This week had something of a preseason: the Bayern basketball team was able to reel off a real training program after the early cancellation of the EuroLeague date in Istanbul, with daily group and individual work following the 95-86 victory in Bamberg. An involuntary luxury for head coach Andrea Trinchieri, but it came at the right time: Starting with this Sunday's home game against Chemnitz, a dense block of four games in eight days awaits the Bavarians, including a double week in the EuroLeague (Kaunas and Monaco) and the BBL top game against Bonn.
In view of the current schedule, however, the concentration is more than ever on the next duel - tip-off against the Niners from Chemnitz is on Sunday at 15:00. (MagentaSport).
The cup semifinalist with two new top scorers
A real revenge for the cup game in Chemnitz is no longer possible for the BBL runner-up as the narrow loss ended the Cup competition for this year from the point of view of the Munich team. 85-80 was the score in mid-November only 24 hours after the return from the EuroLeague game in Monaco; this time, therefore, the necessary energy level for 40 minutes should be available. Against the Cup semifinalists, however, that is also a prerequisite for a successful performance; the guests, with an 18-10 points record are in a playoff spot, as generally expected.
Last weekend, the seventh-placed team in the league standings won the Eastern rivalry game against MBC 91-74. Chemnitz presented a new point guard in Eric Washington, who introduced himself with 13 points in 24 minutes. The 28-year-old came from Aix-Maurienne, a candidate for promotion in the French Pro B, where he was the top scorer with a good 21 points per game.
The Saxons' top scorer is also a new signing, US guard Trent Lockett (formerly in Jerusalem, Kazan and Braunschweig), who transferred from the Italian first division, has an average of 15.2 points and 3.8 rebounds after five games. Power forwards Darion Atkins (12.8 ppg, 7 rpg) and Mindaugas Susinskas (12.3 ppg, 53% threes) also stand out in the Niners' compact and defensively strong starting rotation.
(c) sampics