Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber

Basketball journalist and play by play commentator

Dane Watts (ratiopharm Ulm): After Keaton Nankivil Wins The Three Point Shooting Contest, You Can Refer To Him As Money Ball

Dane Watts is a 25 year old 203cm forward from Warrensburg, Missouri. He is playing his first season for ratiopharm Ulm. He played at Creighton (NCAA) from 2004-2008 with NBA player Anthony Tolliver. In his senior year, he played 33 games: 11.3ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 53.4%, 3Pts: 42.5%, FT: 71.8%. In 2008, he came to Germany and started his professional basketball career with EnBW Ludwigsburg (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 32 games: 8.9ppg, 3.8rpg, FGP-1(68.4%), 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 68.7%. In 2009-2010, he came to The Walter Tigers Tuebingen playing 34 games: 10.2ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 57.1%, 3PT: 37.6%, FT: 71.0%. Last season for Tuebingen, he played 33 games: 13.7ppg, Reb-4(7.6rpg), 1.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 57.9%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 54.5%; in May’11 moved to Hyeres-Toulon Var Basket (France-ProA): 3 games: 7.0ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg.  At Creighton, he won awards such as MVC Tournament Winner -05, 07, MVC All-Freshman Team -05, MVC Regular Season Runner-Up -07, and MVC Tournament Semifinals -08. He spoke to German Hoops before their game against the LTi Giessen 46ers January 8th.

Congrats on the 76-75 win at home against FC Bayern Munich. How much have you been aware of the German sports brand FC Bayern Munich since you arrived in 2008?

It wasn’t until last year until I realized how big they were when they put their basketball team together in Pro A. I had heard a little bit about soccer before but I don’t follow it too much.

ratiopharm Ulm had a great start and controlled the game until the fourth quarter when FC Bayern Munich tied the game. What were the main reasons for letting the team come back?

They played zone the 2nd half and we did not attack it aggressively enough and allowed them to come back.

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Marcus Slaughter (Brose Baskets Bamberg): I Am Not Really A Slam Dunk Kind Of Guy, But PJ Tucker Will Be Coaching Me

Marcus Slaughter is a 26 year old 203cm forward from Riverside California. He played at San Diego State from 2003-2006. In his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 16.5ppg, 11.0rpg, 1.9apg, 1.2spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 49%, FT: 76.2%. He started his professional basketball career in Turkey for Pinar Karsiyaka SK Izmir playing 29 games averaging 13.3ppg, Reb-3(10.2rpg), 1.3apg, 2.3spg, 2FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 12.5%, FT: 67.2%. In 2007-2008, he was with the Miami Heat in preseason and then played in Israel and France for Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem, Israeli League: 8.0ppg, 6.4rpg, ULEB Cup: 5 games: 5.6ppg, 4.8rpg, 1.8apg, waived in Dec.’07, in Jan.’08 signed at BCM Gravelines Dunkerque Grand Littoral 15 games: 9.5ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP-3(63.2%), FT: 58.9%. in 2008-2009, he started with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven(8 games: 18.8ppg, 10.0rpg, 1.3apg, 2.6spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 59.8%, 3PT: 60.0%) before moving to France to Le Havre playing 21 games: 16.0ppg, Reb-1(9.5rpg), 1.6apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 65.4%; Eurocup: 6 games: 12.2ppg, 8.7rpg, 1.0apg, 1.5spg, 1.8bpg. In 2009-2010, he played for Sluc Nancy Basket Pro (France-ProA): EuroCup: 6 games: 8.5ppg, 9.0rpg, 2.8spg, 2.0bpg, FGP: 50.0%, FT: 76.7%; French League: 29 games: 12.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.5spg, Blocks-5(1.4bpg), FGP: 64.5%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 69.1%. Last season, he played for Blancos de Rueda Valladolid (Spain-ACB, starting five): 34 games: 9.9ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.4spg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 65.0%, FT: 67.5%. He is back in the Beko BBL with the Brose Baskets Bamberg.  He spoke to German Hoops before the game against FC Bayern Munich January 7th.

Congrats on the 68-66 win in Bayreuth. How impressed were you with the atmosphere there?

I was very impressed. It is the loudest arena I have been in besides our own.I was a bit surprised how loud it can get in there.

