Three-point shooting stings Plymouth in Wolves defeat
Worcester Wolves...84Plymouth Raiders...80
PLYMOUTH Raiders were again found wanting from the three-point line at Worcester Wolves.
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They were overwhelmed 39-12 in three-point points in the BBL Championship on Saturday night in a now familiar tale.
Raiders coach Gary Stronach left his in-form three-point threat, reserve guard Jay Marriott, on the bench all evening.
Marriott finished 5/10 overall, from the three-point arc in back-to-back defeats at Newcastle Eagles and Sheffield Sharks, which immediately preceded the trip to Wolves.
When asked why he did not play Marriott on Saturday, Stronach said: "Jay did a good job last weekend and he can shoot the basketball, there's no doubt about that.
"But if you say fans are questioning that decision, you're not talking about 1,000 or 1,500 fans, you're talking about one or two fans.
"Jay does a good job every night in practice and I was really pleased with him last weekend, but at the end of the day he just has to stay patient and wait for opportunities to show us what he can do."
The trouble is, Marriott, who averaged 10.5 points in 13 minutes per game off Raiders bench at Eagles and Sharks, will wonder just what he has to do to impress.
You also have to question Stronach's decision-making this weekend.
Why would you not play someone in-form when your team are so badly out of sorts?
Stronach added of Saturday's contest: "Basically, we only played for the last seven minutes.
"Simple mistakes again let us down. Yes, you have to put the ball in the hole and get defensive stops, but it's the little other things as well."
He added: "We can't get the rub of the green on calls from referees for definite.
"We were two (82-80) down with 50 seconds left and possession, and we got called for travelling. Ridiculous.
"Worcester went down the other end and hit a tough shot and the game's over – we lose by four."
Wolves, who led by eight, 47-39 at half-time, went up by as many as 16, 77-61 in Saturday's final frame.
A 19-3 finish from Raiders was ultimately in vain.
STATS
Points: Raiders: Valencia 19 (5/9 Field-Goals), Rowe 14 (7/11), Martin 12 (4/9), Horton 12 (5/11), Hilleary 10 (5/9), Lasker 6 (2/8), Noel 4 (2/2), Gall 3 (1/4); Worcester: Middleton 22 (7/14), Disy 19 (8/12), Sidlauskas 14 (6/9)
Rebounds: Raiders 36; Worcester 35
Assists: Raiders 13; Worcester 14
Turnovers: Raiders 14; Worcester 14
Points Off Turnovers: Raiders 21; Worcester 17
Points Off Bench: Raiders 22; Worcester 13
Field-Goal Percentage: Raiders: 49 per cent (31/63 attempts); Worcester: 52 per cent (32/62)
Three-Point Percentage: Raiders: 44 per cent (4/9 attempts); Worcester: 46 per cent (13/28)
Free-Throw Percentage: Raiders: 67 per cent (14/21 attempts); Worcester: 39 per cent (7/18)
5 Comments
by Big C, Ireland,Dublin
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 1:38PM
“I Think Jay Marriott Should be Playing 15-25Min Every Night. when he has got in and Got a Chance to Play he Does Well. At the End of the Day what Harm could it do to get another person to Hit the 3 pt shot??”
by Pat, Devon
Monday, February 08 2010, 2:55PM
“Disgusted,I am so with you on this.
No doubt Chris Tavistock will be on soon shouting you down”
by Disgusted, Plymouth
Monday, February 08 2010, 2:41PM
“So let me get this straight. Jay M averages 10.5 point in 13 minutes over two games the previous weekend and doesn't play a minute in this weekend´s disasterous two games?
Does anyone else have a problem with this coaching decision?
Does anyone else have a problem with the endless stream of excuses as to why we are mediocre on the court?
Does anyone else have a problem with the Board´s continued inability to make the required coaching change to rectify our problem.
How much is too much? How much do we have to take?
If you made another in a series of endless horrendous decisions at work what would happen? Would you get an infinite number of free passes like our Coach and Board get?
I will make a prediction: If nothing is done soon, those that are still members of the Raiders Board will PERSONALLY feel the public scrutiny for continuing to sit on their hands. Damon and Ian B will thank their angels for jumping ship when they did.
If this hiding under stones approach continues, current Board members may very well feel personal financial consequences for their inaction (both as Raiders Board members and in their own private businesses).
Here is my reasoning. If I know you are on the Raider´s Board and you are blundering this badly with our supporter´s money, what is to say you don´t do the same as a businessman. What is to say you are not inept in general.
Here are your choices. Continue with your incompetence as a Raider´s Board member at your own risk both financially and as an upstanding and respected member of the Plymouth community or RESIGN so that someone else can get on with the hard decisions.”
by Steve, plymouth
Monday, February 08 2010, 10:58AM
“I heard the result through the grapevine and am disappointed that they have lost because of 3 pointers again. If it works against plymouth then why are worcester still languising bottom half of the bbl. I would of least warned the players to let the wolves play around the 2 point line rather than letting them work their 3 point magic.”
by james, birmingham
Monday, February 08 2010, 7:53AM
“Saturday's loss wasn't down to the fact that Jay didn't play. It was down to silly turnovers at crucial times and a lack of any decent defence and effort until it was too late.
Yes, Jay can shoot the ball when he's wide open but without being detrimental what else can he do? I think you have to trust the coaches' decision on this one, after all he sees him everyday in practice, we don't”