Lions Coach Mike New ignores the growing pressure

“I don’t really feel under pressure..”

That’s the line Prestige Homes Milton Keynes Lions Head Coach, Mike New, is feeding the media following his teams ninth loss in ten games. The most recent defeat only added to the notion that the Lions recent form is cause for concern, as it came at the hands of long time rivals, the Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders, 88-71.

With a play-off position far from certain following the Lions incredible drop in form since early February, Coach New’s team put on an abject display for all to witness at the John Sandford Sports Centre on Saturday, scoring 15 points below their season average of 86.7ppg on shooting percentages of 44/33/53. New’s side struggled to make an impact in the game in the second half, despite trailing by only nine at the half:

“It’s hard to find any positives when we didn’t really execute any of our game plan,” a disgruntled New said. “We know Leicester is a really good team in transition and they proved that again tonight. We’ve just got to learn how to follow assignments.”

“Young guys got a chance to get some court time, my big guys played halfway decent but nobody played a game for me to have a conversation about.”

Credit Coach New for not throwing in the metaphorical towel (the physical one can be found firmly in his grip during games) and believing he is the right man for the job. If he can help his team rediscover their end of 2011/beginning of 2012 form when they won six of nine, he will have proved his critics wrong. But until that happens, the pressure will continue to build on New – whether he chooses to acknowledge it or not.

“We’ve just got to stay positive, don’t implode and keep our heads up and look forward to the next game. Obviously when you go onto a losing stretch, things are tough, it’s easy for critics to pop their heads up and say stuff but we just got to stay positive in our camp.”