There is always that one team that an opponent like The Deutsche Bank Skyliners dont want to meet like The Brose Baskets Bamberg who they
would rather meet in the dark to avoid a Suput or Jacobsen or meet them on ice where they are stranded on thin ice with slick oil that is specially attracted to their sneakers. However then again there are teams like The New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig who Frankfurt would love to meet on a Sunday rather than your mother in law for lunchand a DVD afternoon watching A big fat Greek wedding. The Deutsche Bank Skyliners have had the number of The New Yorker Phantoms for 59 months straight now not losing since April 2006 and winning the last 10 games in a row including the last 5 games in a row in the dark, mysterious and Phantom prone Volkswagon Halle in Braunschweig. Frankfurt has shown that they adore to have the Phantoms on their extensive basketball menu, the same way that actor Alex Baldwin has Paparazzi on his menu, Lebron James having the Orlando Magic for lunch netting 51 points and Green Bay Packer Aaron Rodgers having the Eagles, Falcons and Bears all on
his menu as he beat them all on the road which led to his first Super Bowl recently. The Deutsche bank Skyliners travel to Braunschweig on February 20th and want to keep their long unbeaten streak alive in the Volkswagon Halle seeking their sixth win in a row. “I just think it is about match ups and sometimes teams get on a run that like against certain teams. It is unfortunate for Braunschwieg but at the same time, streaks dont last forever so that could be another way to look at it. Yes in the back of your mind the streak is in your mind about beating a team consecutive times. It is also tough to beat a team when that teams knows that as well, because they are bringing there best game to end the streak as well”, added TBB Trier guard John Bynum. Bynum isnt sure if Wood will scare the Phantom, but he will get the better of him some way. “Half of The BEKO BBL doesn´t even know what the Braunschweig Phantom really is. I think though that Wood has a good chance of out smarting the Phantom or whatever it is”, joked John Bynum.
Author: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber
Alex King(Telekom Baskets Bonn): I Think My Help Side Defense Is A Strength That Isn’t Always Seen Right Away
Alex King is a 25 year old 200cm shooting guard/small forward that is playing his third season for the Telekom Baskets Bonn. He started his
career for Eintracht Frankfurt (2Bundesliga, starting five): 27 games: 8.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg – Frankfurt Opel Skyliners (1Bundesliga): 4 games, 0 ppg, 0,3 rpg; ULEB Cup: 2 games: 1.0ppg, 2reb. He played for the Opel Skyliners/Deutsche Bank Skyliners from 2003-2008 winning the 2004 BEKO BBL title and reaching the final in 2005. In his time in Frankfurt, he played 129 BEKO BBL games, 21 ULEB Cup games and 9 Euroleague games. He has been playing for The Telekom Baskets Bonn since 2008. Last season, he played EuroCup: 6 games: 4.5ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.0apg; German League: 36 games: 4.4ppg, 1.9rpg. He took some time to talk to German Hoops about basketball recently.
The Telekom Baskets started up and down this season. What have been the reasons for this?
Every team will always have a bad day and that is only normal. Coach Koch has to build a structure for the new team. This takes time and confidence is always getting more and more with the team.
How is the team chemistry growing with the Telekom Baskets Bonn so far this season?
We started the season a step backward with our injuries and mistakes on defense. But as the Eurochallenge season started, we have been learning more and getting more experience and thus building more self confidence. Coach Koch has stressed that we take open shots, attack the zone and play fast break basketball. The team chemistry is growing more and more and that grows as we push each other.
Kamil Novak(Deutsche Bank Skyliners) Dashaun Wood Has The Right Players Around Him Which Makes Him Better
Kamil Novak has been sport director of The Deutsche Bank Skyliners since 2005. He also was coach for one game in 2006 after Ivan Sunara was fired. In the 90s, he played in the BBL for Rhondorf. He also played in his native Czech Republic for NH Ostrava with his best statistical season being 1997-1998 where he averaged 18,7ppg and 8,2rpg. He also played in Austria and Luxemberg before ending his basketball career with MTV Kronberg from 2002-2005. He took some time to talk with German Hoops after the 71-56 win against The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven.
You were very content after the 71-56 win in Bremerhaven. Are The Deutsche bank Skyliners now finally playing the right way that they should?
It was very obvious in this game that we controlled the game and I was very impressed by the guys. I was impressed how well the team played again without Powell and Moye. The team was very concentrated and it was just a very good game by us.
John Fowler(BC Energie Zwickau) I’m A Defense First Guy, But I Can Score.
