Interviews

Andrew Jones (Dresden Titans) We Have To Play Like It´s The Last Game Of The Season In Game Two Against Frankfurt

Andrew Jones is a 32 year old 191cm shooting guard that has been a professional basketball player since 2007 and has returned back to the Dresden Titans this season. He played at Miles(NCAA2) and has played in Germany for most of his professional career with four seasons with the Dresden Titans and three seasons with the BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga). He also gained experience playing with teams like Marietta Storm (SEBL), BC Celtics (SEBL), C.B. Aridane (Spain-EBA) and Universidad Tecnologica Equinoc. Quito (Ecuador-National League). Last season he played for BG Aschersleben Tigers (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 19,9ppg, 6,5rpg and 3,9apg. He spoke to German Hoops after the tough 94-81 loss against the Fraport Skyliners in game one

Andrew thanks for talking to eurobasket.com. A tough 94-81 loss to the Fraport Skyliners Juniors. How tough was the long bus ride home?

The ride was ok. We are very positive about the upcoming games. We started the playoffs against Rostock just like this. So we understand what needs to be done.

What did you reflect most about the loss on the ´long bus ride home?

I thought we didn´t play at our full potential. The loss was against a good team who plays well inside and out.

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Ilian Evtimov (ES Chalon-Sur-Saone) It Would Be Awesome To Be Able To Play The Fraport Skyliners In The Fiba Europe Cup Final

Ilian Evtimov is a 33 year old 201 cm forward that is playing his sixth season for ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-ProA). He has the French-Bulgarian citizenship and played at North Carolina State from 2001-2006. In his senior year, he played 31 games averaging 10.4ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.5apg, 1.2spg, FG: 45.3%, 3PT: 40.8%, FT. After a short stint with Estudiantes Madrid in 2006, he played at VidiVici Bologna in the 2006-2007 season. He played FIBA EuroCup playing 15 games averaging 6.3ppg, 2.4rpg, 2FGP: 65.4%, 3FGP: 47.1%, FT: 72.2%; and playing15 games in the Italian league averaging 3.1ppg, 2.1rpg. In 2007-2008, he moved to The Deutsche Bank Skyliners playing 10 ULEB Cup games averaging 14.5ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 40.7%, FT: 85%; and in the German League playing 44 games averaging 13.1ppg, 5.1rpg, 2.1apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 41.4%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 86.2%. In 2008-2009, he continued playing in Frankfurt playing 10 EuroChallenge games averaging 8.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 70.0%; and in the German League playing 34 games averaging 8.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 43.6%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 74.6%. In 2009-2010, he played for BC Levski Sophia (Bulgaria-NBL): 1 game: 6pts, 5reb, 2ast, 3steals; Balkan League: 1 game: 3pts, 1reb, 1ast, 2steals; in Oct.’09 moved to Proteas EKA AEL Limassol (Cyprus-Division EuroChallenge: 13 games: 10.9ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.3apg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 45.6%, FT: 83.3%: FT-2(90.9%). He joined ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France-ProA) in 2010 and in his six seasons has won the France cup twice being named MVP in 2012 and the won the Pro A title in 2012. He is looking for his first international club title and spoke to German Hoops before the FIBA Europe cup final 4 in France.

 

Thanks Evti for talking to German Hoops. Since the loss on the road in Strassburg over Easter, Chalon rebounded and had a 5 game winning streak, but got it snapped with a 100-83 loss against Le Mans. That was the most points Chalon gave up this season. How can one explain a breakdown on defense like that at near the post season?

We are a team that is great on offense. We have been developing great chemistry and confidence on offense. Against Le Mans, despite still being able to score over 80 points, we played very bad defense. Anytime you let a team score 100 points, it becomes very hard to win. That is how most teams feel about us.

