Latest update November 14th, 2024 8:42 PM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Nets face biggest challenge Sunday night

Dec 14, 2012 Sports

By Edison Jefford
Republic Bank Nets has to literally play out of its mind Sunday night if it will have any chance of defeating the number one ranked club in Georgetown, and probably Guyana, Ravens, for the Phillip George Legacy Basketball Championship.
This is new territory for Nets that defeated the other top three ranked teams in Georgetown, Pepsi Sonics and Pacesetters on its way to its first championship game. The first step toward any competitiveness will be to address its obvious limitations.
One, Nets is traditionally much slower than Ravens in transition offense. The quickness of Ryan ‘Cocaine’ Stephney, Stephon ‘Penny’ Henry, Rodwell ‘Kobe’ Fortune, and Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai will be a consistent bother for the bigger Nets.
Because of that fact, Nets has to switch up its defence a bit to include probably Antoine Austin and Darian Lewis as starters along with Pelham Doris. It is a risk, but without risks, Nets will not beat Ravens, which is a seriously deep team with vast experience.
Austin is quick and Lewis is strong, qualities that Nets cannot take for granted Sunday night. The Republic Bank-sponsored club has to integrate those qualities among its slower forwards, Fabian Johnson, Mortimer Williams and Drumson McCullay.
It is easy to suggest that Nets will want to play toward its base, to include Johnson, Williams and McCullay consistently on the floor. The danger in that is the consistent threat of Ravens’ guards, who will easily run past the trio both in transition and set offenses.
Therefore, the first limitation for Nets is its defence. Ravens will know that Nets has a defensive issue and will want to exploit them. They will figure the easiest way to do so is to increase tempo and minutes for Stephney, Henry, Fortune and Kanhai.
Ravens will totally ignore that it is smaller than Nets; because of its depth, it will try to beat Nets with speed. Nets has to ensure that its possessions count; the best bet is to work the ball on the inside and hope for results from McCullay, Johnson and Williams.
Again, thinking outside the box, here is a tip for the underdog Nets: Williams should play inside opposed to taking so many perimeter shots that he is accustomed; for his height, he can have an advantage banging his body inside. Nets has to take these risks to win.
Finally, there is the inside-out threat of Jermaine Slater and Ryan Gullen. To say that this was a defining year for both players would be an understatement; apart from their aggression in the paint, the duo has added a jump shot component to their game that makes them very versatile and difficult to defend.
Nets seem outclassed in every department, but changing up its starting five, upping minutes for some players while dropping some players’ minutes, thinking every quarter through innovatively, defence and taking chances could make them competitive and perhaps given them their first Division I title.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 11th, 2024

 

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Guyana Beverage Inc. on board with Petra to host 8th Annual Girls U11 Football Tournament

Guyana Beverage Inc. on board with Petra to host 8th Annual Girls U11...

Nov 14, 2024

  Kaieteur Sports- As excitement builds for Saturday’s kickoff, Guyana Beverage Inc. through its Koolkidz brand has joined the roster of sponsors supporting the Petra Organisation’s MVP...
Read More
GFF launches NAMILCO/Maid Marian Wheat Up Women’s Cup

GFF launches NAMILCO/Maid Marian Wheat Up...

Nov 14, 2024

Semi’s bowls off tomorrow with double-header at Providence 

Semi’s bowls off tomorrow with...

Nov 14, 2024

NO SURPRISE!!

NO SURPRISE!!

Nov 14, 2024

More support for Project “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”.

More support for Project “Cricket Gear for...

Nov 14, 2024

Guyana to participate at 2024 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup

Guyana to participate at 2024 FIBA 3×3...

Nov 13, 2024

Features/Columnists

  • Poor Power Planning (PPP)

    …Peeping Tom Kaieteur News- Planning has long been the PPP/C government’s pride and joy. The PPP/C touts it at rallies,... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]