Maccabi Rishon

Patrick Richard (Maccabi Rishon Le-Zion)It’s Never Over And We Will Fight Until The End Against Ludwigsburg

Patrick Richard is a 27 year old 196cm swingman from Carencro, Louisania that is playing his fifth professional season and first with Maccabi Rishon Le-Zion (Israel-Winner League). He played four years at Mc Neese St. (NCAA) and as a senior played 32 games: 18.1ppg, 6.3rpg, 3.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 48.6%, 3PT: 27.9%, FT: 76.9%. In 2012-2013, he started his professional basketball career being drafted by the Iowa Energy (D-League) and played at Sandringham Sabres (Australia-SEABL-East, starting five): 24 games: 18.5ppg, 6.4rpg, 2.1apg, 2FGP: 42.7%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 80.7%. In the 2013-2014 season he played in Holland for Matrixx Magixx Wijchen (Holland-Eredivisie) playing 38 games: Score-4(15.3ppg), 4.9rpg, 2.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 54.1%, 3PT: 37.1%, FT: 78.9%. In the 2014-2015 season he played for the Mitteldeutscher BC Weissenfels (Germany-BBL) playing 32 games: 13.2ppg, 3.4rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 44.7%, 3PT: 40.8%, FT: 76.1%. Last season he played for Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket (France-ProA) playing 34 game averaging 9.6ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 53.5%, 3PT: 40.8%, FT: 79.3%. He spoke to German Hoops before the Champions League game against the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.

Patrick thanks for talking to German Hoops.2017 is here and did you make any new years resolutions or are you the kind of guy that doesn´t waste his time?

I’m not one for New Years resolutions I just try to be the best player, husband, and father daily!

Your playing your first season for Maccabi Rishon Le-Zion (Israel-Winner League) and your first experience in international club play in the basketball Champions League. What kind of an experience has it been for you being able to play against the best as well as see Europe and it´s many fine countries?

This is my first year playing in Europe so it’s been a great experience! Playing against high level competition and being able to prove myself on this level can help me for the future!

Maccabi Rishon Le-Zion (Israel-Winner League) advanced to the playoffs and are facing the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg. They beat you badly in the first game at home 83-66. Do you feel the win for the guests had more to do with their strong scouting or how you presented itself as a team?

That loss was a very very tough one! They did a great job of making us pay for mistakes made on defense and we turned the ball over 20 times. Against them that hurts Big time.

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Philip Scrubb Supplies Punch As The Fraport Skyliners Knock Out Maccabi Rishon 91-75 Reaching Fiba Europe Cup Final 4

Even now when you can see amazing big name players Like Kyre Irving aka uncle Drew, ex UCONN NCAA champion Kemba Walker, ex Milwaukee Buck Brandon Jennings or future NBA legend in the making Kevin Durant on any given night at the legendary Monsignor Kett Playground a.k.a. Dyckman Park in the Washington Heights/Inwood section of Manhatten, but there was a time when these guys and others were balling and battling each other when they were younger and not as known as they were now and they might have been replaying classic basketball events on the court or just being Michael, Sir Charles, Clyde the glide Drexler or Doctor J Erving and making big time shots in clutch moments or at the buzzer. Some of those guys that have been playing on this legendary playground Dyckman have been Jordan Theodore, Jeremy Hazell of French team Chalon and ex NBA player Scott Machado of the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. What they once dreamed about as younger players, now turn into real time situations. Do or die games are always present in all kinds of professional sports, but especially when it´s playoff time and in international club play as the Fraport Skyliners and Israeli team Maccabi Rishon had for the ticket to the Fiba Eurocup Final 4. New York native Mark Lyons came up big last week saving Maccabi Rishon from being kicked out of the competition with a strong 19 point game against Frankfurt and had to show his A-game again while Theodore and the Fraport Skyliners had their second do or die game of the season after disposing of Oldenburg a few months ago to register their ticket to the Beko BBL cup top 4. The Fraport Skyliners have had their ups and downs in do or die games as in the past they won a game five at home in 2004 against the Brose Baskets Bamberg winning their first league title, lost a game five in the 2005 final losing in Bamberg as their opponent got revenge, lost a game five in the 2010 final in Bamberg again, lost a game 5 in 2011 in the semi-finals against Alba Berlin and last season won a game three against Russian team Enisey as they were powered by German national player Johannes Voigtmann with 26 points securing a berth in the Eurochallenge final 4. With having won a do or die game already this season against Oldenburg, the Fraport Skyliners were looking be 2-0 in these types of games and stayed unbeaten as they cruised into the Fiba Europe Cup Final 4 with a big 91-75 win over Maccabi Rishon as it was a total team effort as always. Fraport Skyliners Jordan Theodore didn´t have a typical great game, but was solid and with another step closer in his journey to winning his first professional title and was in a talkative mood about the win and do or die feeling playing against friend Mark Lyons that at times can go on and on as if he were a basketball poet. “It is a blessing to be able to compete at a high level for something so important like the Fiba Europe Cup. This is my first season, but so many guys on the team have been here longer and after losing last season really want to win it this season. I have said it so often in that when we play good defense and move the ball, then we are hard to beat. Our bench came in and it speaks volumes of our team that no one plays for their self, but for the team. Our goal is to continue to get better and win this title. I was so nervous coming in and could hardly sleep. I just wanted to get it over with. Me and Mark Lyons went head to head. We both break down guys and find ways to help teams win. He had a good game whereas I didn´t as much, but we came out on top. I don´t know if there will be a rematch this summer as he lives in Arizona so maybe we will have to meet in between in Miami”, smiled Englewood, New Jersey native Jordan Theodore.

