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Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 07:00
Summer signing Beckles, who has seen action in Spain, Switzerland and Sweden, said he believed the Wrigleys Airwaves-backed team can win a major title this season after a slow start.
And Beckles, who stands at 6ft 8in, hinted that – should the opportunity arise – he would like to extend his contract with Raiders.
Beckles, on a one-year deal with Raiders, has proved a tough customer playing inside for the Plymouth team.
He started in a more mobile role during pre-season in place of small forward and assistant coach DeAntoine Beasley, who was stuck at home in America for two months waiting for his UK working visa.
But since Beasley's return, Beckles has switched back into the centre, a role which probably suits him best.
Whatever his position, Beckles has seen substantial minutes for the BBL Championship-chasing team, whether starting or coming off the Raiders' bench.
He said: "From the start of the season, when we were negotiating my contract, coach (Gary Stronach) said I would play a major role.
"I was filling in for DeAntoine, but I've moved inside more, where there's a lot of rebounding and it's more physical."
Beckles admitted that last year's third-placed team had not got out of the blocks properly at the beginning of the season.
Raiders appeared to be more adept on the road than at the Pavilions, where they recorded morale-puncturing losses against Newcastle Eagles and Scottish Rocks.
In recent weeks, however, the Plymouth team managed to top the BBL – briefly – after overcoming their bete noire, Milton Keynes Lions, at the Bletchley Leisure Centre.
Beckles said: "I think we had a slow start, but now I think the guys are starting to mesh.
"Nobody is worried about their own stats – what we're worried about is winning the championship, or another piece of silverware."
A piece of silverware is within Raiders' grasp next week – they face Guildford Heat in the first leg of their BBL Cup semi-final on Sunday, with the home leg on Wednesday.
Bookending the two legs is a crunch match with Eagles at the Pavilions on Saturday and the not inconsiderable task of Worcester Wolves at home the following weekend.
Beckles accepted those 10 days could be season definers for Raiders.
He said: "It's a big 10 days for us – but the first time we played Newcastle, I don't think anybody saw our real Raiders team.
"During the last two weeks (when Raiders have had a break from competitive basketball), we've been busy going through the Newcastle plays and watching tapes of their games.
"Nobody in this league has a perfect record and I think Newcastle are beatable.
"There's more confidence about the team – even during practice, we're getting after each other to do things right, to make sure we get things done in a better way.
"I am even more focused now on winning something than I was in pre-season. I've played in the BBL now, I've adjusted and I feel I'm used to it."
He added: "I like Plymouth – it's a college town where there's plenty going on.
"We always get a good turnout of fans at matches, even away.
"In other countries, you might get a delay over your pay, or your car, but at Raiders they are very professional and there's nothing like that, here.
"It's a great situation for me – it's probably the first place that I've felt at home so quickly in a season.
"If there was a possibility of me staying another year, I would certainly consider it."
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