John Fowler is a 24 year old 193cm forward that was born in Osceloa, Arkansas. He played at The University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In his
senior year, he played 31games averaging 10.5ppg, 5.6rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 42.5%, 3Pts: 35.6%, FT: 71.3%. Some awards and achievements in his young career so far have been , Sun Belt Tournament Semifinals -08, 09, Sun Belt West Division Regular Season Champion -08, 09, and Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year -09. He is a rookie playing in Germany in the Regionaliga for BC Energie Zwickau. He took some time to talk to German Hoops about basketball.
1. John thanks for taking some time to talk to German Hoops. You are playing your first season in Germany for Regionaliga team BC Energie Zwickau. How do you like living in Germany?
I like living in Germany it is a good country the people are nice and friendly.
2. Was it a difficult transition coming to Germany and then especially to the former East Germany?
It really wasn’t a difficult transition for me. I was just excited about the opportunity to come play professional basketball in Germany, I didn’t care what part of Germany it was!
Dashaun Wood Straps On The Turbo And Sweeps Away The Snow And Eisbaeren Bremerhaven As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Win 71-56
With Valentines Day only 48 hours away and some of the thoughts of the players surely contemplating roses, a box of tasty chocolate or a
special off weekend trip to Paris with their significant other, however The Deutsche Bank Skyliners still had to focus on the matter at hand getting a win in the always tough Eisbaeren den and showed another top performance on defense bringing back memories to the outstanding win against The Telekom baskets Bonn three days earlier in the cup game. “We went into this game in Bremerhaven wanting to take the defense intensity from the last game. We want to keep it up in the next game splaying defense like this, because we know when we defend like that, that we will always have good chnaces to win”, stressed Skyliner shooting guard Jimmy Mckinney. “Frankfurt was able to get their offense going off their defense while we were unable to let our defense control our offense. Frankfurt slowed down the game and we played into their hands. We simply did not play the way that we should have”, stated Eisbaeren American Torrell Martin.
The Deutsche Bank Skyliners probably still had fond memories of their June 3rd, 2010 game 5 semi final win in the back of their heads while the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven didn´t have sweet memories, but most players weren´t admiting it except Jimmy Mckinney a bit. “Game five was a great win last season, but its anew season with a new system and new play how we play. I didn´t think too much on that game last season”, explained Jimmy Mckinney. “I didnt think about that game five loss one bit”, stressed German national player Philipp Schwethelm. “I didnt think of game five one bit”, added Torrell Martin. “Nobody had game 5 on their mind”, stated Skyliner sport director Kamil Novak. The current BEKO BBL top scorer Dashaun Wood didnt let any past successful experiences by his team get him out of his rhythm. “I heard about the game five game from last season. These two teams seem to have a great rivalry and there seems to be tension. It was important that we got a jump early and was able to set the tone. We got the momentum early and it carried us”, warned Dashaun Wood.
Can The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Feel The June 3 2010 Court Vibe Again As They Face Off Against The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven February 12th
June 3, 2010 might seem like any date in late spring, but for The Deutsche Bank Skyliners, this date might not be plastered in their memory banks like June 17th which was their game 5 final loss in Bamberg, but that date should remain a sweet retrospective as Frankfurt had won an emotional tear jerking game five 56-52 in the semi finals of the 2010 BEKO BBL playoffs. The Deutsche Bank Skyliners return to the Stadthalle this weekend for a regular season showdown as some Skyliners like Quantez Robertson, Pascal Roller, Domonic Bahiense De Mello or Jimmy Mckinney could have the memories of 7 lead changes in the fourth quarter, a gigantic mouth watering three point bomb from the Bremerhaven harbor from Super Tez or the two nail bitting clutch free throws from Alabama native Derrick Allen with five seconds to play to seal a final playoff ticket with the Brose Baskets Bamberg. Despite this monumental win last season in game five, June 3 will be far away as February 12th will be like any other regular season game with two teams just fighting for a win to help secure that playoff spot way down the long and winding BEKO BBL road as it will be a normal day at the office for both teams the same it is for actors Boston born and bred Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson going to work on the movie “We bought a zoo, American author John Grisham putting pen to paper or fingers to key board on a new book or singer Jay Z taking his net worth over 450 million into the studio for work on a new track. Despite the memories of the game five win, the team should be focused 100% and it wasnt like Paris Hilton or Rihanna had interrupted the game with a squabble and cat fight on the floor which would probably never escape anyone had they witnessed that. “I dont think that game 5 is in their mind at all, I think that they are just going out and trying to get a win. That was last season and they are just going to go out and try to solidify a good seed for the playoffs and play hard. Yes for sure you cant help but think about times that were successful for you as a player. I think about Bremerhaven still to this day but I’m here now and when you step on the court to represent your new team all of that is out the window”, stressed TBB Trier guard John Bynum.
