Diante Watkins is a 24 year old 174cm point guard that is playing his third professional season and second with SC Rist Wedel (Germany-ProB). He started his basketball career in 2009 with Daley CC (JUCO): 28 games: 26.5ppg, 5.8apg, 2.7rpg, 2.0spg, FGP: 44%, 3Pts: 38%, FT: 86%. He then played two seasons with Robert Morris (NAIA) and as a senior played 27 games: 24.4ppg, 7.4apg, 3.0rpg, 2.1spg, FGP: 47.0%, 3Pts: 38.9%, FT: 82.7%. Last season for SC Rist Wedel (Germany-ProB) he played 30 games: 16.2ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 86.9%. He spoke to German Hoops after the tough 79-71 loss against Oldenburg.

Diante a tough 79-71 loss in the final of the 2015 German Pro B final against Oldenburg. SC Rist Wedel was so focused and wanted to win this so bad. Is this one of the toughest loses in your college and professional career?

This was definitely the toughest loss of my career, I had some tough ones in college but this is by far the top of the list!

Oldenburg took command early and led 45-27. Was it a matter of not being able to match their intensity or why was it so difficult in the first 20 minutes to slow them down more on your own home court?

We just didn’t match it on defense, we came out flat, it seemed early on that we let the atmosphere take us off focus!

In the last quarter, SC Rist Wedel just couldn´t get over the hump as the whole come back trail was taking up more and more energy. You and Brandon Spearman made some big plays and buckets in the last minute, but time elapsed. Do you wonder what would have happened if you would have had two minutes more on the clock?

We kept fighting but it seemed every time we was making our run they made a huge shot to kill our momentum, I never played against a team that always have an answer like them, they sucked the energy out of you every time you fought back!

What was key in the fourth quarter that allowed Oldenburg to win their second Pro B title in a row?

They just were s better team! We fought and we fought but they just won the game

The toughest stat of the evening and most difficult to digest is the 31 turnovers of Oldenburg. They had 14 turnovers more than SC Rist Wedel did, but still won. Is this something that you will remember for a while?

I will think about this game the entire summer and try to improve my game, the toughest defeat of my career it makes me hungrier!

You left it all out on the court with 28 points and eight steals. Even 60 points and a loss would not have made you happier. What is always the most difficult to digest after a loss especially when you played so well?

I think just knowing you left it all on the court and came up short is the hardest thing to digest, I keep telling myself “I should’ve done more”

When you look back at the SC Rist Wedel season what are you most proud about being able to have been a part of the 2015 finalist? You battled BBL player Dominik Lockhart and he had 10 turnovers. How confident are you that you have the ability to play at the Pro A level or even the Beko BBL?

I think the group of guys I played with had so much heart and fight! We always had each other back! I will remember the guys the most, I love them we had a good season! I like Lockhart, he’s a really good defender and competitor, one of the best at this level. I am very confident in my ability to play at the ProA and the BBL level I just need the opportunity to show it

You were the top point guard in the German Pro B. There has been speculation that the Hamburg Towers will sign you. How excited are you about this possibility and are you ready for the challenge?

A lot of people been asking me in Wedel will I play for them! We will see what happens, I love it here in Wedel / Hamburg area the people are great, but I’m more than ready for the challenge to play at a higher level!

What is your prediction of the Bulls-Cavs series? Will Lebron or Rose make it to the next round?

It’s hard to say the prediction but I think the Bulls will pull it off, I’m from Chicago so I will say it now! Chicago is winning the NBA title.

Thanks Diante for the chat.

Eric Palm is a 27 year old 185cm guard form Illinois that is playing his second season in Germany and first with the Giessen 46ers. He started his basketball career at McKendree (NAIA) in 2005 where he played until 2009 and as a senior played 35 games: 20.6ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 41.6%, 3Pts: 38.3%, FT: 85.2%. He started his professional basketball career in 2010 with Thor AK (Iceland-D1) where he played until 2012 and in the 2011-2012 season played 11 games: 26.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 3.7apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 25.9%, FT: 84.5%. In 2012-2013 he played for IR Reykjavik (Iceland-Dominos League) playing 22 games: Score-3(26.5ppg), 4.3rpg, 3.3apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT-1(93.9%).Last season he played for BV Chemnitz 99 (Germany-ProA) playing 30 games: 15.8ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 48.2%, 3PT: 39.8%, FT: 84.1%. He spoke to German Hoops before game two against the s.Oliver Baskets Wuurzburg.

Eric congrats on the big 77-76 win in Wurzburg. How different does this win feel than a normal win in a best of five series since a win doesn´t mean much when its only by one point in a two game series.

This win was something special for us considering the circumstances at hand. We felt like we let one slip from us in Giessen this year, then they really put a smacking on us in Wurzburg. So for us to go in and get a hard fought W in Wurzburg, where no other team has won all season, meant a lot to us as a team, especially in the Finale series!

Still how good does this win feel? What did the team learn from the first loss in Wurzburg 75-54 that was translated into this win today?

When we lost in Wurzburg it was a slap in the face for us. It seemed to have woken us up a bit and showed us we had a lot of work to do. Any given night in the Pro A was a tough battle, that night they had it all clicking and they exposed us.

It was a very close game throughout and went back and forth in the fourth quarter as there were seven lead changes. TJ DiLeo said recently the team has learned not to panic anymore. Was this the case again that helped propel the Giessen 46ers to the win?

