CT v NR Dynamos 18/02/2012

First Half:

Cheadle started the game at high pace and caught NR Dynamos napping. An early basket from Tom and a free throw from Josh put CT 3 points ahead after five minutes with NRD still to score. Then the dynamos turned up the aggression with some strong driving from #5, #9 and #13, clocking up the points and forcing fouls. Although Joe, Josh and Sean did some good driving too, the tight NRD defence left very few holes (though Sean did find one of them).

After an exchange with 7 minutes to go the new CT line-up found it just as difficult to defend against NRD's forceful attack, though good positional play from Matt A and pacey baskets from the Super-Collider showed that there were some weaknesses in Dynamo's defence.

Half time score: NRD-21; CT – 9

Second Half:

CT made a poor start to the second half, looking tired in the face of a ferocious NRD attack. The ball rarely left the danger zone for Cheadle. Again, expert driving into the key by #9,#5, and #13 caused the damage, adding 10 points in the first 5 minutes. Then CT got their defensive game into gear and slowed the score rate, though still giving up possession too easily. Joe made some good drives (and 2 points form free throws) but CT still looked unsteady in attack.

8 minutes of loose play at the end boosted the scores for both sides. In the free-for-all CT added 9 points, including a 3 pointer from Josh, and a near 3 pointer from Matt A in the last few seconds. But, with #9 making the most of CT's reluctance to chase him up court, NRD, still at full throttle, added 17.

Final Score: NRD – 52; CT -22

Stats:

CT: Josh – 6; Joe, Sean, Sol – 4 each; Tom, Matt A – 2 each.

NRD: #9 – 26; #5 – 12; #13 – 10; #8 – 4;#14 – 2.

Pros and Cons:

Good start to the match, with a lot of enthusiasm and lively, attacking play, that seemed to catch NRD off-guard; then some determination to carry on attacking when NRD recovered.

The main weakness was not putting that energy and determination into defence too. When NRD attacked forcefully, CT didn't have an answer. #9 was a great shot, but he wouldn't have scored 26 (half the points for his side!) if he had been marked consistently. In attack, with the “usual suspects” as exceptions, CT often looked reluctant to drive.

Nevertheless there was some attractive and exciting play from CT all the way to the end – it kept us entertained. And I'll just mention that when Cheadle played NRD in November last year the score was 77:2!

And Finally:

Many thanks to Barry for standing in as coach this week - not a bad job, or at least none of the lads complained to me. And the "Special Energy Drink" seemed to work pretty well - perhaps we should try "Double- Strength" next time.

Tom's basket (a long shot from near the corner) was first in the match, but he didn't know he'd scored until we were on the way home - he'd collided with a defender when he took the shot and fell flat on his back, so he didn't see it go in. He was scowling when he got up, but he does that whether he scores or not. Presumably this is why Malcolm used to call him “Smiler”.

Dan seems to have made an enemy of ND #9 – at least they seemed to be having a staring competition at one point, or perhaps it was just #9 who was staring, and Dan was ignoring him. Or perhaps Dan was doing some subtle marking – not sure. Whatever you were doing to keep him out of play, Mr Crab, keep up the good work.

CT v. NR Kings

First half:

First few minutes of the match both teams looked sluggish - relaxed for the school hols perhaps? At five minutes Joe was fouled and made a point. At this point NR Kings stopped being relaxed. Their #13 took the lead, driving through an open hole in the Cheadle defence to score easily. Then he tried it again, drew a foul from Tom and scored 2 from the free throws. Then he did the same again, putting NRK ahead 6:1. As the tally of fouls mounted Cheadle started to look jittery in defence, and NRK took advantage, #8 and #10 taking the lead and driving into the key and to the basket almost unopposed. “Killer” Matt F gets an honourable mention for single-minded pursuit and one-on-one defence Too often he was single-handed, with other players just not running or tackling.

Half time score CT 1: NRK 18

Second Half.

