Under-strength Sheffield Sharks reveal strategy on short-term recruitment
Sheffield Sharks are content to navigate the next two games with just eight fit players, as opposed to bringing in a body on a short-term deal.
Tonight’s Super League Basketball trip to Newcastle Eagles is swiftly followed by a home game with Manchester on Sunday, but after that, due to the international window and a fallow week, they don’t play again for 19 days.
Sharks’ management is confident in that time they can get Mervin James and Prentiss Nixon back to fitness, certainly the former, while Reyad West is not expected back until the new year.
But the current eight men have righted the ship, with the short roster winning its last two games to stop a run of three straight defeats.
One of those bodies they’re getting frequent use out of is shooting guard Dirk Williams, who is looking forward to seeing what the Sharks can do at full capacity, a luxury they’ve not had at any stage this season.
“Once we can get through and stay healthy and a full team, that’s when you’ll see the real us,” said Williams, in his second spell with Sheffield.
“I don’t think we’ve had our full team out yet, even going back to pre-season.
“Once that happens we’ll have more chance of stringing a few wins together.
“We’re forever having to learn how to play without this person or without that person.
“I think we’re doing fine right now, but once we have all the pieces together I think we can be a pretty good team.
“At the end of the day, guys want to play, so it suits us.
"Fatigue-wise, coach (Atiba Lyons) has done well trying to manage the situation.”