Bayern had imagined it differently, but now it can't be changed: After the deserved 96-82 defeat in the third playoff duel with the Merlins Crailsheim, the team of head coach Andrea Trinchieri will make the second attempt to end the quarterfinal series with a third win. The Munich team has known since Sunday evening that this will not be an easy undertaking against a strong home team as they found early on in Game 3.
The game kicks off at 20:30 on Tuesday, with MagentaSport broadcasting live as usual.
Lucic's return possible
The man-to-man defense against Merlins top scorer Trae Bell-Haynes (34 points) or even Elias Lasisi (20) will have to increase significantly if Bayern wants to avoid a possible Game 5 on Thursday at the Audi Dome. The hosts were able to hit their shots quite untroubled at the beginning, in the end they had strong shooting overall both from two (60%) and from distance (14 of 25 threes).
For the Munich team, a return of Vladimir Lucic (sprain in the left foot) is uncertain, but not out of the question. Nihad Djedovic also came back on Sunday after about three months of injury break to his first minutes of action.
The winner of the series will face the winner of the series Ludwigsburg vs. Bamberg starting Saturday, May 25, at 20:30. There also, the series is 2-1 in favor of the higher-ranked team. Game 2 (Monday, May 31, 19:00) and Game 3 (Wednesday, June 2, 20:30) have also been scheduled.
The 2021 BBL playoffs, quarterfinals (standings: 2-1):
TU., 5/25, 20:30: Hakro Merlins Crailsheim - FCBB (BBL Playoffs, Game 4)*.
TU., 27.5., 20.30: FCBB- Hakro Merlin Crailsheim (BBL-Playoffs, Game 5)*
*= if necessary
