The Caledonia Gladiators will have the chance to cement second place in the British Basketball League when they travel down to face B. Braun Sheffield Sharks.

The B.
Braun Sheffield Sharks will be looking to climb further up the rankings and
take advantage of surprise losses this game week when they host the Caledonia
Gladiators.

Caledonia
Gladiators are showing their ability and class in the early stages of the season,
seeing themselves now second in the standings with the opportunity to create a
gap on third-placed Leicester Riders.

A second #UNBEATABLE Player of the Game title for @iandubose_ this season, as his all-round performance powers @Cal_Gladiators to the DUB!

📺 WATCH HIGHLIGHTS: https://t.co/6nPZsIf9hl#BritishBasketballLeague pic.twitter.com/wzUCroawjl

— British Basketball League (@britishbasketm) October 12, 2023

Perfectly Balanced

Even though
going off base standings in the League, this game should be an incredibly close
one when you delve deeper.

Sheffield
actually possesses a higher point differential this season, and going off their
previous games this season, the game should only come down to a few points.

Their styles have been contrasting with one another. While Caledonia Gladiators have been far better on offence, scoring 11 points more per game on the same amount of field goals, Sheffield’s defence has been leagues ahead of Caledonia.

Containing
the opposite teams to just 40% shooting from the field, Sheffield’s defence has
been one of the best this season and will make it a huge challenge for the
Gladiators.

Caledonia’s
free-throw rate could make it harder for Sheffield to play the defence they
have been.

Sheffield sits
third in the league for fouls committed, and with Caledonia top for free throws
attempted, this could get out of hand if Sheffield aren’t a little more cautious
on the defensive side.

Firepower vs Team Play

In a team
that has prioritised defence this season, the Sheffield Sharks have also had
one of the most offensively dangerous players in the league, Jalon Pipkins.

Pipkins has
been able to average 16 points per game, but on 56% shooting, an insane number
for a 6’4” guard who doesn’t take too many threes. The guard has been able to get
deep into the paint with the bigs and take advantage, getting all his points on
ridiculous efficiency.

Caledonia’s
star players have been known more for their sharing of the ball rather than
putting up crazy scoring numbers individually.

Ian DuBose is
leading their scoring with 15.2 points per game on 51% shooting, but his 4.5 assists
per game has been the standout for the Gladiators.

Caledonia Gladiators have had everything go through the star guard and will continue to do so against the Sharks.

However, if
DuBose can’t have his way with the incredible Sharks defence, the ability to
put it down low to Caledonia’s big-man duo of Clifton Moore and Fahro Alihodzic
might be too enticing to grab the win against Sheffield.

To watch this game of the 2023/24 British Basketball League season, tune in to YouTube on Sunday, October 15 at 2:50 pm BST.

With the new season here, you can still get your British
Basketball fix by following the League on social media or heading to our YouTube
channel to relive all of the best moments from the current
season.