For basketball fans waiting for the lovable Shaq to make a free throw, waiting for a winner between the Oklahoma Thunder and The Memphis
Grizzlies in one of their playoff games which took three overtime periods, actor Robert de Niro choosing society girl Paris Hilton as his next love interest in a movie or Tom Brady finally taking a hint from teenage heartthrob Justin Bieber to finally cut his wild, long and out of control haircut feels like an eternity, but waiting 10 days during the always exciting playoff time for the next opponent for The Deutsche Bank Skyliners was long enough for Skyliner guard Jimmy Mckinney to sneak back to St Louis and do a cameo in a Nelly interview, current Skyliner MVP Dashaun Wood to go on the road with his MVP trophy and do public speaking on how to win a coveted award like that and Skyliner energy bundle Quantez Robertson could of secretly fled back to Cincinnati to conduct a playground street ball dunk contest with friend Mark Dorris and nobody would have noticed. Despite all this free time and temptation, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners were all present for game one with less game rhythm against 8 time beko BBL champion Alba Berlin and were as ready as Derrick Rose was for Lebron and The Miami Heat in game one, mountain climber Apa Sherpa climbing to the peak of Mount Everest a record 21 times or 
Roger Federer getting more competition form the young guns like Nadal and Djokovic as The Deutsche Bank Skyliners never gave up, but lost the game in the last seconds on account of a loose ball falling 81-80 in game one of the beko BBL semi finals against Alba Berlin. “Having such a long rest can be good or bad. WE were fresh were able to prepare well for the opponent, but we didn´t have game rhythm like Alba Berlin. One may hae thought that they may be tired after a long series against Oldenburg, but they were not tired in game one”, stressed Skyliner forward Kimmo Muurinen. “The 10 day rest didn´t hurt Frankfurt at all. They worked hard in this game. A long lay off can work for or against you, but Frankfurt has a great coach and players and this game could of gone either way”, stressed Alba Berlin guard Bryce Taylor.
Alba Berlin
Can Dashaun Wood Climb New Heights And Lead The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Past 8 Time beko BBL champion Alba Berlin Into the final?
In the last 10 days, basketball fans around the globe have seen the Los Angeles Lakers get clobbered by the Dallas Mavericks sending them back to la la land somewhat disillusioned as if they had seen the ghost of Dirk Nowitzki on the court, the Miami Heat saying farewell to the Boston Celtics 4-1 possibly missing their last chance of getting a title from the big 3 as they had absolutely no plan how to control Lebron James and Dwayne Wade as if the two NBA stars had seen some extra footage of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar from their glory days unwrapped from Pat Riley giving them extra motivation or the Chicago Bulls getting by the Atlanta Hawks with one man show Derrick “when do you need a basket” Rose or the Grizzlies-Thunder series battling back and fourth in an intense fight as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have had on the tennis court in the last years. With so much action and excitement going on in North America, Deutsche Bank Skyliner MVP and Mr road runner Dashaun Wood was able to closely follow the action, but make life comfortable from opponents as he stayed clear of any zones, because as Frankfurt had had a 10 day break waiting for their next opponent which turned out to be 8 time beko BBl champion Alba Berlin that tore apart the EWE Baskets Oldenburg in game 5, 99-68. This long delay in games for Frankfurt and absence of Wood was a good thing for beko BBL teams, since Wood has dominated in almost every game this season scoring in double figurers in 35 of 38 games making the zone his personal playground the same way Derrick Allen does for Alba Berlin and taking apart defenses the same way Lionel Messi does on the soccer pitch, Tiger Woods once used to do on the golf course or Formula one driver Sebastian Vettel is doing again on the race course. “Wood has been great all season. He puts Frankfurt on his back and carries them. One game he didnt play I think they lost by 30”, added Gloria Giants Duesseldorf guard Steven Wright. Wood who got his MVP award before game 3 against BG Goettingen will have had a long time to stare and remember what he has done this season from his little camera in his mind as he averaged 25ppg, 5,5rpg and 5,5apg in the Alba Berlin series and should continue to be a wrecking crew in the beko BBL playoffs. “I am sure Wood can gain more confidence by looking at his MVP trophy. He is always around a triple. I am sure he will be exciting and it will be something to watch”, added ex Walter Tigers Tuebingen guard Steven Wright. Or could Dashaun Wood take the force of that MVP award and make him even more stronger and step up his game and be like a mini Derrick Rose, Lebron James or Dwayne Wade?”Wood is one of the fastest players I played against. He is a very dominant player. He can win games, score, rebound, and lead the team. I mean what else can you ask for from a player? If he had the athletic ability of Dwayne Wade or Lebron James then he wouldn´t be playing in the beko BBL. I heard people say he is not that good. You got give credit when credit is due. Men lie, Women lie, numbers don´t”, warned ex Braunschweig guard Steven Wright.
