BCB PREVIEW: JOINT LEADERS LOOKING TO CONTINUE GOOD START

The BCB’s early pace setters are both at home this weekend ahead of another packed League schedule.

Joint leaders Derby Trailblazers host the Essex Rebels, while the Hemel Storm face off against the Bristol Hurricanes as teams continue to jostle for position, early doors.

This week’s action begins Friday night, when the City of Birmingham Rockets host the Nottingham Hoods, 7:30pm tip.

Summary

• Joint front runners, Derby and Hemel at home this weekend
• Reading looking to stay unbeaten but history not on their side against Newcastle
• First Friday night game of the season as Birmingham host Nottingham

Preview

Derby Trailblazers will aim to continue their positive start to the BCB League campaign as they host an exciting-to-watch Essex Rebels on Saturday night.

Standing at 3-1, the Trailblazers have been led by the evergreen Malcolm Smith (19ppg, 6.0rpg) and skilled Evan Walshe (14.8ppg, 2.0spg), but standing in their way are the Rebels, who have their own dynamic duo in Tre Baumgardner, who has been filling up the statsheet with 19.8 points, 11.3 assists, 3.3 steals a 1.0 blocks per game, along with and Aliou Cisse, who is ranked fourth in the scoring charts, with 24.5 points per contest.

However, Essex will be keen to improve their fortunes, as they have started 1-3. A win against Derby will be a welcome return to form.

Meanwhile, the Hemel Storm will expect another bumper crowd to welcome them to home territory on Saturday, as they host the tenacious Bristol Hurricanes.

Currently one of only two sides unbeaten so far at 3-0, which highlights the competitiveness of the League, the Storm have a plethora of players who can put up 15-20 points a night. They face a Hurricanes side, coming to the end of their four-game road trip, where they are 1-2 so far.

The League’s other unbeaten side, the Aldermore Reading Rockets, will put their 2-0 record on the line on Saturday when they take the long trek to Newcastle to face the Knights.

Historically, Newcastle have the edge over their Berkshire rivals, beating Reading at home last season and winning an epic Playoff final in May. The Tyneside unit will also look to bounce back from last weekend's defeat to the Yorkshire Dragons, for added motivation.

Speaking of the Dragons, they will be playing twice for the second week in a row this weekend. They host Reading – who also play a double-header – on Sunday, but before that, they travel to the Midlands to play the Loughborough Riders, who boast the League’s second-leading scorer, Kurtis Henderson (26.3ppg).

Yorkshire coach Michael Wilson hopes for his side to return to form after a successful Trophy group stage, where they advanced to the quarter-finals, only to start 1-2 in the League.

“I’ve been disappointed with our start to the League, to be honest, but I know we have the talent to improve and get over this,” Wilson said.

“We want to try and build the Dragons' identity, and last Saturday against Newcastle was probably the first time that we've truly seen what that means for us.”

The only team yet to get a win in the column, the Bristol Flyers II, will look to change that narrative when they travel to the London Cavaliers on Saturday. For the Cavs, they have made a decent start to the season, going 2-2 and want to boast a winning record when the weekend is concluded.