I think TJ is right when he says that. We have such a deep team this year that we can put our trust into many players, starters or bench. Any given night we have different guys step up and do some more than usual, so when things are going back and forth like they have been in the playoffs, we dont panic much because we have a lot of people who step up in big moments.

Describe the last seconds as Cameron Wells won the game with a jumper and Giessen forced German Ruben Spoden to a miss which decided the game?

I actually was on the strong side wing when Cam hit the 2 pointer to go up 1. He is our toughest guard to guard in an isolation situation and at that moment I saw Fenn switch on to Cam through a ball screen. At that moment I was quite shocked to see, but when he has the ball on a Yo-Yo he is an elite guard on the offensive end and proved why with his last shot.When Cam contested the shot on Spoden at the end, seeing the shot not go in and the refs didnt call anything, a rush of relief came through my mind. We lost a heart breaking game at home to them, with a last second 3 pointer for OT. This ending just basically gave us a sense of relief knowing how physical the game was for 40 minutes.

After scoring only four points against Nurnberg in game three in 14 minutes, you returned against Wurzburg scoring 14 points and hitting 4/4 three pointers in 24 minutes. Did you still have your 7 point effort in memory from the last loss in Wurzburg? Did the team rhythm help you get going in game one?

To be honest, I didn´t even remember the 4 points in Nurnberg the last game we played. I try to keep my eyes forward and try and help in any way possible for our games. This game I just happened to get to my spots and get clean looks when I was set up. My teammates know where we are on the court, and if I can get my body set around that line it is where I can be at my best. I know there will be games I don´t make everything, I just try and be ready to do whatever is necessary on the court to help us win.

How deceiving can stats be? Giessen shot 59% from outside, won the rebounding duel and had three less turnovers and won only by one point. How scary is that? Does that almost mean Giessen will have to play even better on Sunday at home to win the Pro A title?

That is hard to believe when looking at it on paper. However, you have to put in perspective how good Wurzburg really is, they aren´t 34-4 on the season for no reason. When you look at the amount of turnovers each team had and they capitalize on a lot of them in transition, plus having Medlock, Betz, and Spoden shooting so well at the end of the game. It will always be close with Wurzburg when that is all happening. Sunday it will have to be a game played well by both teams in order to win, it will be a war zone out there.

How excited are you about game two on Sunday? Giessen has won the last 10 games at home dating back to December 2014 losing to Wurzburg. How content are you that Giessen won´t lose again against Wurzburg at home? What will be key in getting the win?

We are excited at the possibility to raise the trophy in front of our home crowd in Giessen on Sunday. It is really hard to win in Giessen behind the huge support we get in Osthalle, but Wurzburg was the best team this year for a reason, it will be tough to win but it is our game to lose. We just have to keep doing what we have been doing that has made us successful all year, playing hard nosed defense and not allowing Wurzburg to be comfortable all night.

Have you been surprised that the Chicago Bulls have had problems with the Memphis Grizzlies? If they get by how do you see their chances against the Cleveland Cavaliers?

I wasnt too shocked when the Bulls were struggling with the Milwaukee Bucks first round. I told a lot of my teammates that they may struggle because Milwaukee has so much length and height on their team, plus that young fearless attack attitude they have gives them an edge. However I also said their lack of experience will bite them in the end, hence the 58 point blowout loss at home to the Bulls to close the series. I think the Chicago Bulls have a good chance vs Cavs especially with Love (Out) and JR Smith (suspended 2 games).Bulls in 6

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Get Hard.

Thanks Eric for the chat.

Diante Watkins is a 24 year old 174cm point guard that is playing his third professional season and second with SC Rist Wedel (Germany-ProB). He started his basketball career in 2009 with Daley CC (JUCO): 28 games: 26.5ppg, 5.8apg, 2.7rpg, 2.0spg, FGP: 44%, 3Pts: 38%, FT: 86%. He then played two seasons with Robert Morris (NAIA) and as a senior played 27 games: 24.4ppg, 7.4apg, 3.0rpg, 2.1spg, FGP: 47.0%, 3Pts: 38.9%, FT: 82.7%. Last season for SC Rist Wedel (Germany-ProB) he played 30 games: 16.2ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 48.0%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 86.9%. He spoke to German Hoops before game two against Oldenburg.

Diante sometimes a loss can be so negative, but in a two game series losing by three in game one 61-58 and going back home, all you need to do is win by four. How confident is the team that you can pull it out?

Yea we are really confident, we wanted to win on the road but we are in a position to win the championship on our home floor but we understand it’s going to be a hard fought game!

What is your overall impression of a two game series that is decided by points made? Do you favor this or the other standard of best of three?

I would rather have a traditional 3 game series because I feel like if the teams split the games it’s no real champion, it should be a 3rd game to decide!

Oldenburg started off with a 12-3 run to start off the fourth quarter which pretty much decided the game. Did that run disturb your energy in the comeback as conserving energy is harder to do?

That run hit us but we continued to fight but we couldn’t fully recover from it, we missed a lot of opportunities!

SC Rist Wedel gave up 80 and 68 points in the first two games and 61 points in the third game. How pleased were you with the defensive effort. Is that where you want to keep Oldenburg in general in the point range for the last game this weekend?

We were very satisfied with our defensive effort especially on their home floor! We feel we can do even better so that’s our focus, more stops to transition into our offense going!

