After more than a month away from their living room Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners were back in their living room boasting a solid 3-2 record. The season hasn´t been an easy one with many JBBL(U-16 league) players to integrate as well as having the long injury to Maxe Begue. Top player Len Schoormann also hasn´t been available all the time as he continues to be an important role player for the farm team in the Pro B and exploded last weekend in Speyer with 30 points and recently celebrated his BBL debut in Wurzburg. Eintracht Frankfurt-Fraport Skyliners didn´t meet an easy foe even if they haven´t had a good start into the season. Brose Bamberg/Troester Breitengussbach reached the 2019 NBBL final losing to FC Bayern Munich. This season the club is only 2-3 and like the Frankfurt side haven´t always had some of their top players with Elias Baggette and Leon Bulic avaliable, because they play for the farm team Baunach in the Pro B. They have some very strong players with Becks and Bergmann, but the overall depth is missing in the roster. On a cold and brisk December Sunday the two teams met in the BCM in Frankfurt and Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners were as awake from the jump ball as a child is on Christmas morning in the States as they tore apart Brose Bamberg/Troester Breitengussbach 94-65. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners played marvelous offense sharing the ball excellent, and on the defensive end remained consistent and stuck together for 40 minutes. After the big victory Maxi Begue of Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners reflected on the win, but despite the big success was quick to name problems in their game. “We played a solid game and a goal of our was to win the rebound battle which we did. We overall had good ball movement even though there were some plays in the second half where we should of kicked instead of gone to the basket. Our communication has to get better on defense. We gave up too much inside especially to Beck. I personally thought that it would have been more difficult to play them”, stressed ex BC Darmstadt guard Maxi Begue. The disappointment was written on the faces of the Bamberg players after the blow out loss. German 17 year old 197cm shooting guard Miles Osei tried to summarize why the club couldn´t put up more of a fight in Frankfurt- “They rolled over us at the start and we never recovered from it. They hit their outside shots well and we couldn´t stop their pick and roll. We gave up too many easy baskets”, stated Miles Osei.

                Before Brose Bamberg/Troester Breitengussbach even knew what had hit them in the first minutes, they were down 13-1 and they would never recover. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners came out focused from the first second and played with high intensity and got instant rhythm on offense. Bamberg was also without three vital player with Germans Adrian Bergmann, Paul Guck and Jannis Sonnefeld and were without 25 points htat they averaged together. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners did a super job getting big man Julian Stenfeld involved early on as he got easy baskets in the paint and got to the free throw line. Begue also scored twice and Len Schoorman also scored. Frankfurt did a great job getting easy baskets off great defense and playing their feared transition game. The Bavarian team couldn´t muster good shots and often made bad decisions. It also hurt that they couldn´t involve their big men Beck and Bulic early on. Brose Bamberg/Troester Breitengussbach didn´t get their first field goal until the 5,30 mark through Beck. Bamberg then did a better job getting the ball inside as Beck would score three more times. But Bamberg couldn´t execute on defense. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners began with getting baskets inside and then unleashed their lethal outside game as Frederick Fischbach, Schoormann and ex BC Darmstadt guard Risto Vasiljevic nailed three´s upping the Frankfurt advantage to 27-7. Bamberg did a good job closing out the first quarter with a 8-3 run to trail only 30-15 after one quarter. In the run the Bavarian team got solid production from Beck who scored twice and from Baggette who unleashed his nasty floater. “Frankfurt had good ball movement and got out on transition. They did a good job keeping the middle closed, but had difficulties switching on Baggette”, stressed Fraport Skyliner Junior Aaron Kayser. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners shot 67% from the field and 67% from outside and had 5 rebounds and 1 turnover while Brose Bamberg/Troester Breitengussbach shot 46% from the field and 0% form outside and had 8 rebounds and 7 turnovers.

                In the second quarter Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners continued to keep the pressure up at both ends of the court and hold the double digit advantage with ease. A big strength of Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners was that they got a lot of input from their bench as 9 players scored in total while for Bamberg it was only 6 guys. Miles Osel had to move to the four, but his aggressive play rewarded him with hard fought baskets. He got some big buckets in the post cutting the Frankfurt lead to 39-24, but Frankfurt continued to do damage as they got vital bench points from 2019 JBBL finalists Bennet Schubert and Pierre Bathoum. Bamberg simply had too little weapons to really be able to compete wit Frankfurt on this afternoon. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners stayed consistent and calm on offense waiting for the best shot and practiced inside out basketball. Bamberg continued to cough up the ball and had phases where they couldn´t get baskets inside. In the second half of the second quarter, they began to be more active in the paint as Beck got a few baskets and Bulic hit a jumper, but he was too quiet on this day scoring only 7 points. The bench continued to come up big as Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners got big production from Vasiljevic with a trey, Isaac Ibanor who´s athleticism and penetration coupled with his good defense has given him more minutes than last season made an offensive rebound and put back while Schubert nailed a trey. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners continued to give Bamberg nightmare´s as their clock work offense wasn´t weak. Baggette hurt Frankfurt in the last minute with two floaters including a buzzer beater, but Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners were able to go into the break with their heads held high leading 55-39. “Frankfurt did a good job staying consistent on offense. They had some holes in the defense and gave up easy baskets, but overall it was a very good performance”, stressed ex Chemnitz center Aaron Kayser. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners shot 65% form the field and 67% from the three point line and had 12 rebounds and 6 turnovers while Brose Bamberg/Troester Breitengussbach shot 55% from the field and were still 0% from the three point line and had 15 rebounds and 13 turnovers.

                In the third quarter Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners continued to play their game and lead by double digits not allowing any form of comeback for the guests. Bulic had little luck all afternoon wit his offensive game but hit a three in the first minute. But Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners continued to display so many different ways of scoring as they continued to flaunt the fast break as Schoormann scored and Steinfeld continued to look good on the offensive glass getting two offensive rebounds and put backs as Frankfurt led 63-44. Fraport Skyliner Junior Aaron Kayser watched his fellow big man and had his two cents to say about his game. “Julian is always ready in the post and has good hands. He also is good on the dunks, rolls well to the basket and gets to the free throw line. He needs to be better on contact though”, stated Aaron Kayser. Steinfeld had an excellent game finishing with 19 points and 7 boards. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners then went on a 9-3 run to earn themselves their biggest lead of the game at 70-47. In the run, Frankfurt got valuable help from Begue with a three pointer and Steinfeld and Schoormann hurt Bamberg  two more times on transition. Last season Begue had a strange looking shot, but corrected his mechanics last summer and has improved his shot. Frankfurt continued to perform their consistent offense while they upped their defensive intensity and pressure getting easy baskets while Bamberg lost intensity on defense and were missing those key role players.  In the last few minutes, Jordan Samare did some work to help his stats getting two baskets inside. The first on a lob pass from Begue and the second on a nifty shovel pass from Fischbach. After 30 minutes Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners still had the very comfortable 74-51 advantage. “We played aggressive and used our full court press. It was risky, but still did a good job limiting their points. We continued to take out Bulic well”, stressed Maxi Begue. “We couldn´t get stops and allowed too many transition baskets”, added Miles Osei. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners shot 59% form the field and 50% from the parking lot and 26 rebounds and 11 turnovers while Brose Bamberg/Troester Breitengussbach shot 47% form the field and 25% from the parking lot and had 22 rebounds and 19 turnovers.

                In the fourth quarter Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners kept up the pressure while Bamberg lost intensity and seemed to get tired. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners got an influx of easy baskets as the guests had less intensity on the defensive end. Bamberg got the first field goal on the first possession with Beck, but then gave up a brutal 9-0 run by Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners as they extended their lead to 83-53. In the run Frankfurt got a lay in from Samare who got the perfect bounce pass from Schoormann, then Vasiljevic showed how dangerous he can be from behind the three point line as he dropped a trey and Samare made a steal on the press defense and made the lay in. Samare remained a beast on defense getting in a passing lane and going coast to coast with the hard two handed dunk. Bamberg had a good offensive phase again inside which was up and down all afternoon as Beck executed twice in the paint, but on defense they had nothing left in their gas tank as Frankfurt led 87-60. Begue scored twice on the drive as no Bamberg player challenged him. On the next play the 192cm swing man Begue blocked the 2010cm big man Bulic as the German proved again that he does so much at both ends of the court. Begue filled up the stat sheet like no other finishing with 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. “I feel that I´m one of the best defenders in the league. In the last years I focused on my rebounding, but now I´m focusing on making the next step on offense”, stressed Maxi Begue. In the last few minutes, Steinfeld continued to play well and finished strong with two baskets. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners head coach Sepehr Tarrah inserted little used 17 year old 210cm center Liam O´Neil and he registered a nice assist on the Schubert lay in off the drive from the wing for the last points of the contest. “We never let up and finished the game well. We kept up our aggressiveness and broke them in the last quarter”, stated Maxi Begue. “We continued to give up easy baskets. We had a mix of having lost our intensity and not having any energy left”, stressed Miles Osei. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners was led by Julian Steinfeld with 19 points. Jordan Samare added 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals,  and Maxi Begue had 15 points while Brose Bamberg/Troester Breitengussbach was led by Jekabs Beck with 22 points and 11 boards. Elias Baggette added 21 points and Miles Osei delivered 10 points. Eintracht Frankfurt/Fraport Skyliners shot 61% from the field and 51% from outside and had 33 rebounds and 18 turnovers while Brose Bamberg/Troester Breitengussbach shot 45% from the field and 18% from outside and had 27 rebounds and 26 turnovers.

