After northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna, it’s now the Rhône-Alpes department in France: FC Bayern Basketball is on a road trip through Europe and is currently in Lyon, where they will face Villeurbanne on Friday evening (8 PM / MagentaSport) in their seventh EuroLeague game of the season. Spirits are high after their first away win on Tuesday in Bologna (87:84), and the German champions (4–2) would be pleased to add a second win right away.
The 21-time French champion (2–4 record) suffered a clear defeat in its first game of the second double-week, losing 68–92 (29–45) to reigning champions Panathinaikos Athens. However, both of their wins this season came at home – a 76–69 victory against Vítoria and an 87–85 win against Bologna – which keeps them undefeated in the LDLC Arena, inaugurated last year.
This time, Munich’s tour guide is TJ Parker, the French assistant coach who spent over a decade with Asvel’s staff, multiple times as head coach (winning two championships and a cup title). As a former player under Gordon Herbert (2005/06 at Paris Basket Racing), Parker provided recommendations for Wednesday’s dinner for the coaches and staff, as well as for the team in Lyon; his family, including his mother, still resides there.
Herbert: "It Only Works as a Team"
However, the brief recovery phase for the Munich traveling group ended on Thursday morning, as they were back to training that day. “We need another strong team performance on the road, especially since our bench was outstanding at Virtus,” said head coach Gordon Herbert. “It only works with that kind of team effort, and the key will be to match their physicality and control the pace. They have two exceptional guards in de Colo, one of the all-time greats of the EuroLeague, and the young Maledon, both capable of dictating a game. And it’s not just them we need to stop.”
While Bayern remains without their small forwards Lucic and Giffey, Lyon was recently missing playmaker Lee and center Lauvergne. French youngster Theo Maledon (15.3 PPG, 3.5 APG), 23, and experienced national player Nando de Colo, 37, are currently directing Lyon’s play. De Colo (8.3/4.2) is approaching his 302nd EuroLeague appearance, maintaining impressive averages of 15.1 points and 3.6 assists per game.
Tour Guide TJ Parker
French forward Neal Sako, who joined from Cholet, is also in excellent form. In his first season in the EuroLeague, he’s made a strong impression with averages of 13.3 points and 8.8 rebounds. The 2.10-meter athlete currently has a 71 percent field goal rate, ranks second in the league for rebounds, and leads in both offensive rebounds (3.2 per game) and steals (1.8 per game).
“As always in the EuroLeague, it’s tough on the road,” says Gordie Herbert. “Of course, it would be great to get this win for TJ, too, at his home club where he spent so many years and won championships.”