One Thing that is always interesting to observe in professional sports is when a player returns back to his old stomping ground for the first time since his
departure. How an athlete is received by the fans can be positive or negative. Ken Griffey jr returned back to Seattle in 2007 as a Cincinnati Red and received a 15 minute tribute, Michael Jordan came back to Chicago as a Washington Wizard and got several minutes of standing ovations or Wayne Gretzky returning back to Edmonton where he won 4 Stanley Cups as an L.A King listened to 4 minutes of standing ovations and got cheers every time he touched the puck while other returns have not been as memorable as Johnny Damon of the New York Yankees came back to Boston and witnessed as the fans unleashed a fury of boos, or Bret Favre going back to Green Bay where he won a Super Bowl in 1997 as a Minnesota Viking and was violently booed by fans. However for Derrick Allen to be booed, who played three season with the Deutsche Bank Skyliners and was loved by everyone was about as unlikely as Charlie Sheen letting the cat have his tongue for at least 24 hours as it seems like he is constantly talking to some media outlet. Allen led Alba Berlin in scoring with 17 points and helped his team make a furious come back in the third quarter and lead the 8 time BEKO BBL champion to a 79-70 win and was all smiles after the win. Allen was put in OT duty long after the win signing autographs for everyone while the first players had finished showering. At times it looked likes a swarm of bees were hovering around Allen and the American as the queen Bee as his 
yellow warm up suit made him fit that part “Wearing the yellow wasn´t as strange as coming back into the arena again. It already felt strange last night practicing here. It felt great playing here and I am very proud of my ex teammates and the type of season that they are having”, warned Derrick Allen. Everyone in Frankfurt talks about Wood for MVP while in Berlin its Allen. “Allen is our MVP. He represents the heart of the team. He is our leader and everyone else follows him in line”, stressed ex Telekom Baskets Bonn guard Bryce Taylor.
Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber
Derrick Allen (Alba Berlin): Dashaun Wood Would Get My Vote For MVP Since He Is Playing At A High Level At The Moment
Derrick Allen is a 30 year old 203cm forward that grew up in Gadsen Alabama and is playing his first season with Alba Berlin. He is a rugged inside player who attacks the glass, will provide help on the boards, is a solid defender in the post, a competitor and hard worker that can score facing the basket and has shooting range to the foul line. He started his career at Southern Union State from 1998-2000. He then transferred to Mississippi and played there from 2000-2003. He then started his professional basketball career in Iceland playing for Keflavikur ripping up the FIBA Europe Cup playing 8 games and averaging 26.6ppg, 9.4rpg, 2.5apg, 1.8spg and playing 22 games in the Iceland league averaging 23,4ppg, 10.5rpg. He won the Icelandic league and cup title in his rookie season. In 2004, he ventured to Germany and has played there ever since with two years in Karlsruhe, one year in Leverkusen and played with The Deutsche Bank Skyliners from 2007-2010 playing 148 games for them. In 2006-2007, he led Leverksuen into the playoffs and led the BBL in scoring playing 38 games and averaging 16.5ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 50.6%, 3FGP: 32.3%, FT: 72.2%. In 2007-2008, he was second best scorer in the BBL for Frankfurt playing 43 games and averaging 18.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.9apg, 2FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 75.6%; and playing 10 ULEB Cup games finishing as the third best scorer averaging 19.9ppg, 7.9rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 54%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 72.9%. He has reached four BBL playoffs in five seasons and played in the four BEKO BBL Allstar games He spoke to German Hoops before the game against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners March 20th.
How has the adjustment been for you as a player from Luka Pavicevic to Muli Katzurin. How much of the Alba Berlin style has changed and does it fit your game more now?
Well for me it was an easy adjustement. Coach Luka played a more controlled pace, and Coach Muli plays uptempo and more face pace. Both styles fit my game, im still playing the same way.