Will we see another defensive orientated game and what will be key to getting the pro B title at home?

Defense is the key as well as staying composed! We scored 58points in Oldenburg our offense didn’t show up we have to execute better and trust each other as a team! If we can do these things I’m confident in our chances

How key will be rebounding and three point shooting one area where Oldenburg was better than SC Rist Wedel?

Rebounding is huge for us because it starts our fast break & 3 point is also huge because they are packing the paint and daring us to shoot if we can make our threes it’ll open up more for us!

You and Preston Wynne had a fine battle in the first playoff game in the scoring department. Will it be limiting one or the other half the rent to winning the Pro B title?

I think containing us are huge on both teams scouting. But I think whichever team plays the best team basketball will win the title!

Will you go through your normal pre game rituals for this Saturday or do you think you might get fired up a different way to give that extra needed energy to have success?

I think I will go through the normal ritual, eat lunch and listen to my Chicago music lol, King Louie, lil Herb & squadmoney is my pre game ritual they will get me more than ready for my biggest game of my life so far!

You left early from a sports bar missing the FC Bayern Munich choke against Borussia Dortmund. Do you ever remember leaving a sporting game early in the States that you later regretted simply because you missed an exciting end?

I can’t remember one but I’m very disappointed I missed the end of the game, I’ve grown to like soccer a lot

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

I watched poetic justice an old movie with Tupac and Janet Jackson.

Thanks Diante for the chat.

Preston Wynne is a 28 year old 184cm guard from Wellpinit, Washington that is a rookie playing for the Baskets Akad.Weser-Ems/Oldenburger TB (Germany-ProB). He started his basketball career at Spokane Community College. He then finished his college career at Vanguard (NAIA) and as a senior played 36 games averaging 20.9ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.9spg, FGP: 41.6%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: NAIA1-1(90.7%). He spoke to German Hoops before game two against SC Rist Wedel

Preston thanks for talking to German Hoops. What is your overall impression of the two game final series format? How is this type of series mentally different than having to prepare for a best of three series?

Ive never played in a tournament format like this one before. So when I heard we had a two game championship I was a little baffled. The preparation is the same we really haven’t changed to much on that part. We are going to go out there and try to make up for our sub-par performance in game one.

Oldenburg won the first game 61-58. How key was the 12-3 run to start the fourth quarter which pretty much sealed the win for you?

The run we made in the start of the fourth was a big key to our win, we knew they were a tough team and we going to fight until the end. So we knew we’d need a big gap to be able to close it out.

Oldenburg has won the last two games against SC Rist Wedel. How much of an advantage is that for Oldenburg going into the last game?

I think for some of the younger players it will be a nice confident booster. As for me, I know Wedel is a very dangerous team and we can’t let our guard down just because we’ve won the last two against them. They are going to be wanting revenge.

SC Rist Wedel won the game in Wedel 80-68. In the last two games Oldenburg has kept SC Rist Wedel to only 65 points average. Will we see a defensive game like game one on the weekend?

I think we will. We are two very scrappy defensive teams that compete very hard.

You and Diante Watkins battled in the scoring department in game one. How vital will it be for the success of Oldenburg to slow down the American?

Its very important to slow him as much as possible. He in my opinion is the most complete guard at this level. He knows how to get his team going as well as himself. If we can slow him down it will be a huge boost for us. The battle between him and our best defender Dominik Lockhart is a fun one to watch.

Oldenburg won the rebound duel and shot better from outside. If the team can lead in these two categories, will Oldenburg be 2015 Pro B champion?

If we can win in those categories I think Oldenburg will be the champions. If we don’t its going to be a long night

You were NAIA champion last season. How much will having had that experience help you and the team on Saturday in the quest of winning your second and the teams second straight title?

It will help tremendously. It all comes down to who wants it more, the team that fights the hardest usually comes out on top and we are some fighters.

Will the Atlanta Hawks pull out the series against the Brooklyn Nets despite having lost the last two games?

I love rooting for the underdogs but if i was a betting man i’d say Atlanta will pull it out.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

An old western 1973 movie “My Name is Nobody”

Thanks Preston for the chat.

Eric Kibi is a 24 year old 198cm forward from Ontario, Canada that just completed his second season in Germany and first with Basketball Club Rendsburg (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 20,5ppg and 15,0rpg. He started his basketball career in 2008 with Jacksonville College (NJCAA) where he played until 2010. He then played a season with UALR (NCAA) playing 29 games: 4.4ppg, 4.2rpg. He finished his college career in 2012 with Abil.Christian (NCAA2) playing 20 games: 8.2ppg, 5.7rpg, FGP: 60.0%. In 2012 he started his professional basketball career with Abil.Christian (NCAA2) playing 20 games: 8.2ppg, 5.7rpg, FGP: 60.0%. Last season he played with Ottawa SkyHawks (NBL Canada): 29 games: 4.4ppg, 4.7rpg. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Eric thanks for talking to eurobasket.com. Rendsburg lost recently to a strong Aschersleben team, 77-73 . What were the main reasons for the loss besides getting through crunch time?

Aschersleben is one of the top teams in the league and we were able to have the lead for most of the game. At the end of the game we just maybe weren’t able to execute down the stretch. We had three chances to take the lead in the last minute so it’s very frustrating to lose a game like that on the road that we had won up until the last two minutes.

