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Post by ko25 on Dec 10, 2021 9:21:11 GMT
Fri 10th Dec - Lions v Riders 7:30pm
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Post by massiveridersfan on Dec 10, 2021 10:04:52 GMT
This'll be tough. Defence will be vital as well as 3 point shooting. Wonder whether DNH will get any minutes?
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Post by LTFan on Dec 10, 2021 10:57:15 GMT
This'll be tough. Defence will be vital as well as 3 point shooting. Wonder whether DNH will get any minutes? Tough for Lions too, who haven't even been back in the country for 24 hours yet since their Europe Cup loss in Turkey. |
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Post by spacejammer on Dec 10, 2021 11:12:58 GMT
I don't know who I want to win this but I will probably back the Riders on this one.
If London are tired from Europe then Leicester are going to want to take full advantage in the 1st leg tonight.
Although if London have a deep roster and reinforcements for this game who didn't play Wednesday then it could be evenly matched.
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Post by ecrider on Dec 10, 2021 17:11:57 GMT
Disappointing this is not the sky game so the player will have to do.
Could go either way important we are still in it for the return game
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Post by isthaturinal on Dec 10, 2021 17:29:46 GMT
A loss for either team is not really important if it’s kept close,
I can see this being nip and tuck all the way to the end...
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Post by ecrider on Dec 10, 2021 19:50:24 GMT
Good game this.
Nice to see dnh back on the floor
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Post by blueskies99 on Dec 10, 2021 20:14:09 GMT
Good game this. Nice to see dnh back on the floor ....and contributing... |
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Post by massiveridersfan on Dec 10, 2021 21:25:18 GMT
Very good game except Q4 which I think all Lions fans will surely join me in saying was crap.
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Post by blueskies99 on Dec 10, 2021 21:33:22 GMT
Very good game except Q4 which I think all Lions fans will surely join me in saying was crap. With 12 minutes to go, Riders led by 23…….  |
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Post by LTFan on Dec 10, 2021 21:42:11 GMT
Isn’t it funny when a loss feels like a win.  |
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Post by isthaturinal on Dec 10, 2021 22:10:31 GMT
Isn’t it funny when a loss feels like a win. Even worse when a win feels like a loss. |
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Post by saintpat on Dec 11, 2021 0:02:51 GMT
Well, there was a game of 28 minutes & 12 minutes!!
Whilst the 1st half remained fairly close there only really looked like one team who were really playing decent basketball. Riders looked sharp offensively & worked harder on defence, it looked like Lions had got away with a poor 1st half to only be down by so few. Then Riders finally moved their dominance into points and with 13 minutes left are up by 23 & cruising. Lions had lost identity, purpose & passion it really looked like it could be a 40 point loss at that stage.
Then in came Andre, Justin & Chris who showed that there was still a heart beating in the Lions team, their intensity & determined effort stopped Riders scoring & gradually Lions started trimming the deficit. Having been shown the way, Lions main men came in & continued the defensive effort(led by Washburn) & started hitting their shots. Lions players relaxed in to their shooting as they stopped Riders from scoring, although they were still down in points they stopped chasing the game & played their natural game.Cugini did what he was recruited to do & if it wasn't for a couple of poor decisions in the last 30 seconds, Lions should really have come away with what looked like a very unlikely victory. But don't get me wrong, for Lions fans this still felt like a victory.
Given it was just over 48 hours since a really tough game in Turkey & just over 24 hours since they landed back in the UK & with players missing, this is a decent result. With a few days rest after Christmas & hopefully a player or 2 back, it gives Lions a fighting chance to turn the deficit over.
The return leg on the 30th should be a cracking game of basketball, Rob will be seething about giving away such a big lead & will have Riders even more fired up than normal.If Lions hold their nerve they could just do enough to get the win by enough points to progress but it will be a mental battle as much as a physical one.
Lions will also have to find a way to stop Mo Walker, who simply killed Lions ineffective inside presence for most of the game.
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Post by massiveridersfan on Dec 11, 2021 6:04:04 GMT
It was depressing to see Lions steadily erode the massive lead we established BUT the positives are that we managed to beat Lions on their court and, most importantly, DNH was back and looking good, albeit with understandably limited minutes. He has more time to recover before round 2. Whelan was superb.