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Brandon Lockhart (Giants Nordlingen) We Have To Excel On The Defensive End So We Can Get Out And Run In Transition In Game Two

Brandon Lockhart is a 25 year old 185cm guard from St Louis, Missouri that is playing hiss econd professional season and first with German team Giants Nordlingen. AS a rookie he played for BK Levicki Patrioti (Slovakia-Extraliga) playing 34 games: Score-5(16.7ppg), 3.8rpg, Assists-5(4.3apg), Steals-1(3.0spg), FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 28.5%, FT: 78.9%. He played at Drury (NCAA2) from 2009-2013 and as a senior played 35 games averaging 12.5ppg, 3.9rpg, 6.1apg, 2.9spg, FGP: 50.9%, 3PT: 48.3%, FT: 77.1%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 69-60 loss in game one against Ehingen.

 

Brandon thanks for talking to German Hoops. A tough loss to Ehingen in game one 69-60. With the short bus trip back home to Nordlingen, what play or aspect of the game had you most preoccupied?

During the trip home, I would say I was focused on what we can do better next game since not much I can do about a game already completed. We had a bunch of careless mistakes that led to them getting easier baskets than us in a really good defensive game.

When you look back at the final score and 40 minutes, was this a game where Nordlingen could have done more with the good defensive performance that the club practiced for 40 minutes?

There were many opportunities for us to capitalize on good defense but we just failed to do so. But we know that and we can go into game 2 knowing that.

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David Sturner (Dresden Titans) Both Frankfurt And Dresden Have Great Offensive Players But Defense Will Decide Who Comes Out On Top

David Sturner is a 206cm power forward/center playing his first season in Germany for pro B team Dresden Titans and currently is averaging 11,4ppg and 6,4rpg. He started his basketball career with Orgeon State playing 13 NCAA games and then moved to S.Oregon (NAIA) and as a senior played  31 games: 14.6ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.2apg, 1.5bpg, FGP: 56.2%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 56.2%. He started his professional basketball career recently with the West Adelaide Bearcats (Australia-Central ABL) before coming to Germany. He spoke to German Hoops after sweeping top team BG Karlsruhe.

 

Congrats David on the huge 93-80 victory against BG Karlsruhe and sweep reaching the Pro B semi-finals. How much of an urgency did the team have going into game two to end the series at home?

Thank you Miles! We knew that it was a crucial game for us. Playing in Karlsruhe is difficult and we knew if we had to go back there for a game three we would lose our momentum.

It´s been a few days since the sweep, but has the feeling sunk in that you defeated the best Pro B south team in the regular season?

Yeah it’s for sure a great feeling to beat the one seed and know we are one of the top four teams in the  Pro B. We just want to continue to perform at this level and leave it all on the court.

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Jordan Riewer (Gotha) Coaches Ensminger And Esterkamp Just Told Us To Keep Believing

Jordan Riewer is a 24 year old 188cm guard from Staples, Minnesota that is playing his first professional season in Germany for Gotha. He played at MSU Moorhead (NCAA2) from 2010-2015 and as a senior played 25 games averaging 15.9ppg, 4.8rpg, 5.8apg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 49.6%, FT: 94.6%. Currently he is averaging 8,9ppg, 1,3rpg and 1,8apg. He spoke to German Hoops after the amazing five game come from behind victory against the Hamburg Towers.

Jordan congrats on reaching the semifinals in the Pro A playoffs. If someone had told you before the series started that Gotha would have to win three do or die games and the game would be so close what would you have thought?

Well unfortunately we dug ourselves into that hole falling behind 2-0. But this team just kept believing and in the playoffs anything can happen.

If you had to find the right title for this series how would you have called it?

That’s tough, I just think overall it was a grind. Which it’s the playoffs, so I wouldn’t expect anything else.

