Butler wants domestic rethink win or lose in Romania

Posted: Monday 19th January 2009 | 12:53

FORWARD Kim Butler believes British Basketball will need to have a detailed look at their domestic structure.

LAST CHANCE SALOON: Butler and her GB teammates must win in Romania

Only a win will do for GB in Romania today if they are to retain their Division A status and stay in the hunt for a place at the 2012 Olympics after a mixed set of results in the relegation round.

Butler and co. have recorded three victories including their last match against Bosnia, but know that will count for nothing unless they can repeat the trick against an impressive Romania side that beat GB 75-71 earlier this month.

And American-born Butler, who plies her trade in Spain with Feve San Jose, insists GB are paying the price for a lack of professionalism at home.

"We need to improve our domestic structure so there isn't such a big gap,said Butler, who scored 25 points in the loss to Romania.

"Don't get me wrong it is a great place to learn and play when you are young but a lot of players go elsewhere if they are fully focussed on being professional.

"There is going to be short turnaround of games with Great Britain but I am used to that maybe more than anyone else because that is what I have been doing in Spain.

"I head back to Spain the day after we finish - so I don't get a lot of rest but with what is on offer the pressure and intensity needs to be high."

And while Butler knows beating Romania away from home is a tall order she insists the squad have a bright future if they can avoid dropping down to Division B.

"GB needs to stay up because we are more than capable of going to the Olympics and competing," she added.

"The summer wasn't great but we didn't get beaten heavily and I think there was only maybe five points in most games and those are the games that we can win if we stay up."