The new British Basketball League season is underway with Leicester Riders the defending champions, but can anyone dethrone them? TIBS News looks at the contenders for campaign.
Leicester Riders
The defending champions are an obvious contender and a likely favourite to win the whole thing once again. Tallying only two losses throughout the entirety of the 2021-22 season, the defensively sound Riders are a team that are hard to breakdown on the defensive end and always make it hard for opposing teams to get to the bucket.
However, a clear weakness in the side is their overall rebounding. This was exposed in the BBL Play-off Final last year where they narrowly beat the London Lions 78-75, mainly due to their inability to keep their big men off the boards defensively. The Riders’ inability to rebound is highlighted in their box score averages for the 2021-22 season with Marc Loving leading the team in rebounds per game with only four-and-a-half.
The Riders questionable rebounding is an obvious area of improvement for the champions but their overall dominance in most games makes it hard to say that a part of the team’s game isn’t good enough. How can you tell a team that has won five out of the previous six BBL titles that they need to do better?
London Lions
The team of the capital has always had all the hype in the world going into a new season but have never really lived up to the expectations. This year, however, the Lions look set to finally fulfil their potential.
Losing the league leader of points is never good for any team in any sport, Isiah Reese averaged 19.3 points last season but has since moved on. This is no problem for the Lions due to the star power they have bought in. Great Britain internationals such as Ovie Soko and Luke Nelson which have strengthened the team 10-fold due to their vast experience and skills.
They have also brought in ex-Houston Rockets rookie Sam Dekker. Dekker’s elite skillset and experience of playing in the biggest league in the world, makes him a nightmare to guard in the approaching season. Scoring at will in pre-season and qualifier games, his ability to get to his spot is sensational and is the reason why he will be my own personal pick for MVP this season.
The Lions have been in this situation before however, with a stacked roster and experienced players; so once again the questions remains, can they live up to the hype?
Manchester Giants
Manchester are always a strong side in the BBL, and it looks as so it will be the same in the 2022-23 season.
The Giants have bought in legendary BBL coach Vince Macaulay, which is massive for the Manchester side. His experience and vast knowledge of not only the game of basketball but the BBL will be extremely profitable for the success of this team.
The experience and talent of the coach combined with the likewise experienced roster – including Raymon Fletcher, Dirk Williams and Callum Jones – will make for an exciting team to watch this season.
US native Tahj Green will be my pick to be the Giants’ key player this year. Standing at 6ft 7in, his large frame combined with his athleticism and his ability to finish around the rim, will make him a problem to stop this season.
Sheffield Sharks
Now the Sheffield Sharks have always had a reputation of being a consistent and gritty team, and nothing seems set to change that this season.
Their dog mentality on the defensive end makes them a very hard team to break down and score on. This compensates for their slightly less offensive skill and their ability to score. If they can stop teams from scoring, then they don’t need to score as much.
Coach Lyons of the Sharks has bought back six key players from the previous season as well as four new stars. This will allow the team to continue their consistent hard work and determination on and off the court, reaping the rewards that have followed them throughout their existence due this formula.
The gritty Sharks will be a hard game for any team this season and will be a dark horse to win the whole thing this season.
To conclude…
These are the four main contenders for that BBL chip in the 2022-23 season. The other six teams are also well skilled and exceptional at basketball, but they are miles behind these powerhouses of British basketball; but the clear favourites this season will be the London Lions.
Overall, the 2022-23 season of the BBL looks to be one of the most competitive to date. With the addition of extremely talented personnel in both the player and staffing department, this should stamp Britain as a legitimate basketball nation. Along with the renewed and extended coverage of the league by Sky Sports, this should give British basketball the most exposure it’s never had.
Meaning, no matter who lifts the trophy at the end of the season at the O2 Arena, British basketball will be the ultimate winner.
By Jamie O’Sullivan
