3 KEYS TO THE GAME - JULY 3 VS. NIAGARA

Cassidy Kannemeyer • July 3, 2022

Right off the Bat


On Canada day, the Bandits allowed both Isiaha Mike and Jalen Harris to get into rhythm early. The Bandits who typically thrive in the fourth quarter, had no answers for either guard as the Shooting Stars cruised to an easy win. 


Fast forward to Sunday, and the Niagara River Lions, a team that boasts two elite scorers, Khalil Ahmad who’s averaging over twenty points per game and Jaylen Babb Harrison who’s hurt the Bandits in the past. 


Alex Campbell as per usual will draw the assignment of shutting down Ahmad but when other Bandit perimeter defenders get switched on to him they need to have more urgency guarding elite scorers. If both scorers get off to a fast start the Bandits could be in trouble again heading into Elam time.


Sharing is Caring


The Bandits have looked their best offensively when the ball has moved side to side and inside out. On Friday the ball got sticky, and part of the problem was that both Shane Gibson and Murphy Burnatowski were coming back from the shelf. They seemed to try and do too much and it stalled the offence for the Bandits.


Gibson was electric in some sequences, scoring on three straight possessions twice. But Iso ball hasn’t been the answer. His success will come when he plays within the flow of the game, picking his spots. Not chasing buckets. The other Bandits know that when the initial play breaks down that Gibson is one of the best in the league at getting off his own shot. If Gibson and Burnatowski can play within the flow of the action, the Bandits will be firing on all cylinders on Sunday afternoon at the LEC.


Practice Makes Perfect


On both ends of the floor, Coach Mike Taylor has been a play calling maestro out of time outs this season. Routinely drawing up a bucket when needed or getting a stop with a key double team or zone look.


These specials are unique to the normal actions that the Bandits perform. They may look like a set that the defence has seen but when the team comes out for their first possession after a time out, there’s a built in counter that catches the defence off guard, usually for a dunk, a wide open three or a backdoor layup.


On Friday the team had one of their best nights of the season executing after stoppages, and I expect coach Taylor to keep dialling up more momentum changing plays Sunday keeping the Bandits within striking distance of the number one seed heading into playoffs.


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