The new NBA season has been in progress already for more than a month and with Luka Doncic seemingly registering a triple double almost every game, the weeks have flown by and so have they for the Dragons Rhondorf as it seems like ages since they last lost a game. They last lost a game on October 3^rd on the road to Ibbenburen and since then have exploded in the Regionalliga West with a lethal 7 game winning streak. Their offense continues to be their big weapon as they scored more than 100 points in 5 of their 7 wins, but their defense is still a work in progress, but with continued tweaking during the week improving even if the points allowed in games is still high. The Dragons Rhondorf entered the contest against BSV Wulfen with a 10-3 record and rested in third place while the guests came into the game near the bottom with a 5-8 record in 12^th place. They began the season well with 2 wins in their first 3 games, but then suffered a severe drought losing 7 of 8 games where they suffered some misfortune losing three games by 5 points and less. They found back on the winning streak currently having a 2 game winning streak. Fans were excited for another import duel. In the last game, Americans Adam Pickett and Curtis Hollis combined for 50 points and in this battle Bryant Allen entered the game averaging 21ppg and both Americans put on a show combining for 48 points, but the Dragons Rhondorf offense was too consistent and overpowering winning 120-86. It was another normal day at the office for the Dragons Rhondorf as their offense was on fire scoring 34 points twice in a quarter. After the big win Curtis Hollis reflected on the huge win. “We played well together and did a good job limiting them to one shot per possession. A big focus this week was on transition and we got a lot of easy baskets. We didn´t do so well on limiting their offensive rebounds. We have to do a better job boxing out.”, commented Curtis Hollis who produced 21 points, 11 boards and 4 dimes.  BSV Wulfen weren´t at full strength as Hauke, Bellscheidt and Peters were missing due to illness as were 30 points. Despite not having three players, Missouri native Bryant Allen didn´t make any excuses. “I thought that we played well for the numbers we had. We fought the whole game. We knew that it would be a fight. We stuck together through adversary. You have to stay together through tough times and not point fingers. We wanted to push the ball and try to rattle them a bit and try to get as many offensive rebounds to get extra possessions”, added Bryant Allen who produced 27 points. Curtis Hollis made the 100^th point and had to treat the team to donuts. It was the sixth time in the 8 game winning streak that the Dragons had eclipsed the 100 point mark. “This is the first time that I have to get donuts. We usually serve the donuts when all are there. We eat them as soon as we get them. It is weird and i´m a bit surprised that it took so long for me to score the 100 points this season”, expressed Texas native Curtis Hollis.

                Scoring clinics have been on the menu in this huge winning streak for the Dragons Rhondorf and it was no different on this night as they stormed out on a quick 9-2 run. As usual the Dragons had a solid balance in their scoring spree as 37 year old Anish Sharda began the scoring attack with a left handed lay in, Killian Binapl and Jure Besedic scored with lay ins and Hollis made a dunk on transition. Scoring easily all day on the penetration was something the Dragons Rhondorf did taking advantage of the absence of 34 year old German Michael Hauke. The Dragons Rhondorf continued to attack the Wulfen basket as Besedic took advantage of the Hauke absence scoring twice in the paint extending their lead to 13-4. Allen hit a trey, but the Dragons Rhondorf´s offense was working like a clock work s as Hollis fished himself getting an offensive rebound and made the put back and 37 year old Spaniard Enric Garrido Foz added a trey as did Sharda for the 22-12 advantage. There was also an interesting play where it looked like Hollis went for the shot, but it was an airball which Binapfl caught and tapped in. “It was a little of both with a shot and pass. I went for the shot and in the last second saw him and passed it”, stressed Curtis Hollis. Allen was making big shots as was 19 year old German Alexander Winck to keep Wulfen not to far away. Rhondorf continued to plug away at the Wulfen zone getting added production from Hollis and Binapfl from downtown as the Dragons Rhondorf led 34-20. “Rhondorf played a lot faster, attacked more, had more emotion and were more physical. Key in their success is Enric Garrido Foz who is a real point guard that knows what he is doing”, added Telekom Baskets Bonn head coach Thomas Paech. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 63% from the field and 57% from outside and had 8 rebounds and 2 turnovers while BSV Wulfen shot 57% form the field and 40% from outside and had 7 rebounds and7 turnovers.

                In the second quarter the Dragons Rhondorf kept the comfortable lead, but couldn´t break away quite yet. The Dragons continued to spread the ball around as  they got buckets from Foz, a trey from Jonas Falkenstein and a hook shot form Marek Kotieno for the 41-24 advantage. One player that was really involved with the BSV Wulfen offense was 19 year old German Alexander Winck. He played with a lot of self confidence and was trying to fill the offensive void of Hauke and did a good job scoring baskets, rebounding the ball and creating for his teammates. He finished with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. “He is our x-factor can guard the positions 1-4. He is young and works very hard. I push him every day for him to be the best that he can. He has a lot of potential. Sky is the limit for him”, stressed Bryant Allen. Both teams would cruise on little runs, but the Dragons Rhondorf maintained the double digit lead. After a Wulfen 5-0 run where Thorben Vadder scored on a 25 footer and German Jonas Kleinert nailed a trey to cut the Dragons lead to 42-29. Rhondorf then went on a 11-4 run to extend their lead to 53-33. In the run, the Dragons Rhondorf got a three from Anish Sharda, a lay in from Hollis and three baskets inside by Kotieno. BSV Wulfen ended the second quarter with a 9-2 run to get back into the game trailing at the break only 57-44. In the run, the guests received back to back three´s from Allen and Wink connected on a pretty high rainbow three pointer to trail only 57-44. “We weren´t switching and blowing defensive coverages. We weren´t locked in”, stressed Curtis Hollis. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 58% from the field and 50% from the three point line and had 20 rebounds and 5 turnovers while BSV Wulfen shot 48% from the field and 41% from the three point line and had 20 rebounds and 9 turnovers.

                In the third quarter the Dragons Rhondorf were able to heighten their offense and lead by as much as 32 points. The Dragons have so many weapons where almost any player can go off. One player who has demonstrated his keen ability of scoring in bunches is Killain Binapfl. He scored 9 points in the first four minutes showing his versatility hitting from outside inside and on transition. BSV Wulfen was forcing things at times which led to turnovers and they had huge difficulty to execute and hit shots. The Dragons Rhondorf also got production from Jonas Falkenstein who´s three pointer was on fire as he hit three and Beseidc also scored as did Hollis who nailed a trey. “Jonas is an unreal shooter. He is our second or third best shooter. His confidence is growing each game”, warned Curtis Hollis. The game had many beautiful plays , but one of the nicest one was a lay in by Hollis who was fed perfectly by Kotineo in the post who was double teamed, but found the American for the easy bucket. After three quarters the Dragons Rhondorf had the overwhelming 92-64 lead. “Foz is huge when he comes in. He gets everyone involved. He has so much experience and brings so much to the table. He is always helping the young players”, stressed Curtis Hollis. “We got a little tired. When your tired, you have to turn on your brain and think and make things easier. We got lazy and they kept pushing and wore us down”, warned Bryant Allen.  The Dragons Rhondorf shot.65% from the field and 61% from the parking lot and had 29 rebounds and 10 turnovers while BSV Wulfen shot 45% from the field and 40% from the parking lot and had 28 rebounds and 14 turnovers.

                In the fourth quarter the Dragons Rhondorf continued their scoring clinic as BSV Wulfen lost energy, but continued to fight. The Dragons Rhondorf began with a 8-3 run to extend their lead to   100-67. In the run Hollis and Binapfl did all the damage as Hollis scored from outside and inside and the German continued to do damage in the paint. The game was as good as decided, but that didn´t mean tat BSV Wulfen couldn´t attempt a comeback. BSV Wulfen went on a 10-2 run to cut the Dragons lead to 102-77. In the run the guests got two three pointers from German Steffen Piechotta.It is an advantage when you have such a lethal offense as the Dragons do, but the defensive work continues to be a work in progress as they still allow too many easy baskets and can´t rebound consistently. The runs of both teams continued as one team would get hot and the other cold. Now it was the Dragons Rhondorf turn again as they went on a 12-2 run to extend their lead to 113-79. In the run, it was Killian Binapfl again who gave the term scoring in bunches a new meaning as he scored three baskets. David Falkenstein also scored. With the gamed decided, the last two minutes showed two teams trading baskets as Kotieno scored twice and David Falkenstein scored again while Piechotta scored the last 5 points of the game. “At the end the starters were out. The bench tried to keep the same intensity. They aren´t used to it and are still trying to adjust to it. But they did a great job”, stressed Curtis Hollis. “We kept fighting. It would have been easy to sink our heads, but we didn´t. We kept communicating and fighting until the end”, stated Bryant Allen. The Dragons Rhondprf were led by Killian Binapfl with 31 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Curtis Hollis added 21 points and Mark Kotieno 19 points and 9 rebounds while Jonas Falkenstein added 15 points while BSV Wulfen was led by Bryant Allen with 27 points. Alexander Winck added 20 points and Steffen Piechotta had 15 points . The Dragons Rhondorf shot 65% from the field and 56% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 11 turnovers while BSV Wulfen shot 41% form the field and 37% from outside and had 42 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

Curtis Hollis is a 21 year old 198cm forward from Arlington, Texas that is playing his first season overseas and first in Germany with the Dragons Rhondorf currently averaging 20,7ppg,7,9rpg,3,6apg and 3,5spg. He began his career at Mansfield Summit High School. In 2017-2018 he played with Hutchinson CC (JUCO) playing 34 games averaging 6.9ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 66.3%. In 2018 he played in Lavar Ball’s new league with the Houston Ballers (JBL) playing 7 games: Score-5 (29.3ppg), 11.3rpg, 5.3apg, 2.6spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 21.2%, FT: 71.8%. He and I will team up every week to talk basketball in the Miles basketball minute.