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Post by ecrider on Dec 11, 2021 8:28:05 GMT
Most riders fans would have taken a 3 point lead before the start but perhaps not in that way
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Post by drivethebody on Dec 11, 2021 8:58:53 GMT
Was a strange game all in.
Leicester looked unstoppable in parts but London like Saintpat said brought on some experienced workhorse heads and did brilliantly to claw back.
London definitely looked the happier post game.
Very poor crowd but noisy when needed.
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Post by spacejammer on Dec 11, 2021 10:09:41 GMT
Was following the stats for this whilst at the Eagles.
Although they got the win Riders and Rob must be kicking themselves for not being able to steal a larger lead.
London must have fought hard to come back and keep the game alive for the 2nd leg.
To be honest as a neutral I hope they put a London v Leicester game on Sky.
Felt they missed an opportunity with this last season not showcasing these teams against each other.
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Post by MansfieldMike on Dec 11, 2021 10:44:45 GMT
Lions will also have to find a way to stop Mo Walker, who simply killed Lions ineffective inside presence for most of the game. Where was Mo Walker when we really needed him in the 4th quarter, had he picked up a knock ? He was substituted out with 8 minutes remaining, when we were still 16 points in front. |
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Post by saintpat on Dec 11, 2021 10:52:18 GMT
Was a strange game all in. Leicester looked unstoppable in parts but London like Saintpat said brought on some experienced workhorse heads and did brilliantly to claw back. London definitely looked the happier post game. Very poor crowd but noisy when needed. I'm not sure crowds will be good any time soon. Christmas always had a detrimental effect & Lions have many home games's in a short space of time which at the current costs means it's even more stretched. Factor in that the Box is requiring a Covid pass to get in, along with masks to be worn all the time(I presume there's some leniency whilst sitting) & people's general apprehension at going to events given the new strain & it's a very difficult sell. |
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Post by massiveridersfan on Dec 11, 2021 12:07:11 GMT
Tell that to Eagles. Regularly getting 2500 at their arena.
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Post by saintpat on Dec 11, 2021 12:20:22 GMT
Tell that to Eagles. Regularly getting 2500 at their arena. Not last night apparently. |
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Post by spacejammer on Dec 11, 2021 12:55:26 GMT
Tell that to Eagles. Regularly getting 2500 at their arena. Not last night apparently. True, I have noticed in the past 2 games rows of empty seats in the North and South stand. Usually their would atleast be a group there but now their is nothing. I dont know whether that was due to marketing, the pandemic or if those groups may have had other ideas this year and cannot find the time. Although last night they didn't exactly miss much. |
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Post by davef on Dec 11, 2021 13:37:41 GMT
All comes down to promotion. This was 4th home game in 4 weeks and was a recently rearranged game - wasn’t in original schedule, only fixed after Bristol lost cup qf. That means no groups (who fill a lot of end seats). The alternative to this game however was a Wednesday night game later in the season so it’s still preferable.
Throw in the fact that it’s 2nd Friday night before Christmas and was always going to be a down night.
Sales really good for post Christmas game though
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Post by dandayr on Dec 11, 2021 14:26:11 GMT
All comes down to promotion. This was 4th home game in 4 weeks and was a recently rearranged game - wasn’t in original schedule, only fixed after Bristol lost cup qf. That means no groups (who fill a lot of end seats). The alternative to this game however was a Wednesday night game later in the season so it’s still preferable. Throw in the fact that it’s 2nd Friday night before Christmas and was always going to be a down night. Sales really good for post Christmas game though but - were the raptors fans and their rivals all hung up about attendances and if any unoccupied seats  |
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Post by saintpat on Dec 11, 2021 16:19:42 GMT
All comes down to promotion. This was 4th home game in 4 weeks and was a recently rearranged game - wasn’t in original schedule, only fixed after Bristol lost cup qf. That means no groups (who fill a lot of end seats). The alternative to this game however was a Wednesday night game later in the season so it’s still preferable. Throw in the fact that it’s 2nd Friday night before Christmas and was always going to be a down night. Sales really good for post Christmas game though Which is exactly my point, numerous home games, lead up to Xmas, it's always a hard sell at that point! And make no mistake, current Covid figures & restrictions will not help future ticket sales. |
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