Sweep or Game 4? Everything is possible in the third playoff quarterfinal for the Bayern Basketball team on Friday night at the hall in Chemnitz, which will be packed with more than 4,700 spectators. Andrea Trinchieri and his squad lead the series 2-0 after the two home games, which they won big (77-53, 93-76). But the Niners of Chemnitz are strong at home with a12-5 record in the regular season for the sixth seed. With a win, they would welcome the Bavarians for a fourth duel on Sunday (20:30, MagentaSport), with a defeat, the first knockout round of the Saxons would end prematurely.
„Die Halle ist ein Faktor“
„Sie spielen Qualitätsbasketball und mit hoher Energie, speziell zuhause, denn die Halle ist ein Faktor“, mahnt Trinchieri, dessen Team diese Saison in der Runde sowie im Pokal in Chemnitz verlor. Damals lief allerdings noch die EuroLeague und man habe fast doppelt so viele Saisonspiele wie Chemnitz hinter sich, rechnete der Italiener am Abreisetag vor. „Deshalb werden sie kein Benzin im Tank zurücklassen“ und es wäre „eine Sünde“, sich nicht auf einen harten Fight einzustellen.
US-Forward und Topscorer Deshaun Thomas, der seinen Punkteschnitt (15,6) in den Playoffs auf 18,5 Zähler pro Partie gesteigert hat, sagte die eingeforderte Aufmerksamkeit zu. „Sie haben viele Spieler, die scoren können und für sie ist das ein Do-or-Die-Spiel, also werden sie alles versuchen und von der Kulisse gepusht werden“, sagt der 30-Jährige.
Youngster Jason George, who is averaging almost 16 BBL minutes so far this season, reported Trinchieri's unequivocal message: "We have to defend physically, aggressively and be prepared for them to have runs." His message was clear: "even if it's 2-0, we can't take the game lightly, they have the home crowd and we have to take this game very seriously. They're going to let it all out and they're another team at home that we've lost to three times this season."
The best-of-five series will definitely end next Wednesday (May 25th, 20:30) at the latest, a still possible fifth duel would then again take place in the Audi Dome. The winner will meet the winner of the Bonn vs. Hamburg clash (2-0 Bonn) in the semifinals, first game on Saturday evening after next (May 28th).
Nobody at Bayern is thinking that far ahead, although Andrea Trinchieri is of course studying the parallel duel. "A 2-0 is better than an 0-2, but you need three wins," his compatriot Daniele Baiesi praised the current opponents once again: "Chemnitz plays very tough, they are very well coached and have beaten us twice very clearly," the sports director emphasized.
Quarterfinals (2-0):
Game 3, Friday, May 20, 20:30: Niners Chemnitz - FCBB
Game 4*, Sunday, May 22, 20:30.: Niners Chemnitz - FCBB
Game 5*, Wednesday, May 25, 20:30.: FCBB - Niners Chemnitz
*= if necessary