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.

PS Karlsruhe suffered a bitter double overtime loss in game two in Rostock 107-103. How glad were you that you didn’t have to take the long bus ride home after?

It helps that we get to stay here overnight and give it another shot on Thursday.

Can a loss like this seal the series mentally? You have the backs to the wall and need 3 wins now.

Nah I don’t think so, we still have a chance so we have to continue to battle and believe.

Rostock had the big 55-43 lead at the break. They scored 32 points in the second quarter. What on the defensive end was giving the team the most problems?

I think it’s just our mistakes, like when I turn the ball over they capitalize off those mistakes. And also they were on the glass pretty heavy this game as well. It’s starts with me taking better care of the ball and not giving them extras possessions.

Basketball is always a game of runs and adjustments. You as a team showed heart and really stepped it up allowing only 28 points in the second half. What adjustments did you make as a team?

It was a case of taking care of the ball first. We were able to get shot opportunities so that kind of helped us. We played with more urgency on defense in the second half.

German beast Till Glogger made two key free throws to force a second OT. He finished with 17/19 stats. What makes it so difficult to stop him?

He’s just a strong body, does a good job of sealing, has a nice touch around the basket.

In the second OT Rostock was able to keep the pressure on. Did fatigue catch up with the team? What was key in the second OT for losing the game?

It’s normal for fatigue to kick in, small rotation, 50 minute game. But I think we still had our chances in the second overtime, we had a couple turnovers that resulted in them getting more scoring opportunities. We just didn’t finish the way we should have

You had 27/6/9 stats but 6 turnovers. Are you going to watch extra film leading up to game three?

For me it’s simple TAKE CARE OF THE DAMN BALL, and I just haven’t been doing a good job, 5 turnovers in the first half is terrible. And I have to be better.

PS Karlsruhe was outrebounded badly as Rostock had 23 offensive rebounds and you as a team had 22 turnovers. Could the depth factor really play against you?

23 offensive rebounds and 22 turnovers won’t win you any game. So we have to clean up the turnovers and be better on the glass, & finish possessions.

Will you talk individually with some of the guys? How important is mental strength now going into a do or die game?

All my guys understand what we are up against and what’s needed in the next game.

Is Jayson Tatum the next Kevin Durant?

No

Thanks Stanley for the chat.