With winter taking a much appreciated break and the warmer temperatures blowing the harsh brittle winter air away from Frankfurt, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners were hoping that The EWE Baskets Oldenburg thunderbirds would not be able to get accustomed to the more mild air in the same way ex Oldenburg forward Steve Smith was unable to adapt to the Predrag Krunic thought device, Ratiopharm Ulm fans having to get used to not seeing Mr Ulm Jeff Gibbs racking up rebound after rebound in the Kuhberg halle and soccer millionaires Jefferson Farfan and Demba Ba having to hear the shouting concerts of angry fans and negative responses concerning them not playing for their teams, but striking and causing much disarray. However The EWE Baskets Oldenburg Thunderbirds not only couldn’t get adjusted to the warmer temperatures, but crashed in their flight in the Ballsporthalle in the third quarter as they sustained a 24-0 run by Frankfurt which led the gang of coach Gordon Herbert getting their 10th win in a row in the Ballsporthalle 76-71.The Thunderbirds not only didn’t get used to the warmer air, but seemed famished in the third quarter as they had no energy to stop the 
dunking clinic by Frankfurt. “Oldenburg didn’t get going, because we gave them no food, so they had to leave unhappy after 40 minutes”, joked current BEKO BBL scoring champion Dashaun Wood. Wood might have had the amusing catch phrases after the game, but he was all business on the court finishing with 24 points and seven assists and had the utmost respect from ex NBA player and teammate Roger Powell. “We have the best point guard in the league and have a great team. We had been practicing defense the last days and we finally played good defense”, stressed ex Utah Jazz Roger Powell. The EWE Baskets Oldenburg lost the game in the third quarter as they remained scoreless for almost seven minutes. “We came out with little energy. Everything that Frankfurt did seemed easy. They got many easy baskets and open shots and the crowd helped them get the momentum. We fought back but it was too little to late”, said ex NBA player Eddie Gill.
Are Eddie Gill And Luka Bogdanovic The Missing Pieces To Another Title As The EWE Baskets Oldenburg Visit The Deutsche Bank Skyliners January 9th?
It is that time of the year in the Beko BBL, where teams see each other for the second time of the season and teams aren’t the same at the start like in Oldenburg where two new players have arrived with Eddie Gill and Luka Bogdanovic and so much has changed in the last months and recently like The Gloria Giants Duesseldorf making it seem like only pigs could fly if they would ever upset The Brose Baskets Bamberg, but they did, or Tom Brady who is focused to win his 4th Superbowl championship, but is becoming more and more the respected father as he is spending much extra time with his little son on a scooter in downtown Boston when he might be protecting his ankles in a bubble until the Superbowl is over and how the time of comebacks might finally be over for legendary Green Bay Packers Bret Favre as this would be a radical change since he has been the master of the comebacks like Ratiopharm Ulm Lee Humphrey is netting three pointers at the rate of a fine tuned clock work. After the bitter 87-82 loss in Ulm, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners will have to be ready for the new changes with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg as they meet the club from coach Predrag Krunic only 72 hours later on Sunday January 9th. Just how well has Oldenburg grown in last months? Oldenburg has grown like every other team has so far. They first had to find an identity, because they had lost players from last season and the new players had to find their roles. The team has improved and is playing better as the season has gone along”, stressed TBB Trier guard John Bynum.
