BBL: 9-1!

FC Bayern Basketball can hardly be slowed down in the BBL and was able to beat Brose Bamberg 77:68 in the top game. This further underpinned the lead in the standings.

In the run-up to the game, it was often discussed that the Bambergers had an absurd workload in the current week, even Uli Hoeneß had described the setting of the game as “unfair”. It was the third game in the last five days for Bamberg, who had to play against Milan in the Euroleague on Friday. The guests were missing two important people with Ricky Hickman and Daniel Hackett, but also the Bavarian team had some worries: Besides Vladimir Lucic, who was already out of order, Nihad Djedovic also announced his departure at short notice.

Nevertheless, it was clear from the start how seriously both teams took this game. The first quarter was first-class and fast-paced, and at 24:20 Bamberg led the way in the end, thanks mainly to Augustine Rubit. At the beginning of the second quarter, however, Brose completely lost the thread and thus also control, while the Bavarian team went on a 13-0 run. The hosts took a 43:33 lead into the break.

They were able to defend their lead in the third quarter, although their strikes also came to a halt. There were now more fouls and less flow, but the Brose-Offense remained the toothless one. A putback from Danilo Barthel at the end of the round even brought the hosts a 14-point lead in the final quarter.

Actually, this could have been enough for a relaxed final phase, but Bamberg didn’t get up and quickly returned to just 6 points, a Dorell Wright three-way just six minutes before the end even shortened to 4. From now on, things went up and down and it looked like Bamberg could still turn the game around two minutes before the end, but instead the guests again suffered stupid ball losses. Devin Booker, Jared Cunningham and Reggie Redding brought home the victory for Bavaria.

The FCBB has now won six games at a time and continues to rank first in the BBL with a 9-1 record. Team top scorer was Cunningham with 17 points that day. Booker (13), Milan Macvan (11) and Anton Gavel (10) also scored double-digit points. For Bamberg, who now stands at 6 wins and 4 defeats, Wright was the best scorer with 14 points.

Jared Cunningham. Strong introduction of the NBA-experienced shooting guard. Cunningham fired free throws (8/10 FT) and finished high from the field (4/6 FG), he also managed some important actions in the Defense. 2 of his 3 steals he picked up in the Crunchtime.

Nikos Zisis. The Greek came up to 5 assists, but otherwise there was very little to see of Zisis, although he played with the guests for most of the minutes. A little bit more penetration would have been desirable, especially as he just didn’t hit his litters otherwise. His score of 7 points at 2/7 FG was a bit meagre, with a very annoying ball loss in the final phase. Also with an unfortunate appearance: Maodo Lo (8 points, 3/11 FG).

Due to the failures of some important wing players, Djordjevic offered some relatively unusual formations, including two-PG lineups with Hobbs and Jovic and some really big lineups. Bamberg had problems with the latter in particular when two players from the Macvan Booker-Zirbes trio were on the court. Wright was relatively invisible for more than three quarters and therefore could not punish these “slower” lineups.