BG Goettingen-Brose Baskets Bamberg BEKO BBL Top 4 Preview

The first semi final in the 2010 BEKO BBL Top 4 pits the Brose Baskets Bamberg against BG Goettingen as both clubs have faced each other 10 times in the last 18 months making the distance of 286 autobahn kilometers seem like their own German subway series similar to the New York Yankees-New York Mets series and making the frequency of their meetings going down the same path as NBA legend Allen Iverson did with his love for say ing practice in a press conference a few years ago. The Brose Baskets and BG Goettingen will square off in the first BEKO BBL Top 4 semi final on April 10th at 16.25 while The Deutsche Bank Skyliners face off against The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven in the second semi final at 19:15.

The Brose Baskets Bamberg lead the head to head series since the 2007-2008 season winning eight games and losing only four games. Last season, after BG Goettingen was one of the top teams in the BBL and big surprises, their 40 minutes of basketball hell lost their strength in the playoffs running out of gas losing the quarterfinal playoff series 3-1. This season, the teams have split the season series winning their respective games at home.

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Deutsche Bank Skyliners-Eisbaeren Bremerhaven BEKO BBL Top 4 Preview 2010

The last time that the Deutsche Bank Skyliners won the German cup was in 2000 when they were called The Opel Skyliners, the era of Bill Clinton as President was ending, Dan Duquette was still running the Boston Red Sox and they were still being cursed by the bambino, the Twin Towers in New York was still standing gracefully on lower battery park in New York and the Spanish music craze of Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias was in full swing, and now the Frankfurt club tries again at winning the prestigious title on home court after losing to Alba Berlin last year in the semi final in Hamburg.

It may not be June and playoff time yet in the Ballsporthalle, but with the warmer temperatures with the start of Spring and a full arena, an early playoff feeling should be present on Saturday April 10th as The Deutsche Bank Skyliners face off against The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven at 19:15. The first semi final will be played at 16:25 between two time BEKO BBL champion Brose Baskets Bamberg and BG Goettingen the team each opponent hates because of their aggressive never die attitude.
The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven have had a curious season and had a 7-7 record on December 19th and had been up and down and then went on a seven game winning streak as ex NBA player Rodney Buford had returned to the States and since then have been up and down with a 4-4 record, but seem to have found their rhythm again currently having a four game winning streak. They are the second highest scoring team in the BEKO BBL behind BG Goettingen.

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Reformation of the Reformation Or Why I do not care about the BBL Top4

On German Hoops we mainly reported in an objective way about what is going on in the German basketball scene. But usually blogs represent individual opinions and this time I have something to write about that is highly subjective and you might not agree with. It’s all about the BBL Top4 and why I am simply not interested in it since the competition has been reformed. I’m not trying to convince anybody. Guys like Goettingen’s Jason Boone really look forward to this competition as e.g. he never made it to the NCAA Final Four. But just let me explain why I refuse to watch this new Top4 tournament.

Last summer four important large-scale changes happened to German basketball. In my opinion there were two very positive changes in managerial questions and two negative ones concerning the sport itself.

Let’s start with the positive changes:

The 6-year deal with Beko as the league’s main sponsor was a great move. With the help of Murat Didin the BBL finally has a strong partner that pays a nice amount of money to the league and helps to professionalize basketball in Germany.

The other positive thing becomes more obvious for fans every week. German sports network DSF (now called Sport1) signed a 3-year deal with the league and broadcasts the game of the week on free TV (For further information check out the League Facts!). It is very important for the league to be on screen for everybody and not just for the hardcore fans on pay-TV.

So from an administrative perspective the league really made two big steps into the right direction. Unfortunately two questionable decisions in sports terms did not help.

The new ranking system was very confusing at times (check out Strange rankings and early hot-shots). Honoring the losing team with 1 and the winning team with 2 points does not work when games have to be postponed and teams have played a different number of games. This season there were some really odd moments. E.g. Bonn clinched the number 1 spot despite having lost a game or Giessen being in the play-off race without winning a single game! So sometimes the rankings looked as informative as if it was grouped in an alphabetical order.

