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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Jason Boone Reflects On Reaching The EuroChallenge Elite 8

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%. This season, he is averaging 21 minutes per game and is averaging 11,0ppg, 5,6rpg and 1,1bs. He took some time to talk to German Hoops after the 89-68 win against Krasnie Krilya in EuroChallenge play.

Jason congrats on reaching the Elite 8 of the Eurochallenge beating Krasnie Krilya 89-68. How good of a feeling is this? Is this your biggest achievement as a professional basketball player?

Thank you, this year has been a year of a lot of “firsts” in my professional basketball career and the Elite 8 is great but the Final 4 will be much more enjoyable.

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Gerald Robinson Has No Happy End With USC Freiburg

Gerald Robinson is a 25 year old 204cm forward that was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Los Angeles. He is blessed with tremendous size and length. He demonstrates tremendous athletic ability and excellent leaping skills, which makes him a difficult match up for any team to guard. He is a true team leader and has a knack for hitting the big shot. He can take the defender off the dribble or use his incredible range and size to shoot over the defender. He played at Tennessee-Martin from 2004-2008 and in his senior year he played 28 games averaging 14.0ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.1spg, FGP: 40.7%, 3Pts: 30.3%, FT: 64.0%.

Last season, he split time between Spain and the UK with Alerta Cantabria Lobos (Spain-LEB Bronze, starting five): 9 games: 3.3ppg, 2.1rpg, in Dec.’08 moved to Oviedo Club Baloncesto (Spain-LEB Bronze), Spanish League: 3 games: 7.7ppg, 3.3rpg; left in Jan.’09, then moved to Airwaves Plymouth Raiders (United Kingdom-BBL): 18 games: 8.6ppg, 4.1rpg, 2FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 35.9%, FT: 67.9%.

This season, he played with USC Freiburg before being released. He spoke to German Hoops about why he got fired.

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Bamberg Is In Play-Off Shape Now

With 9-10 games left to play in the regular season it becomes more and more obvious which teams should end up in the top 8 and qualify for the 2010 BBL Play-Offs.

It looks like a safe bet that we should see 8-time champion Alba Berlin (19-5), reigning champion EWE Baskets Oldenburg (17-6), surprise team BG Goettingen (17-6) and vice-champion Telekom Baskets Bonn (17-8) in the post season.

But from position 5 to 12 teams are still battling hard to see some play-off action in May. It is like playing musical chairs with just four seats left for 8 teams: Bamberg (15-10), Frankfurt (15-10), Bremerhaven (15-10), Braunschweig (14-11), Artland Dragons (13-12), Mitteldeutscher BC (13-12), EnBW Ludwigsburg (12-12) and the Walter Tigers Tübingen (12-13) eye the post-season, but just four of those teams will be able to compete in May and June.

A team that has stood out in the last few weeks is Bamberg.

Similar to the last few years the Brose Baskets Bamberg had a difficult start into the season. Starting Point Guard John Goldsberry had to miss 6 games due to an injury and it took some time for new players like Casey Jacobson, Brian Roberts and Tibor Pleiss to adept to their new roles. A four game losing streak in November really made some fans question whether Chris Fleming should be replaced. But it seems like the same old story every year: After the usual false start Bamberg’s team is getting better and better from game to game.

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Adam Baumann Career Ending Interview

Adam Baumann is a 28 year old 203cm power forward/center that recently announced his retirement from professional basketball to return home to Arizona to pursue a career as a fire fighter. He is from Scottsdale, Arizona and played at Yavapai and Youngstown in the NCAA.

He started his professional basketball career in 2004 in Germany and played overseas for five and half years. He played with Phoenix Hagen from 2004-2008 in the second Bundesliga. In three of four years, he had double double stats in points and rebounds. His best season with Phoenix Hagen was 2006-2007 as he played 29 games averaging 19.2ppg, Reb-2(11.2rpg), 1.2apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 62%, 3FGP: 28.9%, FT: 83.5%. Last season, he played for VFL Kirchheim in the PRO A playing 30 games averaging 16.5ppg, Reb-3(10.1rpg), 1.2spg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 78.6%. This season, he played 13 games with BBC Bayreuth averaging 14,2ppg, 4,7rpg, 1,6apg in 22 minutes per game.

