Riders Paternostro wins Coach of the Month, looks ahead to Lions

Shortly after receiving the BBL Coach of the Month award for October for leading his team to a perfect 7-0 start to the 2012/13 BBL campaign, Leicester Riders Coach, Rob Paternostro, was in no mood to celebrate his achievement. Not with a BBL Cup tie against rivals, the London Lions, only 24 hours away.

The Lions, be they of the Milton Keynes or London variety, are a well put together side, difficult to break down and boasting some of the best British players in the league in Tayo Ogedengbe and Orlan Jackman. The Lions record to start the season is 2-5, something Coach Paternostro believes is deceptive.

“They have some talented players and they’re unique in a sense that they play a little different than other teams play,” said Paternostro on the eve of the BBL Cup Quarter final. “They have guys who can put points on the board and get to the basket, so it’s going to be very important to continue to play the defence that we have at the beginning of the season.”

The defence that Paternostro speaks of is so far only giving up 69.0 ppg (second lowest in the league to Worcester – 68.9 oppg). Paternostro wants to see his players maintain that level, regardless of the obstacles put before them.

“No matter how many games we’ve played in a certain amount of days, the guys priority on our team has been on the defensive end. I’ve been impressed by our guys commitment to that side of the ball and against a Lions team that likes to put points on the board, we have to do well on the defensive side of the ball.

“We seem to always have more back-to-backs than any team in the league and it’s part of our schedule where maybe it’s not a part of other team’s schedules,” said Paternostro, whose side are, to-date, scheduled to play six back-to-backs this season.

“Four games in seven days, back-to-back, are never easy. What you try to do when you put together your team is be prepared for that. We feel like we have a group of guys who are in good condition (and) are physically able to handle it. The test, I believe, is mentally. This past four games in seven days, not only did we hold up physically, we held up mentally.”

The one physical aspect of importance to Coach Paternostro’s plans and the Riders hopes of silverware this season, is the injury to rookie revelation, John Fraley.

Fraley, who averaged 17.4ppg and 12.4rpg in five games, suffered a knee injury during the final minutes of the 79-74 win over the Durham Wildcats and has kept him sidelined since the 21st October.

In Fraley’s absence, the Riders have been resilient: beating the Newcastle Eagles on the road, as well as gutting out an overtime win over the Cheshire Jets.

“We’re still waiting..he’s made progress,” said Paternostro when asked what the time frame for Fraley’s recovery was. “Right now, we’ll leave it in the hands of our medical people and see what the best way is for John to get back to full fitness.”

With Fraley’s injury status uncertain, the Riders will need to learn to live without their 6’10 centre. It started against the Eagles a week ago and continues tomorrow against the Lions.

The Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders travel to London to face the Lions in the BBL Cup Quarter Final. Tip off at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is scheduled for 7:45PM.