Luckily the BBL decided to return to the old table-system for the upcoming season. That means the losing team will get 0:2 points and the winning one 2:0.

And then there is the new BBL Cup… Even though it is played in my hometown Frankfurt next week-end (10th and 11th of April) I decided not to attend the Top4. I am not even sure if I will watch it on television, because I don’t quite understand what this is all about and why it is still called a ‘Cup’.

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TJ Thompson Trying To Lead EnBW Ludwigsburg Into The BEKO BBL Playoffs

TJ Thompson is a 27 year old 177cm point guard from Germantown, Maryland. He is a guard who gets few looks because of his size, but who is in great shape and stronger than you can think. He played at George Washington from 2001-2005. In his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 13.6ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.9apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 42%, 3Pts: 39.2% and led his team to winning the Atlantic 10 championship.

In 2005, he turned professional and was drafted at #1 in the CBA by the Albany Patrons. In 47 games for Albany, he averaged 25.4ppg, 2.8rpg, 5.2apg, 1.8spg, FG: 41.1%, 3PT: 41.7%, FT: 85.9%. In 2006-2007, he played in France for Hyeres-Toulon Var Basket (France-ProA) playing 13 games averaging 12.8ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.8apg, 0.9spg, FGP: 36.4%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 82.6%. In 2007-2008, he continued playing in France for STB Le Havre (France-ProA, starting five): playing 30 games averaging 15.1ppg, 2.4rpg, Assists-4(6.8apg), 1.7spg, 2FGP: 38.6%, 3PT: 28.8%, FT: 79.7%. In 2008-2009, for STB Le Havre (France-ProA, starting five): Eurocup: 8 games: 17.4ppg, 2.1rpg, 4.5apg, 1.9spg; French League: 30 games: Score-3(18.1ppg), 1.9rpg, 5.9apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 28.2%, FT: 82.5%.

This season, he started in Greece for Ilysiakos Athens (Greece-A1): only pre-season, then joined Washington Madness (EBA), and in December 2009 moved to PGE Turow Zgorzelec (Poland-PLK) playing four games averaging 5,8ppg, 5,5apg and 2,5rpg.

He joined EnBW Ludwigsburg in February 2010 and spoke with German Hoops.

Since you have been in Ludwigsburg, the team has been winning a lot. How much of this success can be credited to your game?

Oh I don´t know. You would have to ask coach. I just try to do what the coach asks me too do. I was asked to score in the first two games and since then was asked to set my teammates up. It has been a lot of fun.

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Jason Boone Reflects On Reaching The EuroChallenge Final 4

Jason Boone is a 24 year old 198cm power forward/center from Sugar Loaf, New York. He is playing his third season with MEG Goettingen. He played at New York University(NCAA 3) from 2003-2007. In his senior year, he played 28 games averaging 14.1ppg, 9.6rpg, 2.4bpg, 2.9apg, FG: 63.0%, FT: 64.3%. Two seasons ago, he played at Bernau(Regionalliga) before making the jump up three leagues to MEG Goettingen. Last season, he averaged 4.4ppg, 4.0rpg, FG: 53.7%.. He took some time to talk to German Hoops following the 76-71 win against FMP bringing BG Goettingen into the EuroChallenge Final 4.

Congrats Jason on reaching the Eurochallenge Final 4 with a 76-71 against FMP. Can you describe the feeling that you have at the moment? What was the scene like as the siren sounded?

Thanks a lot, it was a big win for us, we knew we wanted to close it out there and avoid a third game. We feel great about the chance to play for the EuroChallenge championship and once it was official we all threw our “fours” up.

