In this week’s edition of On The Ball, NATION basketball writer Justin Marville reviews last week’s opening round of games in the Co-operators General Insurance Premier League.
SO PINELANDS aren’t as unbeatable as we thought.
Not that anyone should need a loss to Lakers to realise that.
Yes, the double-crowned champs were missing arguably the league’s best player in the injured Jeremy Gill, but that surely was one imbalanced offensive effort coming from a team that boasts three other national players and a fourth star that can be considered at national level.
Come to think of it, the roster on the whole is imbalanced, and that’s why the double-overtime defeat really comes as no shock considering Pinelands aren’t very deep to begin with.
Now don’t get me wrong, this is no knock on the individual Pine reserves, as all of them are solid bench players that serve specific roles.
Only that none of those roles happen to include scoring, which then leaves most of the scoring responsibilities on the shoulders of Gill, Charles Vanderpool, Ramon Simmons, Junior Moore and Halley Franklyn.
And now we see what happens when one is absent.
Well, I guess they’re missing Daniel Lovell and Rico Thorpe more than expected because there’s just no punch to that bench – no matter how many times Franklyn is switched between both units.
Of course Gill’s injury just exaggerates a situation that won’t look as bad when he’s in the line-up, especially later in the year when Thorpe makes his long-awaited return from Canada.
And it’s not like the rest of the league is good enough to take advantage anyhow. Though, I wouldn’t move Franklyn from that bench just yet.
• So if we readily accept Gill, Andre Lockhart and Akeem Marsh as the league’s big three in some order, then No.4 should also be a clear no-brainer.
That’s right, the days of considering Keefe Birkett as a mere jump-shooter are long gone now, taking into account what the national two-guard has accomplished over the last two years.
I even strongly considered him for last season’s MVP award after leading Lakers to the finals as the team’s first scoring option and primary (read: only) ball-handler.
But it’s his most recent work which has truly caught my eye, with the sharp-shooting guard pouring in a pair of 24-point performances in two surprising victories despite playing on a side which looked ripe for demotion.
It’s one thing to get your points when a defence has multiple options to account for, and it’s another thing to get them when that opposing D – and just about everyone else in the building knows – each play is going to be run for you.
This isn’t to discredit Francis Williams’ fine coaching job (what else is new), Derek Browne’s steady play at the point or the team’s great defensive efforts, but Birkett is definitely the engine driving this train.
Whether it’s off the dribble, running off screens or spotting up behind the arc, Birkett has just become one impossible cover due to his innate understanding of spacing and timing.
And it’s not enough to run him off spot anymore, as the ever-improving ball-handler now understands when to go all the way to the hole or pull up at the foul line.
So pick your poison opposing defences, once you also pick Birkett as the league’s fourth best player.
• Yeah, I know it’s early goings yet, but this really can’t be a part of the plan in Warrens land.
Unless of course the plan is to keep the status quo in check, then Lakers’ next door neighbours are definitely right in line with last season where they lost their first three games of the season en route to a disappointing 6-10 record.
But did they really have to go out and get Mark Bridgeman, Adrian Allman and Jamar King just to continue losing, because I’m quite sure Warrens’ old roster could do bad all by themselves like a Tyler Perry movie.
All jokes aside, logic would suggest it’s only a matter of time before a team with so many capable players eventually turns it around to avoid a demotion derby.
Time, though, may not be on their side if they’re trying to convince a fourth Laker to come over for a play-off push.
• Speaking of touted Lakers free agents, Ian Alexander must look like a great pickup for any number of teams after the athletic forward failed to turn out for his hometown Husbands side.
I’d bet Clapham, St John’s and Cougars are currently bidding for his services as we speak this minute, trying to sell Alexander on his “perfect fit” with their team and the potential for winning titles.
And of course all but one of those teams may actually be able to offer him these things, but hey, who am I to ruin Cougars’ chances of acquiring a good, young player.
