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Cheshire Phoenix vs Glasgow Rocks – Preview

by Vlad Ionasc

Cheshire Phoenix will look to improve their regular season record to 5-7 when they’ll take on Gareth Murray’s Glasgow Rocks later today.

The Nix will also aim to piece together their first three-game winning streak of the season, following two blow-out victories over Sony Centre Fury and Sheffield Sharks.

The Rocks, who have played just seven regular season games so far, will look for their fifth win in the BBL Championship.

The Scots will enter the fixture in good form, having picked up consecutive victories over the Bristol Flyers and Solent Kestrels (BBL Trophy First Round).

GAME DETAILS

Date: Sunday 16th January, 2022

Tip-off: 5:30 p.m.

Competition: BBL Championship

Where: EPSV

How to watch: Tickets available on the door / BBL Player

ROCKS SCOUTING REPORT

The Rocks have won four out of their first seven games in the BBL Championship.

Murray’s men have a 3-6 record on the road (all competitions).

Glasgow bounced back from their BBL Cup Semi-Final disappointment against the Manchester Giants with a couple of wins against the Bristol Flyers and Solent Kestrels.

The Rocks lost by seven points at the EPSV back on October 3rd but managed to get their revenge on Scottish soil  as they defeated the Nix by seven points just 19 days later.

The Scottish side crashed out of the BBL Cup at the Semi-Final stage of the competition, despite winning their first leg against the Giants by double-digits.

Glasgow booked their spot in the Quarter-Final of the BBL Trophy after they defeated NBL side Solent Kestrels by 91-to-82 at the Emirates Arena.

The Rocks currently have the second best field-goal (51.5% FG) and three-point percentage (39.5%) in the BBL.

They rank third in points per game (92.9), only behind the London Lions (93.2) and Leicester Riders (96.4).

The Rocks lead the league in free-throws made (14.3) and attempted (19.3) per game.

Murray’s men average the second-most assists per game (23.7), with only the Leicester Riders dishing out more assists per contest (24.6).

Jordan Johnson ranks third in points (19) and leads the league in assists (9.8) per game. Glasgow’s point-guard draws more attention than any other player, as he leads the league in fouls drawn per game (6.5).

Jordan Harris leads the league in steals, with 2.6 per game and also ranks seventh in the scoring leaderboard, with 16.4 points-per-game. Harris currently boats a league-best two-point shooting percentage of 75.9%.

Jaycee Hillsman is Glasgow’s top rebounder, with eight boards per game (7th most league-wide).

Jonny Bunyan is one of only two players to still have a perfect percentage from the free-throw line.

KEY PLAYERS

Photo by Chris Cox

Glasgow Rocks: Jordan Johnson — The American point-guard has been simply sensational for the Rocks this season. Johnson is currently averaging 19 points and 9.8 assists per game, whilst shooting an eye-watering 43.3% from three-point territory. Glasgow’s floor general obtained a 21-point, 15-assist double-double in the previous meeting between the two sides, which finished 100-93 in the favour of today’s visitors.

Cheshire Phoenix: Teddy Okereafor — The Phoenix & GB point-guard enjoyed playing against the Glasgow Rocks in the BBL Cup, as he amassed 49 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds in just two games against the Scots. He hasn’t played at that level in the past couple of games but if he can rediscover his BBL Cup form and outplay Glasgow’s Jordan Johnson then the Nix will most likely come away with the win.

Photo by Chris Cox

COACH’S CORNER

Photo by Adam Day

Ben Thomas: “Today’s game provides us with the chance to get our second win of the weekend, at home, so it’s a huge game for us!

“We want to get the first win in the BBL Championship over Glasgow so I know that the guys are locked in and understand the importance of this fixture.

“We will aim to build on the performance and result that we had on Friday in Sheffield and that was all about our defense, so if we lock in on the defensive end once again then we will get the result that we want tonight!”

NEXT HOME GAME 

The Nix are next in action at the EPSV against the Leicester Riders (5:30 p.m. tip-off) in the BBL Championship on the 23rd of January.

 

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