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Branislav Ratkovica Aiming For The ACB One Day

Branislav Ratkovica is a 24 year old 193 cm guard from Serbia. He is playing his second season for The Walter Tigers Tuebingen. He started his basketball career in 2002 with Beopetrol Beograd. He played for Atlas Banka Novi Beograd from 2003-2006. In the 2006-2007, he played for BC Mega Ishrana Beograd. In 2007, he came to Germany and landed with The EWE Baskets Oldenburg, but found little playing time averaging only 2.3ppg, 1.0apg. Last season, he joined The Walter Tigers Tuebingen playing 29 games averaging 9.4ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 28.9%, FT: 63.4%. This season, he has belonged to the best assist players in the BEKO BBL as well as leading his team. He recently spoke to German Hoops.

You are playing your second season in Tuebingen. What are the biggest differences to playing in Oldenburg?

I arrived in Oldenburg and Germany as a rookie and I didn’t have a lot of opportunity to play. I played as Gardner’s substitution, who is one of the best point guards in the whole league. However, Tuebingen is a completely different story, as here I have the full support and trust from the coach and the board, which makes it an easier environment to play in.

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Velimir Radinovic Looking To Leave A Mark In The BEKO BBL

Velimir Radinovic is a 29 year old 212cm center that was born in Canada, but also has the Serbian citizenship as he has Serbian parents. He played at Ohio State from 2000-2004. He turned professional in 2004 and played for Reflex Beograd (SCG-1A): ULEB Cup: 10 games: 4.4ppg, 2.4rpg, FGP: 51.7%; Adriatic League: 30 games: 6.0ppg, 2.7rpg, FGP: 56.0%; 1A League: 14 games: 5.4ppg, 1.7rpg, 0.3apg. In 2005-2006, he played for FMP Zeleznik Beograd (SCG-1A): ULEB Cup: 4 games: 1.0ppg; Adriatic League: 10 games: 2.1ppg, 1.4rpg, in Dec.’05 signed at KK Hemofarm Vrsac (SCG-1A): ULEB Cup: 6 games: 7.3ppg, 1.8rpg, 2FGP: 88.9%; Adriatic League: 14 games: 3.1ppg, 1.8rpg; SCG Superleague: 5 games: 5.6ppg, 2.0rpg, 0.8apg. In 2006-2007, he played for KK Hemofarm Vrsac (SCG-A): Adriatic League: 26 games: 4.9ppg, 2.6rpg; ULEB Cup: 12 games: 9.3ppg, 4.1rpg, 2FGP: 64.1%, 3FGP: 0%, FT: 66.7%. In 2007-2008, he played in France for Stade Clermontois Basket Auvergne (France-ProA, starting five): 28 games: 5.6ppg, 3.9rpg, 2FGP: 57.3%, FT: 79.6%. Last season, he played in Greece for Iraklis Thessaloniki (Greece-A2): 29 games: 7.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 2FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 87.0%.

He joined MBC in March 2010 and had a chat with German Hoops.

You are now playing in Germany for MBC. You have played three games. How do you like the BEKO BBL:

I like the style of play, it’s very tough and physical. The competition has been really good, in my first game we defeated ALBA Berlin at home which was amazing, the atmosphere was great.

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The Artland Dragons Have The Talent But Will They Find The Right Page Together To Reach The Playoffs?

Sometimes basking in the glory of victory is something that should be cherished and done without a pause especially when some teams haven´t sipped champagne again for a long time like the Portland Trailblazers last winning the NBA title in 1977 with hulk Bill Walton, North Carolina State last raising the NCAA trophy in 1983 with Jim Valvano at the helm, but no organization has suffered as badly as The Chicago Cubs who last won the World Series before World War 1 in 1908, but The Artland Dragons might not have enjoyed the 2008 BEKO BBL Cup win long enough, because since then the team has had little to cheer about.

The Artland Dragons are still seeking their first BEKO BBL Championship, but were able to win the BEKO BBL cup in 2008 against EnBW Ludwigsburg. Who could forget the tear jerking moment of the heart and soul of the Dragons Darius Hall taking the BBL Cup to the fans and going wild as if he had just recently been introduced to partying at the Playboy mansion on a trip back to the States.

