BBC Radio Leicester stopped by to speak to the team for their weekly āGame Nightā show.
Ahead of the upcoming British Basketball League Playoffs, Riders players and Head Coach Rob Paternostro reflected on the Championship season, and previewed the postseason.
Hereās what they had to sayā¦
Teddy Allen
Riders leading scorer, Teddy Allen, has spent the final weeks of the season getting into playoff shape. Working through injuries intensely has led to the American being in the best health that heās been in all season, right in time for the postseason.
āI have been dealing with some injuries, but I feel like Iāve got my body right and Iām ready to get to work in the playoffs,ā said Allen.
āThe last few weeks Iāve been working closely with our training staff to get my body right. This is the healthiest I have been since I got here in Leicester, and Iām ready to make a run.ā
Ready for some playoff buckets?
ā Leicester Riders (@RidersBball) April 22, 2024pic.twitter.com/7ifgNz0IHU
The Riders enter the playoffs as the fifth seed. Reflecting on the second half of the year, Allen expressed disappointment in how the games fell, but is looking at ways to rectify recent results with his own performances.
āI wish we could have got some more wins down the stretch. I have to look at myself first and think about what I could have done better to help our team win.
āIf itās points, rebounds, assists or defence, whatever the team needs me to do I just want to go out there and compete.
āNobody wants to lose, but we all left everything out there on the court with our effort and thatās what weāll continue to do.ā
The playoffs represent a fresh start for the Riders, and Allen sees that as an opportunity to set right unmet potential from the Championship season.
āYou never want to go out on a down note in win-or-go-home scenarios. We feel like we could have done a lot better throughout the year, and now is our chance to prove that.
āWe are locked in as a unit, and itās time for everyone to work towards a common goal. Anybody can get it. Whoever is in our way, we feel confident that we can win.ā
TJ Lall
For the Ridersā end of season awards, TJ Lall was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Playerās Player to recognise his efforts.
Lall looked back on his performances, and how he grew into the season as it progressed:
āI feel like Iāve played my role all year. Whatever the team has needed Iāve been able to give. The second half was better than the first for me personally. Playing together more, weāve been a more cohesive unit, which has helped my game.ā
Despite a season filled with ups and downs, the Riders showed up with big wins in important spots all year.
A win-or-go-home victory in the Trophy against the Newcastle Eagles springs to mind, as well as wins against the Sheffield Sharks on the road and the Cheshire Phoenix at home down the stretch.
āWe stepped up in some big games this season. But our mentality has to change now. We have to be more locked in and in tune. Weāll see the Sharks multiple times, so we have to adjust and be ready for their adjustments.ā
On a similar note to Allen, Lall looks forward to the chance of showing the League what this unit is capable of.
āEveryone here wants to win. We know weāre talented and have not shown our full potential, and were ready to show it during the playoffs. The pressure is good for us. We play better under pressure.ā
Duke Shelton
Duke Shelton, an American big who joined the Riders midseason, has stepped into the starting unit in recent weeks.
After an adjustment period where he looked to settle into the team, he feels comfortable in his role going into the playoffs.
āIāve adapted really well and found my position within the team. Iāve enjoyed my time here so far.
āI feel like Iāve shown flashes of what I can do, but maybe not to my full potential yet. Thereās been times where Iāve been consistent but Iām looking forward to whatās to come.
āAnytime you come into a new situation in the middle of the year it can be a little challenging finding your spot. Everyone is comfortable where they are and you donāt want to ruffle any feathers or step on toes. You want to come in, have good energy and try to help the team any way you can.ā
DUKE!!!
ā Leicester Riders (@RidersBball) January 19, 2024Tune into the second half live on the @britishbasketm YouTube channel#BritishBasketball pic.twitter.com/3BinsAhjO6
Over the course of his nine-year professional career, Shelton has learned that postseason appearances are a valuable commodity, and is looking to make the most of his upcoming run.
āThis is going to be my second time in the playoffs in my professional career. Iām looking forward to the atmosphere weāre going to be playing in. Everyone is going to step up and raise their level of play. Itās the playoffs, which is almost like a new season where anything can happen.ā
And with the new season comes a new mentality, where the urgency is ramped up and everything is on the line. Shelton understands as much, and the team is ready to go.
āItās a new mindset now. Iām sure the rest of the team feel the same way, and that also goes for the other teams in the league. Weāre ready to compete.
āThe team thatās willing to give a little bit more, most of the time, will win. Basketball is a game where the team with the fewest mistakes has a huge edge, so we need to be focussed and ready to play our best ball.ā
Rob Paternostro
Five-time British Basketball League Playoff champion, Rob Paternostro, understands more than anybody what it takes to lift the silverware at the O2 Arena.
Since the Playoff Final has been played at the O2, the Riders have been there every year bar one, and Paternostro is keen to continue that trend.
āOnce you get to the playoffs thereās so much urgency because if you donāt play well youāre going home. Everyone wants to be at the O2 by the end, and weāve been there nearly every year. Itās wonderful to be there, so thatās always the goal.ā
As was the case for most teams in the League, the gauntlet of the British Basketball League schedule saw ups and downs throughout the season.
But now that the dust has settled, Paternostro feels the team is in a good position to go on a postseason run.
āWe had a tough last couple of games, but weāve been similar to most teams this year on our ups and downs. Itās been a real grind.
āThe changes to our roster had a positive impact for us midway through the season. Of course, injuries hurt us in the second half of the year with Jaren and TJ especially late, but at our best we feel like weāre a really good team, and weāre in good shape going into the playoffs.ā
Tickets are on sale for the Ridersā round one home game against the Sheffield Sharks on May 4.
Tickets are 20% off until 11:59 pm on Wednesday, May 24. Get yours here!
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