There are always those type of players in the Beko BBL that have that killer instinct and just don´t show any fear when they are making an opponent´s defense look like a hapless antelope if it should go left, right or backwards with the ensuing stampede of jaguars approaching on the prarie in Senegal. Recently there was Brian Roberts who played for the Brose Baskets Bamberg and now has made the jump to the NBA New Orleans Hornets that could carry the Freak city team to wins in crucial situations with his scoring in bunches mentality. The Fraport Skyliners recently acquired candy lover Ted Scott that didn’t waste anytime making 20 points in his debut in Trier and having TBB Trier head coach Henrik Rodl remembering his name. Scott has that all business killer instinct that would be extra lethal if he would play along side ex Skyliner Jimmy Mckinney that can devour defenses with the best of them. This season Alba Berlin have a new player with Nihad Djedovic who is one of the most talented players in Europe from the 1990 birth year and hails from Bosnia. He can shoot in transition, off the dribble, off the catch and is absolutely fearless. Showed ability to put the ball on the floor and finish to the hoop or create for others. He already played in the ACB as a 19 year old for Xacobeo BluSens Obradoiro being loaned from FC Barcelona. He played for Acea Virtus Roma (Italy-SerieA) where he scored in double figures both seasons. So far this season, the youngster has shown no timidness being a very important role player in the Sasa Obradovic rotation. In an Alba Berlin roster that has enough scoring power to give a coach like Silvano Poropat jealousy attacks, the young Bosnian has shown that desire for taking responsibility and having that killer instinct in big crucial moments. When watching him on the court, he has that old school look with his uncommon moustache that makes him look more like a Bosnian butcher than a basketball player. On the court, he has been as focused as supermodel Gisele Bundchen recently was for letting her full blown baby bump get into the way of weekend plans with her hubby Tom Brady, singer Katy Perry not showing any ill will backing Barack Obama in a Milwaukee reelection rally or super funny Chris Rock using his unique comedic style making a special message to help persuade undecided white voters to reelect Barack Obama. At times, Djedovic makes some bad decisions, but that is normal for a young player and so far this season seems to have convinced the organization Alba Berlin of his talents on the court and has matured quickly to the grind and playing style of the Beko BBL. 2011 Beko BBL MVP Dashaun Wood has been more than impressed with his new teammate. “I like his game a lot. At every practice I have amazed at what he can do. He can do so much on the offensive and defensive end. He is such a smart player as well. I am always telling him in practice how much I like a certain pass or move from him. He is so young, but has already played at such a high level. So far in my career there hasn´t been a player where I could say that he has amazed me in practice until him. He does things where you really have say wow. He has a very high skill level”, warned Detroit native DaShaun Wood.
Alba Berlin
Johannes Herber (Fraport Skyliners) Jacob Burtschi Would Be The Hunter And I Would Build The Hut In The Wilderness
Johannes Herber is a 29 year old 197cm shooting guard from Darmstadt, Germany that is playing his first season for the Fraport Skyliners. He started his basketball career in 1999 for TV Langen where he played until 2002. He then played for West Virginia from 2002-2006 playing a total of 128 NCAA games reaching the NCAA elite 8 in 2005 and NCAA Sweet 16 in 2006. H ethen played for Alba Berlin from 2006-2009 playing a total of 48 Beko BBL games and 10 ULEB Cup games and two Euroleague games. He battled ACL injuries in his time in the German capital. Last season, he played for the Walter Tigers Tuebingen playing 34 games averaging 6.6ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 30.8%, FT: 66.7%. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against Alba Berlin.
What do you remember most from the amazing 76-68 win against the Brose Baskets Bamberg?
Just the good feeling after the game. It is also nice seeing how the team has developed since the first loss in Bamberg and how many steps it has taken.
Bamberg came back in the second quarter to lead 37-36. How big was the belief of winning still at halftime?
The belief was there. We had shown early that we felt we could win with our good start. We got a bit tired in the second quarter and it was obvious that there would be some runs in this game. We wanted to play the third quarter like we did in the first quarter and did. If someone had told us before the game that we would be down by one point at halftime, we would very gladly have accepted it.
Nino Garris: Pascal Roller Could Read A Play And Knew Things On The Court Before They Happened
Nino Garris is a 32 year old 200cm forward that is playing in the German Regionaliga for TV Salzkotten. He is a very athletic player with a lot of European experience(Euroleague, Uleb Cup,), great competitor, can defend very hard and he´ll gets rebounds in a crowd because he´s tough.
A complete team player, who plays smart and hard. He started his basketball career with Paderborn in 1996. He then played one season for TuS Lichterfelde before moving up to Alba Berlin in 1999 where he played until 2005. With Alba Berlin, he played a total of 132 Beko BBL games and 38 Euroleague games. He was German champion four times and cup winner twice with Alba Berlin. He then played for the Deutsche Bank Skyliners from 2005-2008 where he had to fight with injury woes. He played a total of only 52 Beko BBL games and seven ULEB cup games. He finished his Beko BBL career with his hometown team Paderborn Baskets in 2008-2009. He spoke to German Hoops about the Pascal Roller farewell game January 28th.
