough,” says Taylor.

“I’m expecting a battle. When there’s hardware on the line, people come to play. You’re going to get everybody’s best shot and we’re going to give them our best shot. When we say that, you can’t control if you make or miss every shot on any given night.

““I love playing in big games,” Taylor continues.

“That’s why I play and that’s what I live for. When I was growing up, and I’m 26-years-old, I grew up in the Jordan era. Some guys on the team might want to be Kobe or whatever, but I know that everybody has done the countdown to try and make some of the shots that Jordan did – that game winner. I’ve been fortunate enough to hit a couple in my life and I wouldn’t shy away from it if I get a chance at the weekend.”

Drama, excitement and unpredictability; this year’s BBL Trophy Final promises all of the above, but don’t expect it to be a clear cut as it may appear on paper.

One thing’s for sure, both sides will be just as hungry to avoid heartbreak and disappointment.