There are important position players for basketball teams and then there are very important position players for clubs that make their team go go go and are as important for the success as that field goal kicker is for an NFL team making that crunch time kick like a Adam Vinateri, that NHL goalie that has to preserve that win at the end despite being shorthanded with a penalty like a Patrick Roy did, or that relief pitcher for Baseball teams that come in and have to help preserve the win with smart thinking decision making and shutting down the opponent with the right pitches in the last innings like a Mariano Rivera. In basketball the point guard position is a very vital aspect for a team being successful especially on the offensive end and in the last years two of the best examples of two guys that were as crucial for the prosperity of their team at the point guard position as cheese is for pizza were the W&W duo of  Dashaun Wood for the Frankfurt Skyliners in the 2010-2011 season and Davin White for Phoenix Hagen last season. Who could forget the MVP season of Wood where he made filling up the stats like Monta Ellis that season a common occurrence. Frankfurt would not have reached the fifth game of the Beko BBL playoffs against Alba Berlin without the Detroit native. His road runner sprints to the hoop that season were as common as Danilo Barthel´s  flights to the basket this season. Last season, Phoenix Hagen had a Cinderella type season reaching their first playoffs. Most will agree that it was a team effort in that David Bell was just as vital as a Adam Hess or Mark Dorris for reaching the promised land. However there was one player who was a level above the rest and that was Davin White. Last season the Arizona native had a MVP type season playing 36 games: Score-1(17.2ppg), 2.3rpg, 4.2apg, Steals-1(2.0spg), FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 31.0%, FT: 68.4%. He was eurobasket guard of the year and was a first team selection. Like Wood, White also was infected by the road runner bug and could get to the rim quicker before one can shout Volme in Hagen. He didn´t have quite the explosive and consistency of Wood in Frankfurt, but Phoenix Hagen wouldn´t have made the playoffs without their point guard. This season Phoenix Hagen has to do without White who is playing for Lukoil Academic Sofia (Bulgaria-NBL). Phoenix Hagen has a new replacement for White with henry Dugat. He is six years younger than White and can score like White. So far Dugatis averaging 11,5ppg, 2,8rpg and 2,4apg and is shooting an astounding 47% from the parking lot. He played in lower leagues like Mexico and Sweden recently, but still needs some time to get used to the more sophisticated level in the Beko BBL. Despite not having the stats of White yet, White believes that Dugat has the potential to be one of the top guards in the league. “If anyone could replace me in Hagen it would be Henry. He reminds me of when I was younger very athletic but he is a scorer and the way Hagen plays he fits in perfect, and he shoots the three really good. So it will be interesting to see what he does there. If he stays healthy he could get new comer of the year. They have a guard with a winning attitude they will be fine with him at the helm”, stressed ex Phoenix Hagen guard Davin White. It will be interesting to see how the development of Dugat will continue as well as that of Phoenix Hagen. Dugat won´t bring Phoenix Hagne to the playoffs on his own and will need team support, but the club will need a consistent Dugat sooner or later for consistentsuccess.

Since coming into the Beko BBL in 2009, Phoenix hagen has continued to support run and gun basketball and nothing changed last season as they kept practicing it in games, but they also defended a bit better than in previous years as they earned their first playoff berth finishing the 2012-2013 season in eight place with a record of 18-16. They gave a great fight in the first round of the Beko BBl playoffs against the Brose Baskets Bamberg winning game two in Hagen, but were unable to win the series as the depth and experience of the Freak City team was just too much. There were many reasons why the club made the playoffs last season. Having a strong playmaker with Davin White who decided many games with his play, but also was able to put his scoring on the back burner when his shot wasn´t falling and was able to find his teammates. The team chemistry was developed very early in the season and with early success came for team confidence. Their offense also seemed to grow from other years as with a month before the end of the season, the team  scored 80 plus points in 18 of 30 games and average 86 points a game.  One could even be as unfriendly and mention that the team didn´t play defense in order to conserve energy for their offense. They continued to play run and gun, but seemed to play with a bit more consistency than in the past and the club also has found the word DEFENSE in their vocabulary. They were able to hold offensive teams like Oldenburg and Tuebingen to under 70 points and the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg who weren´t the strongest scoring team, but are capable of breaking out  especially with a then fit Jimmy Mckinney who logged 34 minutes and was held to eight points. Not sustaining any severe injuries was also a plus for the team chemistry. Head coach Ingo Freyer preaches offense and last season the difference to the first three seasons, it seems like they are playing a type of Euroleague offense compared to BBL offense the last years.

