Basketball: Bullets staring down barrel

There is no relegation from the British Basketball League Championship. But if football's adage applied that clubs who are bottom at Christmas are certain for the drop, then the Birmingham Bullets would be as good as gone.

The Bullets' heroics in the European Champions' Cup count for nothing. They failed to qualify for the next round only because of two missed free throws two-and-a-half seconds from the end of a 12-week, 10-game campaign.

Now they are stuck with dragging themselves from bottom place in the BBL Championship after one win from 13 games. They have no chance of winning the title but even the consolation of reaching the play-off quarter-finals looks a long shot.

That would be an acute embarrassment as the finals are being staged down the road at the National Indoor Arena. Coach Tony Garbelotto has been so embarrassed by the team's domestic collapse that ahead of tonight's game against Leicester Riders – another team in free fall – he offered his resignation to owner Craig Brown.

Garbelotto said: "At the moment, who knows why we are not showing the type of form we did in Europe. It's frustrating, because the play is poor, but also the effort and intensity is nowhere near where it was in Europe and that's the biggest concern of all.

"We are not getting good point production on offence, but worst of all, we have gone south in terms of defence too."

At least Billy Mims, the Leicester Riders coach, had something to celebrate this week. Now he hopes the birth of his first son will signal a transformation in fortunes for the Riders.

If not, Mims has warned of more changes to his roster. Donnie Johnson, signed only last month, is under threat along with Kenya Capers and Antoine Sims as Mims ponders two changes to his line-up.