Congrats Curtis on the huge 104-76 win over BG Dorsten. The Dragons Rhondorf are on a  7 game winning streak. How does this winning streak feel at the moment and how does it compare to other winning streaks in your young career?

It feels good. It’s good to see our hard work pay off. I take most win streaks the same. Just always good to always win!

Your teammate Simonas Lukosius hit the 100 point mark for the second time this season and had to treat the team to Donuts. Are you a Donut lover and what is your favorite Donut flavor 

Yes I enjoy donuts a lot! My favorite is glazed for sure.

The win against BG Dorsten was a typical one where the offense was hot and the defense was ok. But giving up 76 points is an accomplishment. Why do the rotations keep giving the team problems?

We’re just still learning trying to perfect them. Knowing when to help off players and where to help from is key for us.

You stepped in to take on the quick and very good ball handler Adam Pickett who contributed 27 points in the loss. How challenging is it keeping a guy in front of you and where do you rank his play with guards you have faced this season?

It’s not too challenging because I’m fast and athletic and know how to keep somebody in front when I need too. But he’s a good player so it definitely isn’t easy. He was one of the better ones for sure.

Giving up offensive rebounds was a problem again. Obviously the injury to Gabriel de Olveria hurts. What has been missing the most for the team to be more successful in this area?

Just boxing out. Hitting a guy and going to the boards. We rely too much on just going instead of boxing out.

Sharing the ball continues to be a huge strength of the team. Do you feel like the unselfishness of this team continues to grow? Can being too unselfish sometimes hurt a team or can one never give enough extra passes?

Yes. We know we’re all talented and we’re getting closer and closer by the day so we just make sure to find the open man always. I think it can hurt a team but with us none of us are shy when it comes to shooting so we don’t usually have that problem!

The next game is against BSV Wulfen. This is another team that is low in the standings. What can we await from the game and what will be key to winning the game?

They beat us so it’s a big game in my eyes. We just have to do what we always do. Defend, play together on offense, and rebound and we will be fine.

How have you seen the growth of head coach Yassin Idbihi?  How has he been digesting this long winning streak?

He grows everyday just like we do! He’s a great coach he was made for this for sure. He always watches a lot of film and him and Julius make adjustments daily. Yassin is doing a great job like he always does.

The teammate spotlight this week is on 17 year Simonas Lukosius. Would you agree that he plays a lot older than his age and what other attributes do you like besides his shooting and non stop energy?

Yes he does. He’s really good for his age. I like his passing ability when he slows down. He can see the game and knows how to make the right play when he’s not too sped up

You had another super game with 23 points and 11 rebounds. You started off slowly on offense. Is getting into each game with your defense the goal each game or does it change?

That’s always a goal. But I honestly just go with the flow of the game and score and get to my spots when I can. I don’t worry too much about scoring I know that will always be there for me.

You and Killian Binapl combined for 8 turnovers. How much do turnovers disgust you and how confident are you that in the next game you guys will have those shaved down?

They don’t do too much to us. We’re just being aggressive turnovers are going to happen. We will get better.

What is something you will be working on most this week in the gym? Do you take one spectacular area each week that you didn´t like form the last game or are you working on other things at the moment?

Just catch and shoot 3s I work on a lot and guarding and studying in front of my man on defense. I really try and have that at a high level. Other than that just the basics work everywhere on my game.

Luka Doncic is near triple double stats this season. How crazy is that? Could this guy seriously put up stats in 3-5 years that nobody has ever seen? I mean a game only has 48 minutes.

Yeah Luka is unreal. It’s just so exciting that he’s in Dallas where I’m from so he’s putting on for the city.

Portland Waived Pau Gasol. Do you see him coming back to Europe now? It would be nice to see him make a farewell tour of some sort in Europe.

I’m not sure. He’s so wealthy and he’s had a great career he might want to hang it up!

Thanks Curtis for the chat.

Thanksgiving was yesterday, a time for Americans to give thanks and American basketball players in Germany not to forget this holiday as usually there are team meals where players can get a little of that holiday feeling that they always remembered from home. For a guy like Skyliner legend Quantez Robertson who is turning 34 soon, keeping an eye on his body and diet is vital at his age, but then again one day to splurge on turkey and stuffing and remember the good old days in Cincinnati watching football games and eating the bird is something he should be allowed to do. Tez is the kind of guy that will return the next day and grind in the gym and work some of that food off. Even if he did find some time today to work on his body, he had to conserve some energy as the Fraport Skyliners are playing a test game against Pro A team Romerstrom Gladiators at the training facility BCM. Perhaps the 11 year veteran also found some time on Thanksgiving to reflect and be thankful about being able to play the game that he loves for a living in Frankfurt. But at the same time reflect on the current season which hasn´t been a good one. He will have a lot of time to reflect on the season and what the team can do better in the future to help their record. Tez could be vital in passing on some of his thoughts and wisdom after reflection to he teammates about the kind of attitude the team needs now to be successful. The club has injury woes and through luck of the schedule only have one game in a month against the Crailsheim Merlins on December 7^th.

The Fraport Skyliners are treading water in no mans land in 12^th place with a record of 3-6. They only have two wins more than the last placed team MBC who recently brought back Bjoern Harmsen as coach and signed a real beast with Euroleague winner  and ex NBA player Joey Dorsey today. I personally thought the Fraport Skyliners was a playoff team coming into the season despite having an inexperienced young coach with Sebastian Gleim. But I did say the only way a successful season would work and the playoffs would be a reality would be if the player parts fit accordingly. The problem is that they haven´t yet. You can sometimes never know how well a roster will function until after a few teams. After reaching the playoffs five seasons in a row under the guidance of experienced 2010 Eurochallenge winning coach John Patrick, last season his new roster didn´t fit and they missed the playoffs. So far this season he has done everything right and sit in second place with a 8-1 record. He had to change his roster again, but so far his parts fit perfectly. Another club that has succeeded the expectations so far is Braunschweig. With player coach Pete Strobel a guy most wouldn´t have had on the radar as a head coach yet also has done a great job despite not necessarily having the most talented players. He kept core players Eatherton and Klepeisz and brought in some solid role players and most importantly is giving Germans a chance. Plus he got Trevor Releford which the team will profit from in the long run. Strobel´s roster is a good one, but one where much has to just be able to function and so far it has. It will be interesting how the club develops and most important key to the further success will be how well the Germans can produce. Not to forget the Crailsheim Merlins who are the big surprise team of the season. Nobody before the season would ever have had the audacity to say that they would be 6-2 after 8 games. They have some talented guys, but also ex pro A players and unproven BBL players, but all have stepped up. They have a 9 man rotation and 7 players are averaging double figures in scoring. They lead the league in scoring at 94 points and are fifth best in rebounds. So far everything has worked, but what will happen when they fall into a crisis or injuries occur.

The Fraport Skyliners haven´t had as much luck. One can´t forget that they could be 5-4 had they won the squeaker loses against the Telekom Baskets Bonn and s.Oliver Wurzburg. The club is simply too incosnsitent. The injury to Anthony Hickey totally brought their play into disarray. I wonder how they would have played with a healthy Hickey at the point and Lamont Jones at the two position. Injuries is something that a team can never calculate, but they have to be able to adjust and react well. Frankfurt just hasn´t been able to do that. A big disappointment has been their defensive play. This is something that they have always been able to do well in the last years under the leadership of Gordon Herbert, but that toughness is missing. They gave up 87 points and 14 three´s against Brose Bamberg and looked like a helpless Turkey just before lynching time on Thanksgiving morning. They may be giving up 81 points fifth best in the BBL, but 5-6 years ago they were giving up in the high 60´s and making the playoffs. The biggest bright spot taken out of the loss was rookie Matt Mcquaid´s 19 point effort. He is a guy that seemed not to have gotten that early trust from Gleim, but perhaps now we will see the new Mcquaid against Crailsheim. Guys like Jones, Robertson and Akeem Vargas have been carrying the team and playing extended minutes. Where would the team be now had Vargas not been able to give the input that he has?  He has been another bright spot and found his rhythm after being injured a number of time last season. Leon Kratzer also has been an efficient performer, but has little support underneath as that second big man is missing.  But other than not the club just haven´t been able to have a balance and get consistent play from more players. Richard Freudenberg has shown spurts of good play, but then times where he just isn´t playing up to the level he should. Shaquille Hines is out for 4-6 weeks and will be missed. He is also another player that hasn´t played up to expectations, but recently had some good games. But now with an injury, he will have to find his rhythm when he returns. Once the team can find some offensive consistency and get more support from different guys, then they will score more points and have better chances to win games.

