Artland Dragons

Where Will The Grab Bag Fate Of The Artland Dragons End This Season?

So Much Basketball Talent With The Artland Dragons, But So Little Titles?

Who could forget Darius Hall partying with the 3000 fans in Hamburg after the big 74-60 cup win against ENbW Ludwigsburg in 2008 looking like rapper Joseph Bruce of Detroit rap group Dark Lotus giving a concert. That was the first and last title of the Artland Dragons. That 2007-2008 team was simply so special as Chris fleming finally was rewarded with his hard work and dedication with his first title, American John Goldsberry continued to develop as a point guard and by leading the Dragons to that title helped pave the road to joining Euroleague team Brose baskets Bamberg where he has been since 2008 or American EJ Rowland who after playing in lower leagues in Australia and Latvia was able to continue to chip away at his game then landing in Bonn and almost helping them to a title in 2009 and then moving up to top leagues in Italy and Spain. Every season the club is able to bring in top talented players, but in return are incapable of bringing extended pandemonium to the small 12,000 village with hardware. The list of top players having played in the Artland has been as unending as the Cleveland Cavaliers losing streak of 26 games in 2010-2011 or Psy having to utter the magic words of Gangnam Style since the innovative track became a world wide hit in 2012. Guys that have played there the last four years have been ex NBA player Toby Bailey, NCAA Final 4 player Hollis Price, top European point guard Tyrese Rice, diminutive point guard David Holston who has the heart of Simba in the Lion King, or Nathan Peavy. Especially this season the team was cherished with ex NBA player Dennis Horner and now Ryan Gomes. The team recently made a coup picking up Ryan Gomes(481 NBA games) who was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2005 and his claim to fame is being shipped to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett in 2007 and the rest is history.Horner didn´t stay long in Artland and is now of dreaming of getting back to the NBA displaying his skills with the Springfield Armour. He didn´t have much to mention about his short stay in Quackenbruck, but didn remember some one one duels with American Anthony King in practice. This seasons team may be the most talented team ever and Stefan Koch has the chance to win his second title in Germany. It continues to be a mystery why titles seem as rare there as a traffic light in Quackenbruck, but if there is one guy who can bring a title then its Koch. He has to shape the roles and chemistry the way Svetislav Pesic has in Munich. Maybe Toby the dragon should heat up his dungeon more under the arena so the team has more of an advantage to win big games at home. “The guard play of Mallett, Haynes and Taylor are an excellent guard combo. However I think that their inside game doesn´t fit together. Maybe they will get a new big man to make it work better. I think that the Artland Dragons have underachieved so far this season. Sometimes players chosen for a season just don´t fit together, but I feel that Stefan Koch can turn the season around. If this team clicks then they can be very dangerous. I think that they will finish around 6^th or 7^th place. They can be a very dangerous opponent in the playoffs”, warned basketball expert Steven Clauss. It seems like basketball expert Steven Clauss had some kind of premonition as Gomes returned back to the States and the team picked up ex Skyliner Brad Buckman. The Texas native has played superbly in Turkey the last two seasons at times averaging double double stats and will help the team. Buckman may not be a star, but sometimes non stars can gte the job done better than those who all are talking about.

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Can Another Star Point Guard finally Bring The Artland Dragons A New Title?

