Lions Continue Record-Breaking Season
The Marshall MK Lions make their home play-off debut live
on Setanta Sports 2 on Wednesday night (7.30pm) when they
host the SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks.
On paper, this is the tightest of the quarter-final match-
ups as the Lions finished fourth and the Rocks fifth. Furthermore,
in the historical 36 meetings between the teams, they have
split those games 18-18, although the Lions took this season's
head-to-head by 2-1 after an 82-85 overtime success, also
on Setanta Sports, last month.
Lions' coach Vince Macaulay is excited about the prospect
as they prepare to play in front of a full house at Bletchley,
"We're delighted to keep our record-breaking year going.
We've won our first trophy, finished in our highest ever league
position, and gained home court advantage in the play-offs
for the first time.
"Our fans have been tremendous over the years, and it's
great that we've been able to reward them this season."
The Lions also beat the Rocks back in October, 97-94, in
a game that was also held at Bletchley. However, in between
their two wins, the Rocks hammered the Lions 89-67 on the
same court that this decisive game will be played on.
Macaulay feels that both sides know plenty about each other,
"We know that Rocks play a European style of basketball.
They spread the court well, and hit a high percentage of their
shots. But we can play any kind of game. We can pound the
ball inside, we can get up and down the floor quickly, and
we can shoot from outside. We can mix and match what we need
to do, and I hope we can find the right balance.
"We know how each other play, and we would have both
learned a lot from the game a few weeks ago. Obviously because
we didn't know who we would be playing until Sunday evening,
we haven't prepared specifically for Rocks, as we could have
been playing Sheffield.
"I'm sure that wily old fox Rob Yanders will have something
up his sleeve when he faces us, but even though we've lost
our last three games, we're going into the game in a positive
frame of mind. We've used those games to work on things for
the play-offs, and we're looking forward to a big game live
on Setanta Sports."
The Lions' play-caller knows his side will face a tough game
against the Rocks,
"Maurice Hampton is having a great year, he's top scored
twice against us. I think he's a candidate for player of the
season, but he's done it quietly, and doesn't get noticed
around the league. Sterling [Davis] has done a very creditable
job as a player-coach. He will have learned from his first
year, and I'm sure he'll make adjustments next year."
The Rocks are concerned about the fitness of Julius Joseph,
who has a wrist injury, but Macaulay refutes the suggestion
that he may not feature in this game,
"Of course he'll play," commented Macaulay, "this
is what they have been waiting for all season, three trophies
have passed them by and this is the last one, I don't expect
him to say, 'nah I'll miss this I might be ok on Thursday.'
"There is no Thursday, win and go on or lose and go
home, that is the only choice for all teams in the Playoffs."
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