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Chris Wright (Maccabi Rishon) I Knew The NBA Was For Real Having My Locker Next To Steph Curry

Chris Wright is a 27 year old 203cm forward playing his second season in Europe and first with Maccabi Rishon in Israel. He started his basketball career in 2007 with Dayton(NCAA) where he played until 2011 and as a senior played 36 games averaging 13.2ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.8apg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 45.9%, 3PT: 22.7%, FT: 60.0%. He started his professional career in 2011 with the Maine Red Claws (D-League, starting five): 4 games: 17.0ppg, 10.8rpg, 1.5bpg; in Dec.’11 moved to Golden State Warriors (NBA): 24 games: 2.9ppg, 1.9rpg, in Jan.’12 signed at Dakota Wizards (D-League, starting five): 9 games: 18.1ppg, 8.8rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0spg, 2.1bpg, FGP: 59.1%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 54.5%. In the 2012-2013 season he played with the Maine Red Claws (D-League) playing 41 games: 18.1ppg, 8.9rpg, 2.0apg, 1.7spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 52.2%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 65.6%. In the 2013-2014 season he played for the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA): 8 games: 6.0ppg, 2.5rpg, FGP: 61.8%, FT: 40.0%, also played at Maine Red Claws (D-League): 41 games: 19.8ppg, 8.1rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, 1.4bpg, FGP: 51.8%, 3PT: 27.2%, FT: 67.5%. Last season he played for PGE Turow Zgorzelec (Poland-TBL): 26 games: 7.5ppg, 3.1rpg, FGP: 64.5%, 3PT: 25.9%, FT: 52.5%; Eurocup: 5 games: 9.8ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 58.1%, 3PT: 50.0%, FT: 70.0%; Euroleague: 8 games: 8.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.0bpg, FGP: 65.1%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 75.0%. He spoke to German Hoops after the 91-75 game three loss against the Fraport Skyliners In Fiba Europe Cup play. .

Chris thanks for talking to German Hoops. A tough 91-75 loss against the Fraport Skyliners. How proud are you of the team and how they fought?

I am extremely proud of my team. Most people counted us out at the start of the season and hardly anyone expected us to reach the second round. We shocked a lot of people just how far we came and we gave Frankfurt their only loss in the Fiba Europe Cup. I don´t believe in moral victories and even if I was injured and other guys weren´t totally fit, I feel we still could of won.

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Shawn Dawson (Maccabi Rishon) Quantez Robertson Is A Great Player And We Both Can Do A Lot More Than Just Jump

Shawn Dawson is a 22 year old 198cm Israeli playing his third season for Maccabi Rishon. He helped the club win the country youth title in 2012 and since turning professional as a 19 year old has improved his scoring and rebounding each season. Some of his most memorable games so far was his 28 point 18 rebound game against Hapoel Holon and scoring 11 points with the Israeli national team against France at the 2015 European championships. He spoke to German Hoops before the do or die game against the Fraport Skyliners in the Fiba Europe Cup competition for the ticket to the Final 4.

Shawn thanks for talking to German Hoops. Congrats on the big 88-84 OT win against the Fraport Skyliners. How does it feel being the first team to beat them in Fiba Europe Cup and breaking their 15 game winning streak?

It feels great man, we knew that the game one did not reflect at all the differences between the teams and it was a tough one for us because we played bad, and we knew anything is possible when we play at home

Maccabi Rishon had their backs to the wall and had to win at home. How confident was the team that they could be able to pull it out even when it was down 14 points?

Basketball is played 40 minutes, and it aint over until its over. We kept on pushing and I am glad we got the win.

