Coach of the Month – Naisten Korisliiga
First month behind in the Naisten Korisliiga, and I have to say – it is much more exciting than the Men’s equivalent at the moment. Or maybe I have just been very lucky with the six games I’ve attended.. all have been absolute thrillers, HBA 72-71 HyPO, PeKa 82-84 Catz, ViVe 74-71 PeKa, EBT 77-75 Catz … just to mention few.
So, from the exciting month in Naisten Korisliiga – which coach has done the best, and would there fore be my choice for the Coach of the Month …
This choice really was a no-brainer this time around, with his team having played seven games in October (more than any other team), with the record of 6 wins and 1 defeat. Last of them a brilliant come back in the fourth quarter on Halloween – to come from 11 behind to beat the strong Catz team…
Coach of the Month for October – can be no other than Niko Hellman of Espoo Basket Team.
Four home games – record 4/0, with average 78,9 points scored and 66.3 conceded, and away record of 2/1 with 76.3 and 75.7 points respectively. The team sit four points clear on the top of the table.
The team kept the core of lasts seasons domestic players, and Kamilah Jackson returned to the roster. And the addition of one of the early season revelations, Delaney Hodgins – the team might be playing with a narrow roster, but has found points from the starting five to bench players.
Coach Hellman has done a great job in recruiting players – and with this start, their goal of ‘getting more wins than last season’ – does seem like it might only be a stepping stone for better things.
VIDEO INTERVIEW – NIKO HELLMAN (interview in Finnish – haastattelu Suomeksi!)
Hellman says he is ‘positively surprised’ with the great form his team has shown early door this season, especially with the imports arriving late and having a short pre-season.
He credits the good form to a long term process at the team, and the return (for the first time) of a leading player (Jackson) – and also the that the Finnish core of the team has been rising up the challenge and have improved their game and understood the concepts better.
Describing himself as a coach – Hellman tells his character is ‘loud and easily reacting to incidents on the court… even if I have tried to calm myself down a little…and at least from my own view, I’ve managed to do that this season’ he ends with a smile on his face.
