Here are Coach Kannemeyer's 3 Keys to the Game:
Back on Track?
After four hard played quarters against the Edmonton Stingers on Friday, the Bandits appear to be on their way back, possibly uncovering the formula to end the season with two straight wins versus Saskatchewan.
It won’t be easy, but the Bandits at least have a blueprint from a game they could have won against the league's best.
The team got back to basics Friday by executing in the half court, getting on the offensive glass, and winning at least half of the loose ball battles to create extra possessions. If the Bandits can continue to execute and work hard the team's ceiling goes up exponentially.
Transition Execution
The team's identity all season has been to wreak havoc with their half court defensive pressure to create live ball turnovers. Lately, when the Bandits have made defensive stands, the offensive transition has faltered mightily. Typically these opportunities will lead to odd man scenarios, creating momentum changing plays.
Against the Rattlers, the Bandits might want to pick their spots to run more selectively knowing that they have a talent and size advantage against Saskatchewan. Secure the ball, don’t rush to get down the floor, and settle for half court execution rather than attempt to make home run plays at full speed.
This cautious approach might not be in their DNA, but the team has shown that they can be excellent with their ball and player movement, sharing the offensive success between all five men on the floor. The Rattlers lack of rim protection and overall size was one of the deciding factors in the previous four losses against Edmonton. Being selective from live ball turnovers might help the team to gain back their transition confidence moving forward.
Quick Start
Losing teams can revert back to losing habits quickly, so coming out with sustained offensive pressure could put the Rattlers in hole they may never slither out of.
I suspect the Bandits will go back to a four guard plus Brandon Gilbeck starting lineup Sunday after toying with a bigger lineup to match up with the gigantic frontline of the Stingers. Reynolds, Duvivier, Campbell and Manigault would be my choice to run the Rattlers into the ground with the best speed and skill lineup.
With the emergence of both Levon Kendall and Adam Paige, paired with the consistent toughness of Ryan Ejim, the Bandits can form a gigantic front line of their own to pile on the points against the struggling Rattlers on Sunday.
A quick start from the starters sustained by a possible gigantic bench crew could obliterate both the Rattlers' lack of scoring and rim protection before the start of the second quarter, leaving a losing team searching for options that it simply doesn’t have.