Describe the game winning shot by Brian Roberts.

That shot helped us win the win and it was big. It was off a broken shot, but he is the type of guy you want taking a shot like that at the end of a game. He has been doing it for years.

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Can Jerry Green Get EnBW Ludwigsburg To The Beko BBL Playoffs This season?

Since the return of EnBW Ludwigsburg to the Beko BBL in 2002, the club has reached only three playoff appearances from 2004-2007 and the name Jerry Green was as important and key for those three glorious years as Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has been for their success this season in Denver, Borusia Monchengladback German Marco Reus for his timely goals and team current fourth place or Christmas giving the Wham song last Christmas endless radio play each December to the hearts content for people across the globe, but in his second tour of duty in Ludwigsburg, Green hasn´t had his magic wan working as last season the club missed the playoffs on the last game day. With the new 4,500 Ludwigsburg arena in its third season of operation and the attendance rate down from the 2009-2010 season by 300 patrons per game, pressure continues to rise rapidly on the team to reach the May games like smoke from an erupted volcano. One can´t always rely on one player or coach to always bring consistent success to a place like legendary head coach Jerry Sloan did to the Utah Jazz for 15 years from 1989-2003 and having needed components like Karl Malone and Jerry Stockton don´t grow on maple trees either. To say that Jerry Green is at fault for not leading EnBW Ludwigsburg to the Beko BBL playoffs last season and for their current slide would be more than unfair. “I don´t think that Green is feeling pressure to have to do extra incredible things to get that success. One can´t say he is the reason for the non success now. There are so many other factors involved that have been the reason for their slide at the moment. Green is the complete point guard that is athletic, can score and is a good passer who helps the team in so many ways”, stressed Artland Dragon German Christian Hoffmann.

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Dashaun Wood (Alba Berlin): I Can Focus More On Defense Now

DaShaun Wood is a 26 year old 185cm point guard from Detroit, Michigan that is playing his second season in Germany for Alba Berlin. He is a young point guard with natural leadership abilities, who directs teammates on the floor and takes the ball in clutch moments. Loves to go inside to score, challenging the big guys, but has also shooting range from behind the 3pts arch. Despite lack of size, he can be effective even at the defensive side. He played at Wright state from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 33 games averaging 19.6ppg, 5.1rpg, 4.0apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 43.5%, 3Pts: 37.3%, FT: 88.3%. In 2007-2008, he played his rookie season for Tisettanta Cantu (Italy-SerieA, starting five): 38 games: Score-5(16.9ppg), 3.0rpg, Assists-4(3.3apg), 2.7spg, 2FGP:52.1%, 3PT-2(42.8%), FT:77.4%. In 2008-2009, he played for : Benetton Treviso (Italy-SerieA), injured in Oct.’08 and was off for 2 months: Eurocup: 12 games: 5.3ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 40.0%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 87.5%; Italian League: 17 games: 7.2ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.2apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 35.6%, FT: 70.4%. Last season, he was the Beko BBL MVP with The Deutsche Bank Skyliners playing EuroCup Qualifying Round: 2 games: 13.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 5.0apg; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 16.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.2apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 73.7%; German League: 42 games: Score-1(19.0ppg), 4.6rpg, Assists-2(5.9apg), 1.2spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 33.2%, FT: 80.3%. He spoke to German Hoops about the current season with Alba Berlin.

What was it like playing against former NBA player Bobby Brown? Had you played him back in the NCAA?

Bobby Brown and me are about the same age. As a senior we played against each other and we won by 15 points. We also played against each other at NBA camps where we went at it 1-1 and had shooting drills. We have known each other for a while.

You are playing your first season with Alba Berlin. How well have you adapted to your surroundings?

Berlin is a very big city and reminds me of New York. There are many people, excitements and many stores and we live right in the middle of the city. It is a great experience and I really like it a lot. However there is still a lot that I want to see.

