The Surrey 89ers are already one of the SLB’s most competitive teams. They dominate early, jumping out to leads with a +1.93 Q1 differential—the best in the league. Their core players set the tone, executing at a high level and proving they can go toe-to-toe with anyone.
But by the fourth quarter, they fade. Surrey’s -3.12 Q4 differential is the worst in the league, a sharp contrast to their early control. The issue isn’t talent—it’s depth. They have the foundation of a top-tier team, but their current structure makes it difficult to sustain success for a full 40 minutes.
Heavy Reliance on Starters
Surrey’s starters carry one of the biggest workloads in the league, ranking second in starter minutes percentage at 70.28%. That reliance has made them one of the toughest teams to break down early in games—but it also leaves them exposed late on.
| Team | % Starter Minutes |
|---|---|
| Leicester Riders | 72.33% |
| Surrey 89ers | 70.43% |
| Bristol Flyers | 69.46% |
| B. Braun Sheffield Sharks | 69.42% |
| Manchester Basketball | 68.83% |
| Cheshire Phoenix | 67.20% |
| London Lions | 66.40% |
| Caledonia Gladiators | 65.98% |
| Newcastle Eagles | 65.02% |
Surrey’s reliance on their starters isn’t just a rotation choice—it’s a necessity. When the bench checks in, the scoring slows down, forcing the core players to carry the load for longer stretches. By the fourth quarter, fatigue sets in, and opponents take advantage.
Surrey’s Depth Problem
The drop-off is steep. Surrey’s bench produces just 0.304 points per minute, the worst mark in the league:
| Team | Bench PTS Per Bench Minute |
|---|---|
| Newcastle Eagles | 0.421 |
| Cheshire Phoenix | 0.419 |
| Leicester Riders | 0.401 |
| B. Braun Sheffield Sharks | 0.369 |
| London Lions | 0.369 |
| Caledonia Gladiators | 0.363 |
| Manchester Basketball | 0.353 |
| Bristol Flyers | 0.333 |
| Surrey 89ers | 0.304 |
As the bench struggles to contribute, opponents capitalise late, rotating fresher players against a worn-down Surrey lineup.
The Path Forward
Surrey are closer than people think. Their early dominance proves they have the talent, the game plan, and the core pieces to be a top-tier SLB team. But if they want to turn strong starts into wins, they need one more scorer off the bench to ease the pressure on their starters.
This isn’t about fixing a weakness—it’s about unlocking their full potential. With just one more reliable scoring option in the second unit, Surrey wouldn’t just be competitive. They’d be dangerous.