Today is Black Friday, the day where people splurge in malls because there are many deals for the shoppers. Maybe this day will remind Skyliners management that it could be beneficial to bring in some player support. With Hickey gone since some weeks, it has been a bit surprising that Frankfurt hasn´t found a new player yet. Obviously the market isn´t stocked well at this time with player material, but some of the Skyliners foes in the BBL have been adding players to help their rosters. Perhaps Frankfurt won´t get another guard. But then again you should be giving the scoring ace Jones some support and take some of that weight of his shoulders. One guy who I would love to see in Frankfurt is the versatile Alex Ruoff. He has BBL experience and has been training in Goettingen for some time now. Granted he isn´t a point guard, but a guy that could help the Skyliners with a lot of things on the court. He last played in the BBL in 2016-2017 with Ludwigsburg and BG Goettingen and sat out the 2017-2018 season  and returned last season with the Helsinki Seagulls (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 12.3ppg, 6.1rpg, 4.2apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 83.7%. If he was within the budget ramifications, I wouldn´t hesitate to get him. In the next weeks, the Fraport Skyliners will continue to have much time to work on tweaking certain area´s of their game. One thing that still echo´s in my ears when I think about Gordon Herbert are his magical words “It´s all about getting better”. I don´t know how often he has said that in his Frankfurt years, but it´s been a lot. This is something that many of Herbert´s teams took to heart. Now is the time for the Fraport Skyliners to do the same thing under Sebastian Gleim. Winning isn´t just about executing the x ´s and o´s, but playing with passion, effort and self confidence. The team has to work on their problem area´s, but at the same time believe in themselves. They have enough time to reflect on how the season has gone and what they want to accomplish the rest of the way. There is still a lot of time left in the season to get better and start to win more games. Now is the time to get fully prepared for Crailsheim and Braunschweig the next two opponents. Having two wins at Christmas would be a huge accomplishment and one they can definitely achieve. Then they will have earned to splurge during the Christmas holidays.

James Blackmon Jr is a 24 year old 193cm combo guard from ft Wayne, Indiana playing his third professional season and first with Dolomiti Energia Trento (Italy-Serie A). Last season he played with Consultinvest VL Pesaro (Italy-Serie A) playing 30 games: Score-2(19.8ppg), 3.8rpg, 2.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 89.9%. He played in the G-League as a rookie with the Delaware 87ers (NBA G-League playing 28 games averaging 12.8ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 46.1%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 81.1%, and in Jan.’18 signed with the Wisconsin Herd (NBA G League) playing 19 games averaging 16.7ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 43.5%, FT: 92.7%. The Mcdonalds All-American played at Indiana(NCAA) from 2014-2017 playing a total of 75 games and as a senior played 30 games averaging 17.0ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 55.3%, 3PT: 42.3%, FT: 83.7%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Eurocup game against the EWE Baskets in Oldenburg.

James thanks for talking to germanhoops.com Welcome to Germany. Is this your first time in Germany. What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball?

I don´t know that much. I had a few guys play here that I know with Kalani Martin I know that the German league is very competitive.

You only have very limited time in the Eurocup travels to other countries. What do you appreciate the most on trips even if you don´t get to see as much of a country and it´s culture like you would?

I am blessed to be able to travel and see Europe. We don´t have much time to see things. The best thing about this experience is being with your teammates.

Your playing your second season in Italy and first with Dolomiti Energia Trento (Italy-Serie A). Americans often rave about the whole basketball experience in Italy and many stay there for many years. Is Italy a place you could see staying for many consecutive years or are you a guy that will want to explore different countries and leagues down the road?

I saw Trento as being the best opportunity for me. I don´t necessarily want to be in one country. I take what is the best opportunity.

Dolomiti Energia Trento (Italy-Serie A) is 4-4 in the Serie A and 3-4 in Eurocup play. Would be correct to say that the team hasn´t found itself as a collective team yet despite being very talented?

We still have a long season. We talent and great players. We have to continue to work hard in practice and put it together in games.

In your rookie season in Europe you belonged to the top scorers in the Serie A. this season you aren´t as much of a scorer as last season, but still first and second in team scoring in the two competitions. Despite that do you have a similar role to last season?

Yes my role this season is similar to last seasons. But this season there are better players. That is why my scoring is down. It is all about finding the right balance.

Let´s talk about your teammates. How much easier does a guy like Aaron Craft make your game when he is running the point who is averaging 7,9apg in the Eurocup and 6,4apg in the Serie A? What have you learned to appreciate most about his game?

He brings a lot of energy and intensity to the game. That helps raise the level of my game.

With George King and Rashard Kelly, you have two fellow young guys sharing the court. How have they impacted the team success most and what do you appreciate most about their games?

They are two unselfish players that really work hard on the court. George has a great shot and can score the ball. Rashard can do many things well at both ends of the court. Both are good to play with.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 193cm shooting guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

Guys that I enjoy watching are Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. I am an explosive combo guard scorer that can change a game.

You shot the long ball very well in the NCAA and in the G-League. Last season with  Consultinvest VL Pesaro (Italy-Serie A) were at 34%. This season you are shooting the ball well again. What do you feel is the most important thing now at this stage of your career to keep being able to develop your shot more besides reps and shot selection?

The main thing is to always have confidence on the court. Knowing you can make the shots and taking the right ones are key.

Your already a complete player, but on what things are you currently working on most on your game to continue to help improve in certain aspects?

I want to become more of a leader. I want to be that vocal leader. I also want to be able to show more on both sides of the ball.

How much pride do you take on the defensive end? When your offense isn´t on, do you look to get your defense going to help spark your offense again?

Yes for sure. Each night is different. I want to be able to do different things to impact the game. I haven´t been scoring as much as usual so I want to impact game in different ways.

Last season as a rookie in Europe you played with Consultinvest VL Pesaro (Italy-Serie A) playing 30 games: Score-2(19.8ppg), 3.8rpg, 2.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 89.9%. What was your wake up call to being a rookie where you knew that you were very far away from home?

Just how the game is different. There is a lot less spacing here. The game is intense and physical in Italy.

As a rookie you played in the G-League with teams Delaware 87ers (NBA G-League) averaging 12.8ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.4apg, FGP: 46.1%, 3PT: 38.6%, FT: 81.1%, in Jan.’18 signed with the Wisconsin Herd (NBA G League) averaging 16.7ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 43.5%, FT: 92.7%. How was this experience for you? You had solid stats. Did you ever feel that season that you were close to an NBA call up?

I started the season with the 76ers. I got an opportunity and they wanted to see me play point guard. I played with Delaware and showed I could get many assists. With Wisconsin, I showed that I could play off the ball and show my scoring side. It was a good development year. I think that I was closest to getting to the NBA with Milwaukee. My goal each day is to get better.

You were already a scorer at Indiana(NCAA), but how do you feel did you develop further as a player in the G-League where there is little team play and many playing for stats?

I am big for a point guard and showed with Delaware that I can be a combo guard. With Wisconsin, I showed I could be a scorer and make shots.

How vital was it playing with and against ex NBA players and young NBA player prospects. How valuable was this experience to raise your game a bit more?

My goal is always to be in the NBA. Each night you have the opportunity to show what you have in the G-league. Being able to play against all that talent definitely raised my game. It also helped that I was in the gym every day.

You played a short time with NBA player Emeka Okafor with Delaware. What kind of experience was it being able to share the court with him and hanging out with him and picking his brain on road trips?

He has had a long NBA career. I was always able to talk to him. He taught me a lot about taking care of my body and diet. He gave me tips about the NBA. He told me that had the perfect skill set and it was all about timing and getting there is something you can´t really control. He told me to work as hard as possible each day and always be in the gym.

You played at Indiana(NCAA) from 2014-2017. You had many different experiences there being teammates with Yog iFerrell, broke Eric Gordon´s record, was injured as a sophomore playing only 13 games and had a strong senior campaign. How do you summarize your three year career? What was your most memorable moment?

I came in as a Mcdonalds All-American and started as a freshman. I was a leader and handled everything well. My sophomore year was tough being injured, but my last year, I came back strong into that leader role and helped me get experience.

When was the last time that you watched your amazing buzzer beater against Penn State? Is this a video you like to watch to help motivate you?

I honestly haven´t watched that in a while. When I do watch it, it definitely motivates me and brings back memories.

How did head coach Tom Crean groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

He taught how important approach is. I don´t think there is a coach that went harder than him or was more in the gym trying to figure out how to get the upper hand on teams. I learned a lot from him.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Yogi Ferrell?

We always went back and forth. We always did limited dribbles and taking certain spots. We were always in the gym together.

How much of an influence has your dad been for you through your basketball career? How has he been able to shape and make you the man that you are today?

He put the ball in my hand. He groomed me as a player and showed me all I know. He was my coach in high school. He was a Mcdonalds All-American at Kentucky. He was every where where I wanted to be at.

You played NBA Summer League in 2017 and 2018, but not in 2019. How wide is the door open for you trying to get into the NBA or are you concentrating now on a European career and titles?

My goal is always the NBA and just getting better.

Who is the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that is in the NBA now?

I had to guard Yogi Ferrell each day in practice. That was a tough cover.

If you had to construct your own personal NBA Rushmore, which 4 heads would you pick that best fits your taste?

Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaq and Michael Jordan

Where will the journey of the Golden State Warriors go now with the injury to Steph Curry? Is the Dynasty now over?

They will back next season on the comeback trail.