Alba Berlin-EWE Baskets Oldenburg Playoff Preview 3-1
If you were to have entered the cook county jail in Chicago in the 70s and told a prisoner(Chicago Cubs fan) who was about to be set free and had been totally shielded from society for the last 30 years that the Chicago Cubs had recently won 4 World Series in a row after not having sipped the champagne since 1908, would have been as cruel as banning sunglasses from society girl Paris Hilton forever, the Boston Celtic organization putting a clause in the contract of Rajon Rondo not allowing him to follow his passion of roller skating, because of the fear of possible injury or Charlie Sheen not coming to the rescue of former Met star Lenny Dykstra´s 22,000$ debt after the former baseball player had tried to get a star lawyer to help negotiate the return of the actor back to Two and a half men, but for faithful Alba Berlin basketball fans the waiting of experiencing titles has not been as cruel in Chicago, but in Berlin winning was a tradition from 1997-2003, but since then the team has only won one league title in 2008 and two cups in 2006 and 2009. After their undesirable and somewhat unexpected and embarrassing departure last season in the quarterfinals against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners, the expectations to win grows as much as the anticipation of the Royal wedding between William and Kate, if Charlie Sheen will make it a habit to lock lips with elderly women at his show and how long the new found love between teen stars Justin Bieber and Selina Gomez. For the EWE Baskets Oldenburg, they are a novice compared to
8 time beko BBL champion Alba Berlin when it comes to kissing hardware and making additional trophy cases for their titles. The Oldenburg club led by coach Predrag Krunic won their first and only title in 2009 beating The Telekom Baskets in game 5 in the last seconds and since then have been unable to recapture the success of the fabulous 2008-2009 season. Both teams have something to prove to their fans and themselves and will be as motivated as German basket ball star Dirk Nowitzki to reach the next round and despite start problems against the Portland Trailblazers, Kevin Love not taking off the summer and continuing to work hard in the gym and on the court to return next season even better than he is now or The Boston Red Sox trying to rebound from their sickening 11-12 start and attempt to continue to give The New York Yankees competition in the dog days of summer.
Niels Giffey(UCONN): If You Say In Germany That Your Goal Is The NBA, You Only Get A Funny Look
Niels Giffey is a 19 year old 200CM shooting guard/small forward that was born in Berlin and is currently a freshman playing for the UCONN 
Huskies. He started his basketball career for Marzahn Basket Baeren (2.Regionalliga) in 2005-2006. In 2007-2008, he played for TUS Lichterfelde Berlin (Pro B): 17 games: 2.4ppg, 1.2rpg. He played for Alba Berlin II (Regionalliga) from 2008-2010 and last season played 14 games: 9.6ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.5apg, 1.1spg. Some awards/achievements in his young career so far have been U16 National Team -06-07, European Championships U16 in Jaen (Spain) -06: 8 games: 6.8ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 46.8%, 3FGP: 50%, FT: 41.2%, European Championships U16 Division B in Skopje (FYR Macedonia) -07, German U18 National Team -08-09, Albert Schweitzer International Tournament in Mannheim (Unofficial World Championships U18) -08, Adidas World Junior Tournament in Douai (France) -08, European Championships U18 in Amaliada Pyrgos (Greece) -08: 6 games: 6.8ppg, 2.8rpg, 1.5apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 46.7%, 3PT: 22.2%, FT: 70.0%, Nike Euroleague Junior Tournament (Unofficial European Clubs Junior Championships) -09, German NBBL All-Star Game -10, German Regionalliga (North Group) Champion -10, German U20 National Team -10, Eurobasket.com German All-Regionalliga North Second Team -10, and Eurobasket.com German All-Regionalliga North Domestic Players Team -10. German Hoops spoke to the young German prior to March Madness about his life in the NCAA.
How do you like American football? UCONN has a successful football team.
I have been to one game. They have a very good team won the Big East. At first it was hard to understand the game, but with time I have began to enjoy the sport.
