Lasker relishing the clash of top coaches
CLOSE friends and fierce rivals Marc Steutel and Andreas Kapoulas lock horns in the BBL for the first time this weekend before reprising their roles with Great Britain next month.
Former Newcastle favourite Drew Lasker is relishing the opportunity to see one of international basketball’s most dynamic double acts go head to head on Friday.
Steutel’s Eagles entertain Kapoulas’ Bristol Flyers at the Vertu Motors Arena in a fixture which sees the winless hosts tackle this season’s BBL surprise package.
Lasker, who played for both of GB’s assistant coaches before hanging up his boots to focus on a successful media career, expects fireworks from the 4-0 Flyers.
He said: “I had picked Bristol to finish last in the league as I felt they had lost key pieces of the jigsaw and had recruited a young and untested team.
“However, a lot of kudos has to go to Andreas for getting things right.
“In his first few years in the league he tended to play a European style of basketball in the BBL and it did not always work.
“Coaching is all about adapting and adjusting to your players and your environment and we saw more of that with Bristol last season.
“Andreas played a faster and looser style last season and suddenly the Flyers grabbed their best finish.
“He has doubled down on that style this season - playing small ball with a bunch of tough, young guys.
“So am I surprised at the start they have made? Yes, but I am not surprised Andreas has worked out a way to grow as a BBL coach.
“It has been really fun to watch Bristol so far this season and even at this stage you need a team to come from nowhere and mix things up.”
If new-look Bristol have taken to the BBL like ducks to water then Newcastle’s rebooted roster is still finding its feet following a period of unprecedented change.
Donovan Johnson became the latest player to make his debut for the men in black as he suited up against Sheffield Sharks last Friday.
Lasker insists it is impossible to judge Steutel’s impact as head coach until he has a settled period of time to work with a brand new group.
The Texan added: “Right now it is really hard to assess how Marc’s adapted to life in the BBL.
“The situation the Eagles are in would test the most experienced of coaches.
“Look at Sheffield last Friday. The Sharks took to the floor with a settled team and an experienced coach and they have been together for a long time.
“Compare that to the Eagles who had been together as a group for seven or eight days given Donovan’s situation.
“As far as I am concerned you can only judge a team on the time they have spent together as a group.
“Every time there is a change it is a whole new team and a whole new dynamic.
“For five weeks in a row Newcastle had someone coming in or moving out and that is tough on the players - especially the younger guys - who stick around. It is not like college basketball where it is the same group of guys pretty much all season long - and of course it is tough on Marc.”
He went on: “It is always difficult for a new coach who has never overseen a team in the BBL.
“Add in the turnover of players and the fact this is a new era for Newcastle and he has his work cut out.
“I feel this year is a year for the Eagles’ organisation to work out where their place is in this new BBL because the league has changed.”
That Steutel and Kapoulas know each other’s coaching styles and personalities inside out adds an extra layer of intrigue to Friday’s showdown.
Once the final buzzer sounds it is inevitable talk between the two will turn to Great Britain’s November showdown with Nikola Jokic’s Serbia.
Steutel and Kapoulas are both expected to be back on the sidelines for the latest World Cup qualifier on Tyneside.
Lasker feels his adopted nation is in safe hands.
He said: “I have played for both of them and both coaches are excellent tacticians and both are incredibly passionate.
“They share those two vital traits. That combination meant they had a really successful run at the GB role leading up to Eurobasket.”