The club has brought in American Eddie Gill and Serb Luka Bogdanovic as replacements for the disappointing Steven Smith and Nemanja Protic who had been released recently. Eddie is a 32 year old 183cm guard who is named the thrill. He has had a solid NBA career having played 200 NBA games for teams like the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies and Seattle Supersonics, but also played two full seasons for the Indiana Pacers from 2004-2006. He also has had European experience having played in Greece and Italy and last season in Belgium for Base Oostende (Belgium-D1, starting five): 26 games: 7.0ppg, 3.8rpg, Assists-2(4.3apg), Steals-2(2.2spg), FGP: 28.0%, 3PT: 27.8%, FT: 78.0%. So far this season for Oldenburg, he has played five BEKO BBL games averaging 6,2ppg, 2,0rpg and 3,6apg in 18 minutes per game. Luka Bogdanovic is a 25 year old 210cm forward from Serbia. He has a great shooting touch and can hit the three pointer and mid range jumper and is effective on the defensive glass. However he has mediocre athletic ability, but has played very solid whereever he has played. He started his career at Crvena Zvezda Beograd and in the last years has played for Partizan Belgrad, Le Mans, and DKV Joventut Badalona . In his career, he has played 92 games in team international play including 51 Euroleague games. From 2007-2010, he was able to score in double figures each season twice in Euroleague play and once in Eurocup play. The experience that the only 25 year old has is unmatched on the Oldenburg roster. Last season, he played for DKV Joventut Badalona (Spain-ACB): EuroCup: 12 games: 10.3ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 80.0%; Spanish League: 34 games: 9.3ppg, 3.3rpg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 80.0%. This season, Bogdanovic is averaging 10,0ppg and 3,0rpg in 19 minutes per game.
The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Get Lost In The Bushy Hair Of John Bryant Losing 87-82 To Ratiopharm Ulm
The Deutsche Bank Skyliners wanted to get on the right track in their first game in 2011 with a win on the road and were as focused as Jimmy 
slick and suave Jimmy Mckinney has to be on the court, because nothing is guaranteed as he remains the king of the extensions of the short term contracts in the BEKO BBL and D League player Andre Barrett of the Idaho Stampede was in the NBA in 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 with 10 day contracts, as Borussia Dortmund has played in the first half of the season blowing away most of their competition, or Tom Brady and Michael Vick will enter the playoffs as they could possibly meet in the Superbowl and rekindle the flair and excitement of another quarterback battle which was present back in the day between NFL greats Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach, but despite playing a hard game, the gang of coach Gordie Herbert were unable to withstand the unrelentless force of John Bryant and unending pressure of the sixth man Kuhberg crowd losing 87-82. The Deutsche Bank Skyliners lost their second game in a row and had every chance of winning down the stretch, but were unable to withstand the strong nerves of Ratiopharm Ulm. “With Ulm up by nine points, that just hurt us mentally. They hit crucial shots at the end that helped them get the win”, stressed Skyliner center Marius Nolte. Ratiopharm Ulm won their second game in a row and are showing that the playoffs don’t seem unrealistic. “This was a big win for us. I am very proud of my team and how they responded after the win in Bremerhaven. The guys worked hard. Benzing hit a big shot down the stretch, Bryant did a good job scoring and Humphrey did a good job making his three pointers. The team still has to do a better job taking care of the ball and limiting turnovers, but considering that we started 0-4 and are 8-9 now, I am very proud of the players”, stressed Ratiopharm Ulm coach Mike Taylor.
Might An Electric Fence Help The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Keep John Bryant And Ratiopharm Ulm Away From the Glass January 6th?
The Deutsche Bank Skyliners want to start the new year 2011 with a win in Ulm, but will have to survive the always loud, zoo like pandemonium atmosphere of the Kuhberg arena, the same way actor Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will have to hide on the Seychellen islands from Paparrazi on account of their so called wedding taking place, the way Celtic lovers have to cringe each time a report filters about Kevin Garnett suffering a near injury and he is a player the team cant afford to lose, the San Antonio Spurs and Brose Baskets Bamberg having to be prepared each game because their opponents want them to shoot out their lights or German ski jumper Martin Schmitt who has been as unproductive as a cock roach in the last years having to keep getting good results despite having lost his girl friend and not having a strong form. The Kuhberg arena can be described as a tiny high school gym with the