Derrick Allen Returns Home And Hasn´t Forgotten The Ballerina Moves And Kevin McHale Type Fade Away Jumper Pacing Alba Berlin by The Deutsche Bank Skyliners 79-70
One Thing that is always interesting to observe in professional sports is when a player returns back to his old stomping ground for the first time since his departure. How an athlete is received by the fans can be positive or negative. Ken Griffey jr returned back to Seattle in 2007 as a Cincinnati Red and received a 15 minute tribute, Michael Jordan came back to Chicago as a Washington Wizard and got several minutes of standing ovations or Wayne Gretzky returning back to Edmonton where he won 4 Stanley Cups as an L.A King listened to 4 minutes of standing ovations and got cheers every time he touched the puck while other returns have not been as memorable as Johnny Damon of the New York Yankees came back to Boston and witnessed as the fans unleashed a fury of boos, or Bret Favre going back to Green Bay where he won a Super Bowl in 1997 as a Minnesota Viking and was violently booed by fans. However for Derrick Allen to be booed, who played three season with the Deutsche Bank Skyliners and was loved by everyone was about as unlikely as Charlie Sheen letting the cat have his tongue for at least 24 hours as it seems like he is constantly talking to some media outlet. Allen led Alba Berlin in scoring with 17 points and helped his team make a furious come back in the third quarter and lead the 8 time BEKO BBL champion to a 79-70 win and was all smiles after the win. Allen was put in OT duty long after the win signing autographs for everyone while the first players had finished showering. At times it looked likes a swarm of bees were hovering around Allen and the American as the queen Bee as his yellow warm up suit made him fit that part “Wearing the yellow wasn´t as strange as coming back into the arena again. It already felt strange last night practicing here. It felt great playing here and I am very proud of my ex teammates and the type of season that they are having”, warned Derrick Allen. Everyone in Frankfurt talks about Wood for MVP while in Berlin its Allen. “Allen is our MVP. He represents the heart of the team. He is our leader and everyone else follows him in line”, stressed ex Telekom Baskets Bonn guard Bryce Taylor.
Derrick Allen (Alba Berlin): Dashaun Wood Would Get My Vote For MVP Since He Is Playing At A High Level At The Moment
Derrick Allen is a 30 year old 203cm forward that grew up in Gadsen Alabama and is playing his first season with Alba Berlin. He is a rugged inside player who attacks the glass, will provide help on the boards, is a solid defender in the post, a competitor and hard worker that can score facing the basket and has shooting range to the foul line. He started his career at Southern Union State from 1998-2000. He then transferred to Mississippi and played there from 2000-2003. He then started his professional basketball career in Iceland playing for Keflavikur ripping up the FIBA Europe Cup playing 8 games and averaging 26.6ppg, 9.4rpg, 2.5apg, 1.8spg and playing 22 games in the Iceland league averaging 23,4ppg, 10.5rpg. He won the Icelandic league and cup title in his rookie season. In 2004, he ventured to Germany and has played there ever since with two years in Karlsruhe, one year in Leverkusen and played with The Deutsche Bank Skyliners from 2007-2010 playing 148 games for them. In 2006-2007, he led Leverksuen into the playoffs and led the BBL in scoring playing 38 games and averaging 16.5ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 50.6%, 3FGP: 32.3%, FT: 72.2%. In 2007-2008, he was second best scorer in the BBL for Frankfurt playing 43 games and averaging 18.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.9apg, 2FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 75.6%; and playing 10 ULEB Cup games finishing as the third best scorer averaging 19.9ppg, 7.9rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 54%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 72.9%. He has reached four BBL playoffs in five seasons and played in the four BEKO BBL Allstar games He spoke to German Hoops before the game against The Deutsche Bank Skyliners March 20th.
How has the adjustment been for you as a player from Luka Pavicevic to Muli Katzurin. How much of the Alba Berlin style has changed and does it fit your game more now?
Well for me it was an easy adjustement. Coach Luka played a more controlled pace, and Coach Muli plays uptempo and more face pace. Both styles fit my game, im still playing the same way.
