The madhouse reopens: This Thursday evening, Bayern Basketball returns to SAP Garden for their home opener of the new EuroLeague season. They won 14 games there last season in Europe's top competition – the second-best home record of any team behind Panathinaikos Athens (15 wins), where the German champions put in a very respectable performance on Tuesday with their newly formed team (79-87). And as in their last appearance at the Olympic Park, when Bayern won their first play-in duel, their opponent on the second match day is Red Star Belgrade.
A limited number of tickets are still available for the first Garden highlight, online and at the box office, which opens at 7 p.m. In view of the rush, the FCBB recommends arriving early, preferably by public transport (e.g., tram lines M 20/21 to Olympiapark-West).
Belgrade also lost in their opener
Red Star also started with a defeat, losing 82-92 (41-45) at home in front of 17,000 fans against Olimpia Milan. The visitors are in a similar situation, with nine professionals leaving the club and a key player suffering a serious injury. Isaiah Canaan suffered a knee injury. Center Jasiel Rivero (who transferred from Maccabi) was injured against Milan. Point guard Devonte Graham (342 NBA games), who transferred from the United States, was still missing from the squad on Tuesday, as was Joel Bolomboy, who has not been registered due to injury.
This is unlikely to change Crvena Zvezda's ambitions, as was made clear in the summer with the transfer of the much sought-after forward Chima Moneke (Baskonia/all-time 11.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg). US forward Jordan Nwora (Efes) followed suit last week and was the top scorer in the opener with 19 points, ahead of playmaker Codi Miller-McIntyre (14/6 assists) and new guard Tyson Carter (Malaga/16). Following the retirement of Milos Teodosic, 38, captain Nikola Kalinic (10) is more than ever the team's integrating figure.
“We need to increase our intensity in defense,” said FCBB head coach Gordon Herbert on Wednesday morning before departing from Athens airport. He had watched the game against title favorites Panathinaikos again on his laptop, “there were a lot of good things, for example the offensive rebound,” said the Canadian. “And we didn't make open shots, which isn't bad, that's part of the game. But we couldn't stop Panas' very good individual players in defense, so we have to find a way as a team against Red Star.”
Bayern won the rebound battle in Athens (38:30) and recorded other positive aspects, such as Justinian Jessup's successful EuroLeague debut (9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists). “I hope we can improve and win our first home game,” said the left-hander. “And I'm really looking forward to the fans at SAP Garden, it's going to be great.”