This has been achieved despite comings and goings on the roster plus the odd injury thrown in for good measure. Since i last blogged we have said goodbye to John Griffin and perhaps more crucially, a few days later he was followed out of the door by Flinder Boyd [pic above] leaving our depth in the guard position looking one injury away from a major problem. Compounding this was the exit of Robert Youngblood and suddenly our 10 strong squad had reduced in numbers and more tellingly, experience.
The loss of Griffin and Blood was a blow but the influence the vastly experienced Boyd had on the squad and in particular guiding the rookies in the line up cannot be underestimated. He was a major voice and sounding board for Coach Paternostro as well as he could regularly be seen taking the role of semi assistant coach reminiscent of how Tony Windless used to get involved on the sidelines.
Being a seasoned European vet, Boyd could also set the tone once on court, his uncanny unhurried style bought instant control to the side, a technique that wasn't lost on Paternostro who leaned quite heavily on that side of Boyd's game.
To many fans, it didn't sit well that Flinder didn't ever go for 20+ points an outing but he had never been a heavy scorer through his career, his game being all about tempo and getting the ball to the right place on the offense at exactly the right time, if that took 22s then so be it.
I'll certainly miss the former GB starter, his retirement to the game is a real pity but he goes with everyone's best wishes as he embarks on a University degree down in the Big Smoke. I'll also miss his blogs which were legendary, his collection of random stories and crazy emails to various hapless recipients while fighting boredom often had me laughing out loud.
So long Flinder!
With the above departures happening, we obviously needed back up bodies and fast so Rob brought in everyone's favourite pantomime villain, former Rider Yorick Williams who has been a solid addition adding the obvious threat from deep but also his often under rated defensive skills utilising his long wing span. Also joining up is former Lion guard Connor Washington who can give decent PG back up and will be a good signing once he learns the sets and beds in with his new team mates. With Tom Sherlock also returning from ankle problems things look pretty rosy all told, the team are playing outstandingly on the defensive end at the moment with the increasingly effective Brett Royster[pictured dunking above, pic by Dave Lowerson] and the outstanding form shown by Barry Lamble shoring up the middle, the long arms and nous of Drew Sullivan and the league standout in Ayron Hardy providing steals, dunks, rebounds and points aplenty. Cam Rundles and Bradd Wierzbicki are both having big bearings on the outcomes of games from the guard positions with Jamell Anderson adding a spark at both ends off the pine with his energy and athleticism.
Although the Trophy and BBL Cup are done for another year, i'm sure that no team wants to see us in a play off situation particularly as our road form has been red hot so far. The only blips being the defeat in the South West to Plymouth and the surprise dropping of 2 home games to MK and the hot shooting Rocks who really got the collective hot hand recently at the JSSC.
Next up are the noisy neighbours from Vince's lock up in Milton Keynes whom we lock horns with on Friday.
Bring.It.On.
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