After the more than satisfying 92-53 romp against Phoenix Hagen 48 hours earlier, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners had to be more than awake against TBB Trier as their continued goal of reaching the playoffs was not sweetened by the 80-61 loss in Bamberg 48 hours earlier. Frankfurt had to be more than ready for TBB Trier, because since Phoenix ´Hagen sit back mostly on defense, sipping Margaritas, watching spectacular offense unfold and prepare their next offense in their mind, TBB Trier on the other hand play defense for a passion and just wear down the opponents offense with continued stress play. Frankfurt couldn´t afford their minds slip for an instant second on offense possibly contemplating if golf and betting could ever mesh with golf legend Tiger Woods, if the valet parker in Miami beach can be serious for being to traumatized to continue back to work after being slapped by the mom of Lebron James or wonder when the one man horror show tour of actor Charlie Sheen will ever end. The Deutsche Bank Skyliners had problems converting against TBB Trier on a consistent rate, but had the better nerves, defense and a 10-0 run in crunch time to win 69-61. “We knew that the weekend games were two different kinds of games with Phoenix Hagen having a high power offense and TBB Trier having a high power defense. We had to be able to switch our mentality within one day. We were able to lock down our defense in the second half and grind out the win”, stated current beko BBL top scorer Dashaun Wood. TBB Trier also showed Frankfurt that they weren´t a second Phoenix Hagen. “Every team has to adjust to situations like this. Our players are pro´s. Phoenix Hagen were playing for nothing an dgave up on defense while TBB Trier gave everything to win the game, because they are still fighting to reach playoffs”, stressed Skyliner sports director Kamil Novak. “I think that Frankfurt needed some time to adjust to our defense, but they showed in the second half that they are in second place for a reason. I thought that we did a good job in the half court defense not letting Frankfurt get easy baskets”, stated TBB Trier guard John Bynum. It was a big adjustment for us. TBB Trier was very physical and we were a little surprised how different the defenses of Phoenix Hagen and TBB Trier were”, added Skyliner forward Kimmo Muurinen.

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Dashaun Wood couldn´t even take a break against TBB Trier after the track meet last weekend against Mark Dorris as he had to be sharp, focused and have his track speed on course against Lebron James friend Dru Joyce. Wood had to be alert against the crafty, smart, diminutive Joyce like Miley Cyrus will have to be even more alert against the paparazzi after her embarrassing confrontation with a bong, The way three time BEKO BBL team Brose Baskets Bamberg will have to be ready every weekend for every BEKO BBL team who will be gunning for them more and more especially Alba Berlin after being humiliated 103-52 on the road, as well as The New England Patriots having to be alert for teams who want to deny them winning a fourth Super Bowl and pe0ple in Central Europe knowing how to cope with any additional snow coming in the coming days. However Wood didn´t have any serious lapses against Dru Joyce as he was able to win the point guard duel on the court and help lead The Deutsche Bank Skyliners to a comfortable 72-55 win in the Ballsporthalle. “This was the first time that I played Joyce in a professional game in Europe. We played each other in college. Joyce plays like Jason Kidd and has gotten better and smarter. He is a leader and is not the kind of player that will lose a game for you. He just to shoot from way outside, but now he gets into the lane well and passes great on the pick and roll”, stressed Dashaun Wood. “We played against each other in college and I am familiar with his game. He is doing agreat job in Frankfurt and led his team to the win. He has a lot of poise which comes with experience. His game has really matured”, commented ex Ratiopharm Ulm guard Dru Joyce. Even though Wood won the scoring duel 15-11, the matchup seemed pretty equal. “It was a good duel and I think that nobody got the better of each other”, said TBB Trier American John Bynum. “It was a good duel, but I think that Wood was a bit quicker”, warned Giessen 46er center Jannik Freese. “Wood-Joyce was a good matchup. Frankfurt did a good job keeping Joyce out of the lane, but our offense should of helped him out more”, said TBB Trier American Barry Stewart. “Wood played better. Our defense played strong on the ball screen and pressured Joyce on the ball”, expressed Skyliner forward Roger Powell. Frankfurt won their third game in a row and even though the result looked like na easy win, it wasn´t. “The game was a lot harder than it seemed. TBB Trier played hard on offense and defense. They really make you work at both ends of the court. It was a tough game and we had to fight it out”, warned Dashaun Wood.

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When the Deutsche Bank Skyliners face off against TBB Trier on Saturday some players may be feeling déjà vu seeing coach Henrik Roedl and players Dragan Dojcin, Oskar Fassler and Phillip Zwiener on the floor again who all used to be on the luscious Alba Berlin pay role. Seeing all these faces in the green of TBB Trier and not Alba Berlin might be as weird as if ex Skyliners Travon Bryant, mate Milisa or Alex King were suddenly on the Skyliner bench again, if soccer god with the cigar Diego Maradona would reappear behind a SSC Neapel curtain and play a game again or if Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown would appear back in the news again as totally changed and sober people again. It is common to see white snow falling from the German sky, have Tom Brady finding the old magic with wide receiver Wes Welker, Bayern Munich losing at a regular basis or MBC guard Michael Jordan finding a new victim for his cam on road trips, but it is not every day that many players head to another team in the BEKO BBL, but concerning the spirited and solid play of TBB Trier this season, bringing in talent from Berlin hasn´t hurt. “ I think having these Alba Berlin guys on the team is an advantage, because they are familiar with each other. We are a young team, but if you have players that are familiar with each other, then it always helps out on and off the court”, warned TBB Trier guard John Bynum.
All these characters had success in Berlin, but no one more as a player than coach Henrik Roedl who won 10 BEKO BBL titles, was 1993 NCAA champion with North Carolina and only a short time later 1993 European champion with Germany. As a coach, it has been a steady road for him. He didn´t have it easy being pushed into the Alba Berlin job in January 2005. He finished the season losing in the semi final to the Opel Skyliners. The next season, he won the BEKO BBL cup in 2006. The next season, he was dismissed as coach. He had coached Alba Berlin 2 the last few years and was also the German U-20 coach. Coming to a team like TBB Trier who had been as far from the playoffs in the last years as Paris Hilton winning an Oscar, he has done a pretty good job in the first few months. “Roedl is a good coach, because he has the ability to get most out of his players. He teaches the game and everybody gets better individually. He has many strength, but you are seeing the biggest on the defensive end”, added California native John Bynum.

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