Rendsburg finished the season losing three of the last four games by a combined score of 14 points. It seemed to be a season of close wins and loses. Why wasn´t the team able to keep a better balance with their crunch time nerves?

It always come down to execution at the end of the games and obviously we weren’t able to execute down the stretch of these tight games whether it’s getting a bucket we needed, getting a stop or adjusting our strategy to the opponents style. This is something we have to improve on if want to finish to end our losing streak in our last two games.

On the season Rendsburg finished in eight place with a record of 9-14. What is your summary of the season?

The season was up and down, of course I wish we could of finished higher but I think with the team we had a mid-table finish and staying in the league was a realistic goal that we were able to accomplish.

What were the team highs and lows this season?

Highs I would say was beating a very good Stade team at home and our first season win in which we beat Cottbus on a buzzer beater I hit after starting the season 0-3. As far as lows I would say would be losing to Gottingen on the road as well as Aschersleben in games where we were leading most of the game and lost the game in the last minutes.

You played for BG Halstenbek/Pinneberg (Germany-Regionalliga) two seasons ago. How has your game progressed form then to today?

I would say that my confidence has improved as well as my ball handling and shooting. I’m more comfortable with my game this time around. I also feel like I can affect the game in multiple ways and guard any position on the court.

This season you greatly improved your stats from two seasons ago in the German Regionaliga averaging 20,5ppg and 15,1 rpg. How happy are you with your season?

I am happy with my season but still not satisfied I still think there were a few things I could have done better to help our team win a few more games. Overall I feel like each season you have continue to improve and progress to keep getting jobs so I’m happy this is a step in the right direction for me personally.

How much easier did Peter Marcic make your game become with his play? How much potential does the young 19 year old have?

It made the game much easier, Peters basketball IQ is through the roof so it’s easy to play with him. He’s also a great shooter so teams can’t just always double down on me. As far as the youngster he has good potential he had a good season for us he has a bright future.

You placed double double stats in 20 of 21 games. Have you always been a consistent player?

That was one of my goals coming into this season actually so I am happy. I’ve always been a double double guy but this is the most consistent I have been probably since I was in junior college. Rebounding is all about heart so for me I feel like no one can out work me doesn’t matter what level or league I’m playing at.

Was your 28 point 26 rebound game your best effort of the season?

Yes that was definitely my best game of the season I’ve never had that many rebounds before but that game seemed like everything was clicking.

What is the next step for Eric Kibi? I am sure you want to move up a level?

Of course I want to play at the highest level possible that my skills will take me so we will see what happens for next season. I feel that with my play I put myself in a situation to have some good options to choose from for next season. Summer is always an interesting and stressful time to see where you end up the next season.

Would you like to stay in Germany? Could you imagine balling at the German Pro B level?

I would love to stay in Germany but then again you never know where this orange ball will take you. As a competitor you always welcome new challenges so where that ball takes me I’ll be there. I could definitely see myself playing in the Pro B I played well against Wedel and Itzehoe in the preseason so I would welcome the new challenge.

Who will win the NBA championship?

Of course being from Canada I’m going to go ahead and say my raptors will win but if not a Cleveland VS Golden State final would be exciting to watch from there I have no clue who wins.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

I’m currently watching a show called Banshee.

Thanks Eric for the chat.

Andre Marhold is a 23 year old 198cm forward that will be playing his second professional season and first in Germany for the Giessen 46ers. Last season he played for Chin Min Dragons UBC St. Polten (Austria-A Bundesliga): 7 games: 13.3ppg, 8.6rpg, 1.1bpg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 66.7%, FT: 63.6%. He played at Duquesne (NCAA) and as a senior played 28 games: 6.1ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.6bpg, FGP: 52.9%, FT: 37.5%. He spoke to German Hoops before game one against the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg

Andre thanks for talking to German Hoops The Giessen 46ers have reached the 2015 Pro A final and already automatically qualified to play in the BBL next season. What was your general feeling coming into the season of the club? Did you think that the team had something special and was capable of moving up?

I was excited about the season I knew I was going to be on a winning team and it just seemed like a great opportunity and a good first step for me. I knew we had a special team after we beat a really good Gotha team in our league after that game the team really started to play well and we all started to play for each other all the selfish play in the beginning of the season was gone

The Giessen 46ers swept Heidelberg and Nurnberg to reach the final and have a 8 game winning streak at the moment. Is this the best basketball that the team has played this season?

We had a run before where we was playing great basketball as well but now everyone knows what it will take to win. Individually everyone knows their role and what strengths they can bring to the team to help us win. When everyone does their job it makes us feel unstoppable every game we play to win and everyone believes it we play to win in practice and the games are always close and aggressive sometimes more aggressive than the game

After winning game one against Rent4Office 85-80, you clamped down on defense even more holding them to 64 points average in the last two games. What was most challenging in containing Nurnberg on the defensive end?

I would say defending ball screens was our biggest challenge because their bigs did a great job rolling and there guards were really good at scoring off the screen finding their big guy rolling or making the skip pass to the open shooters. But whenever we pressured the ball and pushed their screens farther out it was a lot easy for everyone to rotate and contain them which forced them to take bad shots that lead to long rebounds and fast breaks

Another big strength of the Giessen 46ers is their value of team basketball, sharing the ball and just unselfishness. Is this the most unselfish team that you have ever played on?

Yes this is the most unselfish team I have been a part of everyone gets along with each other on and off the basketball court

Giessen now play a two game series against the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg for the Pro A title.

