Stanley Whittaker (183-G-1994, college: Keiser) is a 27 year old 183cm point guard from Philadelphia playing his third professional season and first in Germany with PS Karlsruhe. He played his rookie season in Lithuania and last season had his break through with UBSC Raiffeisen Graz (Austria-BSL) playing 24 games: Score-2 (21.5ppg), 6.3rpg, Assists-2 (8.0apg), Steals-1 (2.6spg), FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 40.5%, FT: 78.4%. He played his college ball at Frank Phillips (JUCO) and Keiser (NAIA). He teams up every week with Miles Schmidt-Scheuber to talk basketball.

Congrats on the huge 80-73 win over Rostock. How good does it feel to have swept this top team?

I give credit to our team just for understanding the level of focus and discipline we have to play with on a nightly basis. If we are doing that we give ourselves a chance to win against anyone.

Do you feel like this win will give PS Karlsruhe the needed push to begin well off at home? You have to win at home.

It’s good to go into the playoffs with some momentum, however we understand the playoffs is a totally different stage, so we have to prepare accordingly, focus & execute our plan.

In Rostock you had problems on the offensive end in the first half mustering only 29 points. Especially in the second quarter it was only 11 points. What was key for them having the comfortable 46-29 advantage at the break?

We were getting some looks in the first half that we wanted but didn’t take them. We had a bad run in the second quarter where we turned the ball over and they capitalized off our mistakes. That was really it, our mistakes.

In the third Rostock had the 63-53 lead after 30 minutes. What kind of an experience was it battling two real veterans with Chris Carter and Brad Loesing?

Its always nice competing against other players on other teams.

PS Karlsruhe was down 72-58 with 5,42 to play. You then went on an incredible 22-1 run. Is that the best 5 minutes of basketball the team has played?

Maybe on paper, but we were able to disrupt their rhythm, finish possessions with rebounds and convert on the offensive end.

What was the biggest strength on the defensive end in this span that totally shut down Rostock from being able to find any kind of a rhythm?

Just our focus elevated and we were able to get them out the rhythm they were in and contest some of their looks. Just tried to make it tougher for them

You had a solid game of 22/12/1/1/4. The team only had 8 assists. Does that worry you?

That doesn’t worry me.

You start the playoffs against Rostock on the weekend. This is a best of 5 series. How good do you feel your chances are as a team after having been able to win the season series? What will be key for advancing and making the big upset?

I like our chances. I think our level of focus, energy and execution will be the keys. We can’t beat ourselves.

Marcus Smart won 2022 NBA best defensive player. Why don’t more guards get this award?

Well deserved, I guess they see the big men as the guys that are the last line of defense and they protect the basket.

Thanks Stanley for the chat.

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