
London Lions won every domestic trophy last season with the league’s best defence. Bristol and Cheshire’s recruitment suggest a response to the physical challenge they presented. London Set the Standard London allowed 102.3 points per 100 possessions last season, compared with 112.5 for Bristol, the next-best defence. Their length helped them pressure the ball and…

Eight players appearing for other SLB clubs this season began their BBL/SLB careers at Cheshire Phoenix. They are spread across six teams, giving most of Cheshire’s opponents a former Phoenix recruit. Their continued presence in the league is a credit to Cheshire’s recruitment, but keeping players has proved more difficult. Starting at Cheshire The table…

The SLB started the season unrecognised, in dispute with its governing body, missing the referees from the previous season, and with a FIBA taskforce hanging over the sport. However fragile it all felt, the ball still went up in the air. Room for Ambition The SLB Operating Rules were published at the start of the…

Pat Robinson dribbled towards the paint before kicking the ball out to Skyler White at the top of the arc. Owen McCormack saw the danger and closed out hard to stop the three. White took one dribble to his left as McCormack flew past him, then shot. The ball dropped, as it had 258 times…

No five-man lineup in the SLB has been more effective this season than Cheshire Phoenix’s Pat Robinson, LaQuincy Rideau, Michael Diggins, Frankie Policelli and Skyler White. It offers a useful picture of Cheshire’s roster construction at its best, with roles that fit cleanly together and a lineup shape that makes sense. This post uses Prophe(s)y…