Last Sunday our Basketball Lions Braunschweig took on the runner-up ALBA BERLIN and exactly a week later, head coach Jesús Ramírez‘s #jungwildhungry team faces the next tough challenge: the reigning German champions and cup winners as well as clear title favorites FC Bayern Munich are guests on Sunday in the Volkswagen Hall (Tip-Off: 6 p.m. – live on Dyn). The Lions have already sold over 5,500 tickets for this highlight game, presented by Volkswagen Bank as “Sponsor of the Day”. If you want to be there, you should act quickly – tickets are available Online shopavailable via the hotline on 040 319 747 69 52 and at the concert box office in the Schloss-Arkaden.
The Lions came back from their first away win in the FIBA Europe Cup on Thursday and it was hard earned. “It was a very difficult game for us mentally, in which we were particularly bad in the third quarter. The rest of the game was ok, but we can’t expect to take part in the FIBA Europe Cup and win our games by 40 points,” said Jesús Ramírez, assessing the game. For the Lions head coach, the first two missed layups in the third quarter against Petrolina AEK’s zone defense were a key to the game slipping away from his team. Afterwards, he had a very difficult time against the zone, didn’t attack it and became very uncertain in his actions. “But in the end we won with energy and defense. I have to praise the players for that, especially since we also dominated the rebound in the last quarter,” said the Spaniard.
Bayern are playing faster offensively than last year
The signing of Gordon Herbert was probably FCBB’s most important summer transfer. Photo: Sebastian Derix
He sees it as very positive that his team managed to win away from home after a very difficult mental phase. Especially since the Lions’ self-confidence suffered after four defeats in a row and they first have to get out of such a hole during the game. “The victory took away some of the tension,” says Ramírez and at the same time emphasizes: “But on Sunday the tension will be high again.” Then, after a three-week break at home, the Lions will finally play in front of their own fans again and welcome the double winner and Euroleague team. Participants FC Bayern Munich. Captain Chip Flanigan and his team can look forward to great support, as the Volkswagen Hall will be really full with an expected 6,000 spectators. But the Lions will also need loud cheering from the stands and, above all, a little more confidence in their own actions against the deep favorites for the title.
Bayern, who will play away in the Euroleague at LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on Friday evening, have kept the core of their squad from last year together. For example, Vladimir Lucic, Devin Booker, Andreas Obst, Nick Weiler-Babb, Niels Giffey, Elias Harris and last year’s Finals MVP Carsen Edwards continue to wear the Munich jersey. The departures of Serge Ibaka, Isaac Bonga, Sylvain Francisco and Leandro Bolmaro were replaced almost equally with the well-known signings of national players Johannes Voigtmann and Oscar da Silva as well as the NBA-experienced playmaker Shabazz Napier, which is why the Bayern squad is still of great importance high quality. A key difference, which is particularly noticeable in the style of play, is the head coach position – and here Bayern have achieved another coup: world champion coach Gordon Herbert has taken over the head coach position after Pablo Laso returned to his home country of Spain . With Herbert, Bayern play faster offensively and switch more on defense. “In general you can say that they run more. The fast break is currently one of their best weapons,” said the Lions head coach.
Lions and Munich allow less than 75 points
Volkswagen Bank has some great promotions planned.
Carsen Edwards in particular currently seems to be benefiting from this faster style of play and is the top scorer in the Euroleague with an average of over 20 points. In this highest European competition, Bayern got off to a strong start with four wins and two defeats. In the BBL they have the same record (4th place), but surprisingly lost against SYNTAINICS MBC and on the first matchday against MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg. Devin Booker leads the Munich team as top scorer in the league (13.2 ppg), while the intelligent “Jo” Voigtmann is the best rebounder (6.5 rpg) and Nick Weiler-Babb is the most effective player with strong all-rounder statistics of 9, 8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. It is noticeable that Herbert’s team is not yet scary offensively, with an average of 77.3 points scored. But it only allows 74.3 opposing points and, like the Lions (71.3 points against), is one of the best BBL defensive teams.
Jesús Ramírez is also sure that the defense will be important. His team has to give their best one-on-one and then defend well as a team. “On the other hand, we recently had less to do with ‘switching’ in the opponent’s defense. We will need clear actions and ideas to end our attacks positively. But we also need a bit of luck with our throws – that will help with our self-confidence,” says Ramírez with certainty about this challenge.
