November 2014 James: ‘London Win Can Spur Us On’

Worcester Wolves’ Director of Basketball, Paul James, has called for his side build on the momentum picked up in last week’s dramatic comeback win against the London Lions as they face tricky back-to-back games this weekend.

Despite trailing by as many as 15 points against the Lions, a stunning third quarter fight back saw Wolves haul themselves into the lead, and they survived a late onslaught from the visitors to secure a stunning win against one of the strongest sides in the division.

James now believes that the win can spur his side on as they host the Manchester Giants on Friday (14^th ), before making the long trip to face Surrey United at Surrey Sports Park on Saturday (15^th).

“It was a massive win for us and, actually, I think the players needed it more than anything else because we really haven’t been firing on all cylinders at all this year so far,” James said.

“We needed a game like that where five, six, seven guys came in to contribute.

“We had huge character. We were 15 points down at one stage in the first quarter and it was like, ‘here we go again’.

“But we found the right combination at the right time and we got seven or eight stops in a row to allow us to get back into the game. Hopefully, the win will spur us on,” added the Wolves boss.

Wolves suffered a humbling 93-83 away defeat at the hands of the Giants earlier in the season, and James believes his side have a point to prove on Friday.

“We kind of owe them a little bit because we went up there and we were very good in the first quarter, and then we just switched off for the next thirty,” he explained.

“But they’re a team that build on confidence if we allow them to get their shots away and we don’t play a tough defence. And when they build their
confidence, they’re a tough team to stop.”

On Saturday, Wolves will then travel to face a Surrey United team who James argues pose much more of a threat than the side that won just four times in the BBL last term.

“They’re 200 per cent better than last year,” James said. “We’ve already played them once this season and it was a tough game.

“We’re going to their place so it’s going to make it a little but tougher. But we’re just going to have to concentrate and make sure we do what we have to do as individuals to help our teammates out.

“We need to play with the energy and the discipline that we did against London and, if we do that, we’re going to win a lot of games.”

 

Cover photo courtesy of;
Tom Bennett
Razorlight Imagery