Bayern starts the series 77-53 over Chemnitz

The Bayern Basketball team is on course: Head coach Andrea Trinchieri's team leads the playoff quarterfinals against the Niners of Chemnitz 1-0. The Munich team won an expectedly intense encounter in front of almost 3,800 fans in a commanding fashion, 77-53.

Beginning the game with a strong intro show by FCBB partner AUDI, the favorite clearly pulled away in the third quarter with a 24-9 run. Deshaun Thomas (15), Nick Weiler-Babb (13) and Andreas Obst (10) scored the most points for Bayern.

Game two follows in just over 45 hours in the Audi Dome, on Sunday evening at 20:30. After that, the best-of-five series moves to Chemnitz for at least one duel (Friday, 20:30).

Tickets

The Bavarians - as they have recently without injured Hilliard and Walden as well as Hunter - started committed (13-6/6th), but then lost the ball too often and lost the lead (27-23/15th). Chemnitz moved the ball well but the FCBB fought back, hardly gave the guest any breathing room after halftime and was on target for victory early after four threes in a row that took a 66-42 lead (32nd).

Points per quarter Bayern - Chemnitz: 18-15, 18-16, 24-9, 17-13.

Stats: Two-point shooting: 60% (FCBB) // 53% (Chemnitz); Three-point shooting: 38% // 20%; Free-throw shooting: 79% // 38%; Rebounds: 41 // 26; Assists: 14 // 16; Turnovers: 20 // 12.

Quotes:      

FCBB head coach, Andrea Trinchieri: "It's now 1-0 in a best-of-five series against a very good team that plays quality basketball. With a good coach, good players. (...) That was the main goal we had and we lead 1-0 because we played very good defense in the second half. We had enough energy and intensity to then be able to control the rebounds and correct mistakes from the first half. (...) This is just the first step in the series. In the second half, we were stable on the defensive end. We didn't really change that much, just made minor adjustments on defense, for example, shifting. I always respect my opponent, so I don't think it will be a sweep. I never think that way. I think that on Sunday they are capable of showing the best game of the season. (...) They have beaten us three times and they will come back very hard on Sunday. (...) Hopefully Rubit can play in better shape, on Sunday we will see. (...) I'm still sick, Rubit is sick, but I don't have to run and jump. He should not have played, that was the recommendation. But he was extremely important in helping to rotate Thomas and Radosevic. When you see how many have to sit out with us banged up, you understand that you need everyone. Aug was very important and had the best game he could have."       

 Leon Radosevic: "I don't think we played that much differently in the second half, it's just that Chemnitz didn't keep up the concentration in the second half. Then something like that happens when we defend so strongly for 40 minutes. Even EuroLeague teams get problems then, so it's a good result for us. All opponents will have a hard time against us if we perform with this body language and call up the EuroLeague experience. But we have to play eight more games fully concentrated, then everything should work out."

Game recap:

FCBB head coach Andrea Trinchieri's first quarterfinal starters were Nick Weiler-Babb, Andreas Obst, Nihad Djedovic, Deshaun Thomas and Leon Radosevic. The very first shot in this playoff fight was a good one: Thomas hit a three-pointer to make it 3-0 (1st minute of the game). Chemnitz played neck-and-neck with Bayern and moved and grabbed the lead, which Obst managed to regain impressively with two threes (11-6/5th). Bayern defended properly and also looked concentrated on the offensive end. The fans had fun and engaged in chanting duels with the 50 or so Chemnitz supporters in the stands. After the first quarter, FC Bayern was leading 18-15.

The Saxons started more energetically in game quarter two - the lead changed again (20-18/12th). Despite some careless mistakes, the Munich team stayed in the game and Weiler-Babb equalized at 23-23 (14th). There was little rhythm to be felt on Bayern's side. After all, the guests were charged with five team fouls early on, so that the FCBB was able to keep touch from the free-throw line (27-27/16th). A 9-0 Munich run came at just the right time to regain the upper hand (32-27/18th). Coach Trinchieri distributed the playing time among numerous shoulders, captain Djedovic did not show any weakness and sank four in a row. After 20 minutes Munich led 36-31.

Significant increase in defensive intensity

Trinchieri obviously found the right words in the locker room, because his men seemed much more focused and within 60 seconds the lead was in double digits (41-31/21st). Both at the back and in front, the FCBB's play was now much more dynamic, much to the delight of the fans. Munich tried to pull away but Chemnitz was waiting for its chance. Even if the one or other turnover happened, at the back Munich kept atop by securing the rebounds. Djedovic was convincing with a three-point play and Rubit scroed from under the basket (51-40/28th). Thomas was undercut on a three-pointer and calmly steered all three free throws into the basket (54-40/29th). No defender was near the next Thomas three-pointer, and the following one by Jaramaz also dropped - 60-40 after the third quarter.

The threes fall for Munich

Munich was in possession of the momentum as Weiler-Babb sank two threes in a row and smirked while running back towards the bench (66-43/32nd). The nice thing was that the Saxons didn't give up even in the face of the quite clear deficit and kept scoring thanks to their star of the day, Washington. But the home team now managed to hit almost everything from beyond the three-point line: now it was Andreas Obst's turn again with a three-pointer (69-45/34th). Until the 37th minute of the game, the FCBB scored exclusively with three-pointers in this quarter - Jason George also scored to make it 72-45. The game had long been decided and the fans celebrated the 1-0 series lead. It was great that the Chemnitz fans also celebrated - great atmosphere in the Audi Dome!

SCHEDULE