The defense has been the main staple that has held the Fraport Skyliners ship together all season and even when their offense was sputtering and was as desolate as the barren tundra in Russia, they could still pull out wins simply because their defense was a rock and held teams to even less points then what they could only muster. In the first game against Dutch team ZZ Leiden in Europe Cup play the 2004 Beko BBL champion Fraport Skyliners were able to grind out an ugly 64-58 victory where their three offensive threats Theodore, Doornekamp and Robertson were held to 8/26 from the field and were led by the 17 points of Mike Morrison and 14 points from Konstantin Klein. Frankfurt had no remedy how to stop the athletic Worthy De Jong that led all scorers with 22 points and found ways to score in a Ricky Easterling manner and made big plays. However Fraport Skyliners head coach Gordon Herbert was hoping for the continued rejuvenated offense by Frankfurt as in the last two games they had averaged 88 points in the big wins against FC Porto and the Brose Baskets Bamberg as well as keeping the consistent defense intact. ZZ Leiden is a rare team that has two Americans, but doesn´t always start them and rely on the input of their Dutch players and hero like play of Worthy De Jong, but the Dutch team were unable to attain the level they had in Frankfurt a few weeks ago where they were close to a win, but at home were crushed as they caught a very bad shooting day and had absolutely no idea how to find a rhythm on offense and often were unable to shoot in the ocean as they missed shot after shot, but Frankfurt also made their selection miserable as their aggressive defense and rotations were superb. It was the third game in a row where the offense was playing in a Tom Brady manner as they were hitting on a consistent basis and their unselfishness was a grade A. “The key to tonight’s game was DEFENSE! It very important for us to set the tone on defense and we were able to that from the start. We knew that they were home and coming in to tonight’s game they haven’t loss in their home gym. So we expected them to shoot the ball confidently! In the first quarter they hit some tough shots but our defense was still really good. We were able to score off their turnovers. We were also able to get out in off their miss shots. Most importantly we ran our offense with a purpose”, stressed Fraport Skyliner Jordan Theodore.

The first quarter was the closest in the whole game as there were five lead changes, but three consecutive three pointers by the Fraport Skyliners near the end of the first quarter quickly turned the tide of the momentum and Frankfurt would never trail again as they rattled off their offense on a consistent basis while ZZ Leiden struggled on offense except for a spurt in the fourth quarter. 2012 Dutch Eredivisie All-Star Game slam dunk winner and 2015 MVP Joern Van der List set the stage early hitting a three as the outside shooting would be about all that ZZ Leiden would have to offer on this night. The Fraport Skyliners were cheered on by around 20 fans that had made the 5 hour trip to Leiden quickly got their offense flowing as ex Auburn guard Quantez Robertson made a lay in, Danilo Barthel a free throw and Johannes Voigtmann connected on a pretty fade away jumper as Frankfurt led 5-3. Van Der List kept up his slick outside shooting nailing another trey to fetch the lead back, but that was quickly erased by Canadian national player Aaron Doornekamp with a jumper and 7-6 advantage for Frankfurt. Voigtmann then scored back to back buckets with a two handed dunk as Barthel fed him and a jumper. ZZ Leiden dead locked the game at 11-11 as Van Der List hit his third three pointer of the quarter. Jordan Theodore then got on the score board with a lay in for the 13-11 lead, but ex Cal Poly Pomona (NCAA2) guard Deron Scott dropped a trey for the 14-13 ZZ Leiden lead. However then like in a mean rush, the Fraport Skyliners went on a 10-0 run nailing three three pointers with two from German national player Konstantin Klein and one from Robertson. Scott closed out the first quarter with a lay in as Frankfurt led 23-16. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 64% from the field and 50% from outside while ZZ Leiden were shooting 43% from the field and 60% from outside. Frankfurt had the 8-5 rebound lead, but had three turnovers while ZZ Leiden had one turnover.

