Devan Bailey says the Cheshire Phoenix have enough quality in their locker room to make a successful tilt at silverware this season.
The Nix went through wholesale changes during the summer, with players such as Demond Watt, David Aliu and Taylor King joining the ranks of the Northgate Arena club, with Bailey the only player to be retained from last season’s roster.
The performances of the 25-year-old from Helsby last season resulted in him being voted MVP by the Nix faithful and earning him a recall to the Great Britain squad for the EuroBasket qualifiers.
Now, surrounded by a new group of team-mates but wearing the same blue vest, Bailey believes that the calibre of players brought in at the ambitious BBL side will pay dividends.
“We definitely have the quality to win some trophies this season, there is no doubt about that,” said Bailey.
“We’ve got the talent to win some silverware, I think if you were to look at our squad on paper and compare it to the top sides in the BBL then you would probably say we had one of the best rosters around.
“But it is all about how it comes together on the court that matters. We have to make it work as a team, that is the most important thing for us.”
Bailey joined the Nix at the beginning of last year after a spell at the Manchester Giants and was a key cog in John Lavery’s side that finished fifth in the league.
With Lavery now assisting Coach Coffino, Bailey says he is enjoying the new coaching set-up at the club.
“It’s been really good working under the new coach so far,” said Bailey.
“He is experienced and he knows the game inside out and he is very much about letting you express yourself on the basketball court and play to your strengths.
“We are working hard in practice and it is all about how we execute the game plan when we are out on the court that counts.”
The Nix have two tough games against the Leicester Riders and Newcastle Eagles this weekend, and Bailey is confident of building on the BBL Cup win over Durham.
He added: “We can be a match for anyone in this league if we perform to our best and we’re aiming for two wins.
“If we’re going to win trophies then we need to win these type of games.”