What is your personal opinion of the never ending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Michael Jordan or Lebron James?

Everybody wants to say Jordan, but he was before my time. I have to say Lebron

What was the last movie that you saw?

Love and Basketball.

Thanks James for the chat.

Johnathan Williams is a 24 year old 206cm forward from Memphis, Tennessee playing his second professional season and first with Maccabi Rishon Le-Zion (Israel-Winner League). Last season he split time with the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) playing 23 games averaging 6.8ppg, 4.3rpg, FGP: 60.2%, FT: 56.3%, and also played with the South Bay Lakers (NBA G League) playing 35 games averaging 15.7ppg, 8.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 23.8%, FT: 44.2%. He began his NCAA career in 2013 with Missouri (NCAA) playing a total of 67 games and then moved to Gonzaga University (NCAA) playing 56 games and as a senior played 37 games averaging 13.4ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.6apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 60.0%, 3PT: 22.9%, FT: 54.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball recently before a Eurocup game against ratiopharm Ulm.

Jonathan thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome to Germany. How have you been able to appreciate the European travel and cultures in comparison what you saw in the NBA and G-League?

While I have enjoyed experiencing European travel and cultures very much, I have to say that nothing has compared to experiencing Israel and experiencing what a unique and beautiful country it is.  From the people to the weather to the food I don’t think I have ever experienced anything quite like Israel.  I love it here. 

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Have you had any friends or ex teammates that have played here?

I know the German teams well from watching a number of games on my off days.  I also have friends that are playing and have played there.  So I definitely have a familiarity with it.

Your playing your first season overseas with  Maccabi Rishon Le-Zion (Israel-Winner League). You had a strong G-League season with the South Bay Lakers and also put up respectable stats for a roster filled Lakers team. Why did you choose to come to Europe and not take some of that momentum from your rookie season and remain there?

I enjoyed my time with South Bay and with the Lakers but I am also truly enjoying my time with Rishon now as well.  I wanted to embrace the challenge of playing successfully in Europe and that is all my attention is on for now: winning games for Rishon.

Americans are always raving about how great it was playing in Israel. How have you been able to appreciate the culture there besides just the good weather and food?

I love it in Israel.  I look forward to visiting many of the historic sites such as Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and other areas in whatever free time I have.  But for now my focus is on winning game for Rishon. 

 Maccabi Rishon Le-Zion (Israel-Winner League) has an interesting roster with five Americans and also players from other countries. You are a guy that will carry the team. Is this season like a spring board to get back to the NBA next season?

I don’t look at it like that at all.  This season is about helping Maccabi Rishon win games. Period.  I play for Rishon not for the NBA. 

How vital has center Darryl Monroe been for your early adjustment period. The guy is a true veteran that also knows how to play the game well. Is he a guy where you have been able to soak up some of the tricks of the European style?

He has been a great teammate for sure. 

What part of your game has already improved that has happened due to you playing in the European style?

I honestly haven’t had a chance to think about that.  As long as we win games I believe my game is improving in the right way.  It has to be if we are winning.  Hopefully many of the intangibles that I have brought to Rishon have helped the team and will continue to help the team win.  

You played your rookie season with the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) playing 23 games averaging  6.8ppg, 4.3rpg, FGP: 60.2%, FT: 56.3%, and played also with the South Bay Lakers (NBA G League) playing 35 games averaging 15.7ppg, 8.7rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 23.8%, FT: 44.2%. You finished the season strong with the Los Angeles Lakers. There was talk of Anthony Davis coming for months. Did that trade end hurt your chances of remaining?

I have no idea.  Only the Los Angeles Lakers could answer that question.

What was your wake up call to being in the NBA where you knew right away that the NBA is foremost a business and any feelings of players is put aside?

I only had positive memories of my time in the NBA as I had an opportunity to play with some great teammates and learn from great coaches. 

You were teammates with Lebron James. Was there any quality of his game that you were able to soak up in the time that you were there?

There were a number of players in the NBA that I took bits and pieces of learning from what they do.  The NBA is a league of “specialists” and I tried to learn as much as I could.  Hopefully I am still learning. 

You were teammates with Isaac Bonga in the G-League and NBA. He also was effected by the trade being dealt to the Washington Wizards. He played a lot of point guard as a youngster in Germany. Where do you see his route going in the NBA?

Right now his route is as a starter for the Washington Wizards so I think is route is going just fine.

You had a solid NBA Summer League with the Houston Rockets averaging 8,6ppg and 6,0rpg. That was another situation where the club was packed with big men.Do you feel like German Isaiah Hartenstein will finally get a chance there this season?

 I think Isaiah is a talented, athletic front court player for sure.  But as far as his opportunity that he will get there you would have to ask that question to Houston.

You began your NCAA career with Missouri in 2013 and played two season´s there. You were able to improve your scoring and rebounding each season. Do you ever wonder where you might be today had you remained in Missouri?

I honestly don’t as I have a special place in my heart for both my experience at Missouri as well as my experience at Gonzaga.

You then moved to Gonzaga in 2016 and finished there putting up very solid stats of 10,2ppg and 6,4rpg and as a senior 13.4ppg, 8.5rpg. Was going to Gonzaga one of your best decisions in your life?

Going to Gonzaga is full of memories I will always cherish. 

You reached the NCAA final in 2017. What will you remember most from that 71-65 loss where you steered home 9 points and 5 boards?

I will remember most that we lost.  I wish we would have won.

What do you remember of the day to day battles in Practice with French forward Killian Tillie? Did some of his European skills rub off on you?

He was a solid player who had a unique set of skills.  I enjoyed playing and practicing against him a lot

How did head coach Mark Few groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

He taught me how to play hard every night; play responsibly every night; and to play the “right way” every night.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Killian Tillie?

I don’t remember scores from practice.  Only games

Who was the toughest player that you battled in the NCAA that is in the NBA now?

I wouldn’t want to narrow it down to one player.  I played against quite a few tough players but I also hope that I was one of the tougher players that others had to play against too.

Where does Lebron stand right now in your opinion in the never ending debate of who is the best of all-time debate with Michael Jordan?

I never saw Michael Jordan play in person so I am not really qualified to give an opinion on that. 

What was the last movie that you saw?

Dolemite is my name

Thanks Johnathan for the chat

It continues to be a massive delight to enter the Dragon Dome in Bad Honnef and see the Rhondorf Dragons playing super basketball and winning. Especially now it is extra fun to watch the ex Pro A team, because they haven´t lost in a long time. They have won their last six games in a row and last weekend upset number one team Rheinstars 86-83 and were in the ultimate basketball heaven realizing that the team had talent and could beat anyone in the league despite their up and down start at 3-3. The club continues to score at a very comfortable rate averaging 93 points per game and have eclipsed the 100 point mark in 4 of the last six games. Their defense continues to be a work in progress, but had made steps forward in the last weeks. The third place team Dragons Rhondorf met 8th placed team BG Dorsten who they had never battled against as they sat in eighth place. They had started the season strong winning 3 of their first 4 games, but since then struggled losing 5 of their last 8 games and 3 of their last 4 games. Last weekend they lost a heartbreaker in the derby clash against BV Wulfen 77-74. They averaged 80 points on offense coming into the game and allowed 81 points per game. Both teams best players Curtis Hollis and Adam Picket continued to be on a tear and met for the first time in their professional careers and the Texas native won round one as the Dragons Rhondorf overcame a weak first quarter and poured home 85 points in the last three quarters to destroy BG Dorsten 104-76. It was the tenth win of the season for the Dragons and their seventh in a row. Their offense continues to be on fire as the give sharing the ball a new meaning while their defense is still a work in progress, their potent offense continues to hide their inconsistent defense. “We were lazy in the first quarter, but after that we picked it up. We played good team basketball sharing the ball and making the extra pass. Our rotations have to get better. We have to be better positioned on the help side. But I still feel our defense is getting better each game”, warned Dragons Rhondorf American Curtis Hollis. BG Dorsten fell to 6-7 and their top scorer American Adam Picket who entered the game averaging 26,0ppg didn´t hesitate to give his input to the Rhondorf lashing. “We have been practicing transition defense, but we did it well tonight only in spurts. We had too many stupid turnovers. We have to cut down on them. We got good shots and got to the free throw line, but our transition defense and turnovers hurt us. We didn´t hustle enough on defense”, added ex Winthrop guard Adam Pickett .”We continue to stay humble despite the 7 game winning streak. We want to keep working and building each day. We know that we are a talented team and have been getting rewarded in games. We still have a lot to correct, but it will only get better”,warned Curtis Hollis.

                BG Dorsten got off to a quick start leading 7-2. Adam Pickett began the game showing rapidly what would give Rhondorf headaches all night long as he penetrated to then hoop with authority as nobody could match his quickness. Jan Peters who once struck Dortmund with 31 points and 9 three´s dropped a trey and ex Rhondorf NBBL player Nainoa Schmidt scored a lay in getting a pretty back door pass from German Wilhelm Koehler. This fast start didn´t intimate the Dragons Rhondorf as they finally got their offense going getting three scores from Hollis, ex FC Bayern Munich Pro B player Killian Binapfl and Slovenian big man Jure Besedic to cut the lead to 9-8. Rhondorf would dead lock the game twice 12-12 and 14-14 thanks to the physical inside play of Besedic who scored twice. The Slovenian likes the pick and pop, but stayed aggressive and did damage inside the paint. BG Dorsten did most of their damage on the penetration as Rhondorf didn´t defend well 1-1. BG Dorsten continued to put on pressure as Adam Pickett did a superb job drawing the defense on him and letting the three point shooters be open as young German Jan Peters dropped two treys. Schmidt also scored again while the Dragons Rhondorf stayed in the game getting production from Mark Kotieno and Curtis Hollis with a dunk on transition, but BG Dorsten led 23-19. “We didn´t have the intensity and mentality. We gave up to many offensive rebounds. Besedic played strong keeping us in the game”, added Dragons Rhondorf CEO Alexander Dohms. BG Dorsten shot 42% from the field and 37% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 0 turnovers while the Dragons Rhondorf shot 56% form the field and 0% from outside and had 11 rebounds and 2 turnovers.