This season Phoenix Hagen had to say farewell to key players Davin White and Adam Hess as well as role player Abe Lodwick who was a type of glue guy coming from the bench that was capable of making big hustle plays. A big part of future success this season could be the importance of being able to hold six players from last season while adding three new parts to the roster this season. The most important player the club kept was Larry Gordon who is a 26 year old 197cm forward playing his fifth professional basketball season. He played his first three seasons in lower leagues Holland and Austria and last season made a very good transition to the stronger Beko BBL playing 37 games and averaging 12.7ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 43.0%, FT: 83.2%. He received a Eurobasket.com All-German Bundesliga Honorable Mention. Gordon is a very versatile player that can do just about everything on the court. He defends positions two to four, rebounds well and scores on a consistent rate. He is Phoenix Hagen´s best player. The team was also fortunate to be able to keep David Bell. Bell is a 32 year old 187cm guard that is the only basketball player on earth that looks like baby Hulk and can shoot out the lights on the court. The Oakland California native has a lot of experience having played in the D-league and in Holland, Switzerland or Finland and last season played  37 games: Score-5(15.7ppg), 2.5rpg, 2.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 39.9%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 90.1%. If he isn´t consistent then it is harder for the team to win. He great combination of shooting and penetrating and drawing fouls is his trademark. Another important player that they held on to was Mark Mr fantastic Dorris who is a 27 year old 188cm guard from Cincinnati, Ohio that could probably open up a special school with his friend Quantez Robertson entitled, “The dunking flight school”. He played at Marshall(NCAA) and since turning professional in 2009 has always been in Germany playing for Cuxhaven, Ludwigsburg and now his third season in Hagen. Last season for Hagen he played  30 games averaging 10.6ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 43.3%, 3PT: 34.8%, FT: 75.0%. He is a scoring guard that loves to dance into the lane and finish with a mid distance jumper.

The team also kept defensive specialist Dino Gregory. Gregory is a 24 year old 200cm forward/center from Baltimore, Ohio that played with NBA player Grevis Vazquez at Maryland. After playing for the : Sundsvall Dragons in Sweden as a rookie, he also made a good transition tot he Beko BBL last season playing  37 games: 7.3ppg, 6.0rpg, Blocks-1(1.6bpg), FGP: 55.6%, FT: 60.0%. He is very athletic and fits perfect into the playing style of Ingo Freyer and is a very good leaper and rebounder for his size. It will be important that the club establish more of an inside game, so there is more variation in the team game. He won the last two seasons Eurobasket.com Swedish Basketligan All-Defensive Team -12, and Eurobasket.com German Bundesliga All-Defensive Team -13. The team also kept German Ole Wendt who is a 21 year old point guard that comes from the Paderborn school of basketball. He belongs to the next generation of German basketball players. Last season he played  37 games averaging  3.6ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.6apg. He made a tremendous step last season and already shows a remarkable ability to lead a team at such a young age. He is a great defender that just doesn´t lay off his man. He has played for the German U-18 and 20 teams and the next step is the A German national team. The team also kept German basketball dinosaur Bern Kruel who is playing his 21ist professional season and 17^th in Hagen. The 210cm center is 37 and this will be his last season. Kruel is an old school player that isn´t athletic, but can score and pass out of the post. He has seen it all as a professional and won a Beko BBl title in 2004 with Frankfurt.  The club brought in three new players with Henry Dugat, Keith Ramsey and Nikta Khartchenkov. The most important order of business was finding a player that could replace top point guard Davin White. Dugat is a 26 year old 183cm point guard from Dayton, texas that played at Baylor. He is an NBA level PG with a 41 inch vertical – Quick, athletic guard. Known for highlight-reel quality drives, dunks and blocks. Finished seventh all-time with 158 career 3-point field goals made.  Finished career fourth all-time at Baylor with 152 career steals. H eplayed most of his career in Mexico and his first in Europe last season with LF Basket (Sweden-Basketligan, starting five): 36 games: Score-2(20.4ppg), 5.8rpg, Assists-3(4.8apg), Steals-1(2.0spg), FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 40.2%, FT: 82.7%. The team also brought in a side kick for Gregory and to keep company in the zone with Keith Ramsey. He is a 26 year old 205cm power forward/center from Tennessee. He played at Missouri and as a professional in Spain, Sweden and Israel. Last season he played for  Ironi Kfar Hamaccabia Ramat Gan (Israel-National League) playing 31 games: 12.7ppg, Reb-4(10.6rpg), 2.0apg, Steals-5(2.5spg), 1.3bpg, FGP-1(66.4%), 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 57.1%. His athletic and strong defense will make him a formidable duo with Gregory. The team also brought in Nikita Khartchenkov who is no stranger to Germany. He is a 26 year old 201cm forward that ahs the German/Russian citizenship. He started his career in 2003 with TV Langen and then got experience playing for  BC Khimki-2 Moscow. In Germany he is a journeyman having played for Braunschweig, Chemnitz, MBC, Lepizig and Nurnberg. He also played a season in Romania. Last season he played for Uni-Riesen Leipzig (Germany-ProA): 13 games: 15.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 42.3%, 3FGP: 36.6%, FT: 78.9%, in Jan.’13 moved to Nuernberger Basketball Club (Germany-ProA, starting five): 18 games: 14.6ppg, 2.3rpg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 83.6%. His best quality is his deadly shooting and his unorthodox shooting technique makes it hard to defend. He already showed an early knack for dropping bombs from outside nailing 15 three pointers as a junior.