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Marius Nolte Uses The Force In Crunch Time Propelling The Fraport Skyliners to a 64-56 Victory In The Hessen Derby

With 2012 just born and The Fraport Skyliners riding on a hot and smooth three game winning streak on the road, the club was able to continue their untypical but charming potent play on the road winning their fourth game in a row away from their living room winning for the ninth time in a row against the LTi Giessen 46ers 64-56 and keeping the traditional basketball team winless since 109 months against Frankfurt dating back to December seventh where guys like Kai Nurnberger, Mario Kasun and Robert Maras were still roaming the floor for the Skyliners. Rivalries in pro sports is nothing uncommon as the NBA lives by having the Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers tug of war basketball struggle each season, MLB has the do or die game mentality between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees and the NHL has the Boston Brunis-Montreal Canadians season bashes. There is a special rivalry in the Beko BBL between Frankfurt and Giessen which not only has the players going at a special extra full tilt, but always challenges the fans at getting  a good vocal chord workout as neither organization wants to lose. St Louis native and Skyliner Jimmy Mckinney who has grown into a real team leader has never lost in Giessen as he came into the match as focused as Janet Hubert who played Aunt Viv on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air of never doing a reunion show since she can´t stand Mr Man in black Will Smith, actress Kim Kardashian sitting on Santas lap at a Christmas party and looking sweet and not naughty or NBA player Kris Humphries giving a 21 point performance despite being booed each time he touched the ball and Mckinney was able to win his sixth game in a row in Giessen and despite the success was his normal and slick and suave self after the game. “I guess I am a type of good luck charm for the Skyliners. This is a great rivalry. It always gets so loud when Giessen goes on a run. The atmosphere reminded a lot of the Vashon-Belmont atmosphere. I remember in the playoffs, there was a projector outside with 300 people watching who couldn´t get in. We won with less than a minute to play”, stressed Jimmy Mckinney. “There was much emotion in this game. We fought and did the best we could. The fans are always loud. It wasn´t any different when MBC played Chemnitz. The fans were screaming for minutes”, stressed Giessen guard Wayne Bernard. Skyliner forward Jacob Burtschi played his first Hessen derby and was impressed. “It was so loud in here that it felt like the fans were on top of you. Their fans almost willed their team to the win. I remember the Hagen-Bonn rivalry, but the Giessen fans are more memorable. Giessen have diehard fans”, added Jacob Burtschi.

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Can Bjoern Harmsen Bring Some Pat Riley Success And Glitz To The Giessen 46ers?

Recently two German head coaches Sebastian Machowski and Bjoern Harmsen stood head to head in the always bedlam like atmosphere of the Osthalle in Giessen and their demenour and style couldn´t have been more opposite with the Braunschweig pooh bah Machowski staying calm for most of the game while the Giessen skipper Harmsen jumping around like a small displeased boy not getting any candy in his Christmas stocking and constantly having one on one talks with his players after mistakes especially with Achmadschah Zazai and discussing with referees as if he was playing the lottery with getting possible technical fouls. For years, Harmsen has been prowling the Beko BBL sidelines and has been known for being the youngest coach in the league getting his first taste of the top German league in 2007 with Science City Jena. He then moved a bit more east to the Mitteldeutscher BC where it didn´t take him long to shape the 2004 Fiba cup winner into an almost Beko BBL playoff team in 2010 just missing the playoffs by a hair. When examining the gGrman closer, you see a mix between German actor Ralf Richter in one of his evil roles in the famous German crime show Ein fall Fur zwei with the glasses and the legendary ex Los Angeles Lakers head coach Pat Riley with his slicked back hair. Harmsen is a basketball junkie who already released his first book at age 20 “Basketball emotional-With mental strength to success”. He got tips from famous Spanish coach Sergio Scariolo as well as German coach Dirk Bauermann. Harmsen has understood in the last years, how to make mediocre teams into better teams and is slowly on his way to making the LTi Giessen 46ers into  a team that wants nothing to do with the Beko BBL cellar. “Harmsen is an intense coach. He brings good tactical skills to the court and has had success with lower budget teams in this league. I definitely don´t want to see his hair gel bill”, joked New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig center Kyle Visser. One Giessen 46ers who definitely knows how the coaching clock of Harmsen ticks is Serb radenko Pilcevic who is playing his third season for the German coach. “A coach that he looks up to is the Spanish coach Sergio Scariolo. He has a lot of experience, knows how to work with players and makes for a good atmosphere. I remember my first season with MBC, we played very well and we needed one win to reach the playoffs. We beat all the top teams that season like Bamberg, Alba Berlin, Artland and Oldenburg. The season was a lot of fun and I remember most how he waited for me to play well and had so much trust in my game”, added Radenko Pilcevic. “Harmsen sticks to details, can motivate players well and just plays European basketball”, stressed ex Giessen 46er and 2009 beko BBL champion with Oldenburg Marco Buljevic.

