Intro:
The last time the two teams met, the Derby Trailblazers beat Hemel Storm to extinguish any play-off plans in the final game of the regular season back in March. This fixture then, is sure to serve as the perfect chance for revenge for the travelling team.
After the disappointment of missing out on the play-offs last season, Hemel have recruited well and most importantly, started well with three straight wins. The additions of Americans Greg Poleon and Mike Williams, as well as the return of Lee Hodges were big signings and have signalled Hemel Storm’s ambition for the season.
The game against Derby will be Hemel’s first real test and against a team that is touted as a play-off rival come April 2020. The Trailblazers finished fifth last season and took wins against Team Solent Kestrels, Worthing Thunder and Reading Rockets along the way to prove they can do the business against the top teams in NBL1.
The departures of Kayne King and Matthew Ward-Hibbert to Worthing and Hoods respectively, has been offset with the addition of Sergio Gomez and Malcom Smith signing a two year deal with the team.
Last 5 games:
Derby Trailblazers:
12/10/19 Worthing Thunder 81.77 (A)
05/10/19 Liverpool 79.95 (A)
28/09/19 Leicester Warriors 91.90 (H)
07/04/19 Thames Valley Play Off Q/F 90.81(A)
30/03/19 Hemel Storm 89.99 (A)
Hemel Storm:
12/10/19 Westminster Warriors 118.95 (H)
05/10/19 Nottingham McDonald’s Hoods 88.85 (H)
28/09/19 Liverpool 69.103 (A)
30/03/19 Derby Trailblazers 89.99 (H)
24/03/19 Loughborough Riders 98.89 (A)
Last time they met:
The Trailblazers denied Hemel a spot in the play-offs with a win on the road in the final game of the regular season. Despite the scoring efforts of TrayVonn Wright (25) and Bode Adeluola (14), Derby finished strongly in the third and fourth quarters to take the win 89.99.
Player news and analysis:
Malcom Smith remains the Trailblazers’ biggest threat. The forward scored 31 points to help his side narrowly defeat Leicester Warriors 91.90 in the season opener, as well as being his team’s top-scorer in their defeat to Worthing Thunder last weekend with 22 points.
Sergio Gomez has impressed so far this campaign. He was top-scorer with 25 points in the Trailblazers’ win against Liverpool, whilst Stanley Oliver’s FG% average so far is 72.4% having contributed 18 points and 20 against Leicester Warriors and Liverpool respectively.
Hemel have started strongly as expected with a trio of solid wins, two of which in triple figures. The return of Lee Hodges after a season at the Essex Leopards is already proving significant. The seven foot Centre notched up 23 points and 14 rebounds to earn the NBL player of the week in the Storm’s dominant 118.94 win over Westminster Warriors last Saturday.
Captain Bode Adeluola continues to remain a huge force for the team in his eighth season, whilst Mike Williams was top-scorer with 25 points in his debut against Westminster. Meanwhile fellow American Greg Poleon has started well for the Storm with a double-double last weekend (10 points and 17 rebounds). Poleon was also among the top-scorers as Hemel beat the Hoods with 17 points in GW2.
Next up Rebound’s Chris Hughes checked in with players from both teams as well as Hemel Storm’s Assistant Coach Michael Darlow on their views ahead of the game.
CH: “With both teams in good shooting form so far; where do you see this game being won or lost?”
MD: “Both teams have great scorers and playmakers at their disposal, being able to reduce the productivity of these guys is key. We’ve worked hard to create a strategy to limit Derby’s talents on the offensive end, it’s all about defence.”
CH: “4 of the next 5 games are against sides in the top 8 (Derby, TVC, Loughbough and Worthing). Firstly, what is an achievable return from those games? And which one will test your side the most?”
MD: “I’m confident we can continue our strong performance at home. The game which poses the biggest challenge is TVC. Once again it’ll be a battle of offensive talent and TVC are a very strong side this year.”
Next up was Sam Newman from Hemel Storm
CH: “What excites you most about this Hemel side? And off court what impact have fans had on this run so far?”
SN: “The depth and talent of our rotation is exciting, we have a bench of guys with various threats that compliment each other perfectly. The Hemel fans are second to none on energy, support and positivity. It’s so easy for us as a team to gel and perform when we have such a fantastic support group behind us before, during and after games.”
Will Ashby from Hemel Storm then took some questions
CH: “Where do you think the game will be won or lost?”
WA: “I think both teams have strong players inside, so I reckon whoever wins that battle will probably take the game. Lee (Hodges) and Greg (Poleon) against Stanley (Oliver Stanley) and Smith (Malcolm Smith) will be pretty interesting.”
Then Chris Hughes spoke to Johde Campbell (JC), Tre Wilford (TW) and Malcolm Smith (MS) from Derby Trailblazers
CH: “What if has impressed you with Hemel Storm’s start to the season?”
JC: “Hemel have really done an impressive job starting this season off scoring the ball and getting into triple figures 2 out of 3 games.”
CH: “What are your personal and team goals for this season?”
JC: “I think I can say my personal goals and team goals are the same, just to progress and get better and better as each week comes and hopefully be able to get the chip at the end of the season.”
CH: What excites you most about this Derby side?
TW: “Our ability to compete with anyone. Everyone on our team can do a little bit of everything as well as excel at their strong abilities of the game. We take pride in every game against Derby being a dog fight.”
CH: “What challenges do you expect from this Hemel side this weekend?”
TW: “With Hemel reshaping their team with talented new guys, it will challenge us to rebound and fly around on the defensive end better than we have so far this season. It will be a battle and I’m looking forward to it.”
CH: “Can both teams challenge for silverware this season? And who will be challenging?”
MS: “I definitely think Hemel has a team that will compete for silverware this year and I like our chances as well. A lot to improve on, but I feel we do get better from week to week so just keeping on with it will be good. I think there are a lot of teams that will compete for silverware this year honestly, there’s so much depth to the league this year so it will be exciting to see where the chips fall in the end.”
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