Mr Road Runner Dashaun Wood Looks To Outbolt The Gracefulness Of Mr Ballerina Derrick Allen As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Clash With Alba Berlin March 20th
When studying players before an upcoming season, there is usually no reason not to expect spectacular seasons from fabulous athletes like Sydney Crosby from the Pittsburg Penguins, a Lionel Messi from FC Barcelona, a Kobe Bryant from the Los Angeles Lakers or a Tom Brady from The New England Patriots because these guys have been having incredible years with their clubs winning titles and landing at the top of the league leaders in stats. Before the 2010-2011 BEKO BBL season, one might not have doubted a Derrick Allen not having a superb season with Alba Berlin after dominating the league the last 6 years in Germany or a Dashaun Wood who had been the top scorer in Italy for Cantu, however there was a possible cloudy forecast on the horizon for both players as Derrick Allen was going to Alba Berlin where the team is filled with so many players that could be top scorer and a Wood who was hurt with Benetton Treviso in 2008-2009 and didn´t even play last year. However both players seemed to have totally exceeded expectations as Allen has fit into both systems of Luka Pavicevic and Muli Katzurin and is leading the team in scoring and shooting 64% from the field the best in his career and still displaying his ballerina moves despite having a team filled with superstars and Wood has shown no ill effects of a knee injury and is possibly the most unstoppable player in the BEKO BBL in a long time as he has dominated like crazy. It really is no wonder that both players have adjusted so well. “Both players are professionals. Both have always had successful years and they play with the right attitude. One also should not forget that both have played for good teams and good coaches”, stressed Skyliner sport director Kamil Novak. It hasn´t surprised John Bynum either how well both players have developed with their new teams. “Both are great players and are showing why they are premier players in the BBL. I expected D.A. to have a good season because he has been consistent every where he has been at in Germany. I didnt know much about Wood but he is showing why he is one of if not the best point guard in the league”, added TBB Trier guard John Bynum. The duel Allen/Wood will be the highlight in the game as Mr Ballerina Derrick Allen will try to tip toe more gracefully than Mr Road Runner Dashaun Wood can bolt to the hoop. Is this a game where both guys could battle and eclipse the 30 point mark? “Both guys are the key players for both teams. The role of Allen is to score and Wood can score and is the second best assist maker. They are two different type of players that could score 30, but I think it will eb difficult for both to make it in this game”, expressed Kamil Novak.
4.6 Seconds to Immortality
I have followed the german basketball scene for about two decades now. There have been so many moments worth to remember, so many close finishes in games, so many incredible shots and plays that will be in my mind forever. But if I had to choose one it would definitely be the special one that comes up first to me. You need some keywords? OK, here they are: Mithat Demirel, German Cup Final 2003, Cologne vs. Berlin.
If you still have no clue what I’m talking about then it’s time for a BBL history lesson.
Albakiller Reloaded: Bamberg dominates Alba Berlin
Ever since both teams met in the 2003 BBL Finals Bamberg vs Berlin is a BBL classic. In 2004 Frankfurt won the BBL championship but it was 
Bauermann’s Bamberg that ended Berlin’s championship reign from 1997 – 2003. The fans from the capital city share a big rivalry with the basketball freaks from Franconia and no other win could be sweeter than one against the biggest opponent.
If you ask experts about the teams that could face each other in the finals this year I guess most people will bet their money on Bamberg and Berlin. While Bamberg is still undefeated in the domestic league, Berlin has re-built its roster and still has to work on some aspects. Pavicevic’s team looked pretty competitive in games against Bonn, Frankfurt and Oldenburg. But the game in Bamberg should finally prove if the new Berlin team is on par with the reigning champion Bamberg. But after a close first quarter (18:17) Alba Berlin was simply destroyed by a almost perfect playing Bamberg squad. At the end of the game one had to look twice at the scoreboard. 103:52!
A loss by 51 points???
This was Alba Berlin’s biggest loss in 21 years of team history!
Derrick Allen Out Dances Road Runner Dashaun Wood As Alba Berlin Nips The Deutsche Bank Skyliners 81-77
When going to the spectacular German capital Berlin one can look forward to seeing new athletic wear at Nike town, taking in a spec of nature in the animal garden, visit the last remains of the Berlin wall across the street of the O2 world arena, or possibly seeing a squabble between German rapper Sido and a fan, but one thing the Deutsche Bank Skyliners weren´t looking forward to was having to get a live lecture in ballerina moves from ex Skyliner forward Derrick Allen. One can enjoy acting lessons from Denzel Washington, singing lessons from Mariah Carey or free throw help from Rick Barry, but who wants lessons in ballerina moves from Allen who can use it to his advantage and hurt The Deutsche Bank Skyliners? It wasn´t only the hectic play, spins and pull up jumpers from Allen who supports the Indianapolis Colts, but a supporting cast of teammates that stepped it up in the second half beating Frankfurt 81-77 and snapping their seven game winning streak. Alba Berlin copied what Frankfurt did all last season giving them a taste of their own medicine coming back and winning in the last minutes. “This is a game that we could have won. We led for 36 minutes and then didn´t have enough power at the end to win. We had some turnovers and Berlin stepped up their defense. They made us took tough shots, got easy baskets and we missed two key free throws. It was little mistakes at the end that cost us the game”, stressed Skyliner sports director Kamil Novak. “The key at the end was that we locked down our defense and made stops. We also made the right decisions on offense and executed well”, stated ex Telekom Baskets Bonn guard Bryce Taylor. Despite the loss, the Skyliners weren´t hanging their heads as they departed the locker room after the game. “We played a very good team that was very difficult to play. It was clear that at some point that they would make a run”, stressed Skyliner center Marius Nolte.
German Hoops 