Intro
Chris Hughes provides the mid-season review and reflects on his NBL D1 preview
Table as it stands (06/01/2023) position, team (Chris’ prediction)
1st, Hemel Storm (1st)
The NBL LIVE cameras witnessed one of, if not the best game of the season as Hemel Storm beat Worthing Thunder on the road as they kept their unbeaten start of the season intact. The two title rivals boasting Rebound All-Stars captains (Taylor Johnson and Ronald Blain) will meet again in the Kit King Trophy final and possibly the National Cup final, both have to navigate their Semi-Final ties first.
Player focus
Flashy guard Sam Newman is gluing this side together with stand-out playmaking and shot making averaging just shy of an unconventional point and assist double-double 11.2p/8.2a and leading his team in steals.
Dartmouth alumni Aaryn Rai has been a sensational signing storming the league and possibly the league’s truest version of a guy who can play the point-forward with an amazing MVP credential stat line, averaging 22.3p/9.8r/4.8a/1.1s/1.3b from a 63.6FG%/36.7 3P%/80FT%!
2nd, Derby Trailblazers (4th)
The Trailblazers have really impressed me this season as they have an impressive 10-1 record heading into the Christmas break. They are yet to face the leaders (25th February away and 5th March home) and have already succumbed to a 24-point loss to Worthing on the road which may come back to haunt them if head-to-head records are needed.
Player focus
Like Hemel Derby have a guard that is averaging just shy of an unusual point and assist double-double. Ryan Bruggeman has been nothing short of outstanding with 15.7p/5.1r/9.8a/2.7s combined with high IQ playmaking it makes the former NCAA D2 guard a tough player to guard shooting a cool 54.3FG%/40.7 3P%/78FT%.
Malcolm Smith with his NBL D1 know how Smith is still elite, and still a problem for the rest of the league as the former league MVP is definitely still in the MVP conversation while averaging 20.5p/7.8r (3o-r)/3.1a/1.6s/1b.
3rd, Worthing Thunder (2nd)
Losses to Hemel and more surprisingly to south coast rivals Solent have really dented their title credentials in Zaire Taylor’s debut season as Head Coach. The return of former Solent star Brendan Okoronkwo should help the 3rd seeds improve upon their defence which currently stands in 6th compared to the rest of the league.
Player focus
David Moya is currently averaging the most minutes compared to his All-Star cast while shooting a video game nice 48.4FG%/40.8 3P%/77.8FT%, the shooting beyond the arc reads even more impressively considering Moya makes just under 7 3PA a night. Moya’s shooting alongside his two-way ability makes him a nightmare guard to face averaging 6.1apg and 3.4spg.
4th, Loughborough Riders (11th)
Loughborough are having an amazing season with an unbeaten record in November catapulting them up to the 4th seeds along with an impressive December run to finish 2022 strong. If they can successfully navigate a tough January with ties verses Hemel, Worthing and Nottingham then a top four spot could well be on the cards.
Player focus
Former Leicester Rider’s man Justin Hedley has had a great start to the season as part of an impressive team performance with a strong rebounding and playmaking performances, with a stat average of 13.5p/7.2r/5a/1.2s/0.4b.
Stand-out five from outside the top four sides
Jordan Whelan, Bradford
Ricky Madison, Solent
Troy Cracknell, Reading
Seth Hall, Nottingham
Joshua Guddemi, Nottingham
5th, Bradford Dragons (7th)
As I mentioned in my season preview, the signing of Jordan Whelan means business and the Dragons have five tough games coming up, all on home turf. Depending how they get on against Hemel, Worthing, Newcastle, Solent and Westminster will likely decide whether they can truly challenge for a top-four spot.
6th, Newcastle University (5th)
They are thereabouts from where I thought they would be, with impressive performances from a squad that had to replace the core of a very successful side. With games in hand compared to sides around them they look good value to be looking up the table, rather than down. Four of their next five games are on the road, given that Newcastle currently have a 50% win rate on the road it will not be a test they fear.
7th, Nottingham Hoods (9th)
Nottingham have really impressed me so far this season and I have them pegged as a side that will be on the up in the second half of the season behind a strong offensive set. They were able to score 90+ against strong defensive sides in the shape of Worthing and Solent, while also keeping Hemel to a 21 point loss, (Hemel averaging 30-point win margins).
8th, Team Solent Kestrels (8th)
A defensively strong side, but can be a real Jekyll and Hyde side, that each week has had me questioning my 8th place prediction. Their current form suggests the best is ahead of them with a single digit loss to Derby alongside impressive wins versus Worthing, Thames Valley and Nottingham. Although a two-point loss at Essex highlights that they are beatable. They face the 4th, 5th and 6th seeds all within the next five games.
Rest of the pack
In a tightly knit group Reading, Thames Valley, Essex and Manchester alongside the 8th seeds are all on 4 wins. I had predicted the former two to be involved in the play-off picture but both sides have been inconsistent.
Reading currently have the 12th best offensive record (points per game) but have been defensively tight, with a game in hand they might fancy their chances but with fixtures against all of the top three coming up it might be a tough winter.
Thames Valley Cavaliers on the other hand are strong offensively but sit in 10th with a poor points per game record, they head in to a vital period, their next four games are against four of the bottom five.
Essex and Manchester are sides I had pinned down as the two teams to go down, both currently sit above the dotted line. These two teams meet soon in a massive game for the victor to put more distance between themselves and the bottom three.
Relegation places
London Lions II currently have three wins to their name and have a tough run of fixtures to navigate in January.
Westminster Warriors have big games coming up with a relegation scrap with Essex pending followed by the chance to do the double over Solent.
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