Philipp Schwethelm(Eisbaeren Bremerhaven): I Play Very Controlled And Like To Set Up My Teammates
Philipp Schwethelm is a 21 year old 201cm forward that was born in Gummersbach and is playing his second season with the Eisbaeren 
Bremerhaven. He started his basketball career in 2004 with the Koeln cadet team. He played for Rhein Energy Cologne from 2004-2009. He already played Eurocup at age 16. In total, he played 61 BEKO BBL games in his 5 years. He also played 2 Euroleague games, 8ULEB Cup games and 3 Eurocup games. Last season for Bremerhaven, he played games 44 games avergaing 7.0ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 51.6%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 67.8%. He has achieved numerous awards in his career including U16 National Team -05-06,FIBA EuroCup Quarterfinals -06, International Tournament in Mannheim (Unofficial World Championships U18) -06: 6 games: 5.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 37.5%, 3PT: 23.1%, FT: 55.6%, German U18 National Team -06-07, German Bundesliga U-19 All-Star Game -07, European Championships U18 in Madrid (Spain) -07: 8 games: 8.5ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 56.5%, 3FGP: 47.6%, German Bundesliga U-20 All-Star Game -08, Eurobasket.com All-German Bundesliga Newcomer of the Year -08, Eurobasket.com German Bundesliga All-Newcomers Team -08, German U20 National Team -08-09, European Championships U20 Division B in Targu Mures (Romania) -08:(Champion): 8 games: 10.4ppg, 4.8rpg, 2.8apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 64.3%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 77.8%, European Championships U20 in Rhodos (Greece) -09: 6 games: 11.2ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 78.6%, German Bundesliga Semifinals -10, German National Team -10,World Championships in Turkey -10: 5 games: 4.4ppg, 1.0apg, and German Bundesliga All-Star Game -11. Phil took some time to talk to German Hoops about basketball.
How much have The Gloria Giants improved since the first meeting this season?
They play more together as a team. They are running their plays better and have more options. They are passing the ball better and more and looking for the extra pass more.
Michael Jordan (Giessen46ers): I Learned A Long Time Ago To Never Get To High After A Win And Never To Low After A Loss
33 year old Michael Jordan (183-G-77, college: Pennsylvania) is a 183cm guard from Philadelphia. He played at the University of Pennsylvania
graduating in 2000. His first two years found him jumping around leagues in France and Spain before he found a new home in Germany with TSV Quackenbruck. In the 2002-2003 season, he helped lead Quackenbruck into the BBL with exceptional stats in 30 games, 21.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.9 apg. He helped turn The Artland Dragons into a playoff team in the 2004-2005 season as they lost the BBL Quarterfinal playoff series to The Opel Skyliners in five games. That season he averaged in 34 games: 11.1ppg, 3.4rpg, Ast-1 (6.4apg), 1.3spg, 2.6bpg, 2FGP: 52.5%, 3FGP: 31.3%. The next season, he was released by The Artland Drgaons, but went to Rhein Energie Cologne and won the BBL championship in 2006 averaging in 33 games: 9.8ppg, 2.3rpg, Assists-4 (4.1apg), 1.0spg, 2FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 52.2%. The next season, he went to Italy and played at Cantu where he led the league in assists and averaged in 37 games: 13.8ppg, 2.7rpg, Assists-1 (5.2apg), 2.0spg, 2FGP: 54.6%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 74.0%. The next season, he played in Belgium for Charleroi averaging in15 games: 9.5ppg, 1.6rpg, 3.6apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 90.0%;. He had injury problems and finished the season in Greece with PAOK. In 2008-2009 after a very short stay in Israel, he played a few months in Bamberg before going to the Cologne 99ers averaging 10,5ppg, 2,4rpg and leading the BBL in assists with 6,2apg. Last season, he played for Phoenix Hagen helping the team remain in the BEKO BBL. He played 16 games: 8.9ppg, 2.3rpg, Assists-5 (5.3apg), FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 73.3%. This season he played for MBC averaging 9,3ppg, 1,9rpg and 4,3apg before moving on to the Giessen 46ers. He spoke to German Hoops after the 82-64 win against The Walter Tigers Tuebingen.
Congrats on the 82-64 win against The Walter Tigers Tuebingen who were one of the hotter teams. How focused was Giessen tonight and caging the Tiger seemed a lot easier than it was stopping Frankfurt last weekend?
We were well prepared and focused on getting this win. We played together for mostly the entire game. We had a lapse in the 2nd qtr but were able to get back to form. Getting Moe Jeffers back helped us a lot as well as the early performance of Jannik Freese.
