The Manchester Giants are ready to host the reigning league champions, the London Lions in game week two of the British Basketball League.
Game week
two of the 2023/24 British Basketball League season is fully underway, and we
return to a team that has already played this week. The London Lions will be
travelling up North to visit the Manchester Giants and to keep their impressive
start to the season going.
With the
Lions already 2-0 in the standings, London will only be hoping to extend this
run after a dominant win over the Caledonia Gladiators to the score of 93-65.
The Giants
will be hoping to get into winning ways after losing in game week one to the
Gladiators to the tune of 97-79.
🤩👀 More epic #BritishBasketballLeague action to come this evening, as @BristolFlyers take on @NewcastleEagle and @RidersBball host @PlymCityPatriot on a fantastic Friday night of hoops!
👇 Click below to get your tickets or tune in online to tonight’s games.#UNBEATABLE
— British Basketball League (@britishbasketm) September 22, 2023
What to expect:
Going off
expectations, the Lions should, and will be the favourites for the Manchester
Giants matchup. However, with only 48 hours since their last game, rotation and
fatigue may play a factor in this game.
Manchester
have of course not played since last week and should feel fully fit for the mammoth
task of overthrowing the Lions. The Giants should also benefit from the
continued absence of Lions star, Sam Dekker, whose return to the team is still
unknown after offseason surgery.
The Giants
will need to play better than they did last week, however, after their crushing
defeat to the Gladiators. Even though Jamell Anderson and Evan Walshe were able
to log respectable numbers with 17 points each, the two stars will need to
expect better output from their teammates to keep up with this Lions team.
Who to watch:
It’s becoming a recurring pattern with the London Lions, but Gabe Olaseni must be the one to watch again. Currently, on a streak of two MVP performances for the Lions, Olaseni will be hoping to steer his team to another win behind his dominant performances. The big man is currently averaging 13.5 points to go with 10 rebounds a game.
For the
Giants, the star duo of Walshe and Anderson will be hoping for another good
performance after the duo combined for 34 points. The inside-out tandem will
need to either improve those numbers or expect more out of the cast around
them.
Players to
keep an eye on though can easily be Luke Nelson for the Lions and Nick Stampley
of the Giants.
Nelson had
another solid performance in game week two against the Gladiators, and his
ability to get to the free-throw line has him currently top of the British
Basketball League for most made free-throws.
Stampley had a game to forget against the Gladiators in week one, however, those shooting woes could easily be turned. Stampley registered nine points, but on 12 shots while going 0-for-4 from beyond the arc. His 10 rebounds were integral, but if a few more of his shots can drop, then this game will be close.
Where to watch:
To watch this game of the 2023/24 British Basketball League
season, tune in to YouTube on Saturday, September 23 at 8:00 pm BST.
With the new season here, you can still get your British
Basketball fix by following the League on social media or heading to our YouTube
channel to relive all of the best moments from last year!