In the second quarter, the Fraport Skyliners would run away with the game outscoring their Dutch counterpart 18-7 and leading 41-23 at the break. ZZ Leiden actually started out well in the second staying with Frankfurt as 31 year old two time Dutch champion and allstar shooting guard Rogier Jansen nailed a three pointer and 25 year old 2010cm center and three time Dutch cup winner Thomas Koenis grabbed his own rebound making the put back while Frankfurt got production from Klein with a lay and pick and pop shot from Doornekamp as Frankfurt still led 28-21, but this was the closest that ZZ Leiden would ever be again in the game as the Fraport Skyliners now really took control of the game as they went into halftime with a back breaking 13-2 run. Frankfurt was playing great team basketball and finding so many ways to score while ZZ Leiden had more and more difficulty getting good shots and just couldn´t hit the ocean. Their star Worthy De Jong also wasn´t having a good night as one could sense his frustration with every new turnover and rushed shot as the forehead wrinkles increased. The best play that de Jong made in the second quarter was blocking a Max Merz shot on transition as he came from the blind side blocked him and the ball deflected off the German for a ZZ Leiden possession. The only points ZZ Leiden got was a rare inside bucket from Van Der List. On offense Frankfurt was clicking and getting superb consistent production. The run was started with Theodore and Barthel free throws. Theodore made a reverse lay in and Barthel and a dunk as Voigtmann found him cutting to the hole as ZZ Leiden had no idea how to clog the paint. Little then made the last five Frankfurt points with a put back after reaching for an offensive rebound and then nailing a trey as Frankfurt had the comfortable 41-23 lead after 20 minutes. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 63% from the field and 44% from the three point line while ZZ Leiden was shooting 31% from the field and 35% from the three point line. Frankfurt had the 19-10 rebound edge. ZZ Leiden had eight turnovers and Frankfurt seven.

In the third quarter the Fraport Skyliners continued being the more consistent team executing on offense and often making it look like a stroll in the park while their defense continued to stifle ZZ Leiden. ZZ Leiden got on the board first as Jansen dropped a trey, but then was rudely beat on the next Frankfurt possession by Theodore who used that quick first step to his advantage and getting the easy lay in. Then the two big men traded baskets as Voigtmann and Van Der List scored as he was the only real bright spot for the Dutch team on this night. With ZZ Leiden down 45-28, the Fraport Skyliners had no mercy and added on to their big lead closing out the third quarter on a 15-4 run to lead 60-32 after three quarters. In the run, the Fraport Skyliners just played delightful basketball that would of even got a thumbs up even from the most staunch ZZ Leiden supporters as there was nothing that one could complain about. Moving the ball, finding the open guy and throwing in an extra pass was the recipe for success. 2010 Eurochallenge winner John Little made a pretty running floater from the wing, Doornekamp a jumper after getting the perfect kick out dish from Theodore, Barthel a lay in after getting a feed from Theodore off the penetration, Voigtmann a 15 footer from the wing after Barhel made an extra pass and Little made a deep three from the corner as Barthel again made the extra pass. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 56% from the field   and 46% from the parking lot while ZZ Leiden was shooting 33% from the field and from the parking lot. Frankfurt had the 26-17 rebound edge and eight turnovers while ZZ Leiden had 15 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter, ZZ Leiden outscored the Fraport Skyliners 19-16, but it didn´t matter as the game had already been decided after 30 minutes. Ex E.Kentucky (NCAA) forward Eric Stutz who has a collection of over 30 hair braids nailed a three pointer and Van Der List scored, but Frankfurt matched the Dutch production as New York native Theodore found Barthel for the easy lay in and then finished himself as Frankfurt led 66-37. Then came the best spurt of ZZ Leiden since the first quarter as they went on a 9-1 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 68-46. In the run they got instant offense from two time Dutch Eredivisie Champion and 2015 Euro player Worthy De Jong who scored three buckets in the run sneaking inside twice notching reverse lay ups and then connecting on a tip in ally-oop play. Scott also contributed with a three pointer. However the ZZ Leiden run was short lived and the game then ultimately decided as Klein closed the chapter to game 4 nailing consecutive three pointers as Frankfurt led 74-46. Van De List improved his stat line with an additional trey and lay in while Mike Morrison closed out the game with a left handed lay in.

The Fraport Skyliners were led by Konstantin Klein and John Little with 14 points a piece. Jordan Theodore and Johannes Voigtmann added 10 points a piece. ZZ Leiden were led by Joern Van Der List with 20 points and Deron Scott added 10 points. The Fraport Skyliners finished shooting 57% from the field and 50% from outside while ZZ Leiden shot 36% from the field and 37% from outside. Frankfurt won the rebound battle 30-26 and had 13 turnovers while ZZ Leiden had 18 turnovers. The Fraport Skyliners continue to be the team to beat as they remain unbeaten at 4-0. They stayed faithful to their exceptional defense consistency and played an all around solid offensive game. Important to note was that the three guards Konstantin Klein, John Little and Jordan Theodore combined for 38 points showing some offensive guard terror. “We have a lot of weapons on this team. We can scored from outside and inside. Different nights different guys will be on. Tonight was one of those games where the guards stepped up. We don’t get his win without defense though. We held them to 51 points. If I remember correctly when we played them at Fraport the game went to the wire. Over the last few weeks. We’ve really come together as a team. Like I told you after the Bamberg win. We have set goals as a team and we will do whatever it takes to see our goals fulfilled”, warned Jordan Theodore. Next week they travel to Krka Novo Mesto and this could be a battle for the first and second place in the group as both teams should go on to win their last games even though FC Porto won´t be a cake walk for the Gordon Herbert gang.