Will Chavis(NBC): I Study The Game Of Basketball A Lot
Will Chavis is a 29 year old 181 cm guard who comes from Philadelphia and started his basketball learning at New Hampshire in 1998-1999 
averaging 9.6ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.9apg before going to Texas to play at Panola Junior College averaging 25 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals per game . This gained the interest of legendary coach Bobby Knight at Texas Tech. Knight had only the best to say about the guy he coached two years at Texas Tech. ‘Will takes pride in taking good shots, and is a great shooter. He also takes very good care of the ball. He is aggressive and quick on defense, and can anticipate or put under pressure the opposite point guard’, stressed Bobby Knight. At Texas Tech, Chavis played together with Artland Dragon Ronald Ross and in his senior year, played 33 games averaging 7.9ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.2apg. He started his professional basketball career in 2003 going to Iceland to play for UMFN Njardvikur playing 6 games and averaging 18.3ppg; 3.1rpg; 7.8apg ( 41 assists to 11 turnovers); 2.0spg; 3pts 45.6%; FT 85.6%. The next season, he was tested by Olimpia GE Larisa (Greece-A1), but was not signed and finished the season practicing with Climamio Fortitudo Bologna (Italy-SErieA). In 2005-2006, he started to make a name playing for Mlekarna Kunin Novi Jicin (Czech Republic-NBL, starting five) playing 5 EuroCup Challenge games averaging 15.2ppg, 2.4rpg, 4.4apg, 2FGP: 50%, 3FGP: 50% and playing 44 games in the Czech Rep. League averaging 14.6ppg, 3.4rpg, Assists-4 (5.2apg), 2FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 40.9%, FT: 85.0%. The next season, he went to top Dutch team Demon Astronauts Amsterdam continuing to show who well he could perform in FIBA EuroCup playing 6 games and avergaing 11.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 55.2%, 3FGP: 15%, FT: 78.3% and playing 39 games in the Dutch League and averaging 14.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 40.3%, FT: 87.8%, 3Pts: 40.9%. In 2007-2008, he split time with Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus, but left after 7 games, where he averaged 10.6ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 36.6%, 3FGP: 27.8%, FT: 87.5%, and then moved to MBC in Jan 2008 playing 12 games and averaging 13.9ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 39.3%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT-1 ( 91.7%). In 2008-2009, he led MBC into the BBL averaging 10.9ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 37.0%, 3PT: 43.8%, FT: 86.5% in 29 games. Last season in his first season with NBC, he played 29 games: 19.6ppg, 2.8rpg, 4.1apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 51.3%, 3PT: 47.1%, FT: 88.3%. He spoke to german hoops about basketball.
What was your impression of Fabian Franke of the Frankfurt Sklyiners PRO B team this season? Does he have the ability to play an important role in the BEKO BBL?
He is a good player with good size for the guard position. I think that he can play at that level.
Pascal Roller Has The Right Aaron Rodgers Touch In His Release As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Defeat The Telekom Baskets Bonn 93-64 Reaching Their Third Consecutive BEKO BBL Top 4
In the last few years, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners have been frequent visitors to the BEKO BBL Top 4 and have gotten used to playing basketball in early spring and not watching it on TV. Frankfurt wanted to book the Top 4 ticket to Bamberg and after getting rocked 4 days earlier in their own living room to the Brose Baskets Bamberg, the club was as concentrated on getting down to basketball business as winter weather was in the States preventing the Toronto Raptors from departing Indianapolis, firms showcasing the best ads for Super Bowl XLV in Arlington, Texas and super duper actor Matt Damon cheering on his Boston Celtics bringing the team luck against The Los Angeles Lakers with a black hat and a big B on the front as The Deutsche Bank Skyliners didn´t want to stink up their house a second time in a row taking apart the Telekom Baskets Bonn 93-64. Frankfurt will compete in the TOP 4 in Bamberg on the first April weekend against Bamberg, Braunschweig and Artland Dragons. The loss against Bamberg was a wakeup call as Frankfurt took care of business against Bonn. “We had no choice, but to forget the loss against Bamberg fast. We had the choice to hang our heads or return and work hard and give a good effort against Bonn. We had a good practice Monday night and the team was pretty confident for the game. Bonn is a team where you never know what to expect. They won in Berlin, but lost at home before that. The whole team played together, there was a great distribution of the ball and in the third quarter where Bonn tried to come back, we always had an answer”., stressed Skyliner center Marius Nolte. Bonn was on top of the world after the win in Berlin, but quickly came back down to earth on the Ballsporthalle floor. “We weren´t focused. Each player should look in the mirror and ask what they did wrong. I am very disappointed. This was a big game, but we played very bad. We didnt bring any effort on defense. They shot very well, but we also gave them easy baskets. There was simply no effort from the first to the last guy in our rotation and we didn´t try to change anything”, said Bonn guard Folarin Campbell. “I think that everything that we did wrong against Bamberg, we did right tonight. We gave a good effort on offense and defense. We shared the ball, got a lot of assists and talked a lot. It was a complete win”, stressed current BEKO BBL top scorer Dashaun Wood. “We didn´t bring the same effort as in Berlin. We can´t afford to be up and down”, added ex Cologne guard Jeremy Hunt.