We know we have to play for each other and challenge ourselves individually in order to win every game and that’s the mindset we all have going into every game we all winners

How excited are you to battle Wurzburg again now in the post season where everything counts more than in the regular season?

I’m really excited about the battle that’s about to happen it’s going to be a war out there we need that championship

What kind of series can we await and what will be key to getting by Wurzburg? Is the Giessen defense at its season prime now ready to put Wurzburg in it´s place?

The best 2 teams in the league are ready to go at it and it will be a great show!

How vital will the play of Cameron Wells be for Giessen? He could be the x-factor in crunch time when the game is on the line?

We always want the ball in Cam’s especially at the end of the game, because he is a great play maker and he looks like an NBA PRO out there he’s and amazing guy on and off the court and I trust him on and off the court and he is the X factor he makes the team go we love him

Your teammate Aaron Hawley has displayed an amazing knack of making pretty exact animal sounds. What animal sound would you like to hear him present?

Hahaha I wily love to hear Aaron make the cow sound it’s hilarious every time.

Thanks Andre for the chat.

Giordan Watson is a 29 year old 178cm guard from Southfield Michigan. He is playing his second season for  CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu (Romania-Liga Nationala). He is an unselfish player who gets others involved but also has the ability to score if needed. He sparks the team with passing and ball movement and is a great defender. He played at Central Michigan from 2004-2008 and in his senior season he played 31 games averaging 16.4ppg, 2.4rpg, 4.5apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3Pts: 38.6%, FT: 75.0%. As a rookie he played for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven playing 33 games averaging 10.1ppg, 2.7rpg, Assists-5(3.8apg), 1.1spg, FGP: 47.7%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 73.4%. In 2009-2010, he played for the Giants Noerdlingen (Germany-ProA) playing 17 games: 15.2ppg, 3.3rpg, Assists-4(5.2apg), 1.4spg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 72.7. In 2010-2011 he played for  UMFN Njardvik (Iceland-Express League) playing 6 games: 22.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 7.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 68.4%, 3PT: 37.9%, FT: 75.8%. In 2011-2012, he played for U.M.F. Grindavik (Iceland-Express League) playing 31 games: 16.3ppg, 4.4rpg, Assists-1(7.2apg), 1.8spg, FGP: 53.1%, 3PT-2(43.4%), FT: 78.3%. In 2012-2013 he played for Karhu Kauhajoki (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 53 games: 16.0ppg, 2.6rpg, 4.4apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 83.3%. Last season for CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu, he played 29 games: 11.7ppg, 3.1rpg, Assists-3(5.5apg), 1.8spg, FGP: 54.8%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 72.0%. He spoke to German Hoops after powering his team to 83-80 third place finish over the Fraport Skyliners at the 2015 Eurochallenge Final 4 in Turkey.

Congrats Giordan on the amazing 83-80 win. After you hit the three pointer there was so much relief in your face. Where do you rate this shot in alltime big shots in your professional basketball career?

Well I couldn’t have too much relief because time was still on the clock. End of game situations are fun and never get old. It’s a great energy rush. This shot was special because of the platform it was on. Eurochallenge 3rd place game, you never know who is watching.

You had such a solid season in Germany with Bremerhaven in the 2008-2009 season and since then played in lower leagues like Iceland and Romania. How happy are you that you can make such a big shot against a top Beko BBL team?

It’s a good feeling. More than just the shot, to get the win for our club and team is special. We all work hard and deserve the recognition.

Was that last play designed for you? There was 14 seconds on the clock and you really took a tough shot after letting the clock go down to five seconds. Did you have winning shot in your head coming out of the time out?

The score was tied and we had the last possession. My goal was to get a shot and if I miss a chance for an offensive rebound. Coach gave me the ball and trusted me to get us a basket.

CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu had a good start, but the Fraport Skyliners fought back and trailed only 36-34 at halftime. How proud were you in general of the team keeping pace with Frankfurt on the boards as their penetration game was very lethal?

Frankfurt has great guard play, and their bigs are solid as well. We knew it would be tough going into the game stopping their balance. I think our guys did well and our balance as a team showed strong as well.

The Fraport Skyliners got stronger in the third quarter going on a 10-0 run and having their first lead. However CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu always stayed with Frankfurt. How key was it going to zone in tehnsecond half to help your big men who were in foul trouble?

Zone really helped us to slow them down. All of our bigs were in foul trouble and we finished the game without all of them but 1. We are a man to man team, but zone is something we work on in certain situations.

How did CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu conserve energy best in the last quarter? It really seemed like the Fraport Skyliners might pull it out at the end?

Our offensive depth helped a lot. Not having one person carry the load allows us to focus on defense and have power at the end of games to win close ones.

As crunch time arrived the Fraport Skyliners seemed to have the momentum and led 75-70. How big was the faith at this stand point that CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu wouldn´t give up?

We have been in plenty of close games this year, so staying calm and believing is something we have proved to ourselves. Focus on getting defensive stops and finding the advantages on mismatches was our focus.

Coming into the third place game with Frankfurt CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu had won 5 Eurochallenge games by five or less points owning crunch time. How confident were you that you would leave the floor again as the winner? Was the will to win a touch bigger than with Frankfurt?

We always believe we can win, even when we are done. It’s just about being more focused and never giving up or losing hope. We wanted the gold, but leaving Turkey without a medal would have been painful.

