The EuroLeague season has been over for a good two weeks, but at least the timing of the schedule in the top division will be remembered by the Bayern basketball players these days. Because every two days, as has been the case almost without exception in recent months, the BBL playoffs are now being played: Already on Friday evening, it goes into the second quarterfinal duel of their playoff series with the Crailsheimer Merlins, after the convincing 86-66 win in the opener on Wednesday night. Tip-off is at 19:00.
If the fifth-place team in the main round is able to equalize, Crailsheim would in have home court advantage for two games starting Sunday (18:00). A decisive fifth deciding game would then take place in the Audi Dome.
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"As if it would be zero to zero"
"We have to be ready for a completely different game," said head coach Andrea Trinchieri, "and we should take it as if it were nil to nil." Only three days after the cup championship of the Top Four, his team showed a very concentrated performance in game one with its usual effective defense and a very smart as well as entertaining offense (21 assists, Crailsheim 9). Their shooting from three is also above average as they hit eleven of 25 three-pointers (44%). Only nine turnovers were allowed despite Crailsheim's press defense, a single one of which went to Zan Mark Sisko, although the only 23-year-old Slovenian was on the court for more than 28 minutes after Wade Baldwin's controversial exit. With 16 points, the young conductor achieved a personal best in the FCBB jersey.
On the other side, it was Hakro point guard Trae Bell-Haynes who kept the guests halfway within reach after the break with his penetration to the basket. The 6'2 Canadian, who would normally be a match-up for Nick Weiler-Babb, scored 23 points. But the injured guard must continue to watch as well as Nihad Djedovic, who, however, has started to train in ernest.