He gave German Hoops a exclusive career ending interview.

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Kyle Bailey Reflects About EnBW Ludwigsburg

Kyle Bailey is a 27 year old 188 cm guard from Fairbanks Alaska that is a very smart player who handles the ball well, performs well under pressure and regularly is the first player at practice and the last to leave. He played at Santa Clara with Macabbi Tel Aviv guard Doron Perkins from 2000-2005. In his senior year, he played 31 games averaging 14.8ppg, 4.7rpg, 4.2apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 37.2%, 3Pts: 31.3%. In his first professional season in 2005-2006, he split time between the Florida Flame(NBDL) and BK Riga of the Latvian league.

In 2006-2007, he went to Germany to play for BG Goettingen playing 29 games and averaging 20.8ppg, 5.7rpg, 3.0apg, 2.8spg, 2FGP: 48.1%, 3FGP: 35.9%, FT: 77.0%. He led the team into the BBL winning the second league north. In 2007-2008, he played for Ratiopharm Ulm playing 18 games averaging 12.6ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 47.3%, 3PT: 31.0%, FT: 64.5%. Last season, he helped lead MEG Goettingen into the playoffs playing 23 games and averaging 14.4ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.3apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 43.5%, 3PT: 32.1%, FT: 74.2%. He sat down with German Hoops after leaving EnBW Ludwigsburg.

Kyle, your season ended a little early with EnBW Ludwigsburg. How disappointed are you with the termination of your contract?

I am pretty disappointed.

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Ade Dagunduro(MBC) Ready To Unleash Another Weapon In The Second Half Of The Season

Ade Dagunduro is a 23 year old 196cm guard from Inglewood, California that is playing his first season in the BEKO BBL fort he MBC Wolves. He grew up a few steps from the legendary Forum which was home to NBA legends like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jaabar and James Worthy. He started his career at Antelope Valley junior college before transfering to Nebraska. In the 2007-2008 season, he played 33 games averaging 8.9ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 49.1%, 3Pts: 36.4%, FT: 60.6%. In his senior year, he played 31 games averaging 12.8ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 52.0%, 3Pts: 34.4%, FT: 69.7%. He took some time to talk to German Hoops about his rookie season with MBC recently

What kind of experience was it for you to take place at the 2010 BEKO BBL Allstar game slam dunk contest? What was your feeling going into the event? Did you think that you could win?

It was great experience to participate in the Beko dunk contest that was my first dunk contest ever and I had a lot of fun. I just didn’t want to embarass myself particpating. I felt that if I made it to the final round then I would be able to win it.

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Despite The Current 13th place Of Ratiopharm Ulm, The Team And Robin Benzing Are Fun To Watch

At this time last season, Ratiopharm Ulm with Jeff Gibbs, Romeo Travis, Dru Joyce and co were gleaming in the playoff range while 12 months later and on the eve of Superbowl 44, the club is toiling in 13th place, but coach Mike Taylor and the team can put their feet up and enjoy the game with a smile and be relatively happy with the current fortune of the team. The team was unable to keep key players from last season and got a facelift that totally left the club unrecognizable just like actress Melanie Griffith except for the friendly wide smile of coach Mike Taylor and a few players as he had to build a new winner in Ulm. Nobody was really expecting the team to reach the playoffs and seemed more concerned and interested about the season that Robin Benzing would have.

“I am happy with how Ratiopharm Ulm has played. We had some tough loses against Phoenix Hagen and The Giessen 46ers. I think if we would have won those games, most people would have said that we are playing well and we would have 10 wins and be pretty close to being saved for next season. We need two more wins and then we will be ok for next season”, stressed ratiopharm Ulm manager Thomas Stoll.

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