At first glance, you might think that the FC Bayern basketball team rarely found a better starting position for a game in Istanbul than this time. Because when they play on Friday evening (November 8th, 18:45/MagentaSport live) in the EuroLeague with the title candidate Fenerbahce Istanbul - and good friend Derrick Williams - their record of 3-3 wins is clearly better than that of the EuroLeague winner of 2017 (1-5). But if you know a little about what's going on in the highest club competition and especially about the customs of the team of the most successful EuroLeague coach ever, Zelko Obradivic (9 titles), you know that the task is as complicated as ever.
Interview with Alex King on the reunion with Derrick Williams
Only one game won in six starts is unusual for "Fener" and last week at the home game against Zalgiris Kaunas (3-3), they led 76-69 with not even one minute remaining on the clock before, to the horror of the 10,400 spectators in 51 seconds, they gave up ten points and lost 79-76.
Nando De Colo's point per game average so far: 22.3
Several injuries in the summer, like the two strong centers Jan Vesely (9 ppg/4.8 rpg) and Joffrey Lauvergne (6/4.3), who are now gradually finding their way back, as well as the long absence of six World Cup participants explain the early issues for the Turkish Final Four candidate. Only Nando De Colo (defending champion ZSKA Moscow/22.3 ppg) has averaged double-digit points for the Turkish elite team. Against Vítoria he scored an incredible 39 points. Derrick Williams (9/5.3), who last year celebrated the championship with the FCBB and was awarded a princely contract with the Turkish team is apparently still learning the offense.
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"Of course we are looking forward to seeing Derrick. But they have so many good players that we can't only concentrate on Derrick in the game," FCBB coach Dejan Radonjic said before the departure on Thursday morning. "We have to play much, much better than on Friday at Baskonia and with much more energy. The timing after Fener's start could be better from our point of view, because they will certainly be super motivated now. And despite their situation, they are clearly one of the few candidates for the title. But we always have a chance of winning if we present ourselves well."
Captain Danilo Barthel also stressed that you "fly to Istanbul to win, although of course we know what a top team they are and what quality they have. We have to go there confidently in order to win. It says nothing that they have only won one game. It's Fenerbahce, it's going to be extremely hard."
Further fears for Nihad Djedovic
The personnel situation at the German Champion remains tense. In addition to Mathias Lessort, Josh Huestis and TJ Bray (goal: end of December), who are expected to be back soon, Guard Nihad Djedovic is also threatened with missing significant time with knee irritation. After Vítoria (90-63 loss), the third-best scorer of the Munich team with an average of 10.2 points had travelled with the team but had to sit but has at least been training with the team.
The situation therefore remains difficult for the Bavarians, because only 42 hours after the end of the game in the Uelker Arena and on the day after the long return journey from Turkey, the next job awaits, an only slightly easier one: Like the Bavarians, the undefeated permanent rival Alba Berlin travel to Munich for the BBL top game. Tip-off in the nearly sold-out Audi Dome (as of Wednesday noon: only 250 tickets available) will be on Sunday at 15:00 CET, in addition to MagentaSport this time also SPORT1 will broadcast free on SPORT1.
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The runner-up from the capital city has one more day break before the Bundesliga showdown after their deployment on Thursday evening in Tel Aviv. Danilo Barthel says: "Of course this is helpful in such a busy calendar, but we must not use it as an excuse or pretext."
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