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Friday, November 21, 2008, 07:00
Stronach's squad entertain leaders and defending BBL champions Newcastle Eagles (7.30pm).
Raiders are 6-3 and second in the standings behind 7-2 Eagles, who remain the team to beat in 2008/09.
"It's a big game," said Stronach, who also takes his players to Guildford Heat in the semi-finals of the BBL Cup on Sunday (3pm). "These games are instrumental to what we want to do this season.
"We've got to be ready tomorrow and take care of the little things.
"The thing is Newcastle don't do anything special, they just play hard and ask guys to do what they're good at."
Raiders were routed 91-73 when Eagles visited the Pavilions earlier this season on October 19.
Eagles led by as many as 25 points, 84-59 after decisively pulling clear late in the second quarter.
Forward DeAntoine Beasley led Raiders with 23 points, while guard Trey Moore had 28 for Eagles supported by 16 and 15 points inside from big-men Darius Defoe and Lynard Stewart respectively.
Another away win tomorrow will clinch Eagles the head-to-head over Raiders in 2008/09.
Head-to-heads come into play when teams' records are tied in the standings.
"We didn't perform against Eagles last time and duly got it handed to us," said Stronach. "It's not rocket science how we're going to get it done tomorrow – it's the incidentals we didn't take care of in October."
He added: "Newcastle will try and take the crowd out of it early, and they will go inside to Lynard Stewart.
"They will want us to adjust to that and open it up outside for their guards.
"Our big guys – Terrence Durham, Gaylon Moore, Kwbana Beckles and James Noel – have to do a good job. We can't help them and leave their guards."
Eagles player-coach Fab Flournoy said: "Plymouth will be better prepared tomorrow."
Raiders are coming off their best defensive display of the season after stifling Milton Keynes Lions in a 74-65 road victory on November 9.
The triumph extended Raiders' current winning streak to four games, following a difficult start to 2008/09.
Eagles' four-game winning streak was snapped in a 89-74 loss at Scottish Rocks last Sunday.
Rocks, who visit Newcastle tonight in an intriguing return contest, outrebounded Eagles 44-27 and overwhelmed them 33-9 from the three-point line.
"I guess it was inevitable we'd have a bad game at some stage," said Flournoy.
Moore and Stewart led Eagles with 23 and 21 points respectively, but only rookie reserve guard Reggie Jackson (11 points) also got into double figures in a lopsided offensive effort.
Raiders were led by guard Drew Lasker's 15 points at Lions, while forwards Beasley and Gaylon Moore added 14 apiece in a well balanced display in attack.
Reserve centre Kwbana Beckles came off the bench and had 12 points, including 7/8 free-throws and helped Raiders decisively outscore Lions 24-8 from the free-throw line.
Stronach said: "I felt our bench did a great job. If it wasn't for them we would have lost.
"I still think we're up and down defensively, but when we're up we're tough. Milton Keynes found that out.
"There are still times when we give up points, so we need to be at teams straight away. We can't let players get comfortable."
Stronach added: "We've got to make Trey Moore score 20 tough points; and we can't give Newcastle second chances because that will nullify our transition offensively.
"If we take poor shots or miss shots, it's a sprint-fest for Eagles – a lot like us – so we've got to limit them in transition.
"We're certainly better now, but it's a big challenge tomorrow, whatever happens against Rocks tonight."
Reserve guard Gavin Love (ankle) and Beasley (foot) are Raiders' main injury worries.
It is understood neither are 100 per cent, but Stronach said: "I feel both will play. We need to be at our strongest tomorrow."
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