How challenging a sit playing against potential NBA player Justin Cobbs? It didn´t seem like the 13cm height difference was there?

Hmm, I didn’t notice the height difference, but it’s never something I focus on. I actually think it’s a disadvantage for the other guard if he is taller than me, it allows me to use my speed and quickness more. I really like Cobbs’ game. He plays strong, has a nice shot and handle. Always fun playing against talented players.

CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu finished in third place. What positives were you able to take from the 2014-2015 Eurochallenge? What was your highlight besides getting third place?

Playing Eurochallenge was great. Traveling, playing different countries and players. Seeing how you and your team compare, getting new exposure, all of it is great. I think winning at Enel Brindisi in Italy would be the highlight for our team. They generally protect home court and to go get a win there, a very important win that got us to the final 8 meant a lot for everyone on our team.

What special place will your medal receive?

The medal will represent perseverance and resilience. Just to keep working hard and not pay attention to what outsiders have to say. Yes, our team is in Romania, and I think we gained a lot of respect.

Thanks Giordan for the chat.

Braydon Hobbs is a 24 year old 196cm point guard that is playing his third professional season and first in Germany with rent4office Nuernberg (Germany-ProA). He started his basketball career in 2008 with : Bellarmine (NCAA2) playing a total of 133 games. He turned professional in 2012 and played for Caceres Basket (Spain-LEB Gold, starting five): 35 games: 7.1ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.9apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 41.9%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 87.9%. Last season he played for Alba Fehervar (Hungary-A Division, starting five): Eurocup: 10 games: 11.9ppg, 3.1rpg, 3.6apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 40.4%, 3PT: 52.3%; Hungarian League: 32 games: 9.1ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.4apg, Steals-2(2.3spg), FGP: 52.8%, 3PT: 32.7%, FT: 72.7%. He also palyed two summers professionally in Australia. He spoke to German Hoops after being swept by the Giessen 46ers ending the season of Rent4Office Nurnberg

Braydon a tough 70-62 loss against Giessen who swept Rent4Office. Do you tip your hat to them? Giessen had a 5-0 record against Nurnberg. What made them so effective this season against you?

You definitely have to tip your hat to Giessen. They have been playing great during the playoffs and it showed in all three games. They beat us 5 times this year, and I would say their defensive intensity was the main reason for them being successful against us.

Nurnberg played a great first quarter keeping Giessen to 10 points. However Giessen had the edge a bit more the last three quarters winning each quarter slightly. Why was it so tough like in other games in this series to get over the hump when you had to?

I think it was so tough to get over the hump against Giessen because they always responded with big plays against us. Every time we made a couple good plays in a row, they answered with great plays as well. They never got rattled the whole series and always played solid team basketball.

When looking at the game team stats Nurnberg rebounded better and held Giessen to one three pointer. Did the six extra turnovers cost you the game at the end?

I’m not sure if the turnovers cost us the game. I just think it limited our possessions and opportunities. They had some crucial offensive rebounds that hurt us as well towards the end of the game.

Giessen now battles the s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg in the final. It is a two game series where the points in the two points determine who wins the Pro A title. What kind of series can we expect and who will win?

I think it’s going to be two very good games. Both teams are extremely deep and both teams play great team basketball. It’s difficult to predict a winner. Giessen can win the championship by playing solid defense and Wurzburg can win from their offensive power. I’m excited to see how it unfolds.

A big goal of Rent4Office was reaching the Beko BBL. It didn´t do that, but reached the semi-finals. How do you summarize the team season? What were the highlights for you?

I think it was a great season for us here in Nuremberg. We definitely had one goal in mind this season, but came up a couple games short. I wouldn’t say we failed though. We battled through some ups and downs and tried the best we could to reach the BBL. I would say finishing second in the regular season was a great accomplishment for us. Winning 9 or 10 games straight, after the holiday break, was another highlight we had from the season.

You were second in scoring, first in assists and steals for Nurnberg. How would you summarize your season? How did the Pro A help develop your game?

Overall, I would say I had a decent season. Obviously the season would have been better if we had got to move up into the BBL. Playing this year in the ProA helped me develop in many ways. Nuremberg signed me to be a floor leader and try to run this team. I think I was successful in doing that. My coaches and teammates believed in me to do that, and they helped me to be a better leader on the court.

How did you benefit playing for head coach Ralph Junge? How did he help you get better this season?

I benefitted tremendously playing for Coach. He put a lot of trust in me to run the team at the point guard position. He helped me grow in many ways as far as running the team. I think I had a solid year because of the understanding Coach and I had for each other and for the team.

How do you see your future? Would you like to remain in Germany or move on and experience another country?

I would definitely like to stay in Germany. It is a great country to play basketball in. My wife enjoys it here too so that always helps.

If you had to pick an unsung hero this season for Rent4Office who would you chose? The guy that played great, but wasn´t always credited for his play the way he should of?

I would say the unsung hero from our team is Basti Schröder. He doesn’t always get the credit he deserves. He works extremely hard every day in practice and never complains. He’s a positive teammate that always puts the team first. He had huge games for us this year which helped us big time.

Who was the toughest player that you battled against this season in the Pro A?

We battled some great players this year. We have some very talented guards in our league. We have skilled big men as well. I would say Cameron Wells from Giessen is one of the toughest players I played this year. Darren Fenn from Wurzburg was great against us this season as well.