Head coach Ingo Freyer is coaching his fifth season in the Beko BBL with Phoenix Hagen. He had a nice playing career playing for the German national team, in Italy and winning the Korac Cup with Alba Berlin in 1995 has made a solid transition to coach coaching three seasons in Wedel and now is behind the helm for his 7^th season with Phoenix Hagen. He is the bonafide players coach that gives his players freedom. Experience in the Beko BBL has improved his coaching as last seasons playoff appearance the first since 2004 was no fluke in an always more competitive land growing Beko BBL. He has given the name run and gun a totally new meaning in the Beko BBL as sometimes just seeing their guards shoot, shoot, shoot makes one think that one is on the playground. Important was keeping consistency within the roster, but this season the team will be on the radar of teams and wont have that surprise factor as last season as no one predicted their good finish. The good last season gives the returning players very much confidence and that should be a big help this season. A big part of where Phoenix Hagen will be how consistent Henry Dugat will be. It is never nice to put so much pressure on one player, but Davin White was the best performing player on that team since they entered the Beko BBL in 2009 and he carried the team last season and in a way with the many role players this season will need a leader like that again. It also will be interesting if Phoenix Hagen can erase the notion that reaching the playoffs last season was a fluke, but one thing is for sure, getting there this season won´t be any easier as team continue to get more competitive each season.

The Deutsche Bank Skyliners swept the season series in 2009-2010 with Phoenix Hagen stomping all over them in Hagen 93-64 as Derrick Allen led all scorers with 22 points, Aubrey Resse chipped in with 18 points and Grayson Moyer had one of his best games as a Skyliner with 15 points and five assists. In the return game in Frankfurt, Phoenix Hagen lost 89-76. Skyliner captain Pascal Roller led Frankfurt with 18 points and five assists and Derrick Allen produced 17 points. Last season, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners outrebounded Phoenix Hagen 66-49 in both games. Last season, the Skyliners also won the season series with a 90-85 win as Jermaine Bucknor led the team with 19 points and six rebounds and 92-53 romp at home getting 24 points and eight rebounds from Roger Powell and only six points and seven assists from Dashaun Wood. In the first game in the 2011-2012 season, the Fraport Skyliners romped Phoenix Hagen 83-65 as fans saw the last Beko BBL game of Jon Leuer who erupted for 27 points and Jimmy Mckinney had 21 points. In the return game, the Fraport Skyliners stomped all over Phoenix Hagen 92-47. Five players scored in double figures as the team was led by Devin Gibson with 16 points. Last season  Fraport Skyliners lost the first game against Phoenix Hagen in their own living room in embarrassing fashion 107-102 as they their opponent gave them a display of how to play run and gun basketball. Phoenix Hagen shot an amazing 51% from the field and 60% from the three point line. In the return game in Hagen, the Fraport Skyliners had their nerves under control in crunch time slipping by Phoenix Hagen on the road 81-78 as Frankfurt was led by Dawan Robinson with 25 points and ex Giessen players Ryan brooks chipped in with 14 points and Laquan Prowell with 13 points. The Fraport Skyliners enter the game against Phoenix Hagen with a two game winning streak and want to get up to 500 at home with a win to get to a record of 3-3 in their own living room. “We have to play very good transition defense. Our staple this season is solid defense and we will have to do that”, stressed Andrew Rautins. Phoenix Hagen also enter the game with  a two game winning streak having defeated TBB Trier and the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg. Fraport Skyliners Jacob Burtschi will be extra motivated to battle against his ex team. “The blue print of Phoenix Hagen is run and gun. They lost Davin White and I don’t think that they are as strong as last season. They did add more athleticism and depth inside. They can lose by 30 or beat  a top team by 20 points. We have to slow them down and play our game”, warned Jacob Burtschi. The duel of the game will be sharp shooters Andrew Rautins and David Bell. I think we will see a nice shooting clinic between Rautins and Bell, but Rautins will win”, smiled Quantez Robertson.

 

Ian Young is a 31 year old 191 cm point guard from Florida that is playing his ninth professional season and first in Italy for Aget Service Imola (Italy-Lega Due Gold). He played at Auburn and turned professional in 2005. He played in Germany early in his career for ratiopharm Ulm and also played in countries like France, Saudi Arabia, Finland, Iran, Argentina, Lebanon, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Dominion Republic, Mexico, and Egypt. He spoke to German Hoops about his basketball career.

Thanks Ian for talking to German Hoops. It seems like ages that you played in Germany with ratiopharm Ulm. Since then you have played in 13 countries, why do you think haven´t you returned back to Germany again? I am sure some teams must have had interest in you?

Yeah its been a while, that was during my second year out of college and I’ve been out 9 years now. as far as returning to Germany I had some interest but at the time I had better offers money wise in other countries but I would love to return Germany and play some day.