                In the second quarter came the turning point of the game where the Dragons Rhondorf took the lead and were able to build a comfortable lead and would never look back. After hitting no three´s in the first quarter, the Dragons Rhondorf came alive in the second dropping three. 37 year Spaniard Enrico Garrido Foz hit two in a row at the start tying the game at 25-25. BG Dorsten was able to grab back the lead one more time as Nderim Pelaj scored as did Peters for the 29-26 advantage. But then came the turning point of the contest as the Dragons Rhondorf rattled off a lethal 13-0 run to take the 39-29 lead and they would never look back. In the run, the former Pro B team got production from and the most damage from 37 year old Anish Sharda who scored 6 points while Curtis Hollis chipped in with 5 points scoring twice on the fast break. The Dragons Rhondorf stepped up their intensity on defense which BG Dorsten couldn´t come to terms with, finally started nailing three´s and allowed their aggressive defense lead to easy transition buckets on offense. The Dragons Rhondorf didn´t let up and kept the momentum and offensive consistency until the break. Rhondorf continued to get out on transition and got two more baskets from Hollis and Kotieno continued to score with ease in the paint. BG Dorsten had one ace in their deck with Adam Pickett who scored whenever he wanted in the paint while from outside he had no luck as he was 0/5 at the break. The Dragons Rhondorf had the comfortable 50-36 lead at the break. “You could see how valuable Enric Garrido Foz was as he came in and instantly improved our game. We had intensity on defense which led to easy fast break points”, commented Alexander Dohms. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 52% from the field and 27% from the three point line and had 27 rebounds and 7 turnovers while BG Dorsten shot 37% from the field and 26% from the three point line and had 17 rebounds and 6 turnovers.

                In the third quarter the Dragons Rhondorf kept up the pressure and were able to extend their lead to 21 points. BG Dorsten had the better start catching the Dragons Rhondorf on the wrong foot and going on a rapid 5-0 run to cut down the Rhondorf lead to 50-41. 31 year old German Wilhelm Koehler who entered the season with 133 Regionalliga games on his resume scored a 15 footer after 6 seconds and made an offensive rebound and put back. Sharda put a short dagger into the BG Dorsten run with a trey extending the Dragons lead to 53-41, but BG Dorsten still had energy despite the comeback effort and rolled out on a 9-2 run to cut the Rhondorf lead to 55-50. Picket who played 120 NCAA games at Winthrop was a one man wrecking crew with his penetration scored 7 points while Peters scored on transition to cut the Rhondorf lead to 55-50. “Every USA guard that we play give their best. He was quick and could finish at ease. Yassin told me to cover him and I was able to slow him down a bit. We did what we could throwing a couple of bodies at him”, stressed Curtis Hollis. Pickett finished with 27 points, but wasn´t overall satisfied with his play as a playmaker since they didn´t win. “For me it´s important to score and find my teammates. Scoring 27 points doesn´t mean much when I don´t get my teammates involved and we don´t win. I need to be able to find a balance between scoring and finding my teammates and wining games”, stressed Adam Pickett. Despite cutting the Rhondorf lead down to 5 points, the home team then totally dominated ending the third quarter with massive 20-4 run to lead 75-54. In the run, it was the Beseidc show as he scored 12 points including two treys and Simonas Lukosius also gave his fine shooting touch scoring 9 points including back to back three´s. “Yassin ran a lot of plays with Besedic. When Besedic is playing hard, it opens up shots for others”, commented Curtis Hollis. “Besedic killed us inside. They were doing early post ups where he had to do no work except take the quick turnaround shot”, added Adam Pickett. The Dragons Rhondorf shot 53% from the field and 38% from the parking lot and had 36 rebounds and 13 turnovers while BG Dorsten shot 39% from the field and 25% form the parking lot and had 25 rebounds and 12 turnovers.

                The Dragons Rhondorf continued to be aggressive and execute on offense in the fourth quarter and extend their lead to as high as 30 points while BG Dorsten lost more intensity on the defensive end. Kotieno got the Dragons Rhondorf going with a basket for the 77-54 lead. Then came the big moment for German Sven Morlock who had 5 Pro B games experience had played 5,24 minutes in the game and brought a 28% from outside into the game rattled off back to back three´s to cut the Dragons lead to 77-60. Both teams took a rest from defense and both teams executed at a fine rate on offense, but that didn´t help BG Dorsten´s come back attempt. BG Dorsten starting point guard Pelaj had been quiet for the first 30 minutes scoring only 5 points, but now in the fourth quarter scored 5 points while Rhondorf received buckets from Foz and Kotieno as BG Dorsten trailed 84-67. Even if didn´t seem like BG Dorsten could get over the hump and challenge the Dragons, the home team didn´t want to risk anything and completely slammed the door shut on the guests with a ruthless 13-0 run to extend their lead to 97-67. In the run the Dragons Rhondorf got production from Hollis and Jonas Falkenstein who hit consecutive three´s while Kotieno and little used German Lotola Otshumbe scored baskets. BG Dorsten had lost intensity and energy on defense while the Dragons Rhondorf continued to share the ball and play fine team ball. The only thing that interested Dragon fans now was if they would hit the golden 100 mark again. They did as Lukosius hit a jumper and had to buy donuts for the team for the second time this season. It was another normal day at the office for the Dragons Rhondorf as they eclipsed the 100 point mark for the fifth time in the 7 game winning streak. “We kept pouring it on. It is hard to contain us with so many pieces”, added Curtis Hollis. “We lost intensity on defense. You need to fight for the complete 40 minutes. We didn´t compete enough. You play with pride and need to compete at all times”, warned Adam Pickett. The Dragons Rhondorf were led by Curtis Hollis with 23points and 11 rebounds. Jure Besedic added 22 points and Simonas Lukosius had 13 points. Anish Sharda and Mark Kotieno added 10 points a piece. BG Dorsten was led by Adam Pickett with 27 points while Jonas Peters added 15 points.  shot 55% from the field and 41% from outside and had 49 rebounds and 17 turnovers while BG Dorsten shot 39% from the field and 26% from outside and had 32 rebounds and 16 turnovers.

Jaren Lewis is a 22 year old 198cm forward from Orlando, Florida that is playing his rookie season in Germany with the wiha Panthers Schwenningen currently averaging 9,6ppg, 3,9rpg and 1,6apg through 9 games.. He began his basketball career at Lake Highland Prep and played at Abil.Christian (NCAA) from 2015-2019 playing a total of 123 games. In his freshman year he played 30 games averaging 9.7ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 53.2%, 3PT: 41.3%, FT: 72.6%. In his second year at Abil.Christian (NCAA) he played 28 games averaging 13.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 2.1apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 71.3%. In his junior season at Abil.Christian (NCAA) he played 31 games averaging 13.4ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.9apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 58.1%, 3PT: 35.3%, FT: 79.1%. In his senior year at Abil.Christian (NCAA) he played 34 games averaging 13.8ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.7apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 48.2%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 72.8%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his career a few months ago.

Jaren thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

Right now I’m in Houston, Texas. I’ve had a pretty good summer I’ve been staying in Houston with my older brother since I graduated in May. And I’ve just been in Houston working out, training, and getting ready for the upcoming season.

Congrats on signing your first professional contract with the wiha Panthers Schwenningen. From Sacramento to Schwenningen. One place is a city and has an NBA team and the other is more a town and a Pro A club. Are you afraid that you will witness a culture shock?

No I’m not afraid about witnessing a culture shock. It will definitely be different for me and will be something I will have to adjust to. But I think I am ready for it . I’m ready to get there and get to work.

Describe what kind of a feeling it was working out for the NBA team Kings. How did it come about and what will you never forget about this experience?

It was a great experience working out for the Sacramento Kings. It came about because my agent did a great job getting my name out there and marketing me. Once he did that teams started taking a closer look at me and I’m grateful for the Kings giving me an opportunity to come work out there for them. It happened kind of fast because I took a while before signing with an agent, but as soon as I did my agent got to work for me and it has paid off. I don’t think I’ll ever forget how I performed. I feel like I had a pretty good workout and I’m just eager to build on it and to continue getting better.

What other players were there and with what coaches did you work with? Did they just give you the normal blabla advice about continuing to work hard or did they offer other tips on your basketball journey?

I worked out with Kyle Guy from Virginia’s national championship team, BJ Taylor from the University of Central Florida, John Konchar from Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne and two big men one from Eastern Kentucky University and another from Louisiana Lafayette. The workout was put on by assistant coaches of the Sacramento Kings, but most of the organization and newly hired Luke Walton watched and evaluated the whole workout. A couple coaches had a few tips for me regarding to my basketball journey but that was it.