A Gordon Herbert has the gift of making the best out of the talent that he has and forming successful teams as he did with the Opel Skyliners in 2004 and Deutsche Bank Skyliners in 2010. Bamberg scout Brendan Rooney has the talent of finding exactly the right players for the Brose baskets Bamberg as he proved with Kyle Hines and Marcus Slaughter giving the needed push to help the five time champion win four additional titles in 2011 and 2012 or John Patrick finding no name NCAA players and shaping them into even better players helping them advance to better European teams as was witnessed with guys like Taylor Rochestie, Chris Oliver or Dwayne Anderson in the last years. He also was responsible for discovering the talent of a Jason Boone who flew from the Regionaliga to the Beko BBL in one swift motion in 2008. Artland Dragon head coach Stefan Koch has been known as being a top coach in the Beko BBL winning the cup with the Opel Skyliners in 2000, leading a lesser talented Giessen 46er team in 2005 to the semi finals getting American Chuck Eidson rolling on the way to becoming a Euroleague player and helping the Artland Dragons go to the playoffs the last two years. He is also heralded as a strategical mastermind on the court. In the last years he has also displayed a knack for bringing in the right young point guard who promt became one of the top offensive players that season. With Tyrese Rice and David Holston, his hunch was right. Can three be a charm with Demond Mallet. With Mallet, Koch didn´t attempt any risk by bringing in an unknown, young and inexperienced point guard, but a well known European basketball player who won titles with Rhein Energy Cologne, winning the 2008 ULEB Cup with NBA player Rickey Rubio and playing for a team like Macabbi Tel Aviv. Koch didn´t gamble with Mallet, but just relied on common sense, the right feeling and knowing what Mallet can do in the past. The question is can mallet bring a second title to Quackenbruck after their last title cup win in 2008 in Hamburg? One can only wonder where Stefan Koch gets this special feeling for finding that special point guard? ”Each coach has their own way of finding the right talent. Koch just has a good eye for quality. He just knows which players will make his team successful. I also think bringing in Kristaps Valters was the right choice. I like Valters. He plays bold and is always dangerous. You can never leave him out of your eyes”, stressed basketball expert Steven Clauss.

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Smiles And More Basketball Commentary: Another Strong Season For The Artland Dragons, Close But No Cigar

The last time the Artland Dragons won a title, FC Bayern Munich basketball was like a tiny sip from a beer mug at October fest in status comparison to a huge pitcher of beer which is FC Bayern Munich soccer, Leona Lewis with Bleeding Love and Duffy with Mercy were the biggest hits of the year in Germany, the big 3 and the Boston Celtics were very near their mission of winning the 18^th NBA title for the Boston Celtics and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was still digesting his first Superbowl loss to the New York Giants and Eli Manning. The year was 2008 as Chris Fleming was shedding miniature tears in the O2 World arena in Hamburg after leading the team to their very first title a cup win over Ludwigsburg and Darius Hall reached the pinnacle of his career celebrating with a sea of red and white after the buzzer sounded and reaching the highest cult status ever with the fans and possibly his celebration will always be most remembered on that day. Since that win, the team missed two playoff appearances under Torsten Leibenath and peculiar that top rated German coach Stefan Koch and his Dragons had to bow out twice in a row to Chris Fleming and the Brose Baskets Bamberg the last two years.

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Isaiah Swann (ratiopharm Ulm): David Holston Always Surprises You

Isaiah Swann is a 26 year old 188cm guard from Germantown, Maryland that is playing his first season in Germany for ratiopharm Ulm. He is an athletic, left-handed point guard who is capable of putting up big numbers. He played at Florida State from 2004-2008 and in his senior year played 24 games: 11.8ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.9apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 43.3%, 3Pts: 38.8%, FT: 84.0%. In his rookie season in 2008, he played for three teams including Aget Imola (Italy-Lega2, starting five): 15 games: 13.6ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.1apg, 3.1spg, FGP: 47.7%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 71.9%; left in Jan.’09, in Feb.’09 moved to Harem Scafati (Italy-Lega2): 1 game: 4pts, 1reb, 2steals, 1block; in March ’09 signed at Altshuler Saham Galil Gilboa (Israel-Premier League): 13 games: 7.3ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 38.7%, 3PT-3(46.3%), FT: 87.5%. In 2009-2010, he played for Altshuler Saham Galil Gilboa (Israel-Premier League): 27 games: 8.5ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.9apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 41.5%, 3PT: 42.7%, FT: 81.5%. Last season, he played for Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D-League): 3 games: 7.3ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.7apg, in Dec.’10 moved to Maccabi Rishon Le-Zion (Israel-Premier League, starting five): 24 games: 12.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.0apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 39.1%, FT: 84.1%. He was Israeli Premier League Champion in 2010. He spoke with German Hoops about basketball.

