Dashaun Wood (Alba Berlin): I Believe In Tim Tebow´s Motto. If You Have The Right Focus And Live Right, Then Good Things Will Come To You

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

In the 83-50 win against BG Goettingen you went 0/8 from the field registering one point. Can you ever remember having such a bad shooting night?

I have never experienced anything like that before, but one has to remember just how much I have played recently. We had games on the 18th, 20th, 23rd, 27th and 30th of December and the second, fifth and eighth of January. At the end of that game streak, it just showed that I was tired in the Goettingen game. One of the reasons why I came to play in Berlin was that I wanted to be around so many great players. Even if I have a night like that, we can still have good chances to win.

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Jermareo Davidson Could Have Reggae Danced As He Propels The Fraport Skyliners Past EnBW Ludwigsburg 76-72

It is no secret that celebrities like to hang out and be friends with athletes and just be where guys like Kobe Bryant, Lebron James or Carmelo Anthony are doing their magic. Frequent guests in NBA areas have been celebrities like Jay Z with his black sunglasses alongside goddess Beyonce, Lakers diehard fan Mr Shining Jack Nicholson wearing his dark sunglasses never having seen normal light in the Staples Center or Spike Lee recruiting new athletes for his movies are never far supporting their basketball idols. Back in the 1950´s, it seemed like it was impossible for athletes to be friends with each other, but that trend seems to have been eroding in the last 20 years as even the biggest rivals of the 80´sBird and Magic have become good friends and last season the Miami Heat showed that they weren´t sour losers as they joined the Dallas Mavericks in post game celebrations after they lost the 2012 NBA finals. Two Beko BBL stars Quantez Robertson and Mark Dorris have combined as much athletic power to make the perfect 2012 basketball specimen are both from Cincinnati and despite being on opposing teams share a strong friendship and were on the court for their third meeting in the Beko BBL and Robertson was able to win his third straight meeting 76-72. Before the game, Ludwigsburg sport director Mario Probst wasn´t to keen about any one on one duels, but had his mind on only one thing. “This duel might be nice for the fans, but the most important thing is that we win. The only important thing is that they know each other, but all else about them is unimportant. We are coming on a good way. It is never about individual play, but about team play. If not all five on the court defend, then we will always have problems to win”, warned Mario Probst. Long after the game was over, the two Cincinnati kids Dorris and Roberston were in a corner in the catacombs with ex Dorris teammate Jacob Burtschi hanging out and the only thing missing was a poker table as all three were calm, but Dorris was a bit disappointed about coming up on the short end again against his teammate. “It is always great to see Tez, but bitter sweet when he comes out on top”, stressed mark Dorris. Jacob Burtschi was used to seeing great Dorris performances like his 35 point outburst in Ludwigsburg last season and is still getting used to the Super Tez flights to the basket and understood their rivalry. “They are good friends, but as soon as they step on the court, it gets thrown out the window. Both were up for this game, one could sense it on the court. Tez was all over the court and Dorris hit some tough shots”, commented ex Phoenix Hagen forward Jacob Burtschi. Robertson finished with four points and four rebounds and Dorris with 10 points.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Keaton Nankivil’s Buzzer Beater Seals 76-75 Win Over Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich seems to have a knack for losing close games. After unfortunate overtime losses against the Telekom Baskets Bonn (80-78) and the Artland Dragons (86-83), Bauermann’s team also lost the road games in Bremerhaven (73:71) and Würzburg (64:55).

In the game against Ulm Bayern Munich was able to come back from a double digit deficit and take a 2-point lead within the last few seconds. But then former Badger Keaton Nankivil made a 25-foot three point shot and gave Bayern Munich another close loss on the road. Thorsten Leibenath’s (Ulm’s coach) time out speech looked quite desperate as he was not really sure what play he wanted his team to execute. Somehow the ball ended up in Nankivil’s hands and with just a few seconds remaining he just took the shot.

You can watch the full game here:

Bayern Munich’s soccer team is known to sign the opponent’s best players. I don’t know what Bayern’s team manager Marco Pesic and Dirk Bauermann have in mind for next season. But maybe we see Nankivil in a Bayern Munich uniform next season. I would not bet my money on this though. If Bayern should really be interested in a player who defeated them it should rather be Artland’s David Holston…

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

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

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

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

Describe the game winning shot by Brian Roberts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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