Familiar opposition for the Sharks this Sunday as Playoff race heats up

British Basketball League Regular Season

Familiar opposition for the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks this Sunday as they travel to Manchester Giants for the second week running. An excellent bounceback win for the Sharks ended the Giants hopes of making the playoffs on Easter Monday. However, the Giants could yet have a big say in the destiny of that elusive fourth place league finish, having to play the Sharks, Leicester Riders and Newcastle Eagles before regular season comes to an end. The Manchester trip marks the Sharks final away fixture of regular season before concluding with three games at the Canon Medical Arena prior to the playoffs.

Sunday – Giants v Sharks – National Basketball Performance Centre – 6.00pm

Watch – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUW5M823AWE

Ones To Watch

William Lee – Started a Giants block party in the early stages of last week’s game, making 3 before going on to pour in 16 points, claim 8 rebounds and make 4 assists in an involved all-round display. A consistent figure for Manchester who averages 13.1 and 7.8 for the season.

Nick Stampley – Big forward who also demonstrated his versatility in the previous encounter. Shot three of four from beyond the arc to finish with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Added 2 blocks as the Giants doubled down on defence early on in the game.

Evan Walshe – His 12 points came on 62% shooting from only 17 minutes of court time, ripping down 6 boards to boot. Puts up 11 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the whole campaign but does have the ability to make the ‘x-factor’ plays.

Jamell Anderson – Hobbled out of last week’s game with 8 points, 3 boards, an assist and 2 steals. GB international who is usual a key player for the Giants as his season stats of 14.8 points and 3.7 rebounds suggests.

Last Meeting

April 1st 2024 – Manchester Giants (Lee 16 Stampley 15 Walshe 12) 64 B. Braun Sheffield Sharks (Green 15 Koch 13 Pipkins 13) 87

Shark Bites

The Sharks are going for a clean sweep of the Giants on Sunday and outscore their hosts by 265-212 for the season so far.

The Sharks have won four of the last five encounters with the Giants and go into the game with just one defeat in the last five, being the Good Friday loss to Leicester. Conversely, Manchester have lost all of their last five games.

The Sharks and Giants match up very closely in terms of points scored (2572 to 2532). However, the Giants have conceded 2870 compared to the Sharks 2528, which gives Atiba Lyons’ men a positive basket difference of 44.

The Sharks team-based scoring effort is summed up by Jalon Pipkins heading up the points per game averages with 11.9. Nicholas Lewis leads the Giants efforts with 15.6 per game but may yet be subject to suspension having been disqualified late in last week’s encounter.

SharkNation

Four big games remain in regular season as your B. Braun Sheffield Sharks keeping pushing for that fourth place finish that potentially gives two home games when the playoffs get underway. We might be on the road in Manchester this Sunday but we finish with a bang at the Canon Medical Arena. Home games against Caledonia (Friday April 12th), Cheshire (Sunday April 14th) and Plymouth (Saturday April 20th) will go a long way to deciding our fate. So here’s the rub – you have got to be here with us!!! Go to https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Fixtures?fanStoreType=Fixtures&clubId=216 and you can secure your seat for a thrilling end to regular season. As we head into the playoffs, we need our SharkNation along with us because together we are UNBEATABLE! It’s time to #FearTheFin.

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Adam Bates