You are playing now in your 14^th country Italy for Aget Service Imola (Italy-Lega Due). One could call you a basketball nomad. You must be an expert over the years for getting the best baggage for your many trips that you have had to take or not?

Yeah as I tell my wife when it comes to packing I’m an expert.

You played in lower leagues the last years, but now your back in Europe playing in a strong league the lege 2 in Italy. Is the job market at times more of a lottery, because there are so many good players out there, that one cant always land in the better leagues?

I wouldn’t consider Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Argentina  and other leagues in Latin America lower level leagues. Actually I think there as strong or stronger than some good leagues here in Europe. Those leagues are full of ex NBA and Euroleague players. As far as the job market it tough sometimes there are so many players that you have to be in the right situation basketball and money wise.

How excited are you about playing in Italy for the first time in your career? You should be a main focus of the team together with rookie Warren Niles.

Yeah im very excited it’s a chance for me to finally make a name here in Europe and finish this last part of my career strong starting here in Italy. The city and the team has welcomed me and I’m very happy to be here.

What goals are you striving for now at age 31? I suspect titles is what is on the menu?

As you get older you start to understand that the only thing that matter is winning.nothing else.

Lets go back to earlier in your career when you played in Germany for ratiopharm Ulm. What memories do you still have from the league?

Tough competitive league with great foreign and domestic players and passionate fans one of the best countries I’ve played in.

Where would you rate it to the other many leagues that you have played in during your career?

Its right up there at the top. One of the best for sure

You came in November to the team and didn´t really get sufficient playing time. Was there not enough room at the guard position with Jonathan Levy and Austin Rowland?

It was a situation where they had guys that were there already established and I had to play a certain role I didn’t understand it at the time but I do now.

Your coach was Mike Taylor who now coaches in the D-league for the Maine Red Claws. What do you still remember from his coaching style and what could you learn from his methods?

Really a great coach. A real hard worker who loves the game and his team and will do anything for the guys he’s in the locker room with. His coaching style is similar to what we do in the US but with a European twist.

Jeff Gibbs was three inches shorter than you, but your center. What was more amazing his rebounding skills or just his neverending effort on the court?

Jeff amazed me everyday. To see a guy at that size do the things he did, I always told him he’s a smaller Charles Barkley. To me both because you have to have nonstop effort to rebound the way he did at that size.

You had the chance to play NBA Summer league once in 2008 with the Golden State Warriors. What memories do you have from that summer?

Just the talent that was there. The all time great NBA legends in the crowd watching you play, the whole atmosphere was just amazing.

You never played D-league. Did you never have aspiration of going the D-league route and possibly getting noticed by an NBA team with good stats?

I did but again financially having a family I choose not to persue it, but if I could do it all over again I would have did the D league fresh out of college.

Are you sad that you didn´t have more opportunities to have played in Europe? You played  a lot in South American and the middle east. What benefits did you have besides getting a healthy pay check?

No because I had a chance to meet so many great people and learn from so many different cultures. That’s something I will cherish for the rest of my life. All because of basketball, plus im 31 now and still have a chance to make my mark in Europe.

What was your fondest memory of playing together with ex NBA player Eric Washington in Finland. You and him were two and three in scoring in the league.

He was one of the funniest players ive played with. He’s an University of Alabama guy and I’m an Auburn guy so if you know anything about that rivalry were weren’t supposed to get along but we did great. He was a great guy

NBA players like Marquis Daniels and Jamson Brewer played at Auburn before you came. Were you a bit sad that you weren´t able to transfer to Auburn sooner so you could of played with guys like that?

Marquis is actually from my hometown of Orlando but to play with those guys would have been great. To learn from them would have helped me out tremendously.

Who was the toughest player that you played against in the NCAA that made the NBA? How did you play against him in your college meetings?

Rajon Rondo. I tell people this all the time I actually outplayed him but to be fair he was a freshman and I was a senior. But its still fun to tell people I outplayed one of the best PG’s in the NBA.

What were the most free throws that you have made in a row in a practice without missing?

Over 100 but not sure the exact number but I know its over 100.

What was your most amazing shot that you ever made in a game or practice that went in?

I hit a half court shot right before halftime against our rival Alabama on ESPN that made ESPN top 10.

What was your last DVD movie that you saw?

l don’t know about DVD but the last movie I saw was Smufs 2 with my babies Tiana and lil Ian.

Thanks Ian for the chat.

