The good news for Erie is that they were just 11-14 at the midway point last season before turning things around with an eight-game winning streak and qualifying for the playoffs. The bad news is that they have a lot going against them if they're going to repeat that turnaround feat for the second straight year. For starters, they're a game worse than they were a year ago through 25 games. Secondly, their starting point guard and (arguably) best player is currently in the NBA and will miss, at minimum, the next three games. And third, starting guard Mike Gansey has missed five straight games with a bruised calf.
If the BayHawks are going to turn things around, tonight's the night to start it as they host the East Conference's basement dwellers, the Springfield Armor.
Game 26 Preview: Springfield Armor (5-16) at Erie BayHawks (10-15)
Springfield coming in: After going 3-2 in five straight against the Maine Red Claws between Jan. 8-21, the Armor dropped their most recent game, a home game against Austin on Saturday. After starting the season 1-10, the Armor is 4-6 in January, including an 87-75 win over Erie on Jan. 2. However, they are 0-7 for the season on the road. It was announced today that Major Wingate was released, which means the Armor will suit just eight players for tonight's game.
Erie coming in: The BayHawks have lost three straight, the last two without Cedric Jackson, who was called up to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Without Jackson and Mike Gansey, who has missed the past five games, the BayHawks are also down to an eight-man roster. News broke today that the BayHawks are considering bringing back Maureece Rice, who starred for the team last season and had been playing in Ukraine, but it could take some time before a deal is reached (if one is reached at all).
BayHawks keys to success:
- Feed the post.
I wrote about this very topic at length on Monday, so I won't go into too much detail. I will simply add that in Erie's win over Springfield, Alade Aminu and John Bryant combined for 41 points and 21 rebounds. In the loss against the Armor, Aminu and Bryant had just 27 points and 19 rebounds. - Don't allow Mo to get any momentum.
Springfield's Mo Almond leads the D-League in scoring (among players who have played at least 10 games). He's going to score some points; the key is containing him and preventing him from scoring in bunches. - Win the the hustle battle = win the game.
Grabbing offensive rebounds, diving for loose balls, taking charges, getting deflections on defense. With both teams down to eight-man rosters, fatigue is bound to play a role in this one. The team that commits to making these energy plays throughout is likely to come out on top.
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