2017 NBL Canada Finals Preview: London Lightning vs Halifax Hurricanes

In the 2017 National Basketball League of Canada season finals, southwest Ontario’s London Lightning will be taking on the pride of Nova Scotia, the Halifax Hurricanes, for the second year in a row. The culmination of what has been a landmark, stand out season for Canada’s premier basketball league.

The NBLC finals has the same format as the NBA finals: a best of seven series of games, alternating between both teams home courts, with the first to win four games being crowned season champions.

The London Lightning’s season record speaks for itself, losing only five games the entire year, and conclusively beating both the Orangeville A’s and the Windsor Express to make it to the finals, where they will be looking to take a record third championship.

Coach of the Year Kyle Julius has put together a tough offensive team. Their frontcourt is arguably the league’s most dominant, with forward players Kyle Johnson and league MVP Royce White proving hard to stop in the paint, while their shooters, led by Ryan Anderson, are just as deadly from the outside.

Their defensive game isn’t quite up to scratch, though Royce White’s huge rebounding efforts saw him come second in rebounds per game this season. Despite this London more than make up for this deficiency on the other side of the floor.

Defending champions Halifax Hurricanes finished the season with a highly respectable 27 wins and were second overall behind the Lightning. Their route to the final wasn’t quite as straightforward as London’s, they went 2-1 down to the Island Storm in a back-and-forth series they eventually won 4-2. They were highly impressive in those last three games against the Storm, and if they are able to continue that form they can give their opponents a run for their money.

Halifax have shown throughout the year textbook team play, they communicate well and share the ball and have one of the best-organised defences in the league.

Power forward Billy White has been instrumental to the teams’ success this year, leading them in rebounds, blocks and scoring, in which he also finished in the league’s top ten. While White takes care of the frontcourt, high-scoring shooter Antoine Mason has been just as dominant on the backcourt.

There is a lot to look forward to in these finals, as these teams both excel in the same areas but have completely different styles of play. Individual heroics will be pit against team efforts, tough interior play will come up against well-disciplined defence. As well as seeking another title, London will be wanting revenge on the Hurricanes for last year’s defeat, while Halifax will be looking to defend their title, so team mindsets will also be different, but they will both be highly focused on their goals.

Whoever emerges victorious, though, this could be a big showcase for the NBLC, as its two very best teams battle it out in a winner-takes-all fight for supremacy. If it turns out as special, compelling and exciting as it promises to be, then these finals would be the best possible advert for domestic Canadian basketball.

For more on the finals and the NBL Canada, visit nblcanada.ca