Riders @ Giants: The big games start now

Leicester Riders return to their home floor at the John Sandford Sports Centre this Saturday evening, following a one-game switch to Loughborough University for last weekend’s confident win against Sheffield Sharks.

In the first of a weekend double-header for Rob Paternostro’s team, the Riders welcome BBL new boys Manchester Giants to the East Midlands (7:30pm tip-off), with both sides eager to get the ‘W’ – but for very different reasons.

On Sunday evening, Leicester will then travel to the North West, taking on Cheshire Phoenix at Northgate Arena.

Joint leaders in the BBL Championship at 17-2 for the season, Riders will be looking to keep up the pressure on fellow leaders Newcastle Eagles, who this weekend are forced to endure a tough away trip to Plymouth Raiders on Sunday afternoon.

However, opponents Manchester are one of many teams hoping to go on a run of wins to help guide them to a first appearance in the BBL Play-Offs. 8-15 at this point in the regular season, and going into the weekend off the back of an 83-70 win over Surrey Heat, the Giants possess a roster containing players with prior league experience.

“They have a bunch of players that have played in this league before, but their results have been up-and-down this season,” said Riders head coach Rob Paternostro ahead of the game.

“On their day, they have been shown to be a really difficult team.

“I think they shoot the ball well from the perimeter, so it’s important that, defensively, we have our hands up and we’re ready to challenge all shooters.

“At this stage of the season, I think that everybody’s improving. I think it’s important that we understand that and that we know that we have to improve as well.”

With matters so tight in all areas of the BBL Championship table, Paternostro is aware at the effect it will have on games from now until the end of the season, providing motivation to teams even before they take to the floor – whether they need it or not.

“At this stage of the season, all games are big for everyone,” he admitted.

“I think everyone is battling for positions. Obviously, we’re battling at the top and they’re [Manchester] battling to get into the Play-Offs.

“If you’re a professional basketball player, I don’t think you need the extra motivation,” Rob added.

“The way we look at it, whenever we take to the floor, we want to win and we don’t just want to win because of the position we’re in, we want to win because we’re competitive and that’s what we want to be.”

For visitors Manchester Giants, the game against Riders will be their second consecutive game of the weekend, as they take on Sheffield Sharks in South Yorkshire ahead of the trip to Leicester.

“Obviously Leicester have gotten off to a great start and continued where they left off last season,” Giants coach Jeff Jones told the BBL official website.

“Rob [Paternostro] has done a good god in recruiting his foreign players and they have gelled as a unit really well. For them they have four guys averaging double figures and that is always a sign of a good team.

“Pavol Losonsky, Zaire Taylor, Jay Couisnard and Drew Sullivan are their main threats from a scoring perspective, but Sullivan certainly provides the experience and winning mentality they seem to have.”

The two teams have played each other on just one occasion so far this year, as guard Zaire Taylor’s 23 points helped Leicester Riders to an 82-71 win at Wright Robinson College back in November.

“Manchester are a good team. They have some really good shooters and they have some really good players,” said Taylor ahead of Saturday’s game.

“I feel like, when we play them, they want to play their best basketball.

“It’s going to be tough one, especially going up against them now, with them having a lot of their guys stepping up and playing some really good basketball. I’ve been keeping track of what they’ve been doing and they’ve been winning some games, so that’s big.”

Leicester Riders take on Manchester Giants at John Sandford Sports Centre on Saturday 16th February at 7:30pm.

Tickets purchased ahead of the game are priced at £10 for adults, £7 for concessions and £5 for children. Call 0116 255 8635 to book.

Tickets bought on the night are available at £12 for adults, £9 for concessions and £7 for children.