One focus, one aim, and one team this week for Riders

Speaking to Leicester Riders head coach Rob Paternostro ahead of this weekend’s BBL Trophy semi-final against Worcester Wolves, the key word is ‘focus’.

In what has already been a successful season for the Riders, the Connecticut-born coach admits that his players are fully aware of what’s in store for the successful team, following the next two games, but that the focus is on each game, their opponents and making successful plays – rather than contemplating a place in the final in Glasgow next weekend.

“Obviously, we know that the aim out of these two games is to get to another final,” he confessed.

“Everybody knows that; but that doesn’t change the way that we’ve approached any game. This week, it’s been nice to just focus on playing one team and we understand that we’re going to have to give a great effort, because Worcester is a good team.”

“I think that Worcester are a well-balanced team,” Paternostro continued.

“I think that they have size and they also have guys that can score outside. I think that the three-point shots are important to them and if you look back at some of their games, they’ve shot the ball well from beyond the arc. They’re a good team; you don’t go up to Newcastle and win in such an important game, if you’re not a good team, but also a team that’s confident and they’re playing with that right now.”

Already lifting the BBL Cup this season, following a 85-80 win over Newcastle Eagles in January, Rob revealed ahead of Friday’s first leg against Paul James’ side that preparation for the game has been good, praising – you guessed it – his players’ focus on the job in hand this weekend.

Riders head into the Trophy semi-final off the back of another impressive win, ironically in the same city that they could be travelling to again next weekend, Glasgow.

“It was a pleasing win,” said Rob, reflecting on last weekend’s win against the Rocks.

“I thought they (Glasgow) came out and played really well to start the game, but we expected that and I believe that they are a talented team, one of the better teams in the league.

“But as the game went on, we kept it close. I thought it was important at the end of the second quarter that we kept it within five and going in at half-time, we felt pretty good. We’ve won a lot of games this year and we have a team that feels confident in a lot of situations.

“It was nice to see how we executed so well in the final stretch of the game. I thought we controlled the game in the second half and we were able to make the right plays at the right time.”

“Practice this week has focused on a lot of preparation for Worcester. We’re able to focus on the Trophy competition, step away from the league for a bit and mentally, it was a good week of practice. We’ve been preparing for a team that we’ve seen a couple of times, but a team that is playing very well at the moment. I like the ways our guys are locked in and we’re looking forward to another two big games.”

Leicester Riders journey to the University of Worcester Sports Hall on Friday night (7:30pm tip-off); returning to the John Sandford Sports Centre to take on the Wolves for the second leg of the BBL Trophy semi-final on Saturday night (7:30pm tip-off).