Williams Hopes to Complete the Collection
As the Guildford Heat prepare to face the Everton Tigers
in the BBL play-off quarter-finals, British shooting guard
Dean Williams is excited about the prospect and hoping that
he can add to the BBL Championship, Cup, and Trophy winner's
medals that he already possesses,
"From my point of view it would be a massive deal if
we won the play-offs, as it's the only trophy I haven't won.
It's also important for the club as we've been in the semi-finals
in each of the last two years, and we want to lift the trophy
this time."
Despite Everton finishing in seventh spot, Heat have lost
two of their three meetings with the Tigers this season, and
Williams admits it is an unusual situation,
"It's odd because only Everton and Rocks have won the
head-to-head series against us this season, and we've ended
up playing them as a seventh seed. It should be great fun,
and it'll certainly be interesting. All the games have been
home wins so far, but I don't want to jinx us."
Williams can expect to face Tigers' Great Britain point guard
Richard Midgley at some point in the game, and he's looking
forward to the prospect,
"I guarded him last time we played them because Dan
Gilbert was sick. I've known him for a long time, and we had
a nice little competition. They'll expect Richard to do a
lot of the scoring for them, but in the games we've lost against
them we've done a good job against him, only to see the other
guys step up. The likes of David Aliu and Delme Herriman have
shown what they can do when they get the chance, and it's
been their scoring that has been the problem."
While Heat have lifted the BBL Trophy and finished runners-up
in the league, Williams admitted that he has been disappointed
with his own form,
"Considering all that's happened this year, it's been
a successful season for the club. But personally, I haven't
enjoyed it as must as last year. That happens sometimes, I
haven't played well enough to get the minutes I want. I'm
not happy with that, but that's how it goes some years, I
need to work hard all summer and get my spot back."
If the competition goes to form, Williams and his Heat team-mates
would face Newcastle Eagles in the final at the NIA on May
4. While the 31-year-old Islington-born player isn't counting
his chickens, he admits it would be a massive game,
"It would be tough to beat a team such a Newcastle for
a fourth time in five games. They've won the league comfortably,
and came back from 20 down to beat us at the Spectrum. If
we did meet them in the final, I think they'd be the favourites.
But the play-offs are going to be fascinating, all seven remaining
teams have a genuine chance, and I think we're in for some
really exciting basketball."
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