What is something you are really looking forward to doing this summer, something you might not have been able to do the last years?

I’m looking forward to doing some fishing this summer. Last summer I was tied up working basketball camps and working out. I’m going to take some time to enjoy the water and catch a few fish.

What was the last movie that you saw?

Last movie I saw was American Sniper.

Thanks Braydon for the chat.

The Fraport Skyliners came to Trabzonspor on Wednesday to prepare for the Eurochallenge Final 4 and had such high goals of wanting to bring the club its third title in their history and Germany its fourth international club title and were welcomed with gloomy and dank weather which could of already been a bad omen for what was to come in the semi finals as they lost to Nanterre as their come back came up short and they were unable to finish in crunch time something they had been able to do all season long especially with Beko BBL rookie from Los Angeles Justin Cobbs barking the calls. Instead of having a constructive Saturday and Sunday where the club would have been preparing diligently for their final opponent, they were stuck in a place for another 48 hours where they really didn´t want to be anymore as usually after a loss after a BBL game the team can disappear into the bus and snore away their misery until they reach home and can sleep in their own bed. Instead the Fraport Skyliners still had to stay in the resort city Trabzon on the Black Sea and prepare for a meaningless game for third place against Romanian team CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu and play for pride. With so much time to kill, the club could of visited some of the sights in Trabzon like the Hagia Sophia church, the Boztepe park which is a small park and tea garden on the hills above Trabzon that has a panoramic view of nearly the entire city or get infested with some culture and visit the the Trabzon museum which is located in the town center and offers interesting exhibits on the history of the region, including an impressive collection of Byzantine artifacts. The time until Sunday afternoon must have felt like an eternity for the Fraport Skyliners, but 16:30 finally rolled along and it was game time again for Frankfurt. They had an interesting meeting with ex Beko BBL guard Giordan Watson who played for Bremerhaven in the 2008-2009 season where he had solid stats of 10.1ppg, 2.7rpg, Assists-5(3.8apg), but never got a chance to prove himself in Germanyagain after as he played in lower leagues in Germany Pro A with Nordlingen and Iceland and Romania. However Watson got the last laugh powering his team to a third place finish over the Fraport Skyliners hitting the game winning shot with two seconds to play giving his team the 83-80 win. On the eve of the meaningless game, Watson had the BBL on his mind and had a big urge of wanting to win this game. “At this time in the season, my motivation for every game is high. Of course I want to have a great game being that I played in BBL before, but it’s not something I get emotional about. It’s in my head for sure, but again, Frankfurt is just another game that I must do my best”, warned Watson. Watson showed Europe that he could keep up with NBA talent like Justin Cobbs who finished with 16 points and four assists while Watson scored 18 points and dished out six assists. The Fraport Skyloiners had young German Stefan Ilzhoefer in the starting lineup while Justin Cobbs sat. CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu got off to the quick 6-0 lead as the two big men 33 year old Andreas Glyniadakis who played many years with top team Olympiacos S.F.P. Pireus and won a bronze with Greece at the 2009 European championships and 27 year old Nemanja Milosevic who played at Western Kentucky(NCAA) as a kid scored inside. The Romanian team kept dominating inside as Israeli Tal Karpels scored inside. Frankfurt had massive problems getting a rhythm going on offense, were sloppy on offense and Porter Troupe was matching the energy of Quantez Robetrson well and taking away his penetrazion on one on one defense. After almost four minutes played ex Ludwigsburg guard Stefan Ilzhoefer got Frankfurt on the board with a big three pointer to cut the CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu lead to 6-3. CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu kept on the offensive pressure taking the 12-3 lead as Milosevic continued to show his presence inside getting free throws and a lay in. Frankfurt then found some flow on offense going on a 7-1 run to cut the CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu lead to 13-10. Frankfurt got good production inside as St Petersburg native Mike Morrison hit a fast running hook shot, ex Vanderbilt guard Kevin Bright snuck in from the base line and made a two handed dunk and Heidelberg native Danilo Barthel made free throws. Frankfurt couldn´t hold their new found momentum as CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu closed out the first quarter with a 7-4 run to lead 20-14. CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu got production from Louis Darby who played at Long Beach State(NCAA) and is in his sixth season for CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu hitting free throws, ex Bremerhaven point guard Giordan Watson nailed a big three over Johannes Voigtmann showing a 32cm difference doesn´t always have to be a disadvantage. Milosevic ended the first quarter with a tip in on his second try. Frankfurt got a lay in form German national player Voigtmann and additional free throws from Barthel. CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu was shooting 55% from the field and 50% from outside while the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 40% from the field and 33% from outside. Frankfurt had the 6-5 rebound edge, but six turnovers while CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu had four turnovers. In the second quarter CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu would extend their lead to 10 points, but the Fraport Skyliners continued to show their strength of fighting back cutting down the lead and trailing only by two points at the break. The Fraport Skyliners got on the board first as ex California(NCAA) guard Justin Cobbs showed his passing qualities going back door and connecting with Ohio native and ex Auburn(NCAA) forward Quantez Robertson. However CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu had their offensive firepower on tap as they got consecutive trey´s from ex s.