It has been a while since you last played in the Beko BBL. Do you miss it?
I wouldn´t really say that I miss it. It was a nice time in my life, but life goes on and I have a new chapter in it now.
How is it playing in the German Regionaliga with TV Salzkotten. Do young opponents sometimes ask you for basketball advice?
After I retired from the Beko BBL in 2009, I took about 1.5 years to see what I would do. I also didn´t play to much active sport, so I gained about 20 kilos and was having back pain. But after a while it was clear that I could never stay fully away from basketball, because I love it too much. I then joined TV Salzkotten which keeps me fit. Here and there people will ask me what is was like as a player, but I really dont get asked so much.
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.
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.
DaShaun Wood(Alba Berlin): Winning In Munich Was like A Dream For Me
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 after the 85-79 win against FC Bayern Munich.
Congrats on the 85-79 win in Munich giving the team of Dirk Bauermann their first loss at home. What was the atmosphere like there playing in front of German soccer player Bastian Schweinstieger and everyone else?
Winning in Munich was like a dream for me. It is a great city with great fans, a great coach and many great German national players. The atmosphere was great and it was great competing at a high level and winning the game in their arena.
Michigan beat Ohio State 40-34 today who have the blue and yellow colors as does Alba Berlin. I guess the color of the day was blue and yellow?
I am from Michigan and today was perfect. Michigan and Ohio State are two great rivals and the funny thing is that Ohio State and Bayern Munich both wear the color red.
DaShaun Wood And His Baldi´s Angels Solve How To Take Apart The Fraport Skyliners 83-57
Sometimes returning back to an ex stomping ground can be as painful for a professional athlete like it is for a once cute Jerry 
Maguire kid Jonathan Lipnicki getting blasted by Family Guy for growing into something less than attractive, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler falling on his face in a Paraguay hotel room shower loosing a few teeth suffering from dehydration or ex NFL star Terrell Owens giving a topless try out for NFL teams and not getting a thumbs up from NFL legend Jerry Rice and Keyshawn Johnson. This weekend marked the return of Baldi´s Angels who are the three ex Skyliners Derrick Allen who will always have hero status in Frankfurt and 2004 Beko BBL champion head coach Gordon Herbert and 2011 Beko BBL MVP Dashaun Wood who left on less friendly terms sneaking out the back door to the German capital last summer. Charlies Angels is a popular American detective series from the 70s and had a successful movie a decade back who were a trio of hot women solving crimes, while the 8 time Beko BBL champion Alba Berlin have Baldi´s angels who solve ways to win on the court and had little difficulty getting run off the court, but moreover solved quickly how to lead their team to a demolition of their ex team 83-57. “ We three have fought hard to have a career in Berlin and now are in the process of bringing titles to Berlin. Herbert and Allen have played for titles in Frankfurt and I being the current MVP, we hope that these three angels can come together and bring titles to Berlin”, warned Detroit native Dashaun Wood. “Those angels bring much to the table. Herbert leads them, Wood does so much setting team up and creating for himself and Allen is a tough player that brings energy and goes hard to the glass”, stressed 2011 Milwaukee Bucks Draft pick Jon Leuer. “Herbert, Allen and Wood are agreat combination. They play well together like basketball angels”, added Skyliner guard Michael Thompson. Second year man Bryce Taylor had to watch from the bench nursing a shoulder injury, but watched Baldi´s angels with enjoyment. “We have a great coach who is tough on us, but gets the best out of each player. Allen and Wood are our leaders and we know that we can count on them. They lead by example, but can be vocal. They solved a way to lead us to victory, but each guy on the team helped tonight. They didn´t need me tonight. We have a deep team. When a guy is out, others step up”, commented Bryce Taylor.
