The London Lions take on the visiting Bristol Flyers on Tuesday night at the Copper Box Arena with a 7:30pm tipoff.
Lions return back to the action after a three-week hiatus following a disappointing cup series against the league-leading Leicester Riders, and so, the east London-based outfit should come out energised and refreshed after a long period of rest and recovery.
Improvement Needed
Vince Macaulay’s side have had time to ponder their recent struggles on defence which led them to fall to the Riders and the Worcester Wolves in recent fixtures, yet a home crowd could pump up the Londoners, sparking some much-needed intensity on the defensive end.
As the first of a three-game home stretch, the Lions should be poised to take full advantage of the Copper Box coming towards the tail end of the season, with a cheering crowd potentially acting as the sixth man for this squad, hopefully giving them an edge out on the court.
Overdue A Win
The fixture acts as the third meeting between the two sides this season, however, it is only the first time the Lions have had the chance to defend home court against the Flyers; Macaulay’s side took a win early in the season on Bristol’s turf but failed to repeat that effort in their most recent match up.
For the capital city-side, a win is crucial following a recent slump with four losses in their last five, including a few blowout defeats – one of which being Bristol away.
Defensive intensity and ball movement will be key for the squad early on, setting the pace and tone of the game for a team who are more than competent on the offensive side of the floor.
Crunch Time
As the playoffs near, each win becomes even more vital and defensive lapses will prove to be increasingly damaging to the squad. With a favourable run of home games, the Lions have a great opportunity to assemble a string of wins, making a late push up the table.
