Frank Holmes only deals in facts when talking about the Heat and the play-offs

When it comes to the BBL play-offs there are several schools of thought on how to increase your chances of reaching the final:

• Claim the highest play-off seed heading into the competition so each round will, in theory, produce games against the lowest seeded teams
• Don’t worry about play-off positions because each round has one home and one road game, thus evening the playing field
• Play the team you best match up against

The Surrey Heat’s Frank Holmes has a different, somewhat simpler, outlook on the play-offs and the best way to enhance the Heat’s chances of progressing to the latter stages of the competition:

“It’s all about the Surrey Heat and what we do.”

Frank Holmes’ mindset for the post-season is inarguable – Why worry about what everyone else is doing when you are only reliant upon yourself? Competing in the BBL’s equivalent of musical chairs (on a weekly basis the Heat, Rocks, Raiders and Wolves are rotating positions three-through-six), it’s easy to get caught up in the statistics and probability behind finishing in particular positions, which is why 28-year-old Holmes’ outlook is refreshing.

“Right now, we’re just focusing on finishing strong. Finishing in a top four spot. We’re not worried about who we play… I know everybody’s mindset will be in the right place.

“I’m feeling great about the team and great about the play-offs and the rest of the games left,” said Holmes, “it’s more about momentum because the momentum will carry you through the play-offs, so we’re just trying to finish up strong so we can keep on winning throughout the play-offs.”

When asked about the Heat’s hopes for the remainder of the regular season, Holmes said with a laugh: “I want to go out and win all five games’, a feat that earlier on in the season wouldn’t have seemed so impossible after Surrey jumped out to a 13-4 start. But having compiled a 4-8 record in their last 12 games, it would appear that a season-ending undefeated streak is unlikely.

Just don’t tell Holmes that.

“We have beat every team in the league,” said an immodest Holmes.

“When our team is healthy, we are an amazing team. At this point in the season, we’re together, we’re clicking, we’re fine. We’re at that stage where we’re at that play-off type of play. I feel comfortable once the play-offs start, that we’ll be fine.”

• Surrey Heat face Cheshire Phoenix at the Surrey Sports Park on Friday 22nd March, tip-off is at 7:30pm – book here for tickets.