Mr Road Runner Dashaun Wood Looks To Outbolt The Gracefulness Of Mr Ballerina Derrick Allen As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Clash With Alba Berlin March 20th
When studying players before an upcoming season, there is usually no reason not to expect spectacular seasons from fabulous athletes like Sydney Crosby from the Pittsburg Penguins, a Lionel Messi from FC Barcelona, a Kobe Bryant from the Los Angeles Lakers or a Tom Brady from The New England Patriots because these guys have been having incredible years with their clubs winning titles and landing at the top of the league leaders in stats. Before the 2010-2011 BEKO BBL season, one might not have doubted a Derrick Allen not having a superb season with Alba Berlin after dominating the league the last 6 years in Germany or a Dashaun Wood who had been the top scorer in Italy for Cantu, however there was a possible cloudy forecast on the horizon for both players as Derrick Allen was going to Alba Berlin where the team is filled with so many players that could be top scorer and a Wood who was hurt with Benetton Treviso in 2008-2009 and didn´t even play last year. However both players seemed to have totally exceeded expectations as Allen has fit into both systems of Luka Pavicevic and Muli Katzurin and is leading the team in scoring and shooting 64% from the field the best in his career and still displaying his ballerina moves despite having a team filled with superstars and Wood has shown no ill effects of a knee injury and is possibly the most unstoppable player in the BEKO BBL in a long time as he has dominated like crazy. It really is no wonder that both players have adjusted so well. “Both players are professionals. Both have always had successful years and they play with the right attitude. One also should not forget that both have played for good teams and good coaches”, stressed Skyliner sport director Kamil Novak. It hasn´t surprised John Bynum either how well both players have developed with their new teams. “Both are great players and are showing why they are premier players in the BBL. I expected D.A. to have a good season because he has been consistent every where he has been at in Germany. I didnt know much about Wood but he is showing why he is one of if not the best point guard in the league”, added TBB Trier guard John Bynum. The duel Allen/Wood will be the highlight in the game as Mr Ballerina Derrick Allen will try to tip toe more gracefully than Mr Road Runner Dashaun Wood can bolt to the hoop. Is this a game where both guys could battle and eclipse the 30 point mark? “Both guys are the key players for both teams. The role of Allen is to score and Wood can score and is the second best assist maker. They are two different type of players that could score 30, but I think it will eb difficult for both to make it in this game”, expressed Kamil Novak.
Dashaun Wood Is Like A Slot Machine With Three Hearts In Crunch Time As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Survive in Tuebingen 80-76
After recuperating from an annoying and controlled pressure from BG Goettingen last weekend, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners met the 
previously hot but since two games very much cooled down Walter Tigers Tuebingen and aside from many tough players the game concentrated on two players. It is always a treat to watch top point guard duels in Europe like in the ACB in Spain with Marcelino Huertas and Omar Cook, in Italy between Marques Green and Travis Diener or in the Russian league between Anton Ponkraskov and Marcus Wilson. In the BEKO BBL, the Paul Horn arena in Tuebingen witnessed the duel between the top two point guards Dashaun Wood who leads the league in scoring and Branislav Ratkovica who leads the league in assists. The battle between the two guards was very intense and Wood remembered his 34 point, 24 free throws and Frankfurt victory effort in the Ballsporthalle earlier in the season and after a slow first half was as focused as Carlos Arroyo who has been playing behind Rajon Rondo in Boston, the way the Los Angeles Clippers will have to continue to play after losing another key player in Eric Gordon and the way the Miami Heat are about winning after many players cried recently after their 87-86 loss to the Chicago Bulls recently. Frankfurt had been trailing for 36 minutes, but then got their first lead and it was Wood in the last minutes that helped propel the team to the 80-76 win. “The duel Wood-Ratkovica was a very nice duel. Ratkovica has been just as important for his team as Wood has been for us this season, but tonight Wood was more important”, stressed Skyliner center Marius Nolte. Wood always gets up for the challenge and was impressed by the play of the Serb. “Ratkovica is a very smart player that ran his team well. He attacks the pick and roll well and he did a great job getting the ball to his teammates”, added Skyliner guard Dashaun Wood. “The wood- Bane match up was intense. I thought that we did a good job on Wood in the first half, but at the end he still had 22 points. No team can totally shut him down. You just have to hope to contain him a bit”, added Tuebingen forward Dane Watts.
It was the eighth win in a row for The Deutsche Bank Skyliners while The Walter Tigers Tuebingen have cooled down a bit after their fantastic six game winning streak some weeks ago as they lost their third game in a row and their playoff hopes get squashed a bit more with each loss the same way the title hopes become less of a reality for the Boston Celtics with every embarrassing loss after the trading deadline where key players like Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson were dealt away. The Deutsche Bank Skyliners trailed for 36 minutes until Jimmy Mckinney gave the team their first lead and the club held the nerves as their performance was about as far from a Picasso painting in worth. “This was an important win for us. We didn´t play well and never found our rhythm, but it was worth so much being able to win the way we did”, stressed Skyliner sports director Kamil Novak. Despite the bitter loss, The Walter Tigers Tuebingen have nothing to be ashamed of by losing this game. “We didn´t execute well in the last two games, but tonight we fought well and gave a good team effort. We played with a lot of intensity and it was just sad that we lost it at the end. I am proud of our team. This loss made reaching the playoffs even more difficult. We can control how we play, but will need some help form other teams”, stressed Dane Watts. “We didn´t play well tonight, but we never gave up and we played with a lot of heart”, stressed Dashaun Wood.
