Reading Rockets (13-12) will be looking to finish in fifth position in the NBL Division One table this weekend but to do that they must beat already-relegated Manchester Magic (2-23) on Sunday afternoon, 5pm tip-off at Rivermead Leisure Complex and hope Derby Trailblazers (14-11) lose to Hemel Storm the night before. If the two teams finish with the same record then the Rockets will take the higher seeded position thanks to beating the Trailblazers by more than they lost to them in league play. The Reading outfit lost the opening encounter 84-94 but secured an 87-74 away win meaning they would have the head to head should any tie occur.<\/p>\n
A fourth straight loss for the Berkshire outfit could see them finish as low as eighth position should Essex Leopards (12-13) and Leicester Warriors (12-13) secure final day victories with both teams having the head to head over the Rockets. The Leopards have beaten the Rockets in both league match-ups this season, whilst the Warriors have the points advantage as they cancelled out their 96-82 defeat with a resounding 89-63 last month at Rivermead. The Warriors will host third placed Loughborough Riders whilst the Leopards will welcome champions elect Solent Kestrels (21-4) to Brentwood.<\/p>\n
After seeing his side slip to their second and third defeats in a row with losses to Loughborough Riders (81-84) and Team Newcastle (77-80) last weekend, Rockets Head Coach Alan Keane knows Sunday\u2019s game is crucial to secure the best league position possible and take a win into the post season. The Reading play-caller said,<\/p>\n
\u201cLast weekend\u2019s two defeats were big blows for us but there is no time to dwell on it, we must learn and be better and move on to this weekend\u2019s challenge. We performed well on Saturday against Loughborough which is a big positive but it was disappointing to lose the game but then to follow it up with a poor performance and poor result was tough to take. However, the one thing this group does is come back into practice, work hard to improve, hold each other accountable, and keep working to be the best versions of themselves and that is exactly what we will do this week in preparation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis team can beat anyone on it\u2019s day and now we need to find that ingredient to do so as we head into the last couple of games; I really believe in the guys and I think if we can mould a few things this week, we can be a force to be reckoned with in the post season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rockets will go into their final home game of the 2018-2019 campaign with no new injury concerns and a fully fit roster to select from. Captain Danny Carter will play his last ever league game in front of his home crowd with the 30 year old forward retiring at the end of the season. The Berkshire outfit will play their play-off quarter-final game away from home the following weekend and will know their fate at the end of Sunday\u2019s match-up against Manchester Magic which is also expected to be a sell-out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Reading Rockets (13-12) will be looking to finish in fifth position in the NBL Division One table this weekend but to do that they must beat already-relegated Manchester Magic (2-23) on Sunday afternoon, 5pm tip-off at Rivermead Leisure Complex and hope Derby Trailblazers (14-11) lose to Hemel Storm the night before. If the two teams […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3733,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":[],"_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"spay_email":""},"categories":[3,2,4,6],"tags":[220,218,144,210,152,143,217,142],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/header.png?fit=700%2C298&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pdDaI5-Yc","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":790,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/rockets-head-into-final-weekend-of-the-regular-season-after-double-loss\/","url_meta":{"origin":3732,"position":0},"title":"Rockets head into final weekend of the regular season after double loss","date":"23\/03\/2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Reading Rockets (17-7) still have everything to play for this weekend despite two last second losses when they host second placed Derby Trailblazers (19-6) on Saturday evening at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre (6pm tip-off) before travelling to face the Champions of NBL Division One on Sunday, Manchester Magic, at 5pm\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Main News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/latest-news-banner_zps8906efc5.jpg?fit=555%2C241&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":822,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/rockets-to-face-derby-trailblazers-in-play-off-semi-finals-after-thrilling-win-over-essex-leopards\/","url_meta":{"origin":3732,"position":1},"title":"Rockets to face Derby Trailblazers in play-off semi-finals after thrilling win over Essex Leopards","date":"05\/04\/2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Reading Rockets (3) poured in 40 fourth quarter points last weekend to keep their play-off dream alive as they defeated a spirited Essex Leopards (6) 102-84 in the NBL Division One play-off quarter-finals. The Rockets, who finished third in league play, took on the sixth placed team in Essex having\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Main News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/latest-news-banner_zps8906efc5.jpg?fit=555%2C241&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":814,"url":"https:\/\/readingrockets.co.uk\/rr2021\/rockets-to-face-leopards-in-play-off-quarter-finals\/","url_meta":{"origin":3732,"position":2},"title":"Rockets to face Leopards in play-off quarter-finals","date":"30\/03\/2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Third placed Reading Rockets (19-7) will take on sixth placed Essex Leopards (16-10) in the play-off quarter-finals on Sunday afternoon at the Rivermead Leisure Complex in Reading (5pm tip-off). 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