Depth and defense key to Lightning’s big start

Around the Perimeter: It’s two more against Windsor this week. Can London sweep four straight?; Bolts holding opponents under 100; What is Lard’s potential? Depth is the difference. Catch the latest Lightning news & notes …

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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STARTING FIVE

1. It’ll be familiar faces this week, as the London Lightning spar with the Windsor Express again in the third and fourth games of a four-games-in-a-row stretch between the two teams. The Lightning won the first two last week (108-104 at home last Sunday and 100-89 in Windsor last Wednesday), and they’ve taken three of four so far this season, with Windsor’s win, a one-point contest, coming at Budweiser Gardens back on Feb. 1.

With just three of the four Ontario teams in action so far (the KW Titans get underway Family Day in Sudbury), perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising to see the same faces so often. But four games in a row?

“When I first looked at it, I thought this was really bizarre and peculiar, but I actually think it’s a great opportunity for our guys to adjust to what they’re going to experience in playoffs,” said Lightning coach Doug Plumb. “That means the level of expectation and attention to detail and how things evolve and how fast you need to be able to pick things up.

“You have to make adjustments, for sure, so I actually think it’s a unique situation that will help us later in the year.”

Windsor’s been a formidable opponent for London, despite the team’s underwhelming 3-4 record thus far. Last Sunday, the Express rallied back and held a two-point lead with 1:35 remaining in the contest. It took three straight late buckets by veterans Jeremiah Mordi and Terry Thomas to tip the game in London’s favour.

Wednesday’s game in Windsor was more one-sided, as the Lightning outscored the Express 31-19 in the third quarter to cruise to a win, holding their opponents to just 89 points on their home court. For the second time in the last four games, Lance Adams was London’s top scorer, tallying 23 points in the win. Mordi (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Cameron Lard (14 points, 12 rebounds) both notched double-doubles in the contest.

Lance Adams, playing defense here in a January game in Newfoundland, has been flashing his offensive prowess lately for the Lightning. (Photo: Greels Media).

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2. Lard in charge. Speaking of Lard, he’s been one of the many pleasant surprises for coach Plumb thus far. And there’s a lot of untapped potential in the youngster, who spent time with the G-League’s Lakeland Magic after a collegiate career at Iowa State.

Lard has started each of the team’s last three games, and he scored in double figures in each contest, highlighted by a team-leading 27-point effort last Sunday. The 25-year-old shot a combined 72.7 percent in those games, and he’s leading in the league in that category (by a wide margin) at 70.8 percent on the season in 10 games.

On the glass, Lard’s 23 offensive rebounds are also tops in the circuit. He averaged 8.5 boards in his three recent starts, an uptick on the season as a whole. He’s also been blocking some shots.

“He’s such a good athlete. There’s no reason why Cam Lard couldn’t be the Defensive Player of the Year in our league,” said Plumb.

And yet, the coach says there’s much room for improvement – particularly on the mental side of the game; the preparation and the planning side of basketball.

“With Cam, it’s his level of focus, and we’re working on that together,” Plumb said. “For him, it’s attention to detail on scouting reports, knowing the plays and the nuances of the game, and taking in information and immediately putting it into application.”

Hence why the centre’s minutes have been all over the map thus far. If his recent play is any indication, though, there’s another level to Lard’s game that could be huge for the Lightning as the season progresses. He scored 27 when given a season-high 30 minutes last Sunday (on 12-16 shooting). A glimpse into what’s possible …

3. Monthly audit. Sunday (Feb. 19) marks exactly one month into the 2023 season for the Lightning, who, after losing their opener Jan. 19 vs. Sudbury, have won nine of 10 since. They’re on a five-game winning streak entering action Family Day, and they sit in top spot in the NBLC standings early with a 9-2 record.

That’s not to say they’re running away with this thing. In fact, the Sudbury Five, after winning four straight against the Newfoundland Rogues, are only one game back of London, with a strong 8-3 record. Both teams will play their 12th game Family Day Monday, with the Five hosting the KW Titans for the latter’s debut game of the season.

Sudbury boasts the top two scorers in the league in Jaylen Bland (24.6 ppg) and Jeremy Harris (23.7 ppg). The Lightning’s Jordan Burns is third at 19.3 ppg. Sudbury has also scored the most points as a team, averaging 115.4 per game. The Lightning, however, has the edge in overall shooting percentage (49% to 48.3%).

One notable difference between these foes is depth. London has been rolling out deeper rotations than Sudbury throughout the season. The Lightning, for instance, have had a game with eight different scorers in double figures, and they’ve regularly been running nine and 10-man rotations, while Sudbury has operated with a much shorter bench.

The next matchup? A week from Thursday, when London will travel to Sudbury March 2 for the fourth matchup of the season between these two teams. That’ll be a 7pm tipoff.

4. The defense doesn’t rest. In a league that often features free-wheeling offenses and, at times, questionable defensive pressure, the Lightning have shone on the defensive side of the ball this season. In fact, that’s been perhaps the most notable difference between London and their counterparts so far. 

Through 11 games, London has averaged just 97 points against per game, far and away a better mark than Windsor’s 107.3 and Sudbury’s 111.8. Any number under 100 is impressive, and the Lightning have already held teams under the century mark five times this year.

London also leads the league in shooting percentage against (42.5% overall and 32.2% from three-point range). Not that the offense hasn’t been good, but it’s the defense that Plumb has been the most pleased with so far this season. It also reflects the hard-nosed, gritty mentality the coach instills in his teams.

Terry Thomas, for instance, wreaks havoc on opponents on all areas of the court. He’s leading the team with 1.3 steals per game (Mareik Isom has 1.2). Cameron Lard has shown glimpses of being a potential shot-blocking force. Jeremiah Mordi is a smart defender, while Mike Nuga and Antwon Lillard consistently bring energy on the defensive side of the ball. It all adds up to difficulties for London opponents getting easy buckets.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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5. Most valuable for a reason. He’s the defending NLBC Finals MVP, as well as the reigning Canadian and Sixth Man of the Year, and every time he steps on the court you see why. Terry Thomas, who Plumb dubbed last year the ‘heart and soul’ of the team, may be the most irreplaceable member of the team.

Take last weekend, for instance. Coming off three games missed due to an injured heel, the veteran forward returned and didn’t miss a beat. He did a bit of everything in London’s 131-115 win over the Newfoundland Rogues Saturday, finishing with a team-high 21 points and 14 rebounds – while sitting out the majority of the fourth quarter. He added a steal and a block, for good measure.

The following day, he put up 24 points with seven rebounds and was the difference-maker at the end of a close 108-104 win over Windsor. He played 41 minutes in that contest.

Thomas does everything for the Bolts. He scores, he rebounds, he defends, and he finds himself on the floor 10 times a game as a result of his hard-nosed style play. On the year, he’s averaging 16.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, the latter two team-bests. His points trail only Jordan Burns.

Mike Nuga has done a great job stepping up when Thomas has been out, but is there anyone more valuable across the board than Thomas on this Lightning squad? This columnist doesn’t believe so.