The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Look For Their 7th Win In A Row And The Walter Tigers Tuebingen Might Need Some Special Igor Perovic Serb Luck March 16th?
With a stimulating and emotional 6 game winning streak in the last weeks, business on the basketball court had been going as well for The Walter Tigers Tuebingen as it has been for FC Schalke recently reaching the Cup final and Championsleague quarterfinal, Minnesota Timberwolve center Kevin Love keeping his double double streak alive from November 22nd to March 13th and Jerel Mcneil getting rewarded with his strong play in the D League with Rio Grande Vally Vipors and getting a 10 day contract from the New Orleans Hornets, but since the 40 point loss in Bamberg, 18 point loss in Giessen and losing American center Kenny Wiliams and not having a 100% fit Chris Oliver, it seems like the team could use some luck against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners on Wednesday March 16th, becuase Tuebingen is still battling to reach the 2011 BEKO BBL playoffs. Likeable Walter Tigers Tuebingen coach Igor Perovic might want to turn to some Serb superstition like wearing his underwear inside out at the game since it will bring luck. Superstition or not, The Walter Tigers Tuebingen will have to be ready for another hard fought duel as the Deutsche bank Skyliners will be seeking their 7th win in a row and with their current hot play, Tuebingen coach Igor Perovic will take any luck even hoping that bread at the Skyliner breakfast be left upside down could bring them misfortune. “Well, every team deals with injuries. I dont know about superstition, but the only thing Tubingen can do is go out and play hard. Even though they have injuries, they can still fight for a win if they are confident and not worrying about the losing streak”, warned MBC American Wayne Bernard. The question will be how much did the two loses to Bamberg and Giessen effect the club as well as the injury to American Ken Wiliams? “I dont think it will affect them one bit. Bamberg is a machine and when that final buzzard sounded I’m sure it was in the back of there mind knowing that they are fighting for a playoff spot. Kenny gives them solid rebounding off the bench and does a lot of dirty work for them. Other players have to step up now and we will see who is able to do it for them”, warned John Bynum.
Another Typical Day At The Office For Dashaun Wood Displaying A Strong Combination Of Monta/Kemba/Lebron Stats As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Outgrind BG Goettingen 88-82
This season, it has become a fact that Skyliner Dashaun Wood has been reigning the BEKO BBL and has been as dominant in his sport as 
internet hero Mr facebook Mark Zuckerberg is with his company worth of 23 billion, Sergey Brin co founder of the search engine Google and Jimmy “jimbo” Wales who came up with the unique website Wikepdeia as his net worth is calculated at 25 million in their jobs. Wood might not be making the astronomical sums of these internet junkies, but his worth to The Deutsche Bank Skyliners is seen each weekend as he is the motor that makes the Frankfurt engine run so smoothly at all types of precarious situations and on top of that his engine is as vital to the club as that of a X-43 plane. Wood has to see different defensive guard formations on him each weekend, but he always finds a way to have great games. Against BG Goettingen, he didn´t have to put up with organized chaos, but moreover a controlled pressure that gave Frankfurt some problems in the first half, but in the second half as if somebody had ordered him to finally take control, Wood showed why he is the 2011 BEKO BBL MVP leading his team to a 88-82 win. It doesn´t really matter what type of pressure defense BG Goettingen hurled at Wood, the American was able to escape all danger as if a halo was over his head at all times. BG Goettingen coach John Patrick was sad about the loss, but in awe about the play of Wood. “I have been coaching 12 years now, but Wood is about as close to unstoppable as I have ever seen. We tried to use so many different strategies on him, but nothing seemed to work. I thought we did a pretty good job on him, but his 25 points and 12 assists shows how good he really is”, stressed BG Goettingen skipper John Patrick. “Wood is a great player. He hit a couple of three pointers and then the basket gets a lot bigger. We wanted to keep him out of the lane, but that was easier said than done”, added BG Goettingen guard Trenton Meachem. Wood teammate Quantez Super Tez Robertson, who might be a regular in the highlight films, but knows who the real BEKO BBL MVP is. “Wood didn´t make many shots in the first half, but got us going. In the second half, he hit big shots and got to the free throw line. For me he is the BEKO BBL MVP and has a big lead over the other players”, warned Quantez Robertson.
