Plymouth Raiders are going to get even better

COLIN O'REILLY says Marjon Plymouth Raiders' rivals have not seen half of what they are capable of this season.

On weekend five of the 2012/13 BBL campaign, Raiders play only their third game following a frustrating string of postponements for reasons outside their control.

Tomorrow's league contest against Cheshire Jets at the Pavilions (7.30pm) should have been their sixth.

Raiders are currently 2-0 in the BBL Championship after convincing opening wins over London Lions and, 11 days ago, Manchester Giants.

"It doesn't feel like we've really got started yet," said O'Reilly. "We can only get better; I don't think anyone's seen half of what we're capable of."

O'Reilly impressively led Raiders in scoring, rebounds and assists against Giants.

He added: "It's all been positive for us up to now. I guess tomorrow the season really starts for us.

"I think what's most impressed about the two wins so far has been the manner of them – we haven't taken our foot off the pedal.

"London were more athletic, while Manchester were slower and more controlled, but we dismantled both of them in different ways."

Raiders beat Lions by 22 points, 108-86 before blowing fancied Giants out even more emphatically by 31, 105-74.

O'Reilly, 28, left Jets and joined Raiders this summer.

He had a quiet full Raiders debut at the Pavilions against Lions before contributing a game-high 28 points, 11 rebounds and six assists against Giants.

"The Pavilions is still foreign territory for me in many ways," said O'Reilly. "I'm still getting used to it. That's the same anywhere."

Defending BBL champions Newcastle Eagles have had no problems with early postponements this season and are currently 6-0 and away and clear at the top of the league.

O'Reilly said: "We haven't played enough games so far to know exactly where we stand. We just have to keep working hard on what we've been doing in training."

He added: "We have to worry about ourselves and try and get a good rhythm going, because our schedule will start to pick up soon.

"When it is and we have double-headers we have to be in good form and good shape going into them."

After tomorrow, Raiders look forward to entertaining 4-1 Surrey Heat at the Pavilions on Sunday-week (October 28).

"Our schedule's always been difficult since we got here, in terms of there always being question marks over road games," said O'Reilly.

"It's been hard for us sometimes to get joy if you like out of training, because we haven't had anything specifically to work towards on the weekend.

"Training becomes a bit of a slog like that, but we know there are plenty of games for us to play this season."

Raiders have lost previously scheduled games at Leicester Riders on September 22, Mersey Tigers on October 5 and last Saturday against East London Royals for reasons they could not control.

Riders' and Tigers' venues were unavailable, while Royals pulled out of the league.

Raiders were also due to visit Lions this Sunday and then Royals next Friday, but both those games too have gone.

O'Reilly said: "You can see guys are getting tetchy and cranky with each other, because we're seeing each other and banging into each other every day in training. You can get frustrated, so it will be nice to go up against another team and you always up your performance in games."

He added: "I think you only really find out what guys are good at and how the team is shaping up in games.

"We all just want to get out there tomorrow night and get that process under way again."