Paul James on Wolves’ Title Challengers

Worcester Wolves approach the Christmas period joint-top of the British Basketball League and Director of Basketball Paul James, while delighted with one of his side’s best ever placing’s at this point of the year, is respectful of all the teams competing for the title.
Wolves have so far accumulated eleven wins and three losses, only slightly bettered by Sheffield Sharks’ 11-2 record. Just beneath them stand Leicester Riders and Newcastle Eagles, with 10-2 and 10-3 showings respectively.
Wolves have so far faced the Eagles twice, both times in Newcastle, splitting the series. James is impressed by Eagles’ longstanding position as a powerhouse of the BBL: “Year in and year out they have been up at the top. They are a solid team driven by an excellent coach in Fab Flournoy, someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, with his teams playing like that.”
In October the reigning league champions, the Leicester Riders, were the inaugural visitors to the new University of Worcester Arena and just the first side of many to leave winless. Although they exacted a measure of revenge by defeating Wolves in the BBL Cup a month later, they suffered their first home defeat in almost two years when succumbing 62-69 a couple of weeks later to a resurgent Worcester outfit.
James expects Leicester to fight tirelessly to defend their crown: “They are a hard nut to crack, with probably the best defence in the league. While offensively they might not have quite the scoring threats they had last season, they are still an imposing force who won’t give up their title easily.”
Although Sheffield Sharks have already beaten the Wolves once this year, many of their other ten victories have come against sides outside of the top four. It is the remainder of their schedule that James thinks can be the chink in their armour: “Sharks have had consistency, with many of their players returning. They still have to play us and Leicester twice, as well as Newcastle three times so, although they should stay in contention, they still have to play a lot of games against the top teams.”
This Friday (tip off 7.30pm) London Lions will make the trip to Worcester. Lions are the only other club that James feels are likely to have a chance of cracking the top four: “London are probably the deepest team. For example they have Julius Joseph as tenth man coming in off their bench, and everyone knows what a good player he is. They can be there or thereabouts.”
In conclusion James added: “As longs as teams stay healthy it looks like it will be a battle right up to the last weekend of the season and I’m thrilled that our Wolves are in the thick of it.”