Kruize Pinkins is a 22 year old 201cm forward from Marianna, Florida playing his first professional season in Germany with the Hebeisen White Wings currently averaging 13,2ppg, 9,3rpg and 1,2apg. He started his basketball career at Chipola (JUCO). He then played at USF (NCAA) form 2013-2015 and as a senior played 32 games averaging 13.9ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 52.1%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 65.0%. He spoke to German Hoops after the convincing 76-58 win against the Gladiators Trier.

 

 

Kruzie thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the big 76-58 win against the Gladiators Trier. How much more fun is it now to be playing basketball when your winning?

Everything always feels better when your winning. Our team is really coming together now.

After a pretty even first quarter, the game was won for Hanau in the second and third quarter where you led 60-40 after 30minutes. What adjustments did you make and what was key for getting the big lead then?

We played pretty good defense throughout the game and we just stuck to out game plan.

The Hebeisen White Wings didn´t shoot particulary well, but dominated the boards and held the opponent to 58 points. Was defense the biggest strength on the night in your eyes?

Defense was definitely a major part but we also played very unselfish guys were moving the ball and having fun and thats the key to winning.

In the last three games the Hebeisen White Wings Hanau have allowed 61 points. What has been the biggest adjustment that the club has made on defense that finally is starting to pay dividends?

We work on our defense every practice and we are finally realizing that we can really defend as a team. Coach always tells us that we can be great on defense, and its starting to show.

The club had many injury woes in the first two months as well as players coming in late and recently leaving. However the team has won three of the last five games where finding team chemistry is still a challenge. What has propelled this team to finally win games on a more standard basis?

Yeah, its good to have the full team together, but we didnt drop our head when we lost a few games. We kept coming to practice each day and working even harder. Its starting to pay off.

The team has a lot of talent and still guys that haven´t played to their full potential. How dangerous can this team be when the needed consistency is found?

We are a very deep team. When we play together and play great defense we can be a top team in our league

You are averaging 12,3ppg and 9,1rpg and have had some monster games against Rhondorf, Cologne and Trier, but also paid dues as a rookie. How pleased have you been with your rookie season so far on the floor?

Its going alright I guess, but I am never satisfied. There are some things that I am still learning, but I am just trying to get better each and every day and do what I can to help my teammates, and win games.

What has been the biggest adjustment for you coming from the NCAA to the European style that is still hard for you to figure out?

The traveling rule. It feels like I have had at least one travel call each game. But I am getting better at it, every day. It is also very physical and this is a pretty good league.

You have been up and down as a three point shooter shooting 16,7% as a junior and last season were at 39% and even hit four trey´s against Gonzaga and Portland while this season your shooting 1/10. Are you sometimes shaking your head at this weird stat?

Yeah my main thing now is being confident in my shooting. I know that if I keep working, that my shots will soon start to fall.

Is three point shooting something you feel you can add to more in the Simon Cote system or is your primary role scoring and getting rebounds?

My job is to help the team win. If that means knocking down my threes, thats what I have to do. If that means crashing the boards or playing in the paint, that is what I have to do

You went from ex NBA player Rex Walter as head coach at USF to experienced coach Simon Cote. Do have a special freedom under him now especially since you have carried the team in so many games that led to wins.

I learned a tremendous amount from Rex over my two years at USF. Great guy, proven player and coach. I am also learning a lot from Simon. I just try to take away the most knowledge I can from every coach. Learning from both Rex and Simon have been great.

How important has German Robin Christen been in the early going? He seems to have been a guy that often has kept the ship a float in key moments of games.

Robin is a great player. When he is playing well it takes our team to another level.

How did Rex Walter prepare and groom you best for a professional basketball career?

He was always tough on me because he wanted the best for me and also the advice he gave me day after day prepared me for the professional level because he has been there.