How much of a luxury is it to have three strong point guards with Per Guenther, Tommy Mason-Griffin and yourself?

It is a very unique situation. We can all play the position one and two. We can create for ourselves and for each other as well as for our teammate. Most teams that I have seen have one or two point guards so having our situation is a big help.

What was it like playing against ex NBA player Jamison Brewer?

It was nice playing against Jamie that is what I called him back in the day. I played at the same high school along with other players like James White and Demarcus Johnson. I watched him play back then and he was always a great point guard. He can find other players like no other. He doesn´t score much. But he is always finding his teammates. It was good seeing him and it was the first time that I played against him.

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Scoring Takes A Back Seat As The Artland Dragons Outgrind The Fraport Skyliners 49-44

The Artland Dragons have gotten used to winning a lot in the last months as they have won 13 of their last 15 games, but the cozy living room of the Fraport Skyliners hasn´t been as inviting for the Quackenbruck team the last years as the last time that they exited the floor victorious, current dragon Anthony King was still cruising down south beach enjoying the waves and creating havoc under the boards in the NCAA with Miami, the Spanish national soccer team was still dreaming of winning a major title as the 2008 European championships and 2010 World Cup weren´t in their grasp yet and Justin Bieber posters hadn´t been made yet and weren´t filling the bed room walls of teenage girls around the globe yet. The last time the Artland Dragons were able to defeat Frankfurt in Frankfurt, the date was April 15th 2007 as they prevailed 77-69 as Chad Prewitt led them with 15 points and nine rebounds. For a team that averages 88 points a game this season, anyone who came into the Fraport arena in the last minute and saw the score had to rub their eyes first to believe that the Artland Dragons were kept under 50 points, but still won 49-44 in front of 4,860 patrons. It was the first win after losing the last four attempts in Frankfurt and some players had to think strong and hard where they were back that spring day in 2007. “I was a junior and was averaging 9ppg and 8rpg and was the second best shot blocker in the ACC. Germany was far from my mind, but I was thinking about possibly turning professional after my junior year, but my mom talked me into staying and getting my degree. I am just happy I won here, because my rookie season in Frankfurt was tough”, stressed ex Skyliner Anthony King. Another player that had to take some seconds to recollect where he was in 2007 was Brandon Thomas who had lost twice with Braunschweig in Frankfurt and had unplesant memories of the Fraport arena. “Back in 2007, we beat Alabama and Jermareo Davidson in the NIT with a last second shot by Chris Lowe. Two years ago, we lost in Frankfurt on the last game day and had to watch TV to see if we would get in the playoffs and another team lost so we got in. Last season, Dashaun Wood beat us with a last second shot. It felt good to win here even if it was an ugly win”, commented Artland Dragon Brandon Thomas.

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Who Needs A Tyrese Rice When The Artland Dragons Have David Holston?

The area of the 12,881 population of frog town Quackenbruck may not be large, but there is still interesting things to do like following the 3,1km Froschpfad to observe the historic sites, chowing down on yummy Buchweizenpfannkuchen a speciality from there, spending a day in the many beautiful parks or in the past seeing a jubilant Darius Hall showcasing his big smile while bicycling from home to practice, but nothing is more exciting than following the basketball team Artland Dragons. The team has stood for success since they arrived in the Beko BBL in 2003 reaching the playoffs 5 times out of 8 times and missing three times on account of a 9th place finish. In the last two seasons the team has had extra suspense as they have had top point guards Tyrese Rice and this season David Holston. The point guard position is the most important position on the floor and with Rice the team had the second best scorer and fourth best assist man. There was a bit of uneasiness at the start of this season if Holston could fill the shoes of Rice, but so far the smallest player in the league from Detroit at 167m, he is second in scoring, assists and steals. Holston has been a big reason for the success as he has scored in double figures every time this season in the Beko BBL except for against BBC Bayreuth who have held him in check. He scored 29 points against Giessen, 26 points against Tuebingen and won both head to head duels against top guards Je Kel Foster and Bobby Brown. Who could forget his four three pointer in overtime against FC Bayern Munich giving Dirk Bauermann a long uncomfortable trip back to Bavaria.” I think Holston has fit in nicely with the team and been able to be one of the leaders on the court. He’s able to score, set up his teammates, and control the game so he’s a really solid PG”, warned ex MBC center Velimir Radinovic. One has to wonder how Stefan Koch knew they were the right players or if a special basketball frog gave him the right slip of paper and name during the summer? “I think he probably has a certain mould that he would like his point guard to fit, and recruits players that fit that profile. Rice and Holston are both capable of controlling the tempo of the game and running the team, but they can also drop 30 on you so you can never relax when defending that type of player. I think Rice had more of a scorer’s mentality and maybe not a pure PG. He was maybe looking to shoot first, pass second.”, added ex Ohio State center Velimir Radinovic.