Michael Jordan (Giessen 46ers): We Have To Play Hard, Smart And Together For 40 Minutes Against Tuebingen
33 year old Michael Jordan is a 183cm guard from Philadelphia. He played at the University of Pennsylvania graduating in 2000. His first two years found him jumping around leagues in France and Spain before he found a new home in Germany with TSV Quackenbruck. In the 2002-2003 season, he helped lead Quackenbruck into the BBL with exceptional stats in 30 games, 21.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.9 apg. He helped turn The Artland Dragons into a playoff team in the 2004-2005 season as they lost the BBL Quarterfinal playoff series to The Opel Skyliners in five games. That season he averaged in 34 games: 11.1ppg, 3.4rpg, Ast-1(6.4apg), 1.3spg, 2.6bpg, 2FGP: 52.5%, 3FGP: 31.3%. The next season, he was released by The Artland Drgaons, but went to Rhein Energie Cologne and won the BBL championship in 2006 averaging in 33 games: 9.8ppg, 2.3rpg, Assists-4(4.1apg), 1.0spg, 2FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 52.2%. The next season, he went to Italy and played at Cantu where he led the league in assists and averaged in 37 games: 13.8ppg, 2.7rpg, Assists-1(5.2apg), 2.0spg, 2FGP: 54.6%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 74.0%. The next season, he played in Belgium for Charleroi averaging in 15 games: 9.5ppg, 1.6rpg, 3.6apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 90.0%;. He had injury problems and finished the season in Greece with PAOK. In 2008-2009 after a very short stay in Israel, he played a few months in Bamberg before going to the Cologne 99ers averaging 10,5ppg, 2,4rpg and leading the BBL in assists with 6,2apg. Last season, he played for Phoenix Hagen helping the team remain in the BEKO BBL. He played 16 games: 8.9ppg, 2.3rpg, Assists-5(5.3apg), FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 73.3%. This season he started with MBC before going to the Giessen 46ers recently. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against The Walter Tigers Tuebingen March 12th.
The Giessen 46ers are coming off a tough 81-62 loss against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners. How well has the club digested the loss the last days?
Our last 2 losses have been very hard to digest, but I think we have focused in on what we need to do and are ready to prove ourselves in the next games. The intensity and focus in practice this week has been a lot better. Coach has us ready for the next opponent.
Can The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Withstand BG Goettingen And New John Patrick Surprises Out Of His Lokcave March 12th?
In the last weeks, it seems like intriguing point guard duels Wood-Rice and Wood-Jordan have jumped into the foreground of the pre game chat of The Deutsche Bank Skyliners, but this weekend when BG Goettingen glide into the Ballsporthalle, chatter might evolve around a non player challenge , but more of a fierce coach joust between Gordon Herbert and John Patrick. The Canadian Skyliner skipper Herbert is a coach that is able to get the best out of each individual player no matter the circumstances while Patrick has the talent to keep forming strong teams despite a little budget and the constant coming and going of players each season. BG Goettingen won the Eurochallenge last season and this season is a silent favorite to win the Eurocup. Somehow one has the feeling that Patrick who coached one season in Japan for Toyota Alvark winning the league title, that he has his own type of Patrick cave(Bat cave) under the mysterious Lokhalle where he secretly is able to form college players into BEKO BBL top players as he has demonstrated in the last years with guys like Chris Oliver, Taylor Rochestie, Dwayne Anderson and Jason Boone. Coaches in the BEKO BBL might be wondering what dazzling potions the American is brewing up and helping his players develop so rapidly? “I’d call the potion Patrick’s Cola, named after the ever-so-popular Coca-Cola. Because he is able to take ingredients (players), put them in a bottle (a team), and make it successful without anybody knowing the recipe”, joked MBC American Wayne Bernard. The magic of the BG Goettingen coach isn´t only present in his halo Patrick cave, but in the off season. “I think he does a great job doing research on his players that he is bringing in and they all buy into his system. All of his players seem to play hard for him and that style of basketball is attractive to most players”, added TBB Trier guard John Bynum. Patrick also has been able to have his club reach realistic goals in international play the last two years. “I think it has to do with the players buying into the system and they are a tough team to prepare for. They have a lot of versatile players at the 3/4 spot and cause match up problems for a lot of teams that have traditional players down low and they come at you with pressure with there guards and dont let up”, stressed John Bynum.
