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Post by isthaturinal on Jan 17, 2024 21:55:18 GMT
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Post by spacejammer on Jan 17, 2024 23:16:15 GMT
Well Lions vs Flyers I expect to be a dead rubber.
With both teams experiencing injuries and Lions safely through to Birmingham and Flyers out I can only see that game being a friendly shoot around.
Although for the Flyers probably a good opportunity to get one over Lions.
As for the Eagles vs Riders winner goes to Birmingham match I'm expecting a big game in this one.
My heart is obviously routing for the Eagles but given how shorthanded we are and how Leicester have improved in recent weeks my gut is telling me Leicester will most likely win this one especially since we just snatched victory against the Flyers last week..
If their is a time I have wanted to be wrong though I really hope my prediction above is.
Overall though regardless the result I'm just hoping for a nice and respectable game especially in front the Sky cameras.
Although I can't help but feel unless Leicester have a complete meltdown and the referees are kind to us this is going to be a big ask to win.
However if we have both Hibert and Whitfield back then we might have a chance.
I hope the Arena on Friday night is really loud and proud though and packed out.
Let's go Eagles! 🏀🦅
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Post by keithkr on Jan 18, 2024 12:47:21 GMT
Lions & Eagles
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Post by massiveridersfan on Jan 18, 2024 16:52:06 GMT
I don't buy all this Eagles are decimated with injuries malarkey. They are at home, will almost certainly sell out and have very talented scorers who we haven't been able to quell in the recent past. Not saying Riders won't win because I think we have our best chance since the departure of the three amigos but it won't be easy to secure a semi-final spot.
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Post by stevetino on Jan 18, 2024 22:46:11 GMT
I don't buy all this Eagles are decimated with injuries malarkey. They are at home, will almost certainly sell out and have very talented scorers who we haven't been able to quell in the recent past. Not saying Riders won't win because I think we have our best chance since the departure of the three amigos but it won't be easy to secure a semi-final spot. Eagles are decimated tho with 4 senior players missing, with that in mind riders start favourites in my book |
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Post by spacejammer on Jan 18, 2024 23:18:34 GMT
I don't buy all this Eagles are decimated with injuries malarkey. They are at home, will almost certainly sell out and have very talented scorers who we haven't been able to quell in the recent past. Not saying Riders won't win because I think we have our best chance since the departure of the three amigos but it won't be easy to secure a semi-final spot. Eagles are decimated tho with 4 senior players missing, with that in mind riders start favourites in my book To be honest the last time I saw us this shorthanded in a big game was when we played Solent Kestrels in the BBL Trophy Final in 2020 where we won in OT with a 6 man rotation. Without the dynamic duo of Rahmon Fletcher and CJ Gettys I doubt we would have won that game. I'm going to be praying for the same amount of luck tommorow night. |
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Post by isthaturinal on Jan 18, 2024 23:23:31 GMT
Pretty simple really…..for both sides.
Go hard or go home…
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Post by dexter on Jan 19, 2024 11:31:57 GMT
Eagles are used to playing short-handed. In fact that is a recurring theme of this league. It should be a good game.
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Post by massiveridersfan on Jan 19, 2024 11:37:19 GMT
Our defence is going to have to be at its best for the whole game. Can we do that? Haven't managed it so far this season. Will we be more effective inside the paint with Shelton? Should be. Stopping Newcastle's guards from scoring freely is a big ask. Looking forward to this contest.
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Post by mansfieldmike on Jan 19, 2024 19:11:03 GMT
Really weak team put out for Lions at Bristol tonight. Only Nelson and Grantham of their best players will be on court.
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Post by LTfan on Jan 19, 2024 19:18:44 GMT
Really weak team put out for Lions at Bristol tonight. Only Nelson and Grantham of their best players will be on court. Can’t really blame them. It’s an entirely pointless game for everyone involved unfortunately. |
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Post by massiveridersfan on Jan 19, 2024 19:38:41 GMT
Just seen Eagles' starting five. Yeah, they're wrecked with injuries...