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Frank Robinson: The Artland Dragons Will Have A Lot Of Success This Year Because The Locker Room Is So Close

Frank Robinson is 27 year old 193cm guard that was born in Compton, California and grew up in Los Angeles and just ended a short stint in germany with the Artland Dragons. He played at Cal Fullerton (NCAA) from 2005-2008. In his senior year, he played games: 15.8ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.5apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 45.1%, 3Pts: 34.2%, FT: 73.8%. In 2008-2009, he started with NBA club Atlanta Hawks (NBA), left in Oct.’08, then moved to Union Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia-Liga UPC, starting five): Adriatic League: 17 games: 4.5ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.1spg; Euroleague: 8 games: 6.8ppg, 3.3rpg, in Feb.’09 signed at EnBW Ludwigsburg (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 11 games: 11.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 53.2%, 3PT: 27.0%, FT: 73.5%. In 2009-2010, he started with the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) again, only pre-season, in Dec.’09 moved to Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League, starting five): 38 games: 12.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.7apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 49.8%, 3PT: 24.3%, FT: 69.2%. In the summer of 2010, he played NBA Summer League in Las Vegas (LA Lakers).Last season, he played for Maccabi Haifa (Israel-Premier League): EuroChallenge: 14 games: 9.3ppg, 4.1rpg, 1.3apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 30.0%, FT: 59.5%; Israeli League: 28 games: 12.9ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.7apg, Steals-2(2.4spg), FGP: 54.4%, 3PT: 30.4%, FT: 61.1%. He started this season with Sokhumi Tbilisi (Georgia-Superleague) Eurochallenge Qualifying Round: 2 games: 16.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.0apg, 1.0bpg. He spoke to German Hoops about the disappointment of not being able to play with the Artland Dragons.

You had a short stay with the Artland Dragons. How dissappointed are you that you had to leave the club because of basketball politics?

Artland is a really good team , I was very disappointed this was one of the best group of guys I have ever been around. From coaching staff to players, I honestly feel like I have met some life time friends here. The situation is tough and it hurts more because it has nothing to do with actual skill or talent. The Artland Dragons will have a lot of success this year because the locker room is so close.

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Michael Hakim Jordan: I HAVE To Win! I NEED To Win!