But since that joyous moment in May 2008, The Artland Dragons have not been making steady and consistent progress in the last 22 months, but the club seems to have gone backwards not reaching the playoffs last season and this season going a similar course as the club is currently in ninth place. It seems like the only positive thing remaining from the Cup win is the smile and humour of Darius Hall and the less positive things are the more and more disillusioned fans that have grown about as much as the frog population in Quakenbrück, a perplexed manager Marko Beens, and possibly mascot Toby the dragon losing his fire in his mouth.

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Achmadschah Zazai Runs Runs Runs And Runs In An Unforgettable 163-44 Loss

Achmadschah Zazai is a 22 year old German/Afghani 177 cm guard that started his basketball career for TUS Lichterfelde Berlin (2.Bundesliga) in 2003 and played there until 2005. In the 2005-2006 season, he played for SG FT/MTV Braunschweig (2.Bundesliga) playing 28 games and averaging 6.3ppg, 1.3rpg, 2.2apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 48.3%, 3FGP: 26.9%, FT: 75.0%. In 2006-2007, he played for BSG Ludwigsburg (Germany-Regionalliga) playing 15 games averaging 19.3ppg, and also had a license for EnBW Ludwigsburg (1. Bundesliga) playing 12 games and averaging 1.1ppg. In 2007-2008, he played for the Bremen Roosters (Germany-ProA) playing 14 games averaging 3.4ppg, 1.1apg, and then went to Denmark to play for Horsens IC playing 8 games and averaging 9.8ppg, 3.0rpg, Assists-3(4.5apg), 2.4spg, 2FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 29.0%, FT: 92.0%. Last season, he played for Telemotive Muenchen (Germany-ProB) playing 25 games averaging 13.6ppg, 2.4rpg, Assists-4(5.5apg), Steals-5(2.2spg), FGP: 53.9%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 82.4%. This season, he signed a three month contract with the Artland Dragons to help fill the void for injured Flavio Stückemann. He only played sparingly for The Artland Dragons. Then he played shortly with TV Langen and now plays for USC Freiburg. He spoke to German Hoops following the crazy 163-44 game against BG Karlsruhe.

As I saw the 163 – 44 result between BG Karlsruhe and USC Freiburg, I thought I was dreaming but it was reality, as USC Freiburg played with 3 players for 38 minutes. How could a game like this be played?

We had 10 players who were sick last week and we wanted to move the game to another day but Karlsruhe needed to play the game because of financial reasons. We started with 5 players, 2 were sick and could not play after 1:30 minutes and we ended the game with me and 2 junior players.

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Ronald Dupree Bringing A Breath Of NBA Air To The Telekom Baskets Bonn

Ronald Dupree is a 29 year old 199cm shooting guard/small forward from Biloxi, Mississippi. He played at LSU from 1999-2003 and was SEC champion in 2000. He wasn´t drafted by an NBA team, but played in the worlds best league from 2003-2008 with teams like the Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. And played 154 NBA games. He was NBA central division champion in 2005 and 2007. Last season, he played in the D-League for the Tulsa 66ers playing 18 games averaging 19.8ppg, 6.6rpg, 3.7apg, 1.6spg, FGP: 46.8%, 3PT: 31.3%, FT: 69.2%, and in Jan.2009 agreed to terms with the Utah Flash playing 33 games averaging 17.3ppg, 7.2rpg, 3.9apg, FGP: 49.2%, 3PT: 27.4%, FT: 79.2%. Ron spoke to German Hoops about the current Telekom Baskets Bonn season.

From 1999 to 2009, you played in the NCAA, NBA and D-League. Now you are playing your first season overseas in Europe. Has it been a culture shock for you?

Not really, because basketball is a universal game. There are small, detailed differences like with the footwork and the 3 second violations.

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