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg forward Lamont Mack and from ex Eastern Michigan(NCAA) point guard Giordan Watson to extend their lead to 26-16. Frankfurt always tried to use aggressive defense to get their transition going which sparked a 5-0 run as Cobbs hit a jumper, Barthel made a lay in after a feed from Robertson and he made a free throw cutting the CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu lead to 26-21. Frankfurt continued to be in come back mode as they went on a 8-3 run to cut the CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu lead to 29-27. Frankfurt got key buckets from Voigtmann who used his size and strength over and over inside for the easy bucket, Robertson showed that his athleticism is difficult to match scoring inside easily and Voigtmann made a tip in off a Cobbs miss. American Porter Troupe who played three seasons in the IBL for the Vancouver Volcanos before getting his shot in Europe hit a cool three pointer extending the CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu lead to 32-27. In the last few minutes CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu got key buckets inside from Andreas Glyniadakis and Karpels while Frankfurt continued to get easy buckets inside as Voigtman made a dunk after getting set up nicely from Cobbs and then made a tip in off an own miss as Frankfurt trailed 36-34. CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu was shooting 47% from the field and 50% from the three point line while the Fraport Skyliners were shooting 54% from the field and 25% from the three point line. Frankfurt led the rebound duel 14-13, but had 10 turnovers while CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu had eight turnovers. In the third quarter the Fraport Skyliners continued to heighten their game and took their first lead of the game and led after 30 minutes 56-55. Troupe who has found a niche with CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu the last five years started off the third quarter with a big three pointer and Karpels snuck inside for the lay in finishing off the 5-0 run extending the lead of CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu to 41-34. However as is so often the case basketball is a game of runs and the Fraport Skyliners demonstrated just how lethal their offense can be when they get hot going on a 10-0 run to get their first lead of the game 44-41. In the run, Frankfurt was bolstered by Voigtman jumper who can hit that 20 footer as easily and as often as Steph Curry can the three, Canadian national player and ex Braunschweig forward Aaron Doornekamp finished off the fast break with a lay in, Voigtmann showed off his three point shooting touch something he shares with FC Bayern Munich center John Bryant and Cobbs nailed a bomb form downtown for the lead. Frankfurt finally had a steady rhythm on offense and always pushing the ball while on defense forcing CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu to very tough shots and keeping them out of their comfort zone on offense. Frankfurt held the lead as Voigtmann used mis matches wherever he could and made like a point guard penetrating and scoring easily while Brooklyn, New York native Sean Armand dropped a nasty three pointer as Frankfurt led 50-46. The game remained tight at the end and CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu responded with a mini 4-0 run as Darby scored inside and Watson somehow finished off a floater in traffic knotting the game at 50-50. CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu then took the lead with a Glyniadakis lay in and free throw for the 53-50 lead which in turn was matched by another bomb from downtown form Armand. Barthel closed out the third quarter with a buzzer beater three pointer as Frankfurt had the 56-55 advantage. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 58% from the field and 50% from the parking lot while CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu was shooting 45% from the field and 41% from the parking lot. Frankfurt had the 21-20 rebound edge, but 16 turnovers while CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu had 10 turnovers. In the fourth quarter the Fraport Skyliners led by five points late, but had some costly turnovers giving the game and third place away. Morrison started off the fourth quarter with a slam dunk that didn´t want to go through the hole like it should but opted to roll in instead. CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu then showed how you dunk properly executing on a perfect ally-op dunk as Watson found Darby as CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu still trailed 58-57. Armand then scored inside as Frankfurt led 61-57. Frankfurt then had some misfortune as Morrison made a big block on Glyniadakis, but the ball squirmed free and Troupe got it connecting on a three as CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu trailed 61-60. After a Cobbs jumper, it was Troupe again testing his three point shooting connecting to tie the game at 63-63. The game remained exciting as a team would take the lead only to be tied again. CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu played a zone to help protect their big men in foul trouble. Robertson then scored inside which was matched by a Darby step back shot. After Morrison free throws, it was Troupe again scoring inside and giving CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu the lead 68-67 with a free throw. Frankfurt then seemed in range to win the game as they took control of the game going into crunch time with a 8-2 run to lead 75-70. Frankfurt knew that the inside of CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu was in foul trouble and they attacked inside with a passion as Cobbs scored form the baseline and the German twin towers Voigtmann and Barthel made easy put backs. Instead of now slamming the door in the face of CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu, they allowed the 2014 Romanian cup winner to hang around and escape on a 6-2 run to cut the Frankfurt advantage to 77-76. CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu did exactly what Frankfurt did taking a page out of their game going inside as Darby and Karpels scored and Watson connected on free throws. With 43 seconds to play Watson nailed huge free throws to tie the game at 78-78. After an Armand turnover, Karpels made one free throw for the 79-78 CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu lead. Then Armand made his second consecutive turnover on a five second violation which led to a Troupe free throw and CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu 80-78 lead. Cobbs then tied the game at 8-80 with 14 seconds to play. Watson then stepped up took responsibility nailing the giant three pointer game winner over Robertson with two seconds to play. Sean Armand had one last chance to send the game into overtime, but came up short with a three. CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu was led by their American trio who scored 50 of the 83 points as Giordan Watson had 18 points and Louis Darby and Porter Troupe had 16 points a piece. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Johannes Voigtmann with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Justin Cobbs chipped in with 16 points and Danilo Barthel contributed 13 points. CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu shot 49% from the field and 47% from outside while the Fraport Skyliners shot 61% from the field and 46% from outside. Frankfurt edged out CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu under the boards 26-25, but coughed up the ball 20 times while CS Energia Rovinari Targu Jiu did 11 times.