Thanks Kruize for the chat.

Frank Snow is a 24 year old 208cm center from west palm beach, Florida and is playing his first season as a professional in Germany with Saarlouis. He played at Grambling State and then moved to Southern(NCAA) where he played 59 NCAA games from 2013-2015. As a senior he played 31 games: 5.2ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 47.1%, FT: 57.3%. Currently for Saarlouis he is averaging 7,4ppg and 5,0rpg. He spoke to German Hoops recently.

Frank thanks for talking to German Hoops. A tough 83-76 loss against the Uni Riesen Leipzig. The opponent closed out the game with a 8-0 run. How tough and why did Saarlouis fall in crunch time?
It was a very tough loss for us because we all felt as though we were the better team. During the second half the other team went into a 2-3 zone and we didn’t have a answer for the zone.
Were you able to grab anything positive form the loss besides winning the rebound battle and dishing out a team 20 assists?
Every game is a learning experience for us but it’s hard to get something positive out of a game where we beat ourselves.
Saarlouis is now 1-5 and in their second season having come from a level down the Regionaliga. It will be hard to win games on a consistent level when the team gives up more points than what it makes. What do you believe are the biggest factors on the defensive end that need to be fixed?
Consistency is the biggest factor in our defense
The three Americans of Ricky Easterling, Brennan Mcelroy and you average together more than half of the teams points. Is that German player that averages double figures missing on offense?
I don’t think it’s that, we just don’t stay composed when the game gets close.
Despite the 1-5 start, how positive are you that Saarlouis will be able to turn around their season and get on a winning streak?
We work hard during practice so I’m sure it will pay off.
How has it been as a rookie playing with Ricky Easterling. How has his leadership and basketball knowledge helped you in the first two months?
It’s helped me a lot, he is always positive despite how we have been losing games.
Does Saarlouis have to depend on Ricky Easterling for success? If he scores only 15 points then that is 10 less than what he usually makes. Does the team feel pressure to have to step it up on those occasions?
We have to depend on everyone on our team for success. No one person feels pressured, we all have jobs we have to do on the court in order to win.
Easterling lives off his unstoppable mid distance off balance game. Have you ever seen a player more dangerous than him in your career when he gets in the lane?
I’ve played with a lot of good players but none of which shoot the mid range shot like him.
What has been the most amazing shot he has made so far in a game or practice this season?
The most amazing shot was probably the 3 he made last night.
You are averaging 9,0ppg and4,4rpg after five games. How happy have you been with your rookie performance so far?
I feel as though I could do more to help the team.
What exactly is your role on the team? It seems like you have got that defensive stopper label early in the season?
My role is to come in the game and do whatever I need to do to win.
What is a hidden strength in your game that doesn´t get noticed right away on the court?
My ability to run the floor.
How has the adjustment been for you coming from the NCAA from Southern to the German Pro B? What has been the most difficult thing to get used to and where would you stack the Pro B in comparison with the NCAA?
It has been hard adjusting to everything. The most difficult thing to get use to has been the speed of the game.
You averaging 1,8 blocks per game after five games. Have you always been a shot blocker or did that develop over time?
I’ve always been able to time shots right to get the block.
You reached the SWAC Tournament final in 2015. What will you always remember from the final game that you won´t forget so quickly?
The thing I will always remember is how it felt to lose my last college basketball game.
The two most famous guys to have played at Southern have been Avery Johnson and Bobby Phills that played in the NBA, but a guy by the name of Chris Alexander also played at Southern winning the SWAC tournament in 2006 and played 5 years in the German pro A. Do you remember hearing stories of him when you were at Southern?
We hear stories about him and his team that won all the time at Southern.
How did Roman Banks prepare and groom you best for a professional basketball career?
Coach Banks was a very strict coach so in practice everything had to be perfect, he helped me become more disciplined And coachable.
Who won a one on one in practice you or Keith Davis?
We both had our days but of course I’m going to say me.
Where will the journey of the Miami Heat go this season? Will they make some noise in the playoffs?
The have a lot of veterans and some young players who are willing to learn from them so I believe they will surprise a lot of people this year.
What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Will he ever be mentioned in the same breath as a Michael Jordan?
Lebron is one of the greatest but I don’t believe he will be mentioned with MJ
What was the last movie that you saw?
The last movie I saw was straight out of Compton.
Thanks Frank for the chat.