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Scoring Takes A Back Seat As The Artland Dragons Outgrind The Fraport Skyliners 49-44

The Artland Dragons have gotten used to winning a lot in the last months as they have won 13 of their last 15 games, but the cozy living room of the Fraport Skyliners hasn´t been as inviting for the Quackenbruck team the last years as the last time that they exited the floor victorious, current dragon Anthony King was still cruising down south beach enjoying the waves and creating havoc under the boards in the NCAA with Miami, the Spanish national soccer team was still dreaming of winning a major title as the 2008 European championships and 2010 World Cup weren´t in their grasp yet and Justin Bieber posters hadn´t been made yet and weren´t filling the bed room walls of teenage girls around the globe yet. The last time the Artland Dragons were able to defeat Frankfurt in Frankfurt, the date was April 15th 2007 as they prevailed 77-69 as Chad Prewitt led them with 15 points and nine rebounds. For a team that averages 88 points a game this season, anyone who came into the Fraport arena in the last minute and saw the score had to rub their eyes first to believe that the Artland Dragons were kept under 50 points, but still won 49-44 in front of 4,860 patrons. It was the first win after losing the last four attempts in Frankfurt and some players had to think strong and hard where they were back that spring day in 2007. “I was a junior and was averaging 9ppg and 8rpg and was the second best shot blocker in the ACC. Germany was far from my mind, but I was thinking about possibly turning professional after my junior year, but my mom talked me into staying and getting my degree. I am just happy I won here, because my rookie season in Frankfurt was tough”, stressed ex Skyliner Anthony King. Another player that had to take some seconds to recollect where he was in 2007 was Brandon Thomas who had lost twice with Braunschweig in Frankfurt and had unplesant memories of the Fraport arena. “Back in 2007, we beat Alabama and Jermareo Davidson in the NIT with a last second shot by Chris Lowe. Two years ago, we lost in Frankfurt on the last game day and had to watch TV to see if we would get in the playoffs and another team lost so we got in. Last season, Dashaun Wood beat us with a last second shot. It felt good to win here even if it was an ugly win”, commented Artland Dragon Brandon Thomas.

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Who Needs A Tyrese Rice When The Artland Dragons Have David Holston?

The area of the 12,881 population of frog town Quackenbruck may not be large, but there is still interesting things to do like following the 3,1km Froschpfad to observe the historic sites, chowing down on yummy Buchweizenpfannkuchen a speciality from there, spending a day in the many beautiful parks or in the past seeing a jubilant Darius Hall showcasing his big smile while bicycling from home to practice, but nothing is more exciting than following the basketball team Artland Dragons. The team has stood for success since they arrived in the Beko BBL in 2003 reaching the playoffs 5 times out of 8 times and missing three times on account of a 9th place finish. In the last two seasons the team has had extra suspense as they have had top point guards Tyrese Rice and this season David Holston. The point guard position is the most important position on the floor and with Rice the team had the second best scorer and fourth best assist man. There was a bit of uneasiness at the start of this season if Holston could fill the shoes of Rice, but so far the smallest player in the league from Detroit at 167m, he is second in scoring, assists and steals. Holston has been a big reason for the success as he has scored in double figures every time this season in the Beko BBL except for against BBC Bayreuth who have held him in check. He scored 29 points against Giessen, 26 points against Tuebingen and won both head to head duels against top guards Je Kel Foster and Bobby Brown. Who could forget his four three pointer in overtime against FC Bayern Munich giving Dirk Bauermann a long uncomfortable trip back to Bavaria.” I think Holston has fit in nicely with the team and been able to be one of the leaders on the court. He’s able to score, set up his teammates, and control the game so he’s a really solid PG”, warned ex MBC center Velimir Radinovic. One has to wonder how Stefan Koch knew they were the right players or if a special basketball frog gave him the right slip of paper and name during the summer? “I think he probably has a certain mould that he would like his point guard to fit, and recruits players that fit that profile. Rice and Holston are both capable of controlling the tempo of the game and running the team, but they can also drop 30 on you so you can never relax when defending that type of player. I think Rice had more of a scorer’s mentality and maybe not a pure PG. He was maybe looking to shoot first, pass second.”, added ex Ohio State center Velimir Radinovic.

