There are situations that are never easy, but at times when times arent easy one may rather be in an uneasy position like seeing Lebron James go 0/12 from downtown out of the view of a diehard fan, being caught in an annoying traffic jam on the highway on the way to an event or walking through a park and getting some nasty and unexpected droppings from above from a passing pigeon. However one of the most unwanted circumstances for a professional athlete is an unpleasant do or die situation. A do or die game is an experience for a player that involves a desperate effort to succeed or face dire consequences. The last time the Frankfurt Skyliners were involved in a do or die game Fraport Skyliner big man Johannes Voigtmann was learning his craft at German sport handball as he hadn´t even started to play basketball yet, guard Dwayne Wade was two months away from his first NBA title with the Miami Heat, Adele was still an unknown swan on the music scene getting ready to spread her wings and adore the public with breathtaking music and Germany was getting ready for their soccer world cup in their own country. Frankfurt had been in some do or die games like back in 2010 in game five of the finals losing in Bamberg or 2011 game five of the semi finals losing at home to Alba Berlin, but never as threatening like in 2006 where they had to beat the EWE Baskets Oldeneburg which they did 70-58. In that game, American Kavossy Franklin led the team with 22 points and captain Pascal Roller steered 18 points to the victory and staying in the league. The club has done great things since then reaching the playoffs four times, reaching the 2010 Beko BBL finals, having an MVP player with Dashaun Wood or future NBA player with Jon Leuer and developing the Germans this season, but all those things were only memories and their whole beko BBL existence could have beeen washed out after their 40 minute performance against the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg. The Fraport Skyliners knew what awaited them, a hard fought battle like 10 battle of Wurzburg´s in one against the Schwaben team, but they were able to keep their nerves and composure betaing them 77-72.The players playing in the game had been in dor or die games before so this was nothing new. “I had been in a few do or die games to get into the playoffs, but nothing like this game. I wasn´t nervous at all and loved the atmosphere. Celebrating after the win with the fans felt like we had won the championship”, stressed Fraport Skyliner forward Laquan Prowell. After the loss Neckar Riesen guard Wayne Bernard had along face after losing his third do or die game in his career. “I had lost these type of games with MBC and Giessen, but I didn´t think about the importance of the game as I go into each game the same way always trying to play with much energy”, added Wayne Bernard. Skyliner Devin Gibson was all smiles after the win as his record in do or die games improved as it took him about 10 seconds to remember his status in these type of games. “I am 7-3 in do or die games now. Whenever the fans are really loud, we step it up even more. We have the best fans in the league. I was as confident as could be going in. We weren´t going to take this loss”, expressed Devin Gibson.
Zachory Peacock
The Miles Basketball Minute: A Mad Baller In The Body Of Zachory Peacock (Fraport Skyliners)
From 2007-2011, basketball life in Frankfurt was thrilling as the Frankfurt Skyliners reached the playoffs four consecutive seasons including a quarterfinal, two semi finals and a final where they were one possession away from a possible German title as they lost a heartbreaking fifth game in Bamberg. However the last two seasons, being a follower of the Frankfurt Skyliners has become increasingly delicate as not only has the club been out of the playoffs, but have been in danger of moving down due to their poor play. Last season, the team was in 17th place in December and thank a miraculous turn in play in the second half of the season almost made the playoffs losing a must win game in Bonn on the last game day finishing in ninth place. This season, the fortunes of the 2004 Beko BBL team hasn´t been any better as they had a slow start and in February 2013 were as low as 17th place. It was unknown, if the team could ever pull themselves out of the dank cellar, but as of late, the team has rebounded winning six of their last seven games and now are breathing a bit better at 14th place.
Zach Peacock Leads The Fraport Skyliners To 11th Win In A Row In Giessen 79-59
For most Beko BBL teams going to the Stechert arena in Bamberg to getting 40 minutes of torturing basketball from the Brose Baskets Bamberg is as difficult as seeing singer Miley Cyrus with her short Justin Bieber cut, Lindsay Lohan going from an aspiring young actress to living in the tabloids with absurb stories like clogging toilets at movie sets, or ex Terminator cute kid Edward Furlong being accused of hitting his girlfriend in a domestic violence attack. Not only is it tough to play in Bamberg, but also in Giessen where the fans can be as hostel as a hungry lion who has just had his super snatched away. Many teams are able to depart the Ost Halle in Giessen with a victory on account of their better talent and decision making in crunch time, but there are seldom teams that have had such an amazing run like the Fraport Skyliners have had recently. The last time that the Frankfurt Skyliners left the living room of mascot Fabius as losers was 121 months ago on December 7th, 2002 as guys like Kai Nurnberger, ex Orlando Magic Mario Kasun and ex German national player Robert Maras were still roaming the floor with the Skyliners. In the last 10 wins for the Fraport Skyliners, it wasn´t always a team effort that got the win, but there were always certain players that stepped up on a big basis creating their own magic getting the team over the hump. Who could forget ex NBA player Desmond Ferguson dropping seven three pointers in a win in 2005 or Alex King having one of his best games as a Skyliner netting 13 points in 2008 or current Skyliner captain Marius Nolte who used his special force last season in Giessen in crunch time to help secure the win with big plays or Skyliner legend Pascal Roller winning a game with 13 seconds to play in 2010 with free throws in a 69-68 win. The Fraport Skyliners were looking for their 11th win in a row in Giessen and were as focused to keep the streak alive as Mr Gangnam style Psy is when he performs, the way Minnesota Viking Adrian Peterson motors down the field or how FC Bayern Munich soccer team is playing at the moment to win the triple as they won comfortably 79-59 to move to 16th place in the standings. It was the fourth win in a row for Skyliner captain Marius Nolte who had no real explanation for the domination just looking into the Giessen air. “I always feel good playing here. We have always played interesting games here where there was a lot of fight from both teams. I think possibly the dominance lies in the Giessen air”, smiled Marius Nolte. Skyliner guard Ted Scott had another strong performance netting 16 points with the only thing missing was a holster and pistol, but he was amazed at the rivalry atmosphere in the Osthalle. “I knew coming into the game about this big rivalry and how important the game was. I remember back at West Virginia State that we also had intense games against our rival Alderson. The atmosphere was intense here and with the gym being so small, it felt like fans were on your shoulders. I was impressed how the Giessen fans stuck behind their team”, added Ted Scott. Sometimes math plays a factor, but sometimes it just takes longer for reality to set in. “Giessen-Frankfurt is a very strong rivalry. I remember winning here with Frankfurt and Ludwigsburg. Mathematically the odds keep getting bigger that a team will finally win after so many loses”, commented basketball expert Steven Clauss. After their 11th loss in a row, the odds will be even be bigger next season that they will win again if the team is still in the Beko BBL.
German Hoops 