Situation at Worcester Wolves could look very different come Christmas, says boss Paul James

Wolves are seventh in the British Basketball League after recording just three wins in their opening nine games.

However, James said his side now face a batch of “very winnable” fixtures, starting with a home clash against basement boys Manchester Giants tonight (7.30pm).

They then travel to sixth-placed Plymouth Raiders on Sunday (4pm) before facing fellow strugglers Leeds Force away and back-to-back home games against second-from-bottom Bristol Flyers in December.

“When you look at the fixtures, we have played Newcastle, Leicester, Glasgow (twice) and Sheffield, who are going to finish in the top half,” James said.

“We now play against teams who are all going to be battling it out for the other places, so we have got a great opportunity to claw our way back up the league.

“They are all very winnable, so it could all look very different come Christmas.”

Wolves take on a Manchester side who have lost six of their first seven games but they will be buoyed by their 91-76 win over Surrey Scorchers last weekend.

James says it is “crucial” Wolves, who won 91-84 in their last meeting at Giants, clinch victory at the University of Worcester Arena.

“We had a very tough game against them away as we only had five or six fit players that night, so that really was a quality win on the road,” he said.

“They got their first win against Surrey and will come here with a lot of confidence.

“But obviously we want to defend our home court and need to be much better than we have been. Hopefully, tonight will be the start of that regeneration of the team.”

Worcester have been boosted by the signing of 6ft 10in forward Maurice Walker, who is expected to make his debut as James looks to throw him “straight into the fire”.

Guard Ashton Khan is poised to return after missing Worcester’s 82-77 loss at Glasgow Rocks last Sunday with a bruised heel.

But forward Andrew Bachman, who has scored at least 20 points on four occasions this season, is a doubt with a rib injury.

“Andrew has pulled a muscle between his ribs and that is quite sore at the moment, so I am not sure whether he will be available or not,” James said.

“But hopefully with Maurice coming in we can start moving forward.”

Canadian-born Walker, 24, joins Worcester after spells in Latvia, Cyprus and Italy and James is confident he will make a “great impact”.

“In Mo’s first practice session, you could see a release of that pressure and tension as we are getting people back into their true positions, which is only going to help the team,” he added.

“As long as all the paperwork goes smoothly and we get his release, he will be thrown straight into the fire and we will see what difference he can make.”