London Lightning ready for long-awaited BSL home opener

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What can they do for an encore?

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The London Lightning shot an eye-popping 58.1 per cent from the field in their Basketball Super League season-opening win at Sudbury. But two weeks will have passed between that outing and the championship banner-raising at the home opener against Windsor set for Sunday, 2 p.m. at Canada Life Place.

A ticket selling issue delayed the Bolts’ home tip-off so there has been plenty of practice and a lot of hope that this unexpected break didn’t cool off hot hands.

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“We have an older team,” new London coach Jerry Williams said. “I try not to run them too much, because we do have some games coming back-to-back. But we’re out there practising every day. We haven’t stopped and still have to put work in. It’s playing catchup to start, but everything will even out.

“The Lightning have been in this situation so many times where they’re hoisting up that trophy at the end of the year and it will play out the way it should.”

The league has expanded to eight teams, but the expectation remains the same. London is aiming at a fourth consecutive crown and a second straight in the now-expanded, eight-team BSL.

Williams ran out a starting five of Chris Jones, Billy White, Joel Kindred, Corey Boyd and Jachai Taylor in the Nickel City. That’s a lot of big-name talent together on the court.

“I’m used to that,” the coach said. “I had four MVPs on the same team at the same time in the ABA (American Basketball Association) with the Jacksonville Giants. It’s my job to get them to see that everybody needs each other. I don’t need one guy going out there and trying to get 40 (points). I’ve got eight guys who can score 40 at any time.”

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That Giants team won five championships in a row. If the chemistry forms here and there is enough ball for everyone, the Lightning could accomplish something similar, or even more.

Williams knew immediately this job would be different from his previous assignment with the Newfoundland Rogues the moment the roster was assembled.

“We have veteran players,” he said. “I had babies in Newfoundland, fresh out of college, rookies, wet behind the ears. Look at Billy and Chris, they understand the concept and know how to take care of their bodies. I don’t have to babysit them. We practise and go home. My phone rang so much in Newfoundland about a guy needing this or that. It was ‘Coach, coach, coach’. God Almighty. Once we leave practice, I don’t need to hear from these guys until the next practice.”

The coach’s ultimate say is always playing time. He is the person who determines the five on the floor.

“I just don’t tolerate BS,” Williams said. “I don’t have time for it. If a guy is out there getting technical fouls and cussing the ref out – that’s just an example of any situation – I don’t want to hear that. I’m not the type of coach that’s going to go back and forth with you. If you feel a certain way and not doing what you’re supposed to, you’re just going to sit on the bench. You’re going to get upset with me, but I know these fans don’t pay money to come out and see us fight.

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“At the end of the day, it’s about the team for me.”

The entertainment value should come between the lines. Williams grew up watching Michael Jordan and it had a profound effect on his approach to the game.

“I don’t want fans to come watch boring basketball,” he said. “I want them to go up and down the court and everyone to have fun and be excited. These players are not going to take time off. When I was coming up, the only time I would watch Utah play was against the Chicago Bulls. I hated it (the Jazz pick-and-roll approach). It was so bad and Jordan was the guy for me.

“That’s the kind of ball I want for the fans.”

If successful, the Bolts will turn a three-peat into four.

rpyette@postmedia.com

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