Motivation is the key as the Eagles juggernaut rolls on!
BBL Playoffs Quarter Final 1st Leg Friday 27th April 2012
Newcastle Eagles 93 Guildford Heat 56
The word around the BBL was that Fab Flournoy may have made a mistake in resting several of his star men. That after allowing his team to end the regular season on a four game losing slump it might be tough to come back with playoff level intensity. Hmmm. Those are the sort of words that make winners mad. Just ask Joe Chapman.
Joe had plenty of motivation behind his 33 points and 6 dimes, “I’m real happy with the performance tonight. After our days off we’ve been hearing what people have been saying about us, that the guys won’t be able to come back with the same focus. We’re a veteran team and we’re going to play as hard as we can and we listen to those comments and use them as motivation.”
Despite a stellar year on both personal and team levels, Joe has been snubbed for the guard positions in the BBL Fans team of the year and frequently omitted from MVP talk. Joe is bullish and ready for the playoff battles ahead, “On an individual basis I hear everything being said about MVPs and I have my own personal as well as team goals. I’ve got dual motivation for myself and my team. I’m ready.”
The Eagles’ dominance at both ends of the court at Sport Central, has left Sunday’s game in Guildford as a mere formality raising further questions about the validity of two-legged basketball games but the teams will compete at Surrey Sports Park nevertheless. Flournoy’s men will be forgiven for having one eye on the semi-finals and another two-legged encounter with either Plymouth Raiders or Glasgow Rocks.
Paul Gause turned in a typically electric performance and had clearly benefitted from his leadership role in the absence of Smith, Chapman and Thomson in recent games. His defense and perimeter offense were particularly impressive as he racked up a double double of 10 rebounds and 25 points, 18 of which came from beyond the arc.
Paul was quick to advocate his coach’s end of season strategy too, “Fab did the right the right thing. He rested the guys for the right amount of time. We came out fresh, energised and a result we played well on the defensive end. Our defense feeds our offense. It was a good all round team performance.”
“The few games that the other guys sat out allowed me to play more aggressively on offense and get my rhythm. I felt really comfortable shooting the ball when I was open and I was pleased to contribute tonight.”
Paul had some further good news for Eagles fans, “I was banged up and suffering from tight hamstrings which I why I sat out last week’s game but I’m 100% fit now and ready for the next game!”
This performance takes Newcastle Eaagles one step further along their trail for a second BBL clean sweep. The memories of last year’s trophy drought are fading fast but there will be no rest for Flournoy’s men until that fourth piece of silverware is safely tucked away in the Sport Central trophy cabinet.
