Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles have had a rough start to the 2023/24 British Basketball League season. With this in mind, we look at three ways they could change to push themselves back into contention.

Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles have had a rough start to the 2023/23 British Basketball League season. Currently seeing themselves seventh in the standings with a 3-7 record by their names, the Eagles need to change quickly before they slip out of contention.

Expectations became much higher after their incredible offseason acquisitions, which included the likes of Tajh Green, Jordan Johnson, and Larry Austin Jr.

However, this team has not stepped up as many expected, and because of this, we delve deeper into what they could change to take themselves closer to the expectations set at the start of the season.

Hang your Hat on Defence

While the Eagles added some great offensive power in Green, Johnson, and many more, their defence has been struggling through the first 10 games of the season.

While using base stats such as steals and blocks doesn’t tell the whole story, the Eagles are currently dead-last in steals per game and only seventh in blocks per game. If you combine both base stats together, the Eagles are last in the league.

In pre-season, the Newcastle Eagles were touted to be the best defensive team in the league, with Austin and Green being ranked in the top three for most likely to win this season’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Other players such as Johnson and Malcolm Delpeche also received votes.

Going into game week eight, the Eagles had a defensive rating of 112.3, only behind the Plymouth City Patriots and Manchester Giants for worst in the league.

One argument could be made for more minutes for Larry Austin Jr., who has primarily come off the bench this season. However, one easier way to fix their defensive issues is to play riskier regarding fouling.

The Eagles are one of the deepest teams in the league with incredible defensive potential, and if they want to impose their will onto the opposition, they need to be less worried about fouling and trying to get more stops.

Let it Fly

In modern basketball, one thing is for certain: the three-point shot is one of, if not the most vital shot in all of basketball.

We have seen across the pond how dominant teams can become when they embrace the three, and it’s no surprise that the London Lions make the most threes in the league and what their win record is currently.

Newcastle are fifth in three-point percentage in the British Basketball League, but are also ninth in threes attempted.

With only Rickey McGill, Jordan Johnson, and Devin Whitfield making more than one three-pointer per game, more threes need to be taken.

Even if there are some growing pains in a few games, having someone like Will Neighbour, who is one of the rare stretch-fives in the league, should give the Eagles an inherent advantage over many teams.

Though the percentage may drop, it would help to keep the opposition defence honest on the perimeter if the threes attempted jumped up, even just a little bit.

Feed the Big Man

Arguably, Newcastle’s biggest signing was the acquisition of Tajh Green from the Manchester Giants. The big man had a great debut season in the British Basketball League when he averaged 18 points, nine rebounds, and two assists.

Of course, it was expected for those numbers to drop when playing next to all the added talent, but when the going can get tough, it’s best to go back to the basics and ride the superstar.

Only averaging 12.2 points with 7.9 rebounds and 0.7 assists, his numbers have dropped. His best game of the season was arguably in Newcastle’s thriller against the London Lions when the Eagles arguably should have won.

Green had 23 points off 12 shots, and is the only game he’s had this season with over 20 points. The big man needs more than his 9.9 field-goal attempts per game to inflict his will onto the game, and this should be the go-to move when the Eagles are struggling.

Conclusion

It has only been 10 games in the British Basketball League season, and a team like the Newcastle Eagles has all the chances to catch up.

But this team has ways to go, and if things can change for the better, then we will have another contender in the League. If not, this could be a rough year for Eagles fans.