Brian Harper is a 28 year old 206cm forward that is playing his first season for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Last season he played for  TBB Trier (Germany-BBL, starting five): 33 games: 11.0ppg, 4.8rpg, FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 60.3%. He started off playing guard at 6’5″ at Paine and grew to 6’10” and never changing positions. Brian’s a smooth shooting wing with explosive athleticism. He has tremendous lateral movement with a wing span of 7’4″. Brian is a talented ball handler. He adds an extra advantage as he utilizes his size to rebound over smaller defenders. He played at Paine(NCAA2) from 2003-2007. He turned professional in 2007 and played for Gimle BBK Bergen (Norway-1Div., starting five): 15 games: Score-3(25.1ppg), 8.3rpg, 1.7apg, 1.2spg, 2.0bpg, 2FGP: 52.9%, 3PT: 21.5%, FT: 66.3%. In 2008-2009, he played for KCC Egis (Korea-KBL, starting five): Korean League: 9 games: 15.1ppg, 5.6rpg, FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 20.0%, FT: 76.7%; released in Nov.’08, in Feb.’09 moved to Sioux Falls Skyforce (D-League): 8 games: 3.5ppg, 1.6rpg; in March ’09 signed at Reno Bighorns (D-League): 5 games: 1.2ppg. In the last three years, he played in Japan for  Toyama Grouses (Japan-BJ League) playing a total of 102 games. Last season, he played 49 games: 16.3ppg, 6.9rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 28.7%, FT: 61.3%. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Telekom Baskets Bonn.

Thanks Brian for talking to German Hoops again. Congrats on the win against BBC Bayreuth extending the Bremerhaven winning streak to two games. Is team heart finally showing its beautiful redness on the court

Thanks Miles. I think that we are starting to play well together and it has helped us a lot these past two weeks.

The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven are on a two game winning streak. What have been the main reasons for the better play of the team in the wins against Bayreuth and Phoenix Hagen?

I think in both games we were able to find a rhythm as a team. Over the last few weeks we have started to come in to our own as a team and have begun to develop an identity. We have played good team basketball the last two games and I feel that’s the biggest reasons for us coming out with two wins.

Head coach Calvin Oldham has been criticized a bit in the early going. Can it be that sometimes it just takes a bit longer for players and coach to gell on and off the court?

Yeah I think it just took us a while to get going. Coach Calvin is a great coach and a great asset to this team and we are lucky to have him. You never want to start off a season dropping games like we did, but the team and the coaching staff stuck together and I believe we are coming into our own.

The first seven games must have been a nightmare for veteran Derrick Allen who has been used to winning most of his career. How important is his leadership been this season?

Derrick Allen is the ultimate professional and his leadership on and off the court has been vital for our team. It doesn’t matter if we are winning or losing he approaches every game and practice the same way. I’ve already learned a lot from him and will continue to as the season goes on.

You have a different role in Bremerhaven then you had in Trier and Japan in that you come from the bench and have less minutes than before. Was it difficult accepting that role?

Yeah this is a different role then I have ever been in but it hasn’t been hard at all accepting it or growing in it. I approach the game the same way no matter my role, and that’s with the attitude that while I’m on the floor I’m going to do all I can to be productive and help my team.

How confident are you that the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven will step it up more in the next weeks simply because there are still many players that are still searching for their rhythm on the court?

We are definitely looking to step it up even more. The team is starting to gel and our chemistry is getting better every day. We just have to continue to work hard and stay focused. It’s a long season and our best basketball is yet to come.

The next game is against the Telekom Baskets Bonn. Air Harper against Tony Gaffney. How excited are you about playing him and extending the winning streak against one of the top teams?

I’m looking forward to the game this weekend. Bonn has a very talented team and they’ve had a lot of success so far this season so it’s a great opportunity to go up against a top team. And whenever you get a chance to play against a player as talented as Tony Gaffney it’s always fun.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Iceman.

Thanks Brian for the chat.

Josh Young is a 25 year old 185cm guard from Lawton, Oklahoma that is playing his third season for the Walter Tigers Tuebingen. He played at Drake from 2006-2010. In his senior year, he played 32 games: 14.4ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 44.0%, 3PT: 35.8%, FT: 73.0%. As a rookie he came to Germany and played for Bayer Giants Leverkusen (Germany-ProB, starting five): 11 games: 26.7ppg, 6.4rpg, 3.0apg, 2.3spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 45.3%, FT: 79.0%. In 2011 for for Tuebingen he played 34 games: 10.3ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 52.5%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 76.0%. Last season for Tuebingen he played  34 games: 9.1ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 60.9%, 3PT: 34.5%, FT: 71.8% He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Hi Josh thanks for talking to German Hoops. The season has started slow for the Walter Tigers Tuebingen at 2-7. However in past season the Tiger grit has always been there as they have been able to turn it around in difficult phases of the season. How confident are you that the Tigers will break out of this funk.

It’s never easy to start off on the wrong foot like we have this season, but I still have confidence in my team that we will get things corrected. I think the guys are all willing to do what it takes to turn things around so we will be in a good way.

The Walter Tigers Tuebingen were blown out in the last two games by Oldenburg and Munich by 75 points. What have been the main reasons for the current play of the team? I can imagine the accident that German Johannes lischka had played a part mentally?

We have no excuses for our performances. Offensively, we must improve and shoot the ball better and on the defensive side, we have to take a greater pride in stopping our opponents.

Johannes Lischka is one of those special players that can do so much on the floor, but at the same time wants to win so badly and just fights on the court until the end. What do you appreciate the most about his game and character?