Bryan Smithson is a 30 year old 185cm point guard from Kennesaw,Georgia playing his third season in Germany. He started his basketball career at Middle Tennessee St. (NCAA) in 2003 where he played two seasons. He then moved to NC-Asheville (NCAA) where he finished his college career and as a senior played 29 games: 16.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.1apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3Pts: 41.1%, FT: 83.5%. He played two seasons for the Kirchheim Knights in the German Pro A where he was top 5 in assists in the league the last two seasons. Last season for Kichheim he played 28 games: 12.0ppg, 3.4rpg, Assists-5(5.0apg), FGP: 46.3%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 88.2%. This season he is playing for the MLP Academics Heidelberg and spoke to German Hoops before the game against Baunach.

Bryan thanks for talking to German Hoops. Basketball Germany got a shock a few days ago with the announcement that Johannes Lischka retired. How did you take the news and what has the team lost now in this player?

Greetings from Heidelberg Miles. Anytime an accomplished player like Johannes Lischka retires from the game of basketball it is difficult to process and accept. I was disappointed to lose Johannes because he has been such a big part of our team and a friend of mine. However, I understand that basketball is just one aspect of his life and he has to do what is best for himself and his family.

Lischka still put up very solid numbers. From a playing stand point do you feel that he could of continued to be that solid contributor until the end of the season?

Johannes got off to a hot start but struggled a bit in the last couple of games. When you look at our game-to-game statistics, most of the team has followed the same pattern. I am very confident that he would have continued to play a huge role on our team and losing his contribution may be costly.

As a player how tough is it balancing the mental and physical aspects of the game? Usually it’s the physical when a player gets to old and slow he retires, but seldom does one hear about a player leaving because of mental issues. Can you even imagine how tough the decision of Lischka was and what he was going through?

One of the greatest challenges as a professional athlete is the balancing act between mind and body. The obvious reason for retirement is when an athlete cannot physically compete at a high level anymore. However, there are instances where athletes walk away from their sport because the mental strain is overwhelming. When the stress begins to outweigh the passion, there is not much left to give the sport.

For me Johannes Lischka was a true basketball warrior. How will you remember him on and off the court in the short time where you had the pleasure to be teammates with him?

Warrior is a great description for Johannes. On the court he is a fearless fighter who is always ready to compete. He has a great personality off the floor and I will always remember him as someone with an open ear willing to listen. I feel fortunate to be able to call him my friend. Congratulations to Jo Lischka on a great career and good luck to him in the future.

The team didn´t wait long bringing in Pro A veteran Devon White. What memories do you have of him the last years and will he be able to fill the void?

I do not know much about Devon. He is an athletic presence that we have been missing underneath the basket. I am looking forward to playing with him.

The last time we talked you had been instrumental in reeling off 2 unforgetable wins against Essen and Hamburg in a span of 48 hours. However since then except for a big 82-80 win against Trier, the club has gone 2-4. What have been the main reasons for the club not winning more games?

We have struggled on the offensive end of the court. There has been several changes to our team since August and we are still trying to find a rhythm. We have a very high talent level on this Heidelberg team but we must learn to play together if we want to be successful.

Often a coach will talk about how a team has been developing further as the season progresses. Have the MLP Academics been stagnant in their development in the last month?

The progress on this team has been continuous, but so have the setbacks. Injuries and roster changes are not easy on any club. We need to find more consistency in order to benefit from the daily progress we make.

After the win against Rhondorf, followed 3 losses to Nurnberg, Jena and Kirchheim where the team didn´t defend bad giving up an average of 70 points, but the team scored on average only 64 points. Why has the offense not been where it should be?

As I stated before, we have not had the consistency within our team to maximize on the offensive end. Identifying roles, executing plays, moving the ball, throwing the extra pass, efficient spacing, and taking care of each possession are the principles of offense we will have to emphasize over the next weeks if we want to improve our scoring output.

The standings are very tight now, but much can happen until Christmas. Are the playoffs a goal of the MLP Academics Heidelberg with the current record?

The ProA standings are very close and every game will be important in the end. The playoffs are a goal here in Heidelberg but we do not have a club that will be satisfied only making an appearance in the playoffs. Expectations are high.

Ex Florida State player Aaron Thomas has really stepped it up as a rookie. Do you see him getting even better in the next months as his feel for the league, style and teammates grows?

Aaron is a special athlete but it is not a surprise that he has stepped up when you look at the great college career he had. With that said, he is still a rookie that has room for improvement which is very scary for his opponents in the future. He missed the first part of the season with a muscle injury so as the season moves forward I think he will get even more comfortable with the team and vice versa.