What do you know in general about the country Germany and it´s basketball? Have you had ex teammates or friends play in Germany in the past?

 I have heard Germany is very beautiful and that the food is very good. I’ve read that Germany is a very diverse place and it can be full of the world’s different languages. Germany has a very large population so I wasn’t surprised to find that out. I don’t know much about German basketball and I don’t have any friends or ex teammates that have played in Germany in the past. But I am looking forward to learning more and gaining more experience.

Wiha Panthers Schwenningen head coach Alen Velcic is real high on your skill level. Did you have the feeling with the first phone call that he had a special heart for his team and players?

I did have that feeling on the first phone call that we had I can tell the Coach Velcic is really passionate about the game of basketball and he is going to give his all to ensure that we are successful on and off the court. Coach Velcic really does have a special heart for his players. You can tell by the way he talks about developing players not only as basketball players but also as men.

What other reasons were there for you making the wiha Panthers Schwenningen your home in your rookie season?

 The main reason for me signing is the opportunity the league and team present. I can really grow and develop in this league and it can be a great platform for me to showcase my talent. I have connected with Coach Velcic several times and we have common goals. We have started to form a really great relationship and I feel this partnership will benefit us both.

Let´s talk about your game. You’re a versatile and athletic 201cm forward. If you had to compare your style of play on the court to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

That’s tough I can’t really say there is a NBA player that I can compare my style of play to I feel like I’m very unique and I bring a lot to the table. I am very versatile so it is hard to compare my game to other people.

Consistency could be your middle name. You averaged 13,0ppg in your last three NCAA seasons. How important is it for you to be consistent and do you believe you can continue to carry it in the professional ranks?

It is extremely important for me to be consistent and I do believe I can carry it on to the professional ranks because of my habits and my routines. The work I put in makes me feel confident that I will continue to be consistent. I feel like my preparation will continue to help me find success and consistency.

You’re a guy that can really do a lot at the offensive end. What other strengths does your game possess that you will display on the court in Germany this season?

I think my complete game will be on display on the court in Germany this season. I really can do a lot on the offensive end and I look forward to putting that on display every time I go out to play. I think exactly that will show, I will do whatever it takes to help the team win.

How much pride do you take on the defensive end. What part of your defense do you feel will be most exposed in your rookie season?

I take a lot of pride on the defensive end. I don’t feel like any part of my defense will be exposed in my rookie season if I continue to stay locked in and consistent.

You’re a guy that can fill up the stat sheet, but what do you feel is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t always get noticed right away on the court?

I feel like my passing ability doesn’t always get noticed right away on the court. I feel like I am a very good passer and have an excellent feel for the game.

On what areas of your game will you be working on most this summer so you will be most prepared? How well oiled is your three pointer? The highest you averaged in the last three seasons was 35%. Do you feel like your shot will be getting better over time?

This summer I’m working a lot on shooting and also getting stronger. I do feel like my shot will be getting better over time and I’m ready to show the strides and improvements I’ve made.

You played at Abil.Christian (NCAA) from 2015-2019. How great was your NCAA time. Was winning the Southland Conf. Tournament as a senior your most cherished moment or leading your team to the NCAA tournament for the first time in over 100 years?

It was a lot of fun. I wouldn’t trade it for anything and yes I would say winning the southland conference tournament as a senior was my most cherished moment in my time at Abilene Christian it was just so rewarding because we had been working so hard for that moment. And to see that hard work pay off meant a lot because we went through a lot to get there.          

How proud are you that you are only the second guy from your prep school Lake Highland with ex Duke great Joel Berry to have made the NCAA tournament. You guys were teammates there. Was he like a role model for you?

I am very proud that I got a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. Joel was a great teammate and set a great example to follow. I did learn a lot from him and I’m grateful for the time we spent together at Lake Highland.

You were very consistent in your last three seasons in the NCAA. How do you feel did your game grow in this time?

I feel like my game grew a lot and I truly became more versatile over my time at ACU I think when I came in I was primarily just a scorer but over time my game grew and I begin to be able to do multiple things on the court and it really helped my personal growth and my team’s success. I added a post and mid post game to my skill set and became a better leader.

How did head coach Joel Golding groom and prepare you best for a professional basketball career?

Coach Golding prepared me by challenging me. He always challenged me to do more or to get better at something. He consistently challenged me to be a better leader but he also helped me get better at playing off the ball. He challenged me with a leadership role in my sophomore year and he never gave up on me even when there were times I thought I wasn’t ready.

Despite losing 69-65 to Nicholls State in your junior season, you scored 18 points and had 20 rebounds. Was that one of your best games in the NCAA?

That was one of my best games but I think in the same week I recorded 20 points and 18 rebounds or something like that in a game against the University of Incarnate Word. I also had 26 points in a game against Charleston Southern my sophomore year. And 20 points against the university of the pacific my senior year. Those are just some games that come to the front of my mind when thinking about some of my best ncaa games.         

In your last NCAA game you lost to powerhouse Kentucky 75-44, but you left a lasting impression with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. What memories do you have from that game?

I’ll always remember it because it was the last game of my college career, but I will also remember it because it was in the NCAA tournament. To play on that stage was a dream and to finally do it felt great.

When you look at a guy like Keldon Johnson or Tyler Herro who were both drafted by the NBA in the first round or a Reid Travis who probably will play in the NBA, do you feel like there is so much difference in what they can offer on the court and what you can offer. How important was your play in this game for your self confidence?

I don’t feel like there is much of a difference. I have never felt like that. I think it is because I have been playing against the so called top players my whole life. But it was a great experience playing against Kentucky but I already have a great self confidence so my play just made me hungrier to get where they are.

Who won a one on one in practice you or Hayden Farquhar?

I don’t think we ever played one on one before.

Who was the toughest opponent that you played in the NCAA that is in the NBA or in Europe now

There were a number of guys that are in the conversation for me. Kay Felder from Oakland was tough I think he is in the G league. Jordan Howard was tough to stop as well I know he was in the G league this past year. Rashawn Thomas was very tough as well I know he spent time in the g league but I think he is in Europe now. But aside from that I played against Brandon Ingram in high school and he was pretty tough as well.

Please list your five best teammates of all-time?

Joel Berry, Jaylen Franklin, Jovan Crnic, Jalen Little, Drake Green

Please name your personal own NBA Rushmore. Which four heads would you pick past or present for your list?

Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Magic Johnson

What is your personal opinion of the never ending debate of who is the greatest of all-time Michael Jordan or Lebron James?

Neither. I’m t Kobe Bryant fan so I believe Kobe Bryant is the greatest basketball player of all time. I just believe he was more skilled than Michael Jordan and Lebron and I feel like he always found a way to do more with less. Whether that was less athletic ability than Michael or Lebron or worse situations.

What was the last movie that you saw?

I just saw the movie child’s play, I’m a huge fan of scary movies.

Thanks Jaren for the chat.

Curtis Hollis is a 21 year old 198cm forward from Arlington, Texas that is playing his first season overseas and first in Germany with the Dragons Rhondorf currently averaging 20,5ppg,7,7rpg,3,8apg and 3,6spg. He began his career at Mansfield Summit High School. In 2017-2018 he played with Hutchinson CC (JUCO) playing 34 games averaging 6.9ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 66.3%. In 2018 he played in Lavar Ball’s new league with the Houston Ballers (JBL) playing 7 games: Score-5 (29.3ppg), 11.3rpg, 5.3apg, 2.6spg, FGP: 46.0%, 3PT: 21.2%, FT: 71.8%. He and I will team up every week to talk basketball in the Miles basketball minute.

Congrats on the huge 86-83 win over the RheinStars Colonge. While you were in the dressing room celebrating an unsavory act happened as a RheinStars fan spit at a kid. Have you ever experienced something like this in your playing career among fans?

No that’s crazy man. Our manager told us and we were disgusted. But it’s different in Europe rivalries are big here so I’m not too surprised but that can’t happen

You told me after the big win that it was the biggest victory of the season for the Dragons Rhondorf. How proud are you of the guys and how do you feel did the team grow once again during these 40 minutes?

I’m proud that we battled and played together as a team. We’re extremely talented when we play right we are really hard to beat. I feel like we grow every game just going through different situations that are going help us in the long run! 

Two weeks ago after the win against BG Hagen, Yassin Idbihi said the defense was a catastrophe and after this win he praised the defense. Is the club slowly learning to love to play defense?

Yes we are. We go over the little details every day in practice so we’re slowly getting to where we need to be.

What new strides did the team do on offense? The Dragons scored 86 points against a team that gave up only 67 points coming in? I think that the over all execution especially after an opponent´s run was strengthed against the RheinStars. Would you agree?

Nothing new. Just like I always say when we play together we can’t be guarded. We did a great job weathering the storm every time they went on a run so that was huge for us. Yes I agree.

After celebrating a big win like this the team obviously is able to gain a lot of self confidence beating the #1 team. What will be key mentally now not to lose focus? You’re a guy that doesn´t reflect long on the last win and looks forward to the next task. Is this a focus that you have to help teach your teammates or are they following your lead?

I think they are on the same page with me when it comes to that. We just move on to the next game win or lose and know the intensity and energy we have to bring going into every game! 

Yassin Idbihi is a very tough coach, but in order to be successful you have to let your players know the truth. How thankful have you been that doesn´t let the players hear what they want to hear, but give hell when it is needed?