We miss Lischi’s will to win. He has that competitive spirit that does not except losing. It something that I really appreciate about him.

Bane Ratkovica has come in and been a boost for the playmaking even in the last two routes. Will he be able to heighten his game even more in the next weeks where wins will be more than vital for getting out of the Beko BBl cellar.

Bane will continue to help us a lot. As the season goes on, and he gets more comfortable with the system and our team, I think he will play very well for us.

A positive point is that there are players on the team that have not performed to their ability on a consistent rate. There is still a lot of improvement and when the consistency returns then teams will see another Tiger team. Confidence and good play plays a big factor in getting consistency back and what else?

I think mentally we have to be strong in times like this. We have good players who have proven themselves to be just that. Confidence and playing well are big factors but for us sticking together will be key.

The next game is against the Fraport Skyliners that is one of those teams that is always good for a surprise. What kind of game can we await?

This game against Frankfurt will be a battle for sure. I think it will be a war for 40 minutes.

Bonn guard Andrej Mangold shut down Andrew Rautins limiting him to three points and against Artland nobody could contain him as he poured in 24 points. How excited are you about playing an x NBA player that can shoot out the lights?

It’s always great competing against new players in this league, especially ones that have played at the highest level. We will do all we can to be prepared for him.

Where will the journey of the Oklahoma Thunder end this season?

Thunder are a playoff team. It will be hard to come out of the West this year though. We will see what happens.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Last DVD I saw was We’re The Millers. Hilarious movie!

Thanks Josh for the chat.

As a kid David Byrd had to live with the legend of the Crawfordsville´s monster in his quaint 15,000 inhabited town of Crawfordsville, Indiana. It was described to have been constructed of a cloud with red glowing eyes. Over the years, it has been believed to have been a flock of birds huddled together in confusion due to the town’s newly installed electric street lights. This creature was described to be about eighteen feet long and eight feet wide and moved quickly through the air by way of several pairs of side fins. The legend of the monster gained national exposure as it was featured on the history channel and was featured on the television series Monster Quest. This all happened in 1891 a long time ago, but scary legends often can stay in the minds of kids. When Byrd went to Purdue, possibly the only frightening thing he had to encounter was young crazy college kids vomiting at a college party out a window and accidently catching remains down below as one was strolling down the walk way, or having to withstand the hustle, grit and pit bull defense of Chris Kramer in practice. Now as a rookie, the American who hails from Indiana and has the same last name as Larry Bird just spelled a bit differently the 23 year old 196cm swingman is starting his professional basketball journey in the small 39,000 populated Kirchheim in the south of Germany and the only thing he may have to be afraid of is running into a ghost at the castle Teck or running into 110 kilo 213 cm big man Bjoern Schoo in the lane, but so far he hasn´t been afraid of anything at least not on the court as he is showing a fine transition from the NCAA to the German PRO A as he is averaging 13,4ppg, 4,0rpg and 1,1apg and is shooting  a whopping 45% from downtown. Sometimes the barren landscape of Russia or a smoggy city in Asia can scare a player, but his new home Kirchheim suits him fine. “There are more cornfields and open flat land in my hometown. The hills and mountains of the Kirchheim area are beautiful in all months of the year. We don’t have that type of terrain where I’m from”, added DJ Byrd. The American who played against top competition in the NCAA isn´t disappointed to be going to a lower league in Germany and his decision making was helped with ex teammates like Chris Kramer and Keaton Grant who are making a living in Germany. “It definitely helped my decision knowing that some of my former teammates were able to live abroad and enjoy doing what they love. This was an opportunity I couldn’t afford to pass up and I’m glad I chose to experience it. They have been a nice resource for me during my first year overseas. I don’t think it’s a step backwards at all. Depending on the team you play for, you have to be able to take a certain role if you want to be on a successful team. I was able to play a role at Purdue, and now, although I may have a different role here, I’m still trying to do what the team needs me to do. This division of Germany has some great players and is a nice place to start a professional basketball career”, stressed Dj Byrd.

