by Vlad Ionasc
Cheshire Phoenix will aim to complete a clean sweep over the Glasgow Rocks and secure their place in the BBL Playoffs later this evening.
The Nix need just one more victory in their last two games of the regular season to confirm their participation in this season’s Playoffs.
The Rocks have endured a terrible season and are currently last in the BBL Championship table with a 4-23 record.
GAME DETAILS
Date: Thursday 22nd April, 2021
Tip-off: 6 p.m.
Competition: BBL Championship
Where: EPSV
How to watch: BBL Player
The BBL Player is the new one-stop-shop for all BBL action as you can watch every club and every game (excluding Bristol’s home games) live and on-demand for £19.99 per month. Alternatively, single-game passes are priced at £4.99.
Because of how the BBL is structured, all the money from the BBL Player goes directly to the clubs, so make sure to select the Cheshire Phoenix as your ‘club to support’ when registering, as all the revenue will help carry the club through this incredibly difficult period of financial insecurity.
ROCKS SCOUTING REPORT
The Rocks have an 8-27 record in all competitions.
The Rocks have obtained just three victories in their 18 road games in all competitions.
Gareth Murray’s side reached the Quarter-Final of the BBL Cup and Semi-Final of the BBL Trophy, however they currently find themselves at the bottom of the BBL Championship table.
The Scottish side has the least potent offense in the BBL, at just 73.9 points-per-game, while their defence is one of the leakiest league-wide, at 86.7 points-allowed-per-game.
The Rocks are shooting 42.8% from the field, 33.8% from deep and 68.2% from the line.
Murray’s men have already triumphed twice at the EPSV this season, with the first win coming in the BBL Cup in November (86-73) and the second in the BBL Trophy in February (67-62).
The Rocks lead the BBL in turnovers-per-game (16.1).
Murray leads his team in points (10.3), assists (2.8) and three-point percentage (44.5% 3PT).
Boban Jacdonmi leads the Rocks in rebounds-per-game (5.9) while Isa Brandon leads the Scots in steals-per-game (1.2).
KEY PLAYERS
Glasgow Rocks: Gareth Murray — Glasgow’s player/coach poured in a game-high 23 points on 6-of-10 shooting from behind the arc in the last meeting between the two sides. Murray was sublime in the first half of the contest but then fizzled out in the second period of play. He needs to play at the same level for the full 40 minutes in order for the visitors to come away with the win.
Cheshire Phoenix: Kyle Carey — Phoenix’s energiser contributed with a good all-around performance in Glasgow and helped his team obtain a much-needed victory on the road. Carey finished with 13 points, three assists, two rebounds, a block and also made three out of seven attempts (42%) from three-point land in Cheshire’s 84-77 triumph over the Rocks.
COACH’S CORNER
Ben Thomas: “Today’s game is very important in our pursuit for fifth place in the table. We have played Glasgow plenty of times this season and we know that they’re a dangerous team so we’re very well aware of today’s challenge.
“We must show great togetherness and play good team basketball for the full 40 minutes today!”
NEXT HOME GAME
The Nix will host the Leicester Riders at the EPSV in the last game of the 2020/21 regular season on Sunday 25th April. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.