Analysis » By the numbers - Lions @ Flyers - 27/01/18

That's what you call home cookin' 👨‍🍳

Brandon Boggs is ready for today's @BBLofficial slam dunk competition. pic.twitter.com/MV4zAGv0Ks

— Bristol Flyers (@BristolFlyers) January 28, 2018

Coming into the game, London were noted as being the BBL’s best three-point shooting team and their first points of the game came from a three. That though was where London’s three-point shooting for, not just the quarter ended, but for the entire first half!

Bristol’s defensive efforts didn’t end at the three-point line either, as they were also able to force seven turnovers from London and score ten points from those extra possessions. In comparison, Bristol turned the ball over on just one occasion and London weren’t able to capitalise from it.

The positives in the first kept on stacking up as the scoring was shared around the team. Bristol were aggressive enough to get to the free-throw line at a reasonable rate and also play some very disciplined basketball, only making two fouls, leading to two free shots for the Lions.

The positives in the first kept on stacking up as the scoring was shared around the team. Bristol were aggressive enough to get to the free-throw line at a reasonable rate and also play some very disciplined basketball, only making two fouls, leading to two free shots for the Lions.

Into the second quarter the Flyers carried on right where they left off as London’s turnover count jumped up to 13 and the Flyers added to their lead by another eight points. The Flyers’ defensive efforts were so good in the second that they kept London to 2/11 shooting for the period. Two shots. London made just two shots.

Fortunately for London, they were able to stay in the game as Bristol committed nine fouls in the quarter, resulting in 14 London free-throws of which ten were converted. The Flyers continued to get to the line themselves, making 100% for the quarter.

By half-time, the Bristol lead had increased to 19 with their only struggles coming from the three-point line, making just 1/5 up to this point. London were struggling to score outside of two primary options, Brandon Peel and Joseph Ikhinmwin who combined for 21 of London’s 28 points at half-time.

After the break, Bristol had a bit of a disappointing third quarter as London cut into the lead slightly but not significantly. Three point shooting struggles continued and those struggles began to form from two-point range too, with Bristol shooting 33% on the quarter. Only one Flyers player scored more than two points in the third quarter; Leslee Smith, who added five to his total for the game and secured a 17 point, 11 rebound, double-double by the end of the period.

London cut Bristol’s lead from 19 to 15 as Cory Dixon scored ten of his game high 17 in the third quarter. Again though, London’s scoring options were limited as only two other Lions added to Dixon’s ten. London starting PG, Andre Lockhart continued to struggle immensely as he missed every shot he took, not just for the quarter but for the entire game. The guard went 0/4 from two, 0/2 from three and worst of all, 0/4 from the free throw line.

The Flyers headed into the final period with a 60-45 lead that was always going to be an uphill battle for a depleted London side who, the most they had scored in a quarter during the game so far was just 17. With a 15-point lead and the player of the game award secured, Leslee Smith was able to sit out the final ten minutes. 

The fourth was London’s highest scoring period of the game but the Flyers were able to match it from everywhere but the free-throw line. Bristol made 10/11 free throws in the first half but missed their one opportunity in the second half. This, whilst giving London 33 opportunities for the game! London scored over a third of their entire point total from the line.

In the fourth though, the game was over unless London picked up the pace and scored quickly and often. With them being the league’s premier three-point shooters they threw up seven more shots from behind-the-arc… Making one. A lot of missed shots means a lot of rebounds and the Flyers grabbed 17 of them, leading to 11 fast break points for the quarter alone.

Bristol continued to spread the scoring load again with no single player taking full control, sharing the ball and just trying to find the open man. On the ten made shots for the quarter six were assisted. The great teamwork ultimately helped to tie up the game and give the Flyers their first home win of 2018. 

A passionate fan of basketball since 2004, Aaron briefly played at SGS (then Filton College) under Head Coach Andreas Kapoulas.

Fast forward a number of years, Aaron now contributes to recording the statistics for the Flyers home games as a club Statistician, you’ll often find him sat at the table courtside taking stats into his laptop at every home game.

Do you agree with Aaron? Follow him on Twitter @eamer and let him know what you think!