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Darryl Monroe Is The Mad Police Powering Maccabi Rishon Over The Fraport Skyliners 88-84 Forcing Do Or Die Game In Europe Cup

At first glance when watching a Jordan Theodore on the court, one most likely marvels first with his powerful, masterful, and unstoppable penetration that he can do at any moment in a game and gain instant points and is as automatic as it is for turning on a light switch. If the room is dark and you want to see better turn on the light. If the Fraport Skyliners are struggling and need a burst of energy and points, hand the ball to the ex Seton Hall guard because he will get you that bucket right away. However another big strength of his game is his defense and if you think about the best Frankfurt Skyliner defenders one most likely mentions Quantez Robertson and John Little first, but it is probably Jordan Theodore that is the most potent defender even if he doesn´t get the credit. Theodore leads the team in steals in the Beko BBL and Fiba Europe Cup and has notched steals in 25 of 37 games and is always a pest getting in passing lanes and just having unbelievable hands ready at all times. It is often the defense of Theodore that sparks the team offense and gets them in transition to get easy buckets. It is the play of Theodore and every other Skyliner on defense that has been the secret to the success of the team this season as everything that happens on the court revolves first with their defense. With their push defense and always help mentality that has gained them the #1 spot in the Beko BBL and Fiba Europe cup in team defense as they have allowed 69 and 63 points per game in the respective competitions. Frankfurt has played their best defense in the Fiba Europe Cup in their last three games against AEK and Maccabi Rischon as they have given up an average of only 53 points per game. With one win away from gaining the ticket to the Fiba Europe Cup top 4, the Fraport Skyliners had to travel to Israel and put up with a boisterous crowd of Maccabi Rischon fans and met a never dying Israeli team that trailed by as much as 14 points in the first half, but stepped it up in the second half winning the game 88-84 in OT. Everyone was awaiting another defensive masterpiece, but instead the 88 points were the most points that the Fraport Skyliners had given up in Fiba Europe Cup play and the second most this season after the loss to Alba Berlin. A 8-0 run to start the OT period got Maccabi Rishon in flow as they survived the mini Frankfurt comeback at the end. Maccabi Rishon was powered by ex George Mason center Darryl Monroe who was known in school as being the funny police as he controlled any joke that was told and if he laughed then it was clear that it was a good joke. There was no funny police or joking on his mind in this game, but he was all business and head of the mad police and he was on a mission and angry to force a game three and had an amazing game with 28 points, 14 boards and nine assists leading his team to a do or die game in Frankfurt. If Frankfurt had converted at a higher percentage at the free throw line, they most likely would be in the Fiba Europe Cup final 4 now. Maccabi Rishon showed a sense of urgency and were rewarded with a do or die ticket in Frankfurt. This game was very important because we felt we didn’t cone to play the first game, so this game we wanted to prove we are a better team than we showed. Coach did a great job making adjustments throughout the game. Him and the other coach really had us prepared”, stressed ex Xavier guard Mark Lyons. “We didn’t play well enough to win tonight. They were a better team for 45 mins. We made some crucial mistakes that cost us the game”, added Fraport Skyliner Jordan Theodore.

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Mark Lyons (Maccabi Rishon) I Have The Type Of Mentality That Can Rub Off On Other Players To Give It Their All

Mark Lyons is a 26 year old 185cm guard from Schenectady, New York playing his second season in Israel and first with Maccabi Rischon Le-Zion (Israel-Winner League). He started his basketball career at Xavier (NCAA) in 2009 playing three seasons there playing a total of 68 NCAA games. As a senior he moved to Arizona (NCAA) playing 36 games: 15.8ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.8apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 53.7%, 3PT: 33.7%, FT: 85.4%. In the 2013-2014 he started his professional basketball career with Chorale de Roanne Basket (France-ProA): 14 games: 10.1ppg, 1.2rpg, 1.6apg, 2FGP: 50.0%, 3FGP: 40.0%, FT: 61.1%, in Feb.’14 moved to KK Zadar (Croatia-A1) Adriatic League: 7 games: 13.7ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3PT: 27.9%, FT: 66.7%; Croatian League: 14 games: Score-4(17.1ppg), 2.6rpg, 2.9apg, FGP: 44.6%, 3PT: 49.4%, FT: 75.5%. Last season he played for Ironi Nahariya (Israel-Winner League) playing 33 games: Score-2(18.4ppg), 2.8rpg, 4.7apg, Steals-5(1.9spg), FGP: 47.4%, 3PT: 32.0%, FT: 81.2%. He spoke to German Hoops before game two against the Fraport Skyliners in Fiba Europe Cup play.

