Leicester Riders look to pin a loss on Plymouth Raiders
Under Coach Gavin Love, the UCP Marjon Plymouth Raiders have amassed the third best record in the league and are on track to finish the season in a higher position than ever before in their history (previous best was 3rd in ’07/08).
Cameron Rundles has scored 27 points in each of his last three contests.
Paul Williams of the Raiders is in the MVP conversation having averaged a double-double of 15.5ppg and 11.6rpg as well as recording a block a game so far this season.
Miles taken to travel from the Plymouth Pavilions to the John Sandford Sports Centre: 242.
Andrew Sullivan has recorded 20/10 and 20/9 in the two games in April which also saw him included in the BBL Team of the Week.
Rob Paternostro is still eyeing up second spot in the league but has said a maths degree from a prestigious university is needed to work out positions in the league!
John Sandford Sports Centre, home of the Riders, has seen the home side win 8 of 11 contests. They will be aiming to make Plymouth scalp number nine.
Over the last six games, both the Riders and Raiders have a record of 5-1.
Ninety-one points per game is the highest offensive output in the league this season (Newcastle). Plymouth score 89ppg and the Riders 87ppg for second and third respectively.
Previous season meetings between the two sides have seen the Raiders win both games, 93-81 and 84-62. The Riders will be looking to reverse fortunes at the JSSC.
Lehmon Colbert has been solid for the Raiders, posting averages of 15.4ppg, 7.5rpg and 3apg.
Yorick Williams of the Riders has been described by team-mate Cameron Rundles as someone who is always able to help ‘whether it’s hitting threes, drawing fouls or diving on the ground’.
MVP Ayron Hardy was included in the BBL Bench of the week. He has twelve BBL Team of the Week inclusions to date (the highest in the league)
Ojo (Michael) for Plymouth, did not play in their last game (an 86-81 loss to the Heat) and could be sidelined again for the Riders fixture.
Up until the defeat to the Heat last Sunday, the Raiders had only lost once in their last 11 games.
Total number of league defeats for the Raiders and Riders combined: 13 – the same number as fifth placed Glasgow.
Home sweet home – The Leicester Riders have four games remaining in the season, three of which are to be hosted at the JSSC where they have won games by an average of 19 points and lost only three times, by an average of 5.6 ppg.
Rebounds per game for the Plymouth Raiders: 42.36 – Highest in the league.
A win for the Leicester Riders and more importantly, a loss for the Plymouth Raiders, will tie the Worcester Wolves, Plymouth Raiders and Leicester Riders on seven losses. Wolves are in the driving seat having played and won two more games than their rivals this season.
In the league, the Raiders have only lost to one side outside the current top four: The Guildford Heat.
Defeats are where the interest lies at the moment, with teams more focused on how many games the opposition has lost. As above, Worcester are in control having won the two extra games they have played.
Essex Pirates very own Jamell Anderson, now playing for the Riders, has been a revelation for Paternostro’s team, growing into his game to the point where he grabbed 10 rebounds and played 23 minutes, including big minutes in the final quarter, against the Mersey Tigers.
Royster played a total of 3:09 in his first game back for the Riders since mid-March.
Shooting guard, Jeremy Bell – last seasons MVP, is averaging 20.67ppg so far this season for the Raiders.