Bristol Flyers hoping to stop Leicester Riders

Quote of the Week

Fab Flournoy still with only one defeat this season, Photo by Dave Moore.

It clearly isn’t just any other game, it is the Cup Final. However, what we strive to attain is a consistency of approach to every game. So in that way I hope that our guys will simply use it as an opportunity to put into practice what we have tried to do every game this season.Eagles’ Head Coach Fab Flournoy

Bristol Flyers v Leicester Riders

Saturday 10 January 2015
WISE Basketball Arena – 7:30pm

Bristol Head Coach Andreas Kapoulas

Andreas Kapoulas expects a better start from Bristol Flyers when they face Leicester Riders on Saturday.

Flyers fought back to set up a tense finish against Durham Wildcats in their first game of 2015, but ultimately had left themselves too much to do following a poor first half.

This leaves Kapoulas looking to atone for that defeat against an in-form Leicester Riders this weekend.

Riders will go into the game full of confidence following convincing victories against Leeds Force and London Lions last weekend, and having swept Flyers aside 83-54 in their previous meeting.

“It was an important game for our Play-off aspirations and we will need to find a way to make up for the loss.

“Our guys showed great character and fought back in the fourth quarter, however I did not like the way we started the game and I felt for the first three quarters we were not up for the challenge.

“We need to make things happen, and moving forward we need to be more aggressive from start to finish.”

He added: “We have a lot to prove. “Leicester are a very good side and they are playing well at the moment. It will not be easy, however we will be certainly up for the challenge.”

Kapoulas is hopeful Bree Perine will also suit up for the challenge too, after he missed the Durham game through injury.

His late withdrawal may have contributed to Flyers’ slow start and his coach cannot wait to get him back on the floor so he can hit top form.

“Bree picked up an ankle injury the last practice the day before the game,” revealed Kapoulas.

“We are hoping he will be back for the weekend. It was particularly unfortunate that he was not able to play as he was coming off a very good week of practices and he is definitely settling in. There is a lot to come from him.”

Surrey United v Durham Wildcats

Saturday 10 January 2015
Surrey Sports Park – 7:00pm

Getting out in transition could be the catalyst for a change in Surrey United’s fortunes when they take on Durham Wildcats at home on Saturday.

Kramer Knutson in action. Photo from getsurrey.co.uk.

United slipped to a fifth straight defeat against Newcastle Eagles last time out, but gave the reigning champions a real scare with a fast start in an exciting contest.

There were encouraging signs from that performance and Kramer Knutson puts that down to an improvement on the defensive end.

“We have turned up our focus on defence recently and have really shut teams down at times,” said Knutson. “[In our] last game with Newcastle, we showed once again we can compete with every team in the BBL, and it gives us confidence knowing we are not too far off.”

He added: “So far we have had some bad breaks and faced teams when they were playing their best. In practice we continue to have faith and stay focused on getting better every day and know the results will come.”

Wildcats halted a run of three straight defeats as they hung on for victory against Bristol Flyers in their first game of 2015.

Knutson feels United will have to pick up where they left off, in terms of defensive intensity, if they are to unsettle Lee Davie’s side and create opportunities to score in transition – where Surrey are at their most dangerous.

“Defence is going to be key this weekend,” admitted Knutson. “Our guards, especially Elvisi Dusha, have stepped up a notch on defence giving opposing guards problems, getting steals and rebounds then running in transition is when we are at our best.”