Polish national team

Mike Taylor (Polish National Team) German Basketball Is Making An Impressive Step With So Many Players Taking Their Game To The NBA

Mike Taylor is in his 17th season as a professional coach and currently head coach of the Polish national team and preparing the team for the Euro 2017 tournament. He is the son of Dick Taylor who was an NCAA coach and assistant with the New York Knicks. Mike Taylor started his coaching career in 2001 with Chemnitz (Germany-2.Bundesliga). In 2002-2003, he got valuable experience in the UK with the Essex Leopards London (United Kingdom). In 2003, he started to coach for ratiopharm Ulm leading them into the Beko BBL in 2006 and Beko BBL playoffs in 2009 before leaving in 2011. He had a record of 101-15 in four years of second Bundesliga basketball. He also has coached Kansas Cagerz (USBL) in the summer time as well as being an assistant for the Czech national team. In 2011 he made the jump back to the states and was an assistant for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers(D-League). He then was head coach of the Boston Celtics D League team Maine Red Claws and they reached the playoffs for the first time in team history. He spoke to German Hoops before Poland played at the Super Cup in Hamburg, Germany.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber visiting coach Mike Taylor in Maine when he was head coach for the Boston Celtics D-League team Maine Red Claws

Thanks Mike for talking to German Hoops In our last interview a year ago, I started off what was easier changing a diaper or to deny John Bryant the ball in the post. You stated that “My wife Alice would tell you that I am much better at changing defenses than changing diapers but that is a time when there is no problem doing the dirty work”. Did your diaper changing improve in the last year?

My diaper skills definitely improved! Luke will be 2 Sunday the 20th so it has been a fantastic life experience and I am very thankful for Alice and our family.

Before we start to talk about the Super Cup and Euro 2017, I have to take a step back and talk about Euro 2016. Poland Played a very good Euro winning their group 5-1. What positives do you and the team want to take from last seasons run into this years competition added with what the club brings to the table this season?

Our strength is our team. We have been together for three successful years winning two Qualification groups and advancing to the Top 16 in Eurobasket 2015. Our core of players and coaches have worked very hard together and we are battle tested. We have faced pressure games and top opponents together. Now enter into our fourth, we are preparing for our biggest challenges yet with Group A in Helsinki. We are focused internally on being the best team we can be and I believe in our guys. We will be ready for the challenge to beat great teams.

(more…)

Mateusz Ponitka (Polish National Team) You Can Know How To Score 30 Points But It´s Not The Same If You Don´t Know How To Win The Game

Mateusz Ponitka is a 22 year old 196cm guard that is currently with the Polish national team and playing at the Super Cup in Ulm against teams like Germany, Russia and Finnland. He will play for Pinar Karsiyaka SK Izmir (Turkey-BSL) this season. He started his basketball career in 2008 with Kasprowiczanka Ostrow Wlk. He then played three seasons with Tempcold AZS Politechnika Warszawa (1Liga). In the 2012-2013 season he made the jump to Asseco Prokom Gdynia (PLK): 34 games: 8.7ppg, 4.2rpg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 27.2%, FT: 70.7%; Euroleague: 10 games: 8.8ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.0spg, FGP: 61.0%, 3PT: 32.3%, FT: 38.1%. He then played two seasons with Telenet BC Oostende (Belgium-Scooore League). Last season he played for Stelmet Zielona Gora (TBL): 41 games: 10.5ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 61.8%, 3PT: 38.3%, FT: 76.1%; Euroleague: 10 games: 12.0ppg, Reb-3(7.9rpg), 2.2apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 67.6%; Eurocup: 10 games: 13.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 58.8%, 3PT: 47.6%, FT: 69.4%. Recently he took part at the NBA Pro Summer League in Las Vegas (Denver Nuggets): 4 games: 2.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.3spg. He spoke to German Hoops during the Super Cup weekend in Ulm.

Mateusz thanks for talking to eurobasket.com. Welcome back to Germany. You are currently in Ulm preparing for the games in the Super Cup with team Poland. You were in Germany last at the start of 2016 in Ludwigsburg playing Eurocup with Stelmet. You led your team to the win scoring 14 points. What other memories do you have of this game?

