Friday 11 April 14 – Worcester Wolves vs Leicester Riders

This is the time of year when the small details can decide a team’s fate and Leicester Riders forward Jay Couisnard has identified one aspect of his team’s play which needs addressing ahead of Friday’s trip to the University of Worcester Arena to meet Worcester Wolves, (tip off 7.30pm).

Riders are currently fourth in the table with just a game at Durham Wildcats on Sunday to follow Friday’s contest and close their season.

Play-off positions and all-important momentum are at stake and Couisnard believes the Riders’ ability to hold their nerve from the charity stripe could be key.

“This year our free throws have cost us a few games so we really do need to shore up that area of our game,” said Couisnard.

“We just have to make those down the stretch and the outcome will be in our favour.”

Free throw shooting will undoubtedly play a big part in play-off basketball, but Couisnard is not yet looking that far ahead, instead focusing all his energy on rounding off the regular season, starting at Worcester.

Couisnard added: “Each one of us signed to play a full season and we still have two more games on that agreement.

“We’ll look ahead to the play-offs when it’s time to. So for this next weekend we just want to focus on our strategies and what we need to do to have a 2-0 outing.

“Worcester is a good team and they have played well this year. I expect a hard fought game, a very competitive one at that.”

Wolves coach Paul James remarked: “Leicester have been one of the best defensive teams in the league again this season and we will need to continue being clinical at the offensive end of the court, as we have been over the past few weeks.

“Defensively we need to make every shot they take a tough look, but above all we need to keep it together as a team.”

Riders coach Rob Paternostro commented: “The Wolves are a talented team that can be very explosive, they can score both inside and out, it’s very important that we limit their runs.”