With Americans Aaron Thomas and Shy Ely, Heidelberg have two offensive forces. You are averaging 10,0ppg. Do you feel like you could produce more on the offensive end?

Unfortunately, we lost Shy to the BBL which is just one of the few impactful changes to our team. The points per game are not important to me, but as the season has progressed it has become evident that I need to be more aggressive for our team to be successful. The club and team are behind me on this.

Have you been working more on your shot after practice and how has your shot selection been?

I always work on my shot so that is not a concern. My shot selection has been great but in the last couple of games I missed a few shots that I normally make. As our team finds its offensive rhythm we will see those very same shots go in.

The next game is against Baunach which will be a fight of the 11th vs 12th placed teams. What will be vital in getting the win on Sunday?

The season is a little early to label the game as a fight between 11th and 12th. One game can jump you into playoff range or drop you near the bottom. Baunach is a young, talented team with a lot of energy. We have to utilize our experience, match their energy, and execute offensively if we want to come back to Heidelberg with the 2 points.

Baunach is one of those rare teams that has no American, but many talented Germans. During the course of a game are you able to follow a talent more closely or does that not work so well because one is more focused with the game and helping in your own way?

Following a talented player during the game is not going to work well. Preparing for that player and being aware of their strengths while they are on the floor is much more realistic. Baunach is a unique team in ProA and they have a few young players that I am sure will impact German basketball in the near future.

Thanksgiving is around the corner. How has it been celebrating it in Germany in the past and what is your most memorable Thanksgiving form home?

One of the more difficult things for Americans playing basketball in Europe is missing holidays with the family. I played for American coach Michael Mai last year and he gave us time to celebrate so that was nice. There has not been another season where I have received sufficient time on Thanksgiving to do anything special. My most memorable Thanksgiving was when I was 11 years old. Me, my brother Jason, sister Melissa, and both parents were all together in Georgia after having moved across the country a few months earlier. Great memory for me.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Hot Tub Time Machine 2 – “you choozy, you doozy”

Thanks Bryan for the chat.

Donald Lawson is a 27 year old 208cm center from Chicago that is playing his sixth professional season in Germany and second with SC Rasta Vechta. He played with BV Chemnitz from 2010-2014 playing a total of 118 Pro A games and two seasons ago played 30 games: 9.7ppg, Reb-2(9.4rpg), 1.4apg, 1.3spg, Blocks-5(1.3bpg), FGP: 47.0%, FT: 56.5%. Last season for SC Rasta Vechta he played 25 games: 5.0ppg, 4.8rpg. He started his basketball career at W.Michigan (NCAA) from 2006-2010 playing a total of 115 NCAA games. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against ex team BV Chemnitz

Donald thanks for talking to German Hoops How welcoming has the warmer November weather been for you or are you getting excited for the cooler weather something your used to in Chicago?

The weather has been up and down, there has been some really sunny and warm days that quickly turned into cold rainy days, it definitely reminds me a lot of Chicago’s bipolar weather I just hope we don’t have tons of snow this winter.

Your playing your second season with SC Rasta Vechta. How refreshing has the turnaround been this season from last? Last season the club finished in 10th place as there was much turmoil and this season the club is in second place. What have been the main differences in the turn around?

Last season was one of the biggest learning experiences I’ve had playing professionally. We fell short of our goals and we under-achieved. Experience has been the reason for our success even though we have a new group of guys, we have guys who have tons of experience who complement each other, and we all value being successful as a team and playing for each other.

How big is the urge in Vechta to get back to the Beko BBL? Can you feel it when you are on the court and around town?

It is a goal for SC Rasta to return to the Beko BBL but our only focus is to win on Saturday we have a long season ahead of us; so we have to think about the present before the future and continue to take things one game at a time and continue to fight every week.

It has been an interesting season so far as in 9 games one has seen blow outs against Hanau and Rhondorf, close wins against Trier and Paderborn, then wins somewhere in the middle against Baunach and Gotha and losses against Hamburg and Kirchheim. Is this team despite the good record still trying to find their true identity in some ways?

Any team in this league can be beaten on any giving night; the league is just that competitive. We’ve experienced the success of winning in tough places and losing against good teams if we don’t give 110% every night. We know what we have to do as a team and we just have to be consistent and continue to execute the game plan.