So far the American has experienced a crazy first two months in the German Pro A as the 7-3 record of Kirchheim might not seem out of the ordinary, but what is is that teams from second to seventh place all have a record of 7-3. Byrd has been integrated well into the team and already had some big games in the first month as he contributed 28 points in 33 minutes against the ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen and saw his first NBA type result in the 113-101 win against Science City Jena where he steered 21 points to the win. Those type of results do happen in the Pro A. It was a high scoring game, but just another game where he could learn more about how the style in Europe works. “I think it’s because that’s the way Jena likes to play. They pull full-court press the entire game, try to score quick off rebounds and turnovers, and crash the offensive glass. They try to speed the game up as much as possible and when that happens, there are a lot of offensive and defensive breakdowns throughout the game. We were also able to shoot a good percentage from the field that night. We knew if we could get by their press, we could get layups and open shots”, added Byrd. Not every player from across the pond can make the cool adjustment to different rules and a varied way how the refs call games, but the Indiana native is coping well. “At the very beginning I was having trouble with the traveling rule, as I think most Americans tend to encounter. But after a few weeks and working on my footwork, it hasn’t been an issue. One of the major differences is the length of the shot clock. Pro A basketball has a faster pace and you must be ready to shoot, pass, or drive at any moment. Compared to the 35-second shot clock in the NCAA, where you have a lot more time to get a good shot. Other than that I’ve seemed to mesh in pretty well”, said Byrd. He already seems to be a type of go to guy in the early part of the season, but possibly a right approach isn´t thinking that one is a rookie and just taking that passed experience? “I try not to think of myself as a rookie. Yes, there are a lot of things I have learned over the past couple months, but I still try to do the same things; play hard, play relaxed, and play with passion. The good thing about Kirchheim is I don’t have to put any pressure on myself because we have a lot of guys on our team that can be a top scorer on any given night”, commented Byrd. An important aspect to team play is having a good relationship with your teammates and often a player has their own neat story and teammate Bryan Smithson has been out of basketball for four years, but his play doesn´t support that. “I’ve gotten to know Bryan pretty well over the last couple months, and after learning his story and all he’s been through, I have a lot of respect. He’s battled through injuries and persevered through a lot of adversity. He’s been a great playmaker for us so far and he hasn’t even peaked his potential.”, expressed Byrd. The hot shooting of Byrd in the early going may support the idea that he is only one dimensional, but he can help his team in many ways. “In college, I mainly played the role of a spot up shooter. During the offseason and especially here in Germany, I’ve been working on getting back to being a ball-handler and slasher. I’ve lost about 10 lbs since last season, which has allowed me to be quicker on my feet and jump higher. I’ve also established myself so far this season as a ball handler and pull-up jump shooter. I still try to expand my game everyday”, stated Byrd. At Purdue he saw a high scoring explosion of ex Fraport Skyliner Kevin Foster as he dropped 34 points against the Boilermakers. Keeping that player in the zone is a hidden strength in the game of Byrd. “I try to help my team notice a hot hand. It’s kind of hard to explain but when we’ve had a guy hit a couple shots in a row or a big man who can post up and score at will, it only makes sense to give them more opportunities to score. I’ll try to set screens to get the guy open, or get the ball in the post so they can try and score”, warned Byrd.

The whole high school experience is always an important stepping stone for any young kid as he makes the jump to the next level college. Often it is the freshman year where one can see if that kid has the right approach to having a successful college experience. Sometimes for a talented young player, the basketball part often weighs most in high school or college, but for Byrd, he had the ultimate high school time. He was the leading scorer at North Montgomery averaging 25ppg, 9rpg and 3apg as a senior. “I have great memories from high school, both with my school team and through AAU. I really enjoyed being a part of North Montgomery because of the support of the fans and the will of my teammates. We had grown up playing together, and although I wish I could have done some things different, we won a lot of games and had some great experiences. AAU was also a great opportunity for me to travel the country and play basketball against the best players in the country, many of which are in the NBA today”, added Byrd. In 2009 he came to Purdue and as a freshman played 29 games averaging 2,6ppg in 9,4 minutes per game. Some of his freshman highlights included scoring in double figures three times, played against Duke in the NCAA Sweet 16 and contributed nine points off the bench against Alabama. It was no secret that he had stiff competition on the roster and had amazing teammates like Keaton Grant Chris Kramer and future NBA players Jajuan Johnson and Etwan Moore. The memories of having teammates who showed him the ropes seem endless. “When I came in as a freshman at Purdue, practice was filled with talented and high level guys who showed me what it took to be a Boilermaker. It took me some time to get adjusted to the college game and to find my role, but with the help of a combination of players, I feel that it helped me improve. Chris Kramer showed me how to sacrifice for the team. He didn’t try to keep a certain average of points or stats. He did what the team needed him to do, and that’s why he was successful there. I noticed the passion and perseverance of Robbie Hummel. I saw JaJuan and E’Twaun constantly in the gym working on their game. Along with many other players that would set an example for me, both good and bad”, stated Byrd. Just being able to play against Duke in such an important game helped him mature as a player. That team had so many great players with future NBA players like Lance Thomas, Miles Plumlee or Jon Scheyer. “At the time of the Duke game I was playing an undersized power forward position. I think experience against many of these teams and players was a great opportunity for me. Maybe not during the game, but watching film in preparation for the game, you tend to focus on those high-level players. And yes I remember the game because Nolan Smith scored 7 straight points to give them a lead we couldn’t recover from late in the second half”, stressed Byrd.

