London has developed a clear identity as the chaos agents of the SLB South Group. They play at an electrifying pace, creating havoc for their opponents by forcing turnovers and capitalising on transition opportunities. With a group-leading pace of 77.9 possessions per game, London is playing faster than any other team in the South Group, often overwhelming their opponents with speed. They also excel at disrupting the flow of opposing teams, forcing a South Group-high 17.25 turnovers per game. This relentless pressure is central to their ability to create opportunities in transition, where they are at their most dangerous.
| Team | Pace | Opp TO Per Game |
|---|---|---|
| London Lions | 77.914 | 17.25 |
| Leicester Riders | 72.490 | 15.50 |
| Bristol Flyers | 64.336 | 12.60 |
| Surrey 89ers | 63.775 | 9.80 |
However, London’s own sloppiness has often undermined their success. Despite their ability to force turnovers, they are also averaging 17 turnovers per game—the highest in the South Group. This lack of control has left them vulnerable, as their chaotic style can backfire just as easily as it leads to fast-break opportunities. While London thrives in chaos, they are often the creators of it within their own ranks, losing valuable possessions in key moments.
| Team | TO Per Game |
|---|---|
| London Lions | 17.00 |
| Surrey 89ers | 13.40 |
| Bristol Flyers | 12.60 |
| Leicester Riders | 11.25 |
Their offensive approach is also one-dimensional, relying heavily on fast breaks. London scores 18 fast-break points per game, accounting for 23% of their total offense—the highest proportion in the South Group. This over-reliance on transition points exposes a significant vulnerability: when teams can slow them down and force London into a half-court offense, their efficiency drops dramatically. With a low Offensive Rating of 100.1, their fast pace isn’t translating into consistent offensive output, especially when the game slows down.
| Team | Fast Break PTS Per Game | % Fast Break PTS | ORtg |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Lions | 18.00 | 23.08% | 100.1 |
| Bristol Flyers | 12.80 | 18.44% | 107.8 |
| Leicester Riders | 7.25 | 8.15% | 122.8 |
| Surrey 89ers | 7.20 | 10.62% | 106.3 |
London’s chaotic style has produced exciting moments, but with a 1-3 record in the Trophy, questions are emerging about whether this approach can bring consistent results. While they can overwhelm opponents with pace and pressure, their high turnover rate and reliance on fast breaks leave them exposed in more structured, half-court games.
The key question now is whether London will tighten up their execution to make this chaos more efficient or if they’ll need to adjust their identity to find success. Can they strike the right balance between chaos and control, or will they continue to be a high-risk, high-reward team that lives and dies by the pace of the game?