Anthony Tolliver(Minnesota Timberwolves): In Germany I Was Successful Against Older And More Experienced Players Which Helped Me In Reaching The NBA.
Anthony Tolliver is a 25 year old 206cm center from Springfield, Missouri. He played at Creighton from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 33 games averaging 13.4ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.9apg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 50.6%, 3PT: 21.1%, FT: 65.8%. In the 2007-2008 season which was his rookie year, he made opening day roster of the Cleveland Cavaliers but was released in first week by Cavaliers to make room for Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao. He then played for the Iowa Energy (D-League): 24 games: 11.5ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.0apg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 66.2%, in Feb.’08 moved to Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-1.Bundesliga): 20 games: 14.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.1apg, 1.2bpg, 2FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 64.7%. The last two years have been long and seemingly unending as he played for 10 teams. In the 2008-2009 season, he played for San Antonio Spurs (NBA), in Dec.’08 assigned to Austin Toros (D-League): 6 games: 17.8ppg, 7.8rpg, 2.8apg, 1.2spg, later that month recalled to San Antonio Spurs (NBA): 19 games: 2.7ppg, 2.2rpg, in Jan.’09 was sent to Iowa Energy (D-League): 10 games: 12.4ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 47.3%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 78.6%; later that month called by New Orleans Hornets (NBA) for a 10-day contract before sending back to Iowa Energy (D-League), in Feb.’09 moved to Galatasaray Cafecrown Istanbul (Turkey-TBL): Turkish League: 15 games: 12.9ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 54.7%, 3PT: 39.0%, FT: 79.6%; EuroChallenge: 2 games: 18.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5spg, 1.0bpg. Last season, he played for the Miami Heat (NBA), only pre-season, in Nov.’09 joined Idaho Stampede (D-League, starting five): 14 games: 21.4ppg, 11.4rpg, 2.5apg, 1.3spg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 58.9%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 78.5%, in Dec.’09 signed at Portland Trail Blazers (NBA): 2 games: 0pts; later that month signed at Golden State Warriors (NBA, starting five): 44 games: 12.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 76.9%. This season, he is playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves and spoke with German Hoops.
Your first NBA game was almost two years ago with the San Antonio Spurs. Recently you played against Kobe Bryant. Are you still as excited to play an NBA as you were your first game?
Yes I am. The NBA is still new for me and I still have much fun playing against guys like Lebron James and Kobe Bryant.
The Brose Baskets Bamberg Cut The Head Off The Horse Of The Deutsche Bank Skyliners 81-63
The waiting, waiting, waiting and waiting for the big showdown between the Deutsche Bank Skyliners and the Brose Baskets Bamberg to meet 
had finally come to an end as the last days in Frankfurt had seemed as long as it currently is for fans waiting to see where NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony will practice his scoring soon, when new drama will hit Tila Tequila, the former star of A shot of love concerning a new scandal tape or when Gloria Giants coach Murat Didin will finally come through with his warnings of bringing in some new players for the stretch run as he has had many players in for tryouts and had them sweating more on the court than straining their fingers for a signature on the dotted line. Not only were the fans eagerly awaiting a battle, but so were the players. “I was really excited to play this game. The first against the second team and this has become a big rivalry with both teams playing each other 10 times in the last two seasons and all the players knowing each other fairly well on both teams”, stressed Bamberg forward Kyle Hines. “We approached the game as a normal game, but inside I was pretty excited. They are a good team that is well coached and I had fun playing”, stressed Bamberg guard John Goldsberry. Kimmo Muurinen showed his iceman qualities with little emotion for the magnitude of the game. “I dont extra excited about one certain game. It is a routine with the same preparation, but it was great playing in front of a full gym”, commented Skyliner forward Kimmo Muurinen.
The Deutsche Bank Skyliners knew that the game would not be a cake walk and the team and fans probably had the incredible unforgettable Chris Moss buzzer beater in the back of their minds and were prepared for a repeat Mucauly Culkan Kodak moment mouth wide open in shock look from the movie Home Alone against The Brose Baskets Bamberg, but instead had a sad and disappointed Culkin type of look he may have had if he had been stumped by actor Joe Peschi instead of making a fool out of the actor as he did so often in the Home Alone movies. The Brose Baskets Bamberg came out on fire and played very solid for 40 minutes giving Frakfurt their first home loss of the season 81-63. “We started off well and moved the ball very well and got open shots and hit most of them. We have so many guys that can hit 20 points each night except of me off course”, joked Bamberg guard John Goldsberry.
