After almost two weeks with only one game, the Bavarians are back to a familiar rhythm, with two challenging play-off dress rehearsals scheduled within 48 hours. An away game vs second place Alba Berlin on Sunday evening (28.4.) the "Dance into May" on Tuesday evening (30.4., 20:30), against Bamberg.
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The prestigious top game in Berlin will be crowded with more than 13.000 spectators, on Sunday at 18:00 on MagentaSport and FC Bayern TV.
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After a phase of regeneration and concentrated training, the FCBB will be facing one of the most difficult BBL tasks in their 62nd game on Sunday. The hosts want to target a championship win after two wafer-thin missed title chances in their last few chances.
"Of course it's an important game, but it's not the most important of the season either, and the playoffs won't start after the next two games," FCBB coach Dejan Radonjic said before the trip to the capital. Captain Danilo Barthel stressed that "it's always very difficult in Berlin, just like against Bamberg. So it's a good test for the playoffs, for the pace, the intensity and the opponents we're facing there. Berlin is the toughest competitor in the fight for the championship. But first of all we have the goal to be first after the regular season."
The Bavarians still need two wins from the last five games of the regular season; Berlin, on the other hand, is still fighting for the second spot in the playoffs and hope to meet Bayern again in the finals. With six losses Berlin is third (44-12 points) behind the Munich team's current top rival (54-4), the Oldenburger Baskets.
While the Bavarians lost the German Cup duel in the quarter finals (78-70), they won the BBL home game against Bayern just before Christmas (83-81).
"We want to learn from our last defeat how to play against them," said Barthel. Meanwhile, head coach Radonjic is satisfied, "we have more players in training again and are in good shape". Devin Booker and Petteri Koponen are on board again, Robin Amaize (knee) has to rest."
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In comparison to the first two encounters, the Berliners have added another post-player with Center Landry Nnoko and Point Guard Derrick Walton (from Kaunas). The top scorer is still the Lithuanian Small Forward Rokas Giedraitis (13.1 ppg) ahead of Martin Hermannsson (12.1). The very low-staffed Alba squad has the best offense in the BBL (91.6 ppg/FCBB: 88.2), while the champions have the most accurate team in the league (52.9 % from the field/Berlin: 51.6%) and by far the best defense with an average of only 75.7 points given up per game.
The schedule of the Bavarians:
Sun, 28.4, 18:00.: Berlin - FCBB (BBL)
Tue, 30.4., 20:30: FCBB - Bamberg (BBL)
So., 5.5., 15:00: Casting - FCBB (BBL)
Fri, 10.5., 20:30: FCBB - Ulm (BBL)
Sun, 12.5, 18:00.: Bonn - FCBB (BBL)
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Playoffs 2019: start Saturday, May 18th