Can The Fraport Skyliners Slow Down Alba Berlin And Baldi´s Angels
When making tasty American Tollhouse cookies, delectable Frankfurter Wuerstchen or scrumptious maultaeschen and Spaetzle from the Schwabenland, you cant just add ordinary spices, but you need that special mix that will get your stomach itching for more and more. In sports its no different as in order to be successful, a team needs the right gusto. The ex Skyliner trio of Gordon Herbert, Derrick Allen and Dashaun Wood want to follow trios like Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen who won 6 NBA Tiles in Chicago, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Adam Vinitieri that won 3 Superbowls in Boston and Fox Broadcasting Company, Matt Groening and Homer Simpson that have been on the air for 24 years and be successful and get that first title together with Alba Berlin together. Only Herbert has won a title in the BEKO BBL while Wood has his 2011 Beko BBL MVP trophy and has stated that winning is the first order on the agenda for the road runner who will go that extra distance down the long and lonely road is looking for his first and Derrick Allen who has supplied the league with his beautiful ballerina moves for years and is itching for that first title and is as motivated as Karl Malone once was with the Utah Jazz. Alba Berlin last won a title with the Beko BBL Cup in 2009 and with this trio have as much motivation and heart as any team would ever want to have. Any male that has watched TV will have seen reruns of the well knows 70s detective show Charlies Angels or the movie version with Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu with the man in the backround Charles Townsend pulling the strings. It is no different in Berlin with Marco Baldi who brought in his trio of basketball angels Derrick Allen, Dashaun Wood and Gordon Herbert who don´t solve crimes, but solve ways to bring titles to the Spree. “I think these guys will help Berlin out a great deal this season and as far as who you can compare them to is hard to say. DA does deserve a title as hard as he plays and what he has done for the BBL. He is a reps Ted player around the league and hopefully he will get his chance before his time is up”, warned TBB Trier guard John Bynum. “Baldi has done a good job getting his angels. First it was Derrick Allen and now Gordon Herbert and Dashaun Wood. Frankfurt has shown in the last years doing a good job developing basketball talent. Herbert always has a trick up his sleeve and I think this year that a title is in the making for Alba Berlin”, stressed Skyliner Fabian Franke.
Teamcheck 2011/2012: Alba Berlin
There was a time between 1996-2003 that the basketball world of Alba Berlin seemed as perfect as the Michael Jordan run with the Chicago Bulls, the seemingly always flawless face of Cindy Crawford even in her rise in age or the breathless scenery of the lake Geneva. In these 7 years Alba Berlin was able to win 10 German basketball titles, including 7 league titles in a row and three cup wins. Alba Berlin ruled the German basketball world and was on top of the world like Dirk Nowitzki currently is after winning his first NBA title, or 19 year old Borrusia Dortmund German Mario Gotze currently is by invitation of the media. However since 2003, the team that plays in the posh O-2 World arena has seemed to lost that magic touch as they have only been able to win 3 titles in the last seven years with the league title in 2008 and two cup wins 2006 and 2009. What have been the main problems? Did the team loose their hunger in 2003 which somehow has been transferred over to the next teams? The Beko BBL has become more competitive and athletic in the last 5 years, coaches have come and gone, and the player transfers have not always seemed to have fit and team chemistry was lacking as well. Despite being only a game away last season from winning their 9th title, Alba Berlin knows that in order not to get passed this season by a Bamberg and Munich, the club had to react and could have heightened their title chances in 2012 with the arrival of mastermind coach Gordon Herbert.
Last season, Alba Berlin rebounded well after not knowing how the coaching change from Luka Pavicevic to Muli Katzurin would end, but the club lost on the road to the always very strong Brose Baskets Bamberg in 5 games in the Beko BBL final. Alba Berlin had chances to win game 5, but some small mistakes and missed shots coupled with some big John Goldsberry three pointers washed out their hopes of bringing the championship back to the Spree. Muli Katzurin did a wonderful job taking over a squad in mid season changing the Pavicevic style and making the Albatros game more fast and mixing up the defensive sets. He led the team from a come from behind series win against the EWE Baskets Oldenburg and a very satisfying win over the Deutsche Bank Skyliners winning 3 games on the foreign floor of the Ballsporthalle. Katzurin brought new life to guys like Bryce Taylor and Heiko Schaffartzik, but somehow despite him saving the season from a possible nightmare had he not stepped up to the helm in January, Alba Berlin was looking in a new direction with Gordon Herbert.
Dashaun Wood(Alba Berlin): When I Committed To Alba Berlin, A Part Of My Heart Stayed In Frankfurt.
DaShaun Wood is a 25 year old 185cm point guard from Detroit, Michigan that recently completed his first season in Germany for The Deutsche Bank Skyliners. He played 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 won All-German Bundesliga Player of the Year -11, Eurobasket.com All-German Bundesliga Guard of the Year -11, Eurobasket.com All-German Bundesliga Import Player of the Year -11, Eurobasket.com All-German Bundesliga 1st Team -11, and Eurobasket.com German Bundesliga All-Imports Team -11. 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 avergaing 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: 7. German Hoops caught Dashaun while in Detroit over the phone.
The Skyliner world has been turned a bit upside down in the last 72 hours as Gordon Herbert signed with alba Berlin and you followed him signing a two year deal. Could this move have been prevented?
Yes I think it could have been prevented, but I had certain clauses in the contract and one was being that I would only stay if coach Herbert stayed. I am very thankful to the Frankfurt organization for having been able to come back after not playing for a year and play there. The Skyliner fans showed great support. I told you last season that the most important thing for me is to win titles and Alba Berlin gives me and coach the best opportunity of reaching that goal.
German Hoops 