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David Teague: I Played Until My Wheels Didin´t Move Anymore

David Teague is a 28 year old 196cm guard playing his first season for Ass.Pallacanestro Sant’ Antimo (Italy)  who is an athletic wing player who possesses an excellent perimeter shot, is a solid penetrator who can get to the basket off the dribble and is a tenacious defender who can shut down dribble penetration. He grew up in Indianapolis and went to Pike high school and at Bridgeton Academy. He played at Purdue from 2002-2007 and In his senior year, he played 34 games averaging 14.3ppg, 5.0rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 44.0%, 3Pts: 41.2%, FT: 75.4% Purdue from 2002-2007. In his first professional season, he played in Greece for AEL 1964 playing 23 games averaging  9.7ppg, 3.5rpg, 2FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 78.0%. Last season, he played in France for JA Vichy Val d’Allier Auvergne basket playing 4 EuroChallenge games: averaging 8.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.8spg and playing 29 games in the French League averaging 13.8ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.3spg, FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 30.9%, FT: 73.4%. In 2009-2010, he played for the Giessen 46ers where he led the Beko BBL in scoring playing 2009-2010: LTi Giessen 46ers (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 18 games: Score-1(20.4ppg), 4.7rpg, Steals-4(1.5spg), FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 70.0%. Last season, he played for Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (Brazil-NBB, starting five): Liga Americas: 6 games: 16.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.2spg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 40.6%, FT: 61.1%; Brazilian League: 22 games: 13.6ppg, 3.0rpg, 2FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 81.3%. German Hoops spoke to Teague about his basketball career in Italy during the NBA lockout.

You are playing your first season in Italy in the Lega 2. How would you compare it to the leagues in Greece, France and Germany where you played previously?

It is lot like the France Pro A. There are a lot of good Americans playing in Italy and in the Lega 2.

You have been scoring nicely in the Lega 2. What is your role? Is it similar to what you had with the LTi Giessen 46ers?

It is a little different. As Campbell got hurt, my role sort of changed. Now it is a lot more like with Giessen where I am required to score more and be more aggressive on offense.

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The Fraport Skyliners Play Point Guard By Committee Perplexing BG Goettingen 78-65

For some teams performing well and wining in the past in the Lok Halle was equal to basketball cruelty as for some it was as difficult to be to deny that actress Lindsay Lohan doesn´t have the arsenal  to be called a Playboy success as it is for basketball superstar Kobe Bryant to deny his women exploits to the basketball wives of America, or Tim Tebow supporters recovering after Tom Brady and the New England Patriots brought him the Denver broncos back to reality after the crushing 41-23 loss last weekend. For the Skyliners in the past, winning in the Lok Halle wasn´t always tough as they finished there with a 2-2 record the last four years. Who could forget the 74-67 victory in 2008, where half the team was sick and Maksym Shtein was the hero for 24 hours mowing down the opposition in Ukrainian train style with 24 points or last season their 70-58 win as Dashaun Wood and Roger Powell took control with 18 points a piece. The Lokhalle era came to an end last season as this season, the team moved into the Sparkassen arena and The Fraport Skyliners wanted to send a positive new trend as they left the new home of BG Goettingen with a big 78-65 win. For injured BG Goettingen guard Louis Dale leaving the Lok halle wasn´t easy, but the Sparkassen halle is already stirring up a lot of noise. “We have many new players, so there really wasn´t any adjustment for them as they never played in the Lok Halle. This arena is brighter, but the atmosphere is still good. When the game is on the line, it can get very loud in here”, stressed BG Goettingen American Louis Dale. After the big win, new Skyliner Jacob Burtschi was all smiles and didn´t boast about his hot three point shooting, but was drilled about the new arena. “This is a good arena and can get loud. This arena can be very intimidating, because the ceiling is low and you seem to be packed in. It is more intimidating playing in a smaller packed arena than in Berlin where it is more of an open arena”, warned ex Phoenix Hagen forward Jacob Burtschi.

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