I know I can’t speak for everybody but for me I’m extremely thankful. I know I can go on and on about Yassin but he’s amazing. Not just as a coach or GM but as a person. He cares for everybody and really wants us all to succeed and reach our dreams. So I think everybody is thankful that he doesn’t let anybody slack off and he stays on us.

The teammate spotlight this week is Jere Besedic. He had another good game that never gave up after having a tough start and later finding his rhythm. Even if he is a different player than Gabril De Olveira, how vital is his consistency now during the German´s injury?

His consistency is huge because when he is killing that’s another area for us that we can dominate. He’s a beast! 

You had another big game recording 28 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 steals. There were phases in the game where you disappeared a bit, but only because they keyed in on you and did a good job. What goes through your mind in times like this where you can´t contribute as much as you would like?

Nothing really. I just continue to play, I try to find ways to help us win and get our other guys off. I know I’ll always get mine when the time comes.

You had two huge defensive rebounds at the end of the game. When looking back at your game, how important were these two plays in comparison to all the other things you were able to achieve on the court?

They were important but nothing too crazy. I was just going what I had to do to pull out the W.

After “Easy Work” a nickname you offered me to use, I have come up with a second one called Curtis “As composed as a ballerina” Hollis. How do you feel would you do as a ballerina if you had a one day course?

There’s no way I would be a ballerina haha. The name is cool though! Your creativity is nice.

The next game is against BG Dorsten. Will it be difficult to get back down after beating the top team? Are let downs something at the moment that this team is able to avoid with the continued self confidence growing?

Yes we’re able to avoid them and we’re going to avoid them. We can’t take steps back so we have to keep playing how we have been.

A player that you like very much and compare your game to is Jayson Tatum. After the win against the Golden State Warrriors he stated. “We are a relentless group. When things get tough, we never put our heads down”. Is this something that you can say about the development of the Dragons Rhondorf since Yassin Idbihi´s arrival as head coach?

Yes. We have fought through a lot of adversity but I think it’s made us who we are today. We don’t get rattled we just keep going and keep pushing.

What does Isaiah Hartenstein still have to do to get a fair chance with the Houston Rockets and somehow get by the older heads centers down there?

It’s tough because they are in win mode now so the coaches have to find ways to trust him. The bigs they have are vets and proven guys as well so it’s tough for him.

Giannis Antetokounmpo made a fierce double poster dunk on the Indiana Pacers. Is that something that is still missing from your highlight reel?

I’ll get it forsure! Haha

Thanks Curtis for the chat.

                After 40 minutes the buzzer sounded and Dragons Rhondorf fans were in basketball heaven in the warmer than usual Dragon Dome something which showed that more people were breathing in there in comparison to the last weeks where it was frostier due to a lack of spectators and one wondered if the heater would ever be turned on. Not for the 30-40 RheinStars fans that had made the short 30 minute drive from Cologne, but for the Dragon fans there was pure enjoyment after the upset 86-83 victory over the first placed team. One could see it on the faces of the Dragon players just how happy they were that the hard work that they had put in in the last weeks had paid off. It was the sixth win in a row for the Dragons Rhondorf placing them near the top of the standings with a 9-3 record. As most fans had left and the Dragon players  were celebrating in the locker room, a not so nice act happened on the sidelines as a RheinStars fan spat on a young boy. By pure chance, the dirty act was caught on camera and the culprit was quickly caught. This is the type of thing that shouldn´t happen at a basketball game, but it did. I don´t know if disciplinary action was sought, but in a few years that act won´t be remembered except for maybe the two guys involved, but this amazing win will as it will remain in the hearts of Dragons fans. This massive win was just another huge step in the further development of the Dragons Rhondorf under the watchful eye of interim head coach Yassin Idbihi.

                The Dragons Rhondorf are truly for real and continue to grow under Yassin Idbihi. The offense continues to be their bread and butter. I personally was a bit skeptical that they would execute as well against first placed team RheinStars as the last weeks against teams simply because they hadn´t really met a strong defensive team. They had destroyed teams the last weeks and made it look like a cake walk and in four of the last five games eclipsed the 100 points. They met the second best defensive team in the Regionalliga that on average was giving up 67 points per game and hit them for 86 points. They didn´t panic, but went into the game and played their game, playing team basketball and sharing the ball well. Their 16 assists didn´t match their 29 from Essen the week before, but they faced a lot better defensive team this weekend so that was expected that their input wouldn´t be as high. The most important aspect about the offensive success against the RheinStars was that they were able to overcome adversary in certain phases against the second best defensive team in the league. There were times when the RheoínStars made consecutive stops and went on little runs, but that never fazed the Dragons. They had a solid offensive execution rate and didn´t fall into bad habits relying on the hero ball something the RheinStars did do in crunch-time. The Solid consistent team play of the Dragons Rhondorf was a big reason that they could be successful against the Cologne Defense. There were phases where top team scorer Curtis Hollis was more keyed on and couldn´t perform certain offensive duties, but that was when other guys stepped up like a Jure Besedic or an Enric Garrido Foz who made big shots. Killian Binapfl as always was a force at both ends of the court and carried the team in certain phases just as did Hollis in the second half when he broke free from the RheinStars defense.

                Before I get to the defense, I have to talk a bit about the performance of Curtis Hollis and his new nickname. He had another normal day at the office scoring 28 points and shooting a strong 63,6% from the field. He was a pest on the defensive end in the second half ending with 6 steals playing speculation defense. He also dished out 3 dimes and had 6 rebounds. One can´t forget that he is a rookie and not all is perfect with the Texas native. He already is doing so much on the court and filling the stat sheet like a Westbrook that at times doing that might not come easy. He surprisingly had no rebounds at half-time which is difficult to believe. Yassin Idbihi who discovered him in the summer of 2018 in Baunach during a game where Hollis poured in 40 points as a member of a USA select team with LaMello Ball took him to the side and explained that he had to be more aggressive on the boards. Hollis took the Idbihi words to heart and amassed 6 boards in the second half of the game. He did many great things in the game like being perfect from the parking lot 3/3, making big steals and making the unselfish extra pass, but the two clutch defensive rebounds he made in crunch-time could have been his two biggest feats in the game. The Dragons Rhondorf had had difficulty rebounding the ball all night long, but when getting two defensive rebounds on two possession was most needed, the American came through with flying colors. He isn´t in the top10 in scoring in the Regionalliga, but is easily the most complete and versatile player. He reminds me a bit like Kameron Taylor two season ago when the now Bambergguard  played for the Dragons. Both are guys that standout with their phenominal play and are simply big time leaders. Hollis is continuing to grow into that very special player that could lead the Dragons Rhondorf to special heights. Before the season began, I asked him for a good nickname for my play by play games. He said use “Easy Work”. He said that his play on the court looks like it´s easy work. A few days ago, I came up with a second nickname “As composed as a ballerina”. I haven´t used the word ballerina on a regular basis since the 2009-2010 season when I yelled Derrick “the ballerina” Allen in my calls since he moved on the court like a ballerina. I feel that when you watch Curtis Hollis, he is always so composed and has the same expression if up by 30 or down by 30. A ballerina also has to be composed during her routine. I wonder what kind of figure Hollis would give after a day wearing the ballerina tights.

                The Dragons Rhondorf defense has been a work in progress this season and still is, but it made further steps in the victory over the RheinStars. They gave up 83 points which wasn´t their best this season and only the fifth best, but they did it against one of the better offensive teams in the league. Sometimes wins don´t tell the whole story. Two weeks ago in the team´s home win over BG Hagen, they allowed 96 points and only won because their offense was cooking and scored 104 points. I have stated before that playing the shoot out game can be very risky, because there will be nights where the offense is solid, but not great and that is when the losses start to pour in. In the win against BG Hagen there was so many individual mistakes that head coach Yassin Idbihi said that the defense was a catastrophe. Many of the other basic things like help defense and rebounding were also things that weren´t executed well on. Since the arrival of Idbihi the club has changed a few things and one of those is using the Telekom Baskets Bonn system of speculation defense. Trying to read the opponents offense and gamble which can be risky. The BBL Bonn team have flink and quick aggressive guards with Saibu, DiLeo and Polas where this works. It´s no difference with the Dragons Rhondorf. With guys like Hollis, Jeffrey Martin, Foz and the Falkenstein brothers, you have players that can be successful with this strategy as they swiped away 10 balls that led to some easy transition baskets. This kind of play can quickly sway the momentum on your side and with continued quick offensive execution can quickly help a team get a double digit lead and slowly drive the opponent into the ground having to practice catch up basketball. Of course the team still has to rebound better and there are times where the success rate of the individual defense isn´t there. A few weeks ago, I stated that the Dragons Rhondorf have to love to defend and show passion. According to Dragons Rhondorf CEO Alexander Dohms, the motivation is there and slowly the team is understanding how to defend and getting more confident with it. Head coach Idbihi also sees a changed team on the defensive end. “We are starting to defend better. We are starting to feel it on defense, but we still aren´t where we want to be. But we made another step on defense”, warned Yassin Idbihi. These are very exciting times in Dragons Rhondorf basketball country as a big winning streak is intact, the defense is improving and growing and the offense is giving fans shooting clinics. The only thing missing is seeing Curtis Hollis giving a ballerina routine, but we will stick to enjoying his flights to the basket instead.