Fri 27th Dec - Eagles v Sharks 7:30pm

This is absolutely piss funny!!!! We'd be up 30 if we could hit our open shots and layups.

When the chips are down, it's all or nothing, garbage time is absolutely on the line, just 4 seconds to go with an Eagles inbound coming up, MASSIVE bucket from C J Gettys on the buzzer to seal a 23 point loss. What a chump!

It finished 76-99 but was more like a 30+ point win. The Sharks dominated every facet with McKnight and Lewis pulling the strings and dominating the Eagles backcourt. Koch and Gettys both played well but the former was more dominant when it mattered.

Eagles were simply not ready for the defensive intensity of the Sharks - how many steals did they get to pick pocket and run away for easy scores. Offensively the teams were a polar opposite with one team moving the ball around for open shots and the other relying on Gettys just backing down or Fletcher overdribbling. I was surprised how easy it was for the Sharks and not a fluke looking at the games v Newcastle in the cup too.

The refs did make some questionable calls but Flecther and Morsell both spat their dummies out early and were really unprofessional when the team needed them to stay calm and in the game. For flecther to pick up a techical when on 2 and then another foul when he drove right into the Sharks player was just daft. Not sure the refs decided the game in what was a complete destruction really. Also really poor for several Eagles to not shake the hands of the refs at the end - Fletcher was remonstrating with a few going over - not good to see whatever you thought of the officiating. You have to lose with class aswell as win with class and I was really surprised to see that from a veteran player.

Eagles look a long way off a title team but such a weak league then you never know. The best players were Matthews who played well and also Gettys in spells. The rest were poor mainly at the defensive end where they just were not competing or challening shots. The lad Morsell lost it big time and to pick up two technicals was again really poor - not sure about the flop for the second one though but he did not seem to complain very much when it was called?

For the Sharks we still lack depth - if either of McKnight or Lewis has a poor night we struggle as still getting little from Ndiaye off the bench - he looks so slow and out of sync compared with the rest so effectively it is a 6 man rotation still and could do with another player really if we want to make a serious bid for the top places. LEwis shot the lights out and Koch was tough to stop but McKnight completely ran the game - even when Fletcher was in - he could not do anything to stop him conbasketball kiting the offence and dictating every play the Sharks made.

Well done Atiba. Not said it much but a superb performance where it reminded me of Sharks teams of old - defensively resolute, rebounding, making steals and then at the other end moving the ball unselfishly inside and out and getting the best shot they could.

I was expecting Retsek off the sharks bench to sink a 3 after witnessing that inept display

We can question the players match by match but I guess we really have to ask is Ian McLeod up to the job after this display. Riders and Lions both lost but both in tight games and for the first time in a generation, Eagles will be battling to qualify for the playoffs unless he can get a winning system going.

Really surprised by how much complaining there has been about the refs. Morsell ejection happened right in front of me and it was a definite flop, no complaints from me. Fletcher really didn't act like a captain tonight constantly complaining about the officiating, yeah it might be frustrating at times but play to the whistle. Refs were definitely not a factor in tonight's display.

On the flipside I must say that every time I've seen the Sharks at the ECA I'm so impressed by them. McKnight is such a great old school point guard and keeps that team ticking so well. Even when they had dubious calls against them he kept the team's spirits up and kept them concentrating on what was important. Don't really want to moan about the Eagles too much as I think Sheffield played so well and moved the ball beautifully.

Eagles look like a badly coached side who run out of ideas very quickly when they can't get a positive match up in iso with their better players. Williams and Schlitzer were so passive, the most annoying thing to see on a basketball court. So poor and frustrating to watch tonight but don't want to take away from the great job done by Sharks.

Was depressed with the Riders result

But seeing this result has slightly cheered me up

Need to get our own house in order though. So I won't get too excited.

But eagles are clearly in disarray

I have held my breath overnight in order to try and provide a more reasoned summary:
1. Sheffield were excellent sparked by good ball movement (McKnight) and deadly 3 point shooting in H1 by Lewis (where was the defence?).
2. Newcastle were woeful in all respects, Mathew and Lasker excepted. Poor game plan, no coaching answer to in-game adversity, poor movement, poor defence, poor execution, outplayed both in and out, and poor attitude. Not sure which was worst - the poor attitude or lack of defence. Suspect one contributed to the other. My turkey could have put up a better fight.
3. Officials were the stars of the show. Not sure about either the Morsell technical or McKnight’s Hail Mary at the end of H1 (will give them the benefit of the doubt) but Cashaw definitely had his feet planted in the no charge zone for Fletcher’s 4th and I’ve never seen both teams ready to play but no officials out. All that said, it made absolutely no difference - Eagles could have lost to the half time entertainment last night.
4. Change of plan, attitude and execution required on Sunday in Glasgow.

McLeod had a hard act to follow, no one could hold a candle in terms of what Fab achieved.

Splash the cash and hire a better coach.

To be fair (and I’m not inclined to be this morning) the over-reliance on Fletch should be addressed IF Rod Glasgow’s registration issues are ever resolved.

Strange season having only played 3 games INF, numerous things to address a bit like Riders 🤣