SC Rasta Vechta does 3 things very good in that they average 81 points per game, average 36 rebounds and hold teams to 67 points. What of these three areas has been toughest to attain over the first 9 games?

All three have been a difficult task, every night you won’t shoot the ball well so you have to rely on your defense to help generate your offense; and in order to get back on offense you have to control the glass defensively to limit the opposing teams possessions. The one thing you can control is the effort you give to get offensive rebounds.

The next game is against BV Chemnitz who are 5-4 and is your old stomping ground. How excited are you to be playing against your former team?

Playing against Chemnitz is a special game it the first place I’ve played professionally and I remained there for four years. I am friends with a few guys on the team who I played alongside during my time there so it will always be a fun and exciting game for me.

Like last season you have a more limited role. Last season you were averaging 17 minutes and this season 14 minutes and you share time with German center Oliver Mackeldanz. Have you gotten more used to less minutes over time?

It’s not about the playing time for me it’s about getting the job done and we have a deep team full of talented players, who can make a big impact on the game to help the team win.

How are you a different player now from your last two seasons in Chemnitz where you were a main force? Is effectiveness very vital now for you in lesser minutes duty?

Being effective is a big thing for me since leaving Chemnitz and things have changed but my goals and focus hasn’t changed. I have always been a team player, who wants to be a defensive anchor and glue guy.

How proud are you about averaging 1,6 bsp in 14 minutes? Is defense something that you focusing extra on in your role?

Defense has been a huge focus of mine and I think its cool to have almost two blocks a game.

Having Derrick Allen and Christian Standhardinger playing the big positions is the current choice of head coach Andreas Wagner. Is there a better 4-5 combo in the German Pro A at the moment?

DA and Christian’s effort, skills and competitive edge plays to our advantage against most teams in the league. Their experience is what is heavy valued especially with DA who not only leads by example but is a great vocal leader.

How much of a delight has it been having Derrick Allen as a teammate. At 35 he can still play with the best of them and is one of the hardest workers. What have you grown to appreciate most about his game?

DA is definitely one of the hardest working players I’ve played aside he brings it every day; playing with DA is like having a coach on the floor, his understanding of the game is unreal and he is always positive even if things aren’t going so well.

You have played in many gyms in Germany, but are you fully convinced that the Rasta Dome is the loudest in the league?

Rasta Dome is insane, the fans support from the 6man is great and it reminds me of college rivalry games every time I step inside the Dome for game days. It is definitely the loudest gym in the league.

What kind of experience has it been playing for the German/Spanish coaching duo of Wagner/Callos? What has been their biggest duo strength that has got the team where it is now in the standings?

They’re a good two man tandem who work well together, they keep us grounded and working hard no matter the results from any game there experience’s coach helps us understand the concept of teamwork and consistency.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Do you ever see him being mentioned in the same breath as a Michael Jordan?

LeBron is a great player who could win a championship if his team remains healthy but as of right now Steph Curry is owning the league. Statistically I think LeBron maybe one of the best to play the game because of everything he can do; but Michael Jordan will always and forever be the G.O.A.T

How much more torture can Chicago Cubs fans take? Do you see them ever winning a World Series?

The Cubs surprised me by making the play offs. I think the curse has been lifted and they should be competing in a few years for a Championship.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Mission Impossible Rogue.

Thanks Donald for the chat.

Virgil Matthews is a 32 year old 188cm guard from Federal Way, Washington that is playing in Germany in the PRO A for BV Chemnitz in his second season. Last season for BV Chemnitz he played BV Chemnitz 99 (Germany-ProA) 30 games averaging 14.3ppg, 5.7rpg, Assists-2(6.1apg), Steals-4(1.8spg), FGP: 56.5%, 3PT: 34.3%, FT: 71.4%He played at Montana (NCAA) and in his senior year played 31 games: 10.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 4.0apg, 1.7spg, FG: 49.8%, 3PT: 48.4%, FT: 76.1%. In 2006-2007, he turned professional and came to Germany and played for KICKZ Muenchen Basket (Germany-2.Bundesliga): 29 games: 18.0ppg, 6.1rpg, 5.2apg, 2.6spg, 2FGP: 57.3%, 3FGP: 31.8%, FT: 66.5%. In 2007-2008, he played for Tacoma Jazz (IBL). In 2008-2009, he returned back to Germany and played for Schwelmer Baskets (Germany-Regionalliga). In 2009-2010, he played for Olympia Reign (IBL, starting five): 21 games: 23.1ppg, 7.2rpg and for Seattle Aviators (NABL).In 2010-2011, he played his first season for Erdgas Ehingen playing 32 games: 11.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 57.6%, 3PT: 29.4%, FT: 71.3%. He would play until 2014 with Ehingen playing 126 games with three seasons in the Pro A an done in the Pro B. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against SC Rasta Vechta.

