WORCESTER Wolves director of basketball Paul James has warned his side will face a long season ahead if they continue to defend like they did in their BBL Cup defeat to Bristol Flyers.
Wolves crashed out of the competition on Friday, losing 90-82 to the BBL newcomers in a defensive performance which James described as “poor”.
The club’s first home defeat of the season means they have now failed to make it past the last eight in the BBL Cup since the 2007/08 season.
“The damage was done in the first quarter when we gave up 30-odd points,” he said.
“It was just like nobody was playing any defence and we weren’t getting any consecutive stops and they were scoring at will.
“If we’re going to let teams do that, then it’s going to be a very long season for us, so we need to shore up some of those holes in our defence.”
Wolves will look to get back to winning ways on Friday (7.30pm) when they return to league action at home to London Lions.
But James wants to see his side transform their sharpness in training into the big game as they look to maintain their good league form against a strong Lions side which boasts former Wolves star Zaire Taylor, who played such a key role in the club’s unforgettable 2013/14 season.
“I see what we do in training and all we have to do is bring that to the floor on game night,” he added.
“It seems at this moment in time that we’re playing harder in training than we are in the games and that’s disappointing in itself.
“So we’ll go back to the tape, we’ll look at it and we’ll pick it apart and critique it. One way or another, we’ll find a way.”