CT came out with more aggression, and made a good start, with Sean scoring in the first minute. Aggressive play from Josh forced fouls from the opposition. Cheadle were very much in control, making 5 points in the first 10 minutes while NRK managed only 1. It's fair to point out that NRK had their most dangerous players off court at the beginning and their return made the last 10 minutes much harder for Cheadle, though not quite the whitewash of the first half, with good baskets from Joe and Sol.

Final score CT 10; NRK 30

Stats

CT: Joe, Josh - 3 each; Sean, Sol 2 each.

NRK: #13 - 11; #8 - 7; #9 - 4

Bob's opinion:

The first half was a bit of an embarrassment, with the team looking very lazy. Without Matt F's efforts the score could easily have been 1:30 at half time. Too often, both in attack and defence, the team let a single player take the strain, and were prepared to saunter down the court after him. It wasn't a good look. And the lack of attention to rebounds left the supporters tearing their hair out (Don't worry, Barry, it'll grow back... probably). We were lucky that NRK were bad at it too.

It did take some guts to come back and play better in the second half. The score in the second half was 9:12 to the NRK, so not a bad come-back by Cheadle. Even #13 was kept under control. This is what the team can do, we just need to do it from the start of the match.

And commiserations to Tom, sent off for fouls in the last 5 minutes. Don't be put off. Better to try a tackle and fail than not to try. Practise will get it right.

CT v TV Aces 04/02/12

First Half:

Though #0 (no-kit) made a quick basket for TVA in the first few seconds Cheadle began the match strongly, looking more mobile that their opponents with some good passing and stealing. Joe was working hard, but unlucky not to score. Harry looked aggressive in the key. TVA kept trying to make a fast transition and an easy basket but Cheadle players kept matching them for speed. Not always! #0 and #31 did break through at 5 minutes, but Sean made a quick basket a few seconds later and Cheadle recovered quickly.

At 10 minutes, leading by just 6:2, TVA finally realised that they were not going to have an easy ride. Using the simple tactic of passing the ball to their deadly #0 in high post they started racking up the score. CT defence responded slowly and clumsily. There were a few fouls here by CT, though, mercifully, #0 lacked accuracy at the free shots. After five disastrous minutes, and 20 extra points for the Aces, baskets from Matt A and Joe helped pull Cheadle back together again – only allowing a single penalty point from #0 before the whistle.

Half Time Score: TVA – 27, CT – 6

Second Half:

TVA made a strong start, with their taller players #0 and #31 taking easy shots from high post, and adding 19 points. Cheadle still found it hard to defend against this tactic, though there was some aggressive jostling for position in the key and points from Sean and Matt A.

After time-out at 10 minutes, CT came back to play a smarter defence until the end of the game, cutting down the blistering TVA score rate. Joe, who looked tireless in this match, did some great steals, and Matt A got physical in defence. The teams seemed well matched at this point, with no score from either side for almost 7 minutes. The game loosened up in the last 3 minutes, with scores from Joe (cool free shots!), #0,#31and a final basket from Sean a few seconds before the end.

Final score: TVA – 53, CT – 14

Stats:

CT: Sean – 6; Joe – 4; Matts A&F – 2 each.

TVA: (approx.) #0 – 30+; #31 – 9; #24,35 and 36 also scored

Pros and Cons:

Cheadle were mobile at the start of the game, aggressively intercepting and stealing, and getting at least as much of the ball as their opponents. Faced with this type of play TVA found it hard to organise their game.

When CT let the pace slacken TVA scored again and again, and pretty much by the same method every time. Given his height it was hard to stop #0 scoring when he was right next to the basket with the ball. But aggressive play form CT stopped his team-mates from getting the ball to him. TVA didn't seem to have many other tricks, so if CT had kept up that active aggression throughout the game we'd have seen a very different score. (I do appreciated I was sitting down, lads, and you had to do the running around!) 

But looking back we lost 80:7 to this crew last November so we're heading in the right direction.

Special mentions:

Harry, and Matt F for some speedy pursuits down the court. Sol, we know you're fast too, try not to go through the wall next week, they may ask us to pay for the damage.

Tom, I'm still not sure whether barging smaller players around the key area is a legal move, or whether the officials just didn't notice. If you're sure it's legal why don't you try it on #0 next time.