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Post by Stephen Abootman on Jan 19, 2024 19:47:48 GMT
It's not the starting five that's supposed to be the issue. It's the fact that they've only got six healthy senior guys. You have to believe Riders are the stronger side at this moment in time. But I do get the sense Eagles are playing with a chip on their shoulder in this competition. And they've had a full weeks rest so, provided they can avoid foul trouble, their short-handedness might not be too much of an issue. Biggest game of the season for us though so there should be no lack of motivation on our side. Tough one to call.
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Post by massiveridersfan on Jan 19, 2024 20:40:02 GMT
We have 10 turnovers in the first half. Look asleep much of the time and Allen just playing hero ball. No wonder we are only 6 ahead. Got to play with more energy, cut out poor passing and share the ball better.
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Post by spacejammer on Jan 19, 2024 20:43:57 GMT
We have 10 turnovers in the first half. Look asleep much of the time and Allen just playing hero ball. No wonder we are only 6 ahead. Got to play with more energy, cut out poor passing and share the ball better. Intense game so far. Feel like Riders have the edge but Eagles are refusing to backdown. I'll admit watching Defoe strip Allen of the ball was my highlight play of the game so far. Talk about the veteran giving it to the newbie. Hope for an exciting 2nd half and a close game. Let's go Eagles! 🏀 🦅 |
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Post by massiveridersfan on Jan 19, 2024 21:40:58 GMT
Mackenzie was excellent. Lot of players in double points. Cut out the careless errors and we'll be so much better. 19 turnovers speaks for itself.
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Post by cosbyrider on Jan 19, 2024 22:00:29 GMT
Idowu is slowly becoming decent.
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Post by spacejammer on Jan 19, 2024 22:33:04 GMT
Well that game ended how I expected it to.
Firstly credit to the Riders who I think have shown huge improvement compared to what they were at the start of the season.
Despite the slow start and looking half asleep, once they got going they were tough to stop and deserving winners.
Although Teddy Allen and Duke had a tough night at the fouls I think they have proven great additions to that squad and Leicesters lack of discipline and just playing for fouls have been replaced with stronger game.
As for the Eagles I'm gutted we lost but for 3 Quarters we managed to test the Riders and I felt given how shorthanded we were I think we were brave with how we pushed through that game.
I think towards the end we were beginning to show signs frustration but I think during this Trophy competition the lads have really tried and I think circumstances being shorthanded was always going to make this game tough to win.
Again highlight of the game was definitely when Darius stripped Allen of the ball in the 2nd Quarter.
And we had some good shots at times.
In the end the way I saw this game for 3 Quarters was like a watching a Boxing match where the dominant boxer was winning and could knock their opponent out at any time but choose not to until the late rounds.
After a shaky start I felt Leicester were in control and ready to kill us off when the 4th Quarter came.
Although considering we probably should have been knocked out after the Manchester match I'm impressed we got to the end of the Trophy before elimination.
And as much as I hate to say it I do think Leicester will make for a more exciting final 4 competitor with a stacked roster then a short handed Eagles team who also have 2 games coming up in Europe now which I reckon we will have to fight and claw through unless we can somehow recover some of our squad again.
Again I said depth was going to hurt us and I do wonder how much this was considered back in pre season when we decided to take on 2 leagues this year.
Overall well done Leicester and commiserations Eagles.
As gutted as I am I'm sure I can still enjoy the final 4 games next week as a neutral.
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Post by erj14 on Jan 19, 2024 23:39:09 GMT
Just seen Eagles' starting five. Yeah, they're wrecked with injuries... Just to add to the injury woes, most of the Eagles squad have been laid up with food poisoning this week. Defoe was being sick on the bench during the game tonight. Gift wrapped for Riders. Teddy Allen seems like a right mardy arse from what I saw tonight, him and Rob don't seem to get on well at all. Also fun to see Duke Shelton do his usual thing of fouling lots and turning the ball over. Not a Riders calibre of signing at all. |
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Post by stevetino on Jan 19, 2024 23:59:58 GMT
Shame about the well documented eagles personnel problems could have been such a better game if we had our squad at full strength
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