atmosphere of monsterous 14,000 patrons, yelling, cheering and influencing opponents free throws to die on the rim. It is a zoo like atmosphere that opponents would like to avoid and possibily rather stick their heads into a lions cage than having to enter the uncomfortable office of coach Mike Taylor. Alba Berlin was unable to escape the Kuhberg arena earlier in the season. Since Mike Taylor entered the BEKO BBL in 2006, he has a 49-26 record in the Kuhberg arena and no player likes to play there. “Well when I remember playing there it is just a tough place to play, the crowd is loud and it is a long trip to get down there as well. It is a tough arena to win in. The arena has a feel of its own. I have only played there one time while I was in Bremerhaven but we found a way to get a win, but it is a tough place to play in for sure”, warned ex Bremerhaven American John Bynum. “It is a tough place to play, because it gets loud and the fans get behind their team. It reminds me of a high school gym”, warned Phoenix Hagen guard Quentin Pryor. If an opponent is in any way able to block out the fans, then they still have to deal with a big menace patrolling the court and having the zone area be his feeding time where any one getting in his way might as well just avoid John Bryant from roaring them away. Bryant is the top center in the BEKO BBL scoring and rebounding in double figuers and has been about as difficult to stop as moving an elephant with your bear hands. Perhaps The Deutsche Bank Skyliners should place an electric fence around the rim to keep him away? “I think it could be vital for Frankfurt to put up an electric fence to survive. If that doesnt work then they may want to put up a police barricade at the edge of the zone”, joked Giessen 46er Jannik Freese. “With Dabbert gone, it will be more difficult to contain the big 130 kilo Bryant. I think the only way in which Frankfurt will be successful is if they put up a two man blockade in front of the basket to keep Bryant as far away from the rim as possible”, warned BBC Bayreuth forward Stefan Schmidt. “I am just glad I didnt have to guard him. He is a solid big guy and controls the boards, he is tough to keep off the glass and he is having an exceptional year”, stated TBB Trier guard John Bynum. “Bryant is a big problem down low. He isnt the most mobile, but he uses his strength well to get rebounds and cause problems”, commented Quentin Pryor.
Bryan Bailey (Artland Dragons) The Basketball Atmosphere Is Special In Quackenbruck
Bryan Bailey is a 30 year old 185cm combo guard that is playing his 9th professional basketball season playing with The Artland Dragons. He is
a true team leader both on and off the court. He possesses a diverse game, with an ability to stroke the long-range jumper, penetrate to the rim or distribute the ball. He is solid on the defensive end of the floor as well. His fierce competitive drive rubs off on his teammates. He started his professional basketball career at Bucknell and player there from 1998-2002 and in his senior year played 17 games averaging 18.1ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.4apg. He made All-Patriot League 1st Team in 2001 and 2002. In 2002-2003, he started his professional basketball season in Germany with DJK S. Oliver Wurzburg (Germany-1Bundesliga, starting five): 26 games, 15.4ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.4spg. In 2003-2004, he played in Holland for Landstede Zwolle (Holland-Eredivisie, starting five): 35 games: 17.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 3.1apg, 2.4spg, 0.2bpg. He then played with The Artland Dragons from 2004-2007 reaching the league and cup final in 2007. His best statistical season was 2005-2006 playing 33 games and averaging 11.4ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.7apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 46.9%, 3PT: 25.3%. In 2007-2008, he played with Bosna ASA BH Telecom Sarajevo (Bosnia-D1, starting five): ULEB Cup: 12 games: 10.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 4.5apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 20.8%, FT: 84.3%. In 2008-2009, he played in Poland for PGE Turow Zgorzelec (Poland-DBE): Eurocup: 6 games: 7.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.7apg, 1.7spg; Polish League: 32 games: 8.0ppg, 1.8rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 77.0%. Last season, he played with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg playing Euroleague: 4 games: 8.3ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.8apg; German League: 6 games: 9.3ppg, 1.3apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 36.4%, FT: 89.7%. He sat down and spoke with German Hoops about basketball.
The Artland Dragons have missed the playoffs the last two seasons. Do the players feel added pressure to make the playoffs?
No I feel we dont feel any pressure. We all have the same goals and that is too reach the playoffs.
2010 In Review
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.