And hard luck to Matt F that his final shot, flying when the whistle went, didn't quite make it. Try that again when the scores are level.

See you at the weekend.

Bob

Fixtures 11th - 25th February

11th Feb 9:20 Southside Hornets court 1
18th Feb 8:30 NR Dynamos court 1
25th Feb 11:00 Southside Flyers court 2

CT v Team X 31/1/12

 

(Apologies, didn't get the name of this team, I'll correct it anon, Southside Hornets?)

First half :

Matt A, Tom, Sean, Dan and Sol were first out for Cheadle against a depleted Team X of only 4 players. Sol made the first basket for Cheadle after four minutes of slow play, and this seemed to wake up the opposition, who responded with aggressive play and quick baskets from #7 and #31, driving through an out-of-focus defensive line. CT did recover their sense of direction for a while, and went on the attack, but missed a lot of chances, looking nervous in the key and taking too many long shots. Excellent rebound play, interceptions and steals from Team X took advantage of CT's loose play, with only some lightning defensive runs by Sol and Matt A preventing further losses. At the exchange, after a very easy basket from #31, the score stood at 7:2 against Cheadle.

Matt F, Joe, Josh and Harry came on at the 10 minute mark, with Matt A staying on court. The New line up seemed to get more into the game, holding their opponents back, but could not stop #7 driving into the key for a quick 2 points. The game moved up a gear after a basket from Harry in the 14th minute prompted a determined CT attack. Joe was looking smart. A good steal and transition and a spot-on pass set Josh up with the chance to drive in and score. Then he was driving in, forcing a rare foul (unlucky with the free shots ); then he was working some good passes with Matt F to score. Boomerang was, as always, picking up those rebounds, but CT's defensive play was just not active enough - #24 kept on driving to the basket and scoring to the last few seconds

Half time score 15-8 to Team X.

Second Half

Sol, Tom, Dan and Sean came on, and Joe stayed on to join them. Team X looked a tired at the start- and who can blame them! - and couldn't stop Sean making a long transition and quick drive to the basket in the first minute. Joe made a lot of the attacking plays at the start and was unlucky not to score. But with the ball going up and down the court it was Tom who managed (twice)to be in the right place to score. But Team X were still driving aggressively through CT's defence and more than matched Cheadle's score. At exchange the score was 14;25.

Josh came on to make another single-handed long transition right down the side of the court for a quick basket, that Sean followed quickly followed up. #24 drove to the basket and matched both. The game became a bit of a scrap towards the end, with a lot of falls and fouls. For a side that had played the whole match a man short, Team X looked fresher, still running hard to intercept, still driving hard and daring Cheadle to foul them, still scoring. Matt F did some smart steals and did some good driving at the end of the game and rewarded with a basket in the last seconds, but this still left the final score a very disappointing 21:40.

Stats:

Josh - 5; Tom, Sean - 4 each; Joe, Harry, Matts A&F - 2 each.

#24 was clearly the best player for Team X, #7 and #31 were joint second.

A Big Dollop of My Opinions

Yes, some good play was done by all....... BUT

Not enough drive! Against a defence of just 4 men we should have been driving in for the basket and forcing the fouls. This should have been a game where Cheadle went strongly on the offensive. It wasn't. Team X had 4 players, but they were all prepared to drive into the key and dare Cheadle to obstruct their shots. If all 9 players for Cheadle had been as brave it would have been a different result. And lads, it's not as if Andy hasn't made this point before.

And not energetic enough on the defence. It's not enough to take up a good position and get in the way, the point of defence is not just to stop the opponent from scoring, its also to get the ball back! The defence looks static and lazy. This isn't going to work against the teams we're playing now. Getting in the way isn't enough. Rebounds, steals and interceptions won the game for Team X. Yes, that means wearing out your trainers, and doing a lot more work for not much glory. Tough. Everyone needs to do it.

Sorry to rant, but I'm disappointed that CT didn't use this chance. 

Inshallah, I'll see you at weekend.

Bob