34 year old Michael Jordan is a 183cm guard from Philadelphia. He played at the University of Pennsylvania graduating in 2000. His first two years found him jumping around leagues in France and Spain before he found a new home in Germany with TSV Quackenbruck. In the 2002-2003 season, he helped lead Quackenbruck into the BBL with exceptional stats in 30 games, 21.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.9 apg. He helped turn The Artland Dragons into a playoff team in the 2004-2005 season as they lost the BBL Quarterfinal playoff series to The Opel Skyliners in five games. That season he averaged in 34 games: 11.1ppg, 3.4rpg, Ast-1(6.4apg), 1.3spg, 2.6bpg, 2FGP: 52.5%, 3FGP: 31.3%. The next season, he was released by The Artland Drgaons, but went to Rhein Energie Cologne and won the BBL championship in 2006 averaging in 33 games: 9.8ppg, 2.3rpg, Assists-4(4.1apg), 1.0spg, 2FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 52.2%. The next season, he went to Italy and played at Cantu where he led the league in assists and averaged in 37 games: 13.8ppg, 2.7rpg, Assists-1(5.2apg), 2.0spg, 2FGP: 54.6%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 74.0%. The next season, he played in Belgium for Charleroi averaging in 15 games: 9.5ppg, 1.6rpg, 3.6apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 90.0%;. He had injury problems and finished the season in Greece with PAOK. In 2008-2009 after a very short stay in Israel, he played a few months in Bamberg before going to the Cologne 99ers averaging 10,5ppg, 2,4rpg and leading the BBL in assists with 6,2apg. In 2009-2010, he played for Phoenix Hagen helping the team remain in the BEKO BBL. He played 16 games: 8.9ppg, 2.3rpg, Assists-5(5.3apg), FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 73.3%. Last season, he played for Mitteldeutscher BC Weissenfels (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 19 games: 9.3ppg, 1.9rpg, 4.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 80.6%; in Jan.’11 moved to LTi Giessen 46ers (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 14 games: 7.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.7apg, FGP: 40.4%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 72.7%. Michael spoke to German Hoops about basketball and his current situation.

It is September now and your still unsigned. How surprised are you about this? Is the Market even tighter now then the last few years due to the lockout?

I’m really surprised because I thought I played well enough last year to earn a job for this season. I did what I was brought in to do you know? I guess The lockout plays a role, but still it’s a bit disappointing.

What are the biggest difficulties for Michael Jordan finding a team right now? I am sure your agent is working day and night to find you a team?
Honestly, If I knew I would feel better about the situation. My agent Refiloe Lethunya is doing what he can to get me a job. Just a little difficult at the moment and neither of us know why exactly. I have a few theories though.

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2011 beko BBL Semi Final Preview Brose Baskets Bamberg-Artland Dragons 3—–1

It was more than 6 weeks ago at the Top 4 in Bamberg where 3 time beko BBl champion Brose Baskets Bamberg had arrived to the competition cruising through the season like an unstoppable Dwight Howard mowing everybody down in his path in the zone as if he had found some extra Popeye spinach to add extra strength were rudely challenged on back to back days by the Artland Dragons and New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig as if the name Brose Baskets Bamberg supplied as much trepidation as the Gloria Giants Duesseldorf, a Michael Jordan on the baseball field or Leslie Nielson directing a dramatic picture as both teams gave the Bavarian team 2 good run for the money games. Bamberg will meet The Artland Dragons in a best of 5 series as Quackenbruck slipped by The New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig winning the last two games 3-2 in games. Bamberg needed 45 minutes in the semi final cup game and Tyrese Rice fouled out early to reach the cup final 6 weeks ago. “Well you play each team twice in the regular season. The playoffs are much different. I think it comes down to match ups”, warned ex Tuebingen guard Steven Wright. Chris Fleming had an extra amount of time to prepare for both teams for not another do or die cup game, but rather for a five game series. “I dont think the time off will effect Bamberg as they have some veteran guys that will keep the team going in the right direction”, stressed Gloria Giants guard Steven Wright. The Artland Dragons might of lost all three games this season to Bamberg, but only by a combined total of 8 points in the regular season and in OT in the cup final and with their confidence rising like a Barack Obama for a second term at President after eliminating Bin Ladin are as scared of Casey Jacobsen and company as the Dallas Mavericks were of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dashaun Wood of ever not being able to strut into the lane at any given moment of any game, or Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone is from not returning as Rocky again. Bamberg will have to continue to play their focused and consistent game as Artland will seek revenge for all three loses as there will b eno gifts given in this series. “Its the playoffs the games will be different. I think Bamberg will be better prepared than at the Top 4. All the teams are playing well as of right now. Bamberg has got to continue what they have been doing the whole season. Playing great defense, moving and shooting the ball well”, warned ex Braunschweig guard Steven Wright.

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