Cloudy with no chance of BBL Playoffs in the North West

The 2012/13 BBL campaign for the North West teams has been one hell of a ride to say the very least.

We saw the return of the Giants, the uncertain and unsettling start to the season for the Cheshire franchise who rose all but from the ashes, and finally the ever-lingering cloud of defeat that hung over the Mersey Tigers.

For all three of them now, together with Durham Wildcats, their BBL season is over.

Looking at Manchester Giants to begin with, in games decided by 5 points or fewer the Giants had a 3-5 record they also lost all three games that went into overtime.

One of the problems with having a team without a go-to player (Couisnard at Leicester or the Smith-Chapman combo at Eagles) is that the team appeared unsure at times who to look for to get them a clutch bucket when they needed it.

Nathan Schall and Stuart Thompson both left throughout the season and found an increase in playing time at their new teams. Both players could’ve played an important role in the Playoff push if given the opportunity to do so, however, we will never know.

BBL veteran Mike Bernard averaged just 14 minutes a game (20 plus minutes just six times all season). Strange in how he provided a solid low post scoring threat as well as a defensive anchor who forced opposing players to second guess themselves before attacking the paint.

The final issue was their record away from home, as before winning their final three road games, the Giants had won one of their 15 games away from home and that came against the Mersey Tigers in December.

Neal Hopkins, assistant coach at Giants felt their biggest positive was getting the chance for a Manchester side to be on court at the highest level again: “I think firstly the fact that the Manchester Giants are back on the floor representing Manchester in the BBL has got to be the biggest high point, it’s been long overdue, I’ve got to thank Jeff for giving me the opportunity to be a part of it.

“Credit has to lie with the people that made that happen; the work off the court has been remarkable to get us to the point we are at, we are only one season old!”

However, Stefan Gill felt there were two sides to how the comeback in to the BBL played out: “This season was bitter-sweet for me with the inception of the Giants, playing at home in front of friends and family and with team-mates I consider friends has been fantastic but on the court it has been very unsettled.

“On the court,” Gill turning his attentions to another angle, “the win away at Worcester is a stand out moment, this season has been about trying to establish a playing brand and I think our performance down there was something that we had worked hard towards. A playing philosophy is something that needs time to achieve, of course I think we should have been 5 or 6 wins better off, but this season was about learning; we now know where we need to be and also how to get there.”

There is a lot to build on according to Hopkins though and with having made the decision to stick British, the hope is to do so again, despite reports of Jeff Jones looking further afield to strength where required: “The vision is to stay British (if the right guys are available) so getting the players in early and working individually over the summer is important – we will be stripping back during the off-season and a large emphasis will be the development of our guys fundamentally. But it’s safe to say we are eagerly counting down the days to the start of the new campaign.”

Gill is staying at arm’s length on those matters, leaving the back office work to those in the know: “I’m not sure what the powers that be plan to do on the court to ensure we have the best opportunity to be successful next season. This season was about finding our feet. We have done a lot on and off the court this year and so have learned a lot about how to do things better.”

Where Cheshire Phoenix are concerned, the road has certainly been a long and winding one.

Doubts arose at the start of the season when Cheshire Jets, as they eventually began the campaign as, were put up for sale by former owner Pete Hawkins. Businessman Haydn Cook stepped in at the eleventh hour and with time not on their side, a side was quickly assembled by former team captain James Hamilton. Hamilton was soon after disciplined for an incident at a juniors game, before resigning a number of days later.

The team was plunged back into turmoil, as Cook made clear he could not support financially running the team, and subsequently the BBL moved to strip Cook of the franchise.

November saw the club ran under the control of the league to give enough time, if possible, to find another new owner. However, a movement from supporters led to funds being raised so the team could run as a Community Interest Club – by supporters, for supporters, akin to the city’s football club, Chester FC.

Ultimately, injuries and a shortened roster hindered the rechristened Phoenix (the Jets name having been retained by Cook), and 2013 saw only three wins in the Championship, although one came as a huge shock at the time and signalled the beginning of the end of Newcastle Eagles’ Championship hopes.

Head coach, established once all issues were somewhat settled and who did a terrific effort considering what was thrown his way, Matt Lloyd, was disappointed with how his team fared despite the off-court problems: “I see the season as a satisfactory to below satisfactory season, only managing to finish in 11th place is poor when we had the calibre of players to be in the play-offs.

“Considering what we have gone through this season, in terms of financial troubles and change of ownership, some would say we have done well. However, things were put in place that stopped us getting a better position in the league, some things out of control of the team such as illness others put in place by more senior people which hurt at a crucial point in the season.”

Lloyd’s mindset clearly was a drive to win, and to focus on that, however it seems for others there may have been another goal for the end of  the season: “Everyone says about how we have done so well this year to get through the season some would be happy with that however I am a little disappointed that the main focus was just to survive and get through the season and then look at next season.

For a player such as Chris Pearce, who came in under the Jets banner to bolster the side, he drew from what he endured something entirely different: “The 2012/13 season was a huge learning experience for me, and I have really enjoyed it despite the rollercoaster journey from Dortmund to Jets, to Cheshire, to Phoenix! I have enjoyed the 6th/7th man role, and I will be working hard this summer to make sure I can contribute more and more each year.”

With that said, could he be on his way back if the call came?

“I have really enjoyed this season with Cheshire,” said Pearce, “and I firmly believe it is the start of a great franchise which I would love the opportunity to be part of for next season. I think it will be an exciting summer for Phoenix fans!”

Some point to past reputation of the Tigers brand, some point to the players, some to the coaching staff, some point to the BBL; but the jury has not reached a unanimous verdict, nor may it ever as to why Mersey Tigers went 0-35.

Rotation at the wrong time, when players hot on court were taken out, and then put to the sword as a lead built up, frustrations with calls (perhaps Mersey did suffer more often, but there had been times games stuttered at debatable decisions against either bench) leading to flared tempers and loss of focus.

Opportunities given to those with little or no previous BBL playing experience, but deserved or to make up numbers? Or was it really a survival test? The summer development is sure to answer more questions then than now.

Chris Bigley was widely outspoken (and one would think he would not lost that attribute for a very long time to come) throughout the campaign, but nipped in the bud the issues of the season gone, and is now looking forward to the season to come: “It was a tough season, let’s get that straight!

“I hate losing, end of matter. I don’t even like to look at it philosophically, we lost, I’m not happy. But there’s nothing I can do about that now except make sure it never happens again. So I started pre-season a little earlier this year! Off the court, I met a lot of new people and made a lot of friends, that goes for team mates and others, so that was a positive.”

Although he did not come out on top for Mersey’s player of the year, which instead went to Gael Hulsen, he has attracted many an eye, but will his game stay in Merseyside or could he be venturing beyond Tiger stripes?

“I hope I’ll be back. I need to expel some demons from this season. I’ll do what I can to whoever may need me…”

One over-riding fact of all this, is that the North West will not be wanting this scenario to play out again next year, however the seeds have been sown, so patience is needed for it may take time for them to grow to reach the dizzy heights of silverware on mantles once more.