Sixers’ Affiliate Ready To Fight For Top Spot
With only under three weeks left to play in the G-League regular season, the closing chapter of the Delaware Blue Coats is ready to get written, with the current focus around the team being their close proximity to the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Following their 101-122 loss to the Maine Celtics, the Blue Coats fell down to the second spot for the first time in a while, as they trail the Osceola Magic by half a game.
The shuffle comes at a tough point for Delaware, who have only managed to take six of their last ten games, while the Magic are on an upswing, taking nine in the same time period.
Usually the business end of the season is a time period where faults are found, and stars are proven, which can apply a lot of pressure for everyone involved, but Blue Coats guard Terquavion Smith isn't concerned about the weight, citing his team's readiness to stay locked in over the coming weeks.
"Uh not really much pressure, but it just makes us stay more focused, like we stay overly focused." said Smith, "Everybody knows that we're number one and they're gonna come at us, the hardest that they, so we just got to stay overly focused through that."
A test of the Delaware's ability to handle pressure will be tested further as they are set to take on other top teams in the Eastern Conference such as the Long Island Nets, Indiana Mad Ants, and the Capital City Go-Go.
Another task that the Blue Coats have had to deal with as of late is the consistent overturn of their players, having recently waived Kenny Lofton Jr, as well as having one of their more influential players, Darius Bazley, get signed by the Utah Jazz.
This isn't omitting their two-way player's inclusion in Nick Nurse's plans with the Philadelphia 76ers as they traverse an injury crisis.
Delaware Head Coach Mike Longabardi insists that his team's big focus will be their call to action amongst each other, having to fill the shoes left by those who have either left the team or are away.
"One thing to me right now that we have to understand as a team is you know we're in first place, everybody's coming for us and next man mentality," explained Longabardi, "that's going to be your big point of emphasis going forward."
The Blue Coats are set to take on the Celtics on Wednesday as they look to reclaim their stop at the top of the Eastern Conference ahead of their final seven games.