Byrd was able to improve his scoring each season at Purdue and in his second season he played 34 games averaging 5.2ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 35.9%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 63.0%. He had 22 starts and averaged 20,6 minutes per game. Some of the highlights that season were Leading the Boilermakers in steals and blocks four times each, rebounds three times and assists twice . He scored in double figures six times and notched a career-high 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out three assists in the home win over Illinois. He scored 11 points and hauled in a career-high nine rebounds in the win at Indiana. In his second season he could only watch ex teammate Chris Kramer from a far as he was a rookie with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, but his memories of the current Beko BBL player were great as he did so many amazing things at Purdue like sitting on the floor and making a basket or many more. “When we played in the US Virgin Islands my freshman year, he dove for a ball at half court, slid on his stomach to almost the 3 point line, and was able to knock the ball out of the hands and off the foot of Tennesee’s point guard. The ball went out of bounds and gave us the possession. The video of it is incredible”, stressed Byrd. As a junior, the American played played  33 games averaging 8.9ppg, 2.3rpg, FGP: 41.9%, 3PT: 43.0%, FT: 76.0%. His all around worth to the success of Purdue grew substantionally as he  led Purdue in scoring three times and scored in double figures 16 times, including three 20-point performances. Some big games for Purdue included Leading Purdue with 20 points against Ohio State in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, added 10 points in the win over Nebraska at the Big Ten Tournament, registered 12 points, five rebounds and three assists at Indiana and had 14 points and six boards in the home win over Penn State. These games were all no fluke as he also had a career high 24 points against Ohio State and 15 points against Indiana.  His biggest achievement in his junior year was becoming the first ever Boliermaker All-Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year. As a junior he scored 10 points against Kansas in the NCAA tournament. NBA player Thomas Robinson played for Kansas. He had a pretty disappointing rookie season with the Sacramento Kings. He had a very strong NBA Summer League with the Portland Trailblazers with 10 and 12 boards. He remembers the game well and thinks that the time of the big man will still come in the NBA with Portland. “Well, as an aspiring basketball analyst one day, I can say that it depends on the health of LaMarcus Aldridge. Thomas Robinson has showed flashes of being an efficient rebounder, passer, and even scorer given the right night. With his athleticism, his rookie year behind him, and being on a new team I think he can definitely have a breakout year. As for our game against Kansas, the toughest loss I’ve taken in my career”, stated Byrd.

As a senior his time really came as he started in 33 of the 34 games he played averaging 10.2ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.7apg, FGP: 43.8%, 3PT: 36.2%, FT: 80.0%. He led Purdue in steals 10 times, assists eight times and scoring and rebounds six times each. He scored in double figures 21 times, including a pair of 20-point games. Some of his most memorable games included 22 points against Clemson hitting six three pointers, 22 points against Wisconsin, 17 points, five rebounds and four assists against west Virginia, or 14 points against Michigan State. He most likely will never forget his16 points, five boards and five assists against Villanova at Madison Square Garden. “Playing at Madison Square Garden was something I had always wanted to do. I’m extremely grateful that Purdue was able to play a preseason tournament there. Although the results of the games I played in there weren’t what we wanted, it was a great experience to play in one of the most famous arenas in the world”, added Byrd. He finished his career ranked sixth in program history in three-point field goals (195) and 10th in games played (130). He placed third in the Big Ten in three-point field goals per game (2.3) and 13th in three-point field goal percentage (.362) in overall games. He finished second in the Big Ten in three-pointers per game (2.6) and ninth in three-point percentage (.390) in league play. He also led the team with 18 charges as a senior. His ex teammate Chris Kramer is an ace at taking charges and Byrd fed off that talent as a freshman watching the Oldenburg player work his magic. “Chris was very good at taking charges and yes that was something I tried to do as much as I could. Both Ryne Smith and I were able to take a lot of charges in our career. Mainly because we weren’t going to block anyone’s shot and the odds of us stripping the ball without being called for a foul were slim. Plus it’s a great way to change or maintain momentum during a big game”, commented Byrd. The American finished his career playing 128 games averaging 6,7ppg in his four year career and is thankful for having a fine teacher like head coach Matt Painter. “Coach Painter taught me a lot about what it takes to be a great team. His main rules were to play hard and don’t turn the ball over. If you could do that and play your role, you could pick your minutes. I still implement that in my game today”, said Byrd. His four year career at Purdue was long and he experienced so many plays, but he does remember his toughest opponent and his most crazy shot that he took in a game. “This is tough because we’ve played against so many good teams and great players but I would have to say most recently Trey Burke. His ability to not only handle the ball, score the ball, and defend, but the way he was able to involve his entire team of shooters and big men to make a run to the NCAA Championship game. This is also tough because me, my friends Dru Anthrop and Ryne Smith, have made videos of crazy kinds of trick shots. But one game my junior year vs. Northwestern I drove and spun in the lane, got fouled, and threw the ball over my head and it went in”, smiled Byrd. He hasn´t had much problems getting used to the lifestyle in Germany either so his rookie season so far off the court has been a breeze. “After getting used to some of the minor differences, it’s not that much different than living in the states. Most people speak just enough English, food here is good, and with social media I can still keep in touch with family and friends, which has been a huge help”, said Byrd. One thing is for sure, that the American won´t see the Crawfordsville monster in Kirchheim and most likely a ghost at castle Turk and have to be afraid, but if his play continues to rise, then teams will have to be afraid of the rookie.