Nic Wise Steals The Show From Dashaun Wood In Crunch Time Pacing The Telekom Baskets Past The Deutsche Bank Skyliners 92-89
With Christmas gifts and scrumptious food on the back burner, the Deutsche Bank Skyliners had their last game of 2010 on the schedule and
wanted to depart 2010 and halt the 2,187 day winless streak in Bonn with a win and didn’t lose any of their focus that they have had this season as they were in the zone as much as the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki are this season looking for that first NBA title, The New England Patriots are threatening to win a fourth Super Bowl title with Tom Brady and an inexperienced and young defense that continues to make strides or the motor city Detroit Red Wings who are playing with a zooming passion and have a 21-8 record and are seeking another Stanley Cup win after winning their last in 2008, but as so often this season on the road, the Deutsche Bank Skyliners lost their fourth game on enemy territory in crunch time all games that they had in their grasp, but lost control of falling to the Telekom Baskets Bonn 92-89 in a high scoring game. In crunch time, Frankfurt let referee decisions get in the way of their play and emotions. . It was a very physical game and it seemed with the flow of the game that the referee´s lost a handle on the game. “We seem to have had a problem this season with referee calls and we have to find a better way not to get involved with it. Today it bit us in the butt. I told the referee “he pushed me” and I get a technical foul for that”, stressed BEKO BBL top scorer Dashaun Wood. The Telekom Baskets didn´t let any calls disturb their rhythm as they finished strong and had a handle on their emotions and their shots in crunch time. “We hit big shots at the end. At times we lost our game plan, but at the end when we needed it most, we followed our defensive plan and we kept Frankfurt from making the key three pointers”, stressed Telekom baskets Bonn forward Patrik Flomo. “This was a disappointing loss, but one cant forget that Bonn is a very good team and we played them in their arena. A loss is a loss, but we fought back and made it a good game at the end”, said Skyliner forward Kimmo Muurinen.
Can Dashaun Wood Lead The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Past The Telekom Baskets Bonn And Halt The 2,187 Day Winless Drought in Bonn December 29th?
Much has changed with The Telekom Baskets Bonn since the depressing and back breaking five game Frankfurt semi final playoff loss in Frankfurt in 2008 as Skyliner captain was unable to score on the last penetration drive which could of propelled the club into the finals against Alba Berlin. The team now plays in the Telekom dome while the old arena the Hardberg halle remains a school gym filled with chilling memories, while players John Bowler, Johannes Strasser and Bernd Kruel have changed jersey colors within the BEKO BBL and Americans Winsome Frazier and Ronald Burrell have gone east to showcase their basketball talents in Poland. The only pieces that still remain from that thrilling 2007-2008 BEKO BBL season is the heart and soul of the team coach Michael Koch, the magentas shirts, Bonny the lion mascot and the offensive rebounder flyer Patrick Flomo who could probably play a game of poker in mid air with Skyliner Quantez Robertson during one of their flights to the basket. That last miss by Pascal Roller in game 5 is more than 900 days ago and is something that the small diminutive German guard had to first think a moment about and recollect his thoughts about that experience. “That is something that I wont be thinking about. That moment was a long time ago and not in my head anymore”, stressed Pascal Roller.”I don’t think that that loss will be on his mind to be honest. That was a few years ago and Frankfurt is focusing on this season and looking to get a good seed and secure any kind of advantage for the playoffs”, warned TBB Trier guard John Bynum. Bynum isn’t Pascal Roller, but can remember a bitter moment in the BEKO BBL that hasn’t left his mind yet. “When I was playing for Bremerhaven, I can remember losing game five at home against Cologne after leading the series 2-1. We blew a seven point lead in game four with four minutes to play in the fourth quarter and then came home losing game five in double figures. This stands out in my mind”, added John Bynum. Frankfurt only has the current Bonn team on their mind and only have Roller, Jimmy Mckinney and Dominic Bahiense De Mello who played in that bitter game five loss. The rest of the team is new and will be gunning to make life uncomfortable for coach Mike Koch and finally win again in Bonn after 1,797 winless days.