That was very tough game for us. I remember the whole game was like one big war. In the end of the day we found a way to win and that was really important one for us. To be honest that was even funny because in Eurocup we were wining everything on the road and losing everything at home. And all this streak started in Ludwigsburg. I think there is very good atmosphere at the games in Germany. I like coming here.

(more…)

Mike Taylor (Polish National Coach) The Super Cup Will Be A Special Moment When My Past Of Ulm And My Present Of Poland Connect

Mike Taylor is in his 16th season as a professional coach and currently head coach of the Polish national team and preparing the team for the Euro 2017 qualifying round. He is the son of Dick Taylor who was an NCAA coach and assistant with the New York Knicks. Mike Taylor started his coaching career in 2001 with Chemnitz (Germany-2.Bundesliga). In 2002-2003, he got valuable experience in the UK with the Essex Leopards London (United Kingdom). In 2003, he started to coach for ratiopharm Ulm leading them into the Beko BBL in 2006 and Beko BBL playoffs in 2009 before leaving in 2011. He had a record of 101-15 in four years of second Bundesliga basketball. He also has coached Kansas Cagerz (USBL) in the summer time as well as being an assistant for the Czech national team. In 2011 he made the jump back to the states and was an assistant for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers(D-League). He then was head coach of the Boston Celtics D League team Maine Red Claws and they reached the playoffs for the first time in team history. He spoke to German Hoops before Poland played at the Super Cup in Ulm, Germany.

Thanks Mike for talking to German Hoops again. Before we get to our combined love basketball, I want to ask you what is more difficult changing a diaper for you or for opposing big men to deny a John Bryant the ball in the post?

Both are challenging in their own way. Fortunately John Bryant was always on my team so I have always drawn up plays for him. My wife Alice would tell you that I am much better at changing defenses than changing diapers but that is a time when there is no problem doing the dirty work.

(more…)

Mike Taylor (Poland National Team Coach) I Really Believe In Marcin Gortat And AJ Slaughter But We Are Emphasizing Our Team

Mike Taylor is in his 15th season as a professional coach and currently head coach of the Polish national team and preparing the team for Euro 2015. He is the son of Dick Taylor who was an NCAA coach and assistant with the New York Knicks. Mike Taylor started his coaching career in 2001 with Chemnitz (Germany-2.Bundesliga). In 2002-2003, he got valuable experience in the UK with the Essex Leopards London (United Kingdom). In 2003, he started to coach for ratiopharm Ulm leading them into the Beko BBL in 2006 and Beko BBL playoffs in 2009 before leaving in 2011. He had a record of 101-15 in four years of second Bundesliga basketball. He also has coached Kansas Cagerz (USBL) in the summer time as well as being an assistant for the Czech national team. In 2011 he made the jump back to the states and was an assistant for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers(D-League). He then was head coach of the Boston Celtics D League team Maine Red Claws and they reached the playoffs for the first time in team history. He spoke to German Hoops before Poland played at the Super Cup in Hamburg, Germany.

Mike thanks for talking to German Hoops You are returning back to Germany this weekend to coach Poland at the Super Cup in Hamburg. You spent 8 years as head coach at ratiopharm Ulm and a season at BV Chemnitz. Despite being away from Germany since more than 4 years, is Germany still like your second home?

Thank you Miles. I am very excited to return to Germany for the SuperCup in Hamburg this weekend! Coaching in Germany has been a wonderful part of my life and I am thankful for the upcoming moment as we prepare for the new challenges ahead at Eurobasket. I do spend a lot of time in Germany with my wife Alice and her family in Tubingen so Germany definitely remains my second home.

You will be coaching three games with Poland against Latvia, Germany and Turkey in Hamburg, Germany. What experiences have you had with Hamburg before this weekend and how often have you been there. As head coach with Ulm you never really was more north than in Bremerhaven when you were on road trips. How have you followed the Hamburg Towers recently with their dream of reaching the BBL?

I was in Hamburg once before to watch the Top Four in 2010. Hamburg is a great city and has an excellent sports culture. I think it’s great the Towers are working to build up basketball in the city and wish them and the Koeln Stars success in establishing the game in those two significant German markets.

(more…)