Mark thanks for talking to German Hoops.You are playing Europe Cup play against the Fraport Skyliners in quarterfinal play. Was this your first time in Germany?

Yes it was my first time, thanks for having me.

What do you know in general about the country of Germany and it´s basketball? Your ex Xavier teammate Kenny Frease is in Germany at the moment playing ball.

I know it’s a good league, a few of my old teammates played in that league and they told me it was a great experience for them.

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Phillip Scrubb Unleashes A Double Energy Pack Fueling The Fraport Skyliners Over Maccabi Rishon 92-57 For 1-0 Europe Cup Series Lead

Last weekend, Englewood New Jersey native Jordan Theodore was the happiest American in Munich as he was able to watch his alma mater Seton Hall win the 2016 Big East tournament in a tight 69-67 victory and rival Villanova as future NBA player in only his second year of school Isaiah Whitehead led his team with 26 points while all the excitement probably gave the Fraport Skyliner guard some flashbacks to his time in school. However 15 hours later, the win by his ex school wasn´t able to rub off on him and his German team Fraport Skyliners as they lost a very bitter game to FC Bayern Munich 78-76 as freak athlete Quantez Robertson was unable to hit a last second desperation shot. Even if the Fraport Skyliners have had misfortune in the last weeks against the big clubs in the Beko BBL losing to Alba Berlin and FC Bayern Munich on the last possession and in Bamberg, Jordan Theodore was able to hold his own against the top point guards. Even if ex Wisconsin guard Jordan Taylor of Alba Berlin had the last laugh in the cup semi-final winning the game on his last shot, statistically, Theodore outshone Taylor, Brad Wanamaker and Justin Cobbs in this time. This may be an unimportant consolation for Theodore, but what comes first is winning and in the Europe Cup, he has been perfect helping the Fraport Skyliners to a current perfect 14-0 record. With the focus being on team and winning, Theodore still continues to face top point guard competition every week and had his first meeting as a professional with upstate New York native Mark Lyons from Schenectady. Lyons played at Xavier reaching two NCAA Sweet 16 tournaments and played a season at Arizona(NCAA) where he hit Stanford for 25 points and Arizona State for 24 points. He has been a scorer all his life and never averaged more than three assists in his career until last season in Israel with Ironi Nahariya and this season is averaging five assists in the Israeli league and 4.8 in Europe Cup action. It was the duel between the penetrator Theodore and dangerous three point shooter Lyons as both guys were looking to help lead their respective teams to a 1-0 quarterfinal lead, but as usual it was the Fraport Skyliners who kept their amazing unbeaten streak in international competition alive at 15-0 with a big 92-57 win. The two point guards Theodore and Lyons were kept in the back-round which hurt the Israeli team more than Frankfurt since the German team has so many more weapons and a stronger bench and won with their potent presence of team basketball as everyone contributed in the offensive and defensive showcase. The Fraport Skyliners only need three more wins to win their third ever club title, while the alma mater of Theodore Seton Hall start their quest for an NCAA title today and have a chunk of work ahead needing seven wins. Just how much of Whitehead was on the mind of Theodore during the game is unknown, but after the win, the New Jersey native was in a talkative mood about his old school, Isaiah Whitehead and his current team Fraport Skyliners. “I think about my school Seton Hall a lot and they are doing a lot better than we ever did. I also think about Isaiah Whitehead, but I don´t know him too well, but know his coaches since they coached me. The coaching staff is doing a great job there. I will watch the Gonzaga game since we have no practice. Every player contributed tonight in our game. We didn´t always play well, but never gave up the lead. We can be a very dangerous team when all step up. I know that I have been getting a lot of hype recently, but it isn´t a one man show here. Anybody can step up at any-time”, stressed ex Seton Hall guard Jordan Theodore. S.Oliver Baskets Wurzburg guard Cameron Long was a neutral spectator watching his two ex teammates from George Mason Mike Morrison and Darryl Monroe and was impressed how Frankfurt wore down Maccabi Rischon. “It came down to the bench. Frankfurt outscored the opponents bench 44-17 and completely destroyed their bench. Everyone contributed and nobody for Frankfurt forces shots. Frankfurt has many good weapons. They are a hard team to guard when a different guy is scoring at will in each quarter”, added Cameron Long. The Israeli team had no answer how to stop the potent Frankfurt offense as they let up 92 points way above their average of 75 points per game, but also couldn´t do anything on the offensive end either. “One team came to play and we didn´t. We know that we are a lot better than this. It wasn´t about Frankfurt, but more about us. We didn´t play defense or execute on offense. I have to give credit to Frankfurt, because they played great”, said Maccabi Rischon Israeli Shawn Dawson.

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