Dashaun Wood Does His Usual Offensive Damage And Kimmo Muurinen The Invisible Dirty Work As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Cruise Past BBC Bayreuth 83-75
With presents, food, snow, loved ones, chilling and more snow on the minds of The Deutsche Bank Skyliners the last days, the club had to
return to action on the second German Christmas holiday and be as focused and energetic as Giselle Bundchen is before every click of the camera and every snap by Tom Brady when she is watching, paparazzi have to be when trying to catch new developments between actress Sandra Bullock and 2010 People magazine most sexy man in the world Ryan Reynolds and the way the Boston Celtics were ready in their 14 game winning streak despite not always having the services of Rajon Rondo, Delonte West, Shaq, and Jermaine O Neal who missed a combined 36 games in this time, but Frankfurt was able to overcome a slow first half to storm back in the second half and take control of the game and defeat BBC Bayreuth 83-75. Frankfurt won their sixth game in a row in the Ballsporthalle and nothing seems to be able to stop them at home especially when their sixth man is always present. “We knew that BBC Bayreuth is a good team and the reason that we didnt loose this game tonight was because of our defense. The Crowd got us back into the game”, stressed Skyliner guard Dashaun Wood. The BBC Bayreuth losing woes continue as they lost their fifth game in a row. “Frankfurt went on a run and got us out of our offensive rhythm with a lot more pressure on defense. They made adjustments on defense and we didn´t react. Frankfurt did what good teams do by finishing the game”, commented ex NBA player Jared Reiner.
A big riddle surrounding last weekend was the overwhelming and humiliating 102-51 loss of 8 time BEKO BBL champion Alba Berlin against three time BEKO BBL champion Brose Baskets Bamberg, but the biggest mystery of the young basketball season is the 3-12 and 17th placed record by BBC Bayreuth. This isn´t a Nordlingen or Paderborn of past years that were filled with talent, but nothing compared to what BBC Bayreuth has. BBC Bayreuth with ex NBA player Jared Reiner, NCAA champion Marcus Ginyard that played with many current NBA players like Wayne Ellington, Ty Lawson or Ed Davis, BEKO BBL champion and Euroleague participant Koko Archibong, 2010 Dutch league scoring champion Danny Gibson or mini pistol Pete Campbell, one would never have believed if one had left for a deserted island 3 months ago and returned today that the club of coach Andreas Wagner would be in the cellar of the BEKO BBL standings.
Can NBA, Euroleague and North Carolina Tar Heel Experience Propel BBC Bayreuth Past The Deutsche Bank Skyliners December 26th?
Sometimes seeing teams with a very mediocre record despite a very talented roster is as unexplainable as seeing UFO sightings over Rosewell, New Mexico, witnessing rapper 50 cent attending a classical concert at Carnegy hall in New York and then deciding to make a classical CD with some of his raps from his most famous tracks, German tennis legend letting German comedian Oliver Pocher beat him in a game of tennis on a grass court or seeing an ally-op hook up from the top of the key from Orlando magic Dwight Howard to point guard Jameer Nelson. But so fra this season, the basketball fans in Bayreuth have had to believe and accept the current 3-11 record. “They are a talented team and are struggling a bit now. I think that they will beat some teams and finish the first half strong and be ready for the second half”, warned TBB Trier guard John Bynum. “It has been a crazy season for them so far. They are very talented. But just seem to have some wrong bounces at the end of games”, stressed Phoenix Hagen American Quentin Pryor. The club also has incredible experience and talent with an ex NBA player with Jared Reiner, a BEKO BBL champion and Euroleague player with Koko Archibong and an NCAA champion from North Carolina with Marcus Ginyard, but it seems like the basketball god has no mercy for players who have achieved amazing things in other places. “I don’t know what it is with BBC Bayreuth. They are a great team on paper for sure. They can beat any team in the league as we found out earlier in the season. I still think that they are better than their record shows. They will have success in the second half of the season”, warned John Bynum. “It doesn´t really matter who a team has, but it is all about the chemistry and how it develops”, added Quentin Pryor. Ex NBA player Jared Reiner came to the BEKO BBL in 2008 joining the Brose Baskets Bamberg and saw first hand what success can be like, but then at the end of December 2008 joined Bremerhaven and suffered a 6-17 record. It seems like déjà vu all over again as he is in the BEKO BBL cellar again. If that negative experience in Bremerhaven is on his mind now? “I don’t think so. As a player, you seem to forget about past seasons. You are only as good as your last game. It was a bad experience for him for sure, but I am sure that he and his teammates are thinking about ways to get on track”, commented John Bynum. “I am pretty sure that Bremerhaven is on his mind especially how things are going”, added Quentin Pryor.
