Around the Perimeter: A ‘new normal’

All arena restrictions have been removed — just in time for the London Lightning home opener. In fact, they’ll play 5 games at the Bud in 9 days. Columnist Jason Winders has all the latest news and notes.

Cameron Forte, shown here the last time the Lightning played at home (nearly two years ago), has gotten off to a hot start in 2022, averaging 23.0 points and 15.5 rebounds in his first two games. (Photo: Luke Durda).

* * *

STARTING FIVE

1. No place like home. It has been … you know what, forget counting how many days it’s been. Let’s play some basketball. The London Lighting are the final team in the league to host a home opener for the 2022 NBL Canada season. There will be plenty of eyes on the Forest City Saturday night, as league and city officials will be in the (perhaps full) house. If you remember the parade of politicians at last summer’s London Majors home opener (or watched a 45-minute pre-game in Windsor earlier this week), you know the local pols won’t pass up an opportunity in front of a captive crowd. But let’s keep it tight, shall we, as the boys will be warmed up and ready to go.

Welcome back home, Bolts.

2. You want normal? Here’s your new normal. On Tuesday, March 1, Spectra Venue Management announced that it will remove immediately all capacity restrictions and discontinue the proof of vaccination requirement for fans entering Budweiser Gardens for events – including London Lightning games. Mask rules remain. Spectra’s moves align with provincial guidelines, but many businesses, restaurants, and venues across Ontario have opted to maintain the vaccination requirement for now. We shall see how this works out. It is a great opportunity for us all – so wear your mask where required, be considerate of others, maybe extend a bit of grace, and try to realize that this isn’t a license to be a total asshole.

3. Border crossing clues. OK, the timing could have been better for this announcement, but only hours before the province (and, in turn, Spectra) dropped vaccination requirements, the NBL Canada postponed two regular season games due to a COVID-19 outbreak among the Sudbury Five. The Five were scheduled to play the KW Titans on Tuesday, March 1 following a three-game cross-border road trip through New Castle, Ind., Syracuse, N.Y., and Toledo, Ohio.

This is going to be the challenge for the NBL Canada-TBL partnership throughout the season, as the Americans have taken a far more, shall we say, permissive stance on COVID. Indiana (54%) and Ohio (58%) have some of the lowest fully vaccinated rates in the country. Keep an eye on Canadian teams returning from South of the Border, especially extended stays like the Five attempted. It makes you wonder about the All-Star Weekend being hosted April 15-16 in Syracuse, N.Y., where all the league’s stars will have an extended stay. We shall see.

The Lightning do not cross the border until March 31 against the Albany (N.Y.) Patroons.

4. Road warriors. There is lots to like about a 2-0 start on the road in a normal season. There is a lot to love about that same start in a 24-game season with only 12 road games. Even without shooting anywhere near their capabilities in games at KW and Windsor, the Lightning have piled up 225 points in their first two games. Solid. The team doesn’t return to the road until March 17 when they make their first visit to Sudbury. Pile up those wins early, however, because the shuffled regular season schedule ends on a brutal run with seven of nine games on the road, including six straight between April 9 and May 1 (with an American border crossing thrown in).

5. Make or break. While opening night will be fun, the franchise is looking at a run of five straight home games over the next nine days. That’s nearly half their regular season home games (12) played between now and March 13. Four of the games fall on weekends with two of those being Sunday matinees. The Lightning will have the city to themselves with the London Knights only having one home game in that stretch (March 11). Throw in the fact that Ontario has lifted capacity limits on indoor sporting evenings, and the stage is set for an incredible run.

Here’s the upcoming home schedule:

March 5 | KW Titans | 7 p.m.
March 6 | Lansing Pharoahs | 2 p.m.
March 9 | KW Titans | 7 p.m.
March 12 | Sudbury Five | 7 p.m.
March 13 | Windsor Express | 2 p.m.

Chris Jones has been a spark plug to start his career with the Lightning, including posting a 24-point, 6-rebound performance in his debut, a London win over the KW Titans. (Photo: Dan Congdon).

* * *

LIGHTNING NOTES

“I will shoot better next game!” That was Lightning guard Chris Jones walking away from the NBL Canada postgame show with a huge smile on his face after the Lightning’s 115-92 win over the Windsor Express Saturday night. In his first game back against his former team, Jones was a monster, leading the team with 24 points – though on only 8-for-20 shooting. In two games this season, Jones is leading the team in points per game (24.0) while shooting 51.4% from the floor overall. Be fun to watch what kind of numbers he will put up at home. … The Lightning lead the NBL Canada by averaging 112.5 points per game. Yet, they’ve been brutal from beyond the arc, averaging only nine 3s per game while shooting just 30.5% from distance (both numbers are good for next-to-last in the league). Perhaps that’s why they have, so far, attempted the fewest 3s in the league (averaging 29.5 per game). … If you are an unapologetic lover of rebounding (as I am), the Lightning have been fun to watch bang under the boards. The team leads the league in total rebounds per game (53.0) and offensive rebounds per game (15.0) and sits second in defensive rebounds per game (38.0). Better yet, they’re tops in rebound margin per game (7.5). … Cameron Forte nabbed his second double-double of the season last weekend with 20 points and 14 rebounds against the Express. Come on, Tim Hortons, where is the sponsorship? Free Coffee with Forte: Every double-double from the big man, you get a coffee. Writes itself.

BEYOND MY BYLINE

As Major League Baseball owners and players wrestle with ways to make the game less appealing, I cannot stop thinking of this ESPN article from a bit ago outlining the Ivy Leagueification of MLB. Funny how the decline in the entertainment value of the game has almost directly coincided with this bro-ification of the game.

* * *

Note: Want to watch any Lightning or NBLC game this season? You can get a season pass for $39.99 -- and help support Gameday London along the way by using our personalized link (https://nblc.tv/lightning/r/GameDayLondon). Just click 'Start watching' to purchase your subscription.