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The Story Of Wiebke Redlin And Her Long Road To Recovery

It isn´t common to see women playing any kind of noteworthy role in the Beko BBL, but in the past, there were two women who played a major part for their respective teams Fraport Skyliners and EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Daphne Bouzikou was the first female assistant coach in the Beko BBL and worked for the Frankfurt Skyliners from 1999-2008 while Wiebke Redlin was the athletic trainer for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg from 2000-2010 and then had a short stint with the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg. Redlin then decided to move to the United States and focus helping basketball players with sports performance and rehabilitation. In only a short time, she has made a name for herself having worked with high class players that play in the NBA like like Jared Dudley, Sebastian Telfair, CJ Watson, Rudy Gay, Jason Terry, Al Harrington, Derek Fisher, Ryan Hollins,PJ Tucker, or Omri Casspi. Then last summer, came an event that would forever change her life as she was involved in an accident. German Hoops spoke to the German about the past 6 months and how her road to recovery is coming along.

 

Wiebke thanks for talking to German Hoops. The last six months has been a very very difficult time for you as you suffered a severe car accident and suffered major lumbar spine trauma. You have been unable to work since September 2015 and been unable to walk, bathe, and care for yourself without extreme pain and the use of a walker. What has been your biggest motivation in the last months to keep pushing each day despite all the pain that you have suffered?

Hi Miles, thanks for taking the time to sit down with me and talking about my actual situation .Yes indeed it has been a rough last month´s actually I have to say it’s the hardest battle I faced so far in my life and many times I just struggled to get it done and going through it even if everybody who knows me , knows I am always tough and don’t hesitate to work a lot and through things but those challenges and not being able to handle daily things because of this crucial pain led me just to one conclusion, I have to make it and can´t give up because I want to be back to what I love to do and where my passion is to work with players and helping them to get better, to educate them, helping them through injuries and bringing them back and work with them through tough times. I am telling myself I can do it as well but also I realized I have to ask for help and its okay because even if I know what to do, the pain and the injury and still will for a while help from a good circle of people who support me on this road to recovery and going with me the way of my hardest battle together as my supporters in multiple ways is very important to me.

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Brendan Lane (s.Oliver Baskets) My Teammates Have Been Key For Me Adjusting To The BBL By Giving Me Confidence Early On

Brendan Lane is a 25 year old 206cm center from Rocklin, California playing his second professional season and first in Germany in the Beko BBL with the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg. Last season as a rookie he played with Mitsubishi Diamond Dolphins (Japan-NBL): 52 games: 12.8ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 53.0%, 3PT: 35.4%, FT: 73.4%. He started his basketball career in 2009 with UCLA(NCAA) where he played until 2012 playing a total of 79 NCAA games. He finished his college basketball career at Pepperdine (NCAA) playing 29 games averaging 13.2ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.2apg, 2.4bpg, FGP: 56.6%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 62.4%. He belongs to the top centers in the Beko BBL this season and currently is averaging 13,6ppg, 5,3rpg and 1,2apg. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Brendan thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the huge 81-70 win against the Crailsheim Merlins. How relieving was getting this win after having sustained a four game losing streak?

This win was very important for us not only for the playoffs, but just us as a team to get a win and get some momentum again

The s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg overwhelmed Crailsheim in the statistical categories and played good defense again. Was this all in all the type of Wurzburg basketball that gives the club the best chance to win?

Yeah when we are being aggressive and playing good defense it carries over onto the offensive end for us and we are a much better team. Our success is very much dictated by our defense.

Currently the s.Oliver Baskets are in eighth place battling for the last playoff spot with the Giessen 56ers. How exciting is the whole notion that it is two teams that came up from the second division that are battling for that last spot?

It is very exciting. I think it goes to show how deep this league is that even teams who just moved up are talented enough to compete with the top teams and make the playoffs.

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Cameron Vines (medi Bayreuth) I Can Definitely See Myself Contributing On The BBL Level

Cameron Vines is a 22 year old 193cm guard from Columbus, Ohio playing his first professional season in Germany with Regionaliga team BBCBayreuth. He recently was promoted getting a 5 game contract with Beko BBL team medi Bayreuth. He started his basketball career in 2011 with Florida Southern (NCAA2) where he played until 2013. He then moved to St.Joseph, IN (NCAA2) and as a senior played 16 games averaging 19.0ppg, 5.8rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 46.5%, 3PT: 32.9%, FT: 74.0%. He spoke to German Hoops after making his Beko BBL debut against Euroleague team Brose Baskets Bamberg.

