Author: Joe Whitehead
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There’s Only One Ball for Sheffield
How many players can one team carry who all expect to finish possessions? Sheffield’s offence this season is built around that question. Rather than spreading responsibility across contrasting roles, they have brought together several players whose value comes from finishing possessions. The issue isn’t how often the offence runs through them, but how often it
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London’s Rotation Logic
Coaching philosophies are easy to articulate in isolation. They are harder to sustain when the environment changes. For teams competing across multiple leagues, the real test is not whether a coach has a philosophy, but how that philosophy adapts under pressure. Does it scale when the opposition improves? Does it hold when margins shrink? For
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Victor Ndoukou’s Long Route
Leicester run one of the few pathways in the country that carries players from junior basketball all the way to the professional game. The structure is simple, with each stage feeding the next clearly. Pathway Stage Age Range Competitions Junior Academy 10 to 16 Junior NBL Charnwood College (Men) 16 to 18 EABL, NBL Division
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A Subtle Shift in the SLB Calendar
Buried in this season’s regulations is a small change to how games are scheduled. Under 17.9 in the SLB operating rules, teams will no longer be required to play two domestic fixtures on consecutive days — commonly referred to as back-to-back games. Last season, back-to-backs were one of the clearest pressure points in the calendar
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Can Zak Irvin Find His Fit Again?
Every team has a fifth option. The player defences are happy to leave alone, the one who is not meant to swing games. For Manchester, that role belonged to Zak Irvin — measured, selective and quietly essential. Before his injury at the start of November, Manchester asked a lot of him. Only Max Jones had
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One Sunday at Vertu Motors Arena
Doors to the Vertu Motors Arena open at 8:30am. The night before, Cage Warriors filled the arena; a fighter’s mask is cleared as three courts are set up for basketball. Scoreboards flicker on. Tables are arranged for officials. Chairs are laid out for benches. As this happens, the foyer fills with boys, girls and parents