Thanks Virgil for talking to German Hoops You are playing your second season with BV Chemnitz. After playing many years in the small Ehingen how refreshing is it playing and living in a bigger city like Chemnitz which is more like home to Federal Way/Tacoma?

The city is a little bigger, more going on than in Ehingen, but after four years in Ehingen I had developed real friends and had a good surrounding so I think its give and take.

The club is currently at 5-4, but has a 2 game winning streak. Is the team chemistry slowly starting to take shape?

Yes definitely, we’re finding out more what we are good at and not so good at we also finally have our complete roster which is also a good help.

With so much talent on the team and 5 players averaging double figures stats, its surprising that the team is averaging only 72 points. Do you see the team still heightening their offense with time?

We are definitely trying to get better every day. Our defense has been surprisingly really good, now we just need to the get the offense on the same page.

The team staple is defense. Is having everyone on the same page and just playing for each other been a big reason for the defensive success so far?

I think Coach Pastore is really good at adapting. We’ve tried many things, and he’s always tweaking things to be prepared the best defensively for each team in each game.

It is rare to see an Argentine coach in Germany with Rodrigo Pastore. What has it been playing for him and what has he preached that you have never gotten from any other coach in your career that is unique?

Man I love Coach Pastore and we think a lot alike and see a lot of things the same on the court. Its just easy to play for him. He is big on not doing things that everyone else does, or just doing things because he really concentrates on doing things that make you better everything has a specific purpose which is good.

Talk a little about new player Greg Logins and German Martin Seiferth that is making his break through finally as a professional. How vital have they been for the success of the team and give the inside game new dimensions.

Like I said earlier Greg completed our team we have greatly benefited from his energy and defense, and he has made big shots for us, he also allows us flexibility with our lineups. Martin from day one has been good he’s very talented and a great athlete. I think coach does a good job of helping him get the ball in places where he can be effective, defensively he’s a life saver for us.

You are playing your third season with American Stacey Wilson. Is the understanding between you too now blind on the court?

Yes, I think we play well together and definitely feed off each other in games playing together on the court is easier than when he’s off.

You seem to be getting better with age? You led the German Pro A in assists last season had your best scoring and rebounding average despite being on a team that had more scoring talent than any team you ever was with Ehingen. How do you explain that?

It was just situational. Ralph Junge had a system and we were pretty successful as a team with it, and it didn’t really require me to average a lot of stats. We played a slower pace so lower stats all around. Not saying one way is better than the other.

This season your rebounding and assists average is even higher. Is playing with more talent a reason for your play?

Coach Pastore really trust me to make good decisions and puts a lot on me. He’s good at putting people in spots to make them look good coaching to players strengths. I also have always thought my game would be better when playing with a higher level just because I rely more on smarts than athleticism.

You are battling Richard Williams for the assist crown? You play so many games, have so many practices. You probably remember that BV Chemnitz beat Kirchheim, but do you remember your six turnovers?

Of course I remember the turnovers. I just had another game with way too many turnovers, but its just something I focus on and try to improve, I don’t want to become conservative just got to find a way to get the assists and keep the turnovers down.

With your heightened play and knowing you can compete with guys like Richard Williams who played in the Beko BBL, does the opportunity of playing in the BBL still drive you at the ripe age of 32?

It doesn’t drive me but it would definitely be a cool experience. I know teams look at age and maybe don’t think guys from the pro A can play BBL or whatever, but I just play and whatever happens happens.

This weekend, BV Chemnitz have a big game against power house SC Rasta Vechta. What will be key in getting the victory?

They have a very deep roster we must concentrate on doing what we want and not letting their pressure get us out of what we want.

Who wins a one on one in practice you or Stacey Wilson?

Haha I gotta say myself, but if there’s no fouls, or if coach is reffing he will probably win.

What is the state of Lebron James in 2015? Will he ever be mentioned in the same breath as a Michael Jordan?

Lebron is something special, but I think no one will ever impact the game the way Jordan did. Even if Lebron is better eventually he can never do for the game what Jordan did.

What was the last movie that you saw?

The Martian with Matt Damon good film!

Thanks Virgil for the chat.