Cameron thanks for talking to German Hoops. It is no secret that every basketball player is mostly confident, but if someone had told a few days after you had signed with BBC Bayreuth last season that you would play in the Beko BBL at the end of the season what would you have thought?

I would have believed it. Coming into my situation I knew that I would have the opportunity to show my skills to the BBL team. I constantly reminded myself to stay confident and believe in myself, and with patience and persistence I knew that my hard work would pay off which it finally did.

You played your first Beko BBL minutes in a big 85-53 massacre at home against top team Brose Baskets Bamberg. What kind of a difference was the atmosphere in the Beko BBL and Regionaliga? Like night and day?

It was definitely like night and day at the Regionaliga games we barely can get 20 people in the audience and then to turn around and play with a stadium full of cheering fans was amazing and something I would like to do more often.

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Shawn Dawson (Maccabi Rishon) Quantez Robertson Is A Great Player And We Both Can Do A Lot More Than Just Jump

Shawn Dawson is a 22 year old 198cm Israeli playing his third season for Maccabi Rishon. He helped the club win the country youth title in 2012 and since turning professional as a 19 year old has improved his scoring and rebounding each season. Some of his most memorable games so far was his 28 point 18 rebound game against Hapoel Holon and scoring 11 points with the Israeli national team against France at the 2015 European championships. He spoke to German Hoops before the do or die game against the Fraport Skyliners in the Fiba Europe Cup competition for the ticket to the Final 4.

Shawn thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the big 88-84 OT win against the Fraport Skyliners. How does it feel being the first team to beat them in Fiba Europe Cup and breaking their 15 game winning streak?

It feels great man, we knew that the game one did not reflect at all the differences between the teams and it was a tough one for us because we played bad, and we knew anything is possible when we play at home

Maccabi Rishon had their backs to the wall and had to win at home. How confident was the team that they could be able to pull it out even when it was down 14 points?

Basketball is played 40 minutes, and it aint over until its over. We kept on pushing and I am glad we got the win.

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Mark Lyons (Maccabi Rishon) I Have The Type Of Mentality That Can Rub Off On Other Players To Give It Their All

Mark Lyons is a 26 year old 185cm guard from Schenectady, New York playing his second season in Israel and first with Maccabi Rischon Le-Zion (Israel-Winner League). He started his basketball career at Xavier (NCAA) in 2009 playing three seasons there playing a total of 68 NCAA games. As a senior he moved to Arizona (NCAA) playing 36 games: 15.8ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 33.7%, FT: 85.4%. In the 2013-2014 he started his professional basketball career with Chorale de Roanne Basket (France-ProA): 14 games: 10.1ppg, 1.2rpg, 1.6apg, 2FGP: 50.0%, 3FGP: 40.0%, FT: 61.1%, in Feb.’14 moved to KK Zadar (Croatia-A1) Adriatic League: 7 games: 13.7ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3PT: 27.9%, FT: 66.7%; Croatian League: 14 games: Score-4(17.1ppg), 2.6rpg, 2.9apg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 49.4%, FT: 75.5%. Last season he played for Ironi Nahariya (Israel-Winner League) playing 33 games: Score-2(18.4ppg), 2.8rpg, 4.7apg, Steals-5(1.9spg), FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 81.2%. He spoke to German Hoops before game two against the Fraport Skyliners in Fiba Europe Cup play.

Mark thanks for talking to German Hoops.You are playing Europe Cup play against the Fraport Skyliners in quarterfinal play. Was this your first time in Germany?

Yes it was my first time, thanks for having me.

What do you know in general about the country of Germany and it´s basketball? Your ex Xavier teammate Kenny Frease is in Germany at the moment playing ball.

I know it’s a good league, a few of my old teammates played in that league and they told me it was a great experience for them.

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