There are a few weeks to go in the regular season and the hot phase of the year is approaching: Five games are left for Bayern Basketball in the EuroLeague before the cup winners will turn their attention to the main goal declared in the summer, the fight for the German championship. On the home stretch in the top division, the Munich team still wants to "take as many wins as possible," as head coach Andrea Trinchieri put it, even if this time there won't bea chance for a German team to reach the playoffs for the third time after two successful years.
Sunday in Braunschweig
No fewer than eight games in the next 18 days await the FCBB, starting with a road game at Olimpia Milan on Friday night (21:00). Milan is currently playing the best basketball in the league alongside Olympiakos.
On Saturday, the team will travel directly to Lower Saxony for the BBL game in Braunschweig (Sunday, 15:00). On Tuesday, the team will play host to Panathinaikos, and next Friday (March 31, 19:00), the FCBB plays host to Final Four candidate AS Monaco.
Napier leads an all-star ensemble
Milan's star ensemble (13-16) has recently won seven of eight games (including an 83-62 win over Olympiakos) after a difficult season and has its sights back on the playoffs. "Milan's team has been built for the highest ambitions again this year and in recent weeks this great quality is coming to the fore," said coach Trinchieri ahead of the clash in his hometown. "This team has everything, especially a lot of experience and a first-class backcourt, so we are facing a real challenge in Milan, which we are looking forward to."
At the beginning of the week, Milan won at Fenerbahce 82-75 and only Real Madrid was able to interrupt the Lombards' win streak (91-87). At the center of the upswing is US guard Shabazz Napier (15.1 ppg), who arrived from Mexico at the end of January and has repeatedly led the scoring of late, including 26 points in Istanbul.
Italy's top team
Napier joins forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabbarot (8.8 ppg) as the second re-signing with NBA pedigree, highlighting the Armani club's potential. Kevin Pangos (9.9), shooter Billy Baron (11.5), Nicolo Melli (8.0), Brandon Davies (10.6), veteran Kyle Hines (5.3) and also the German national player Johannes Voigtmann (4.2/4.1 rpg) are also key parts to this streaking team. Their defense is one of the best in the competition, allowing only 76.8 points to their opponents.
Bayern will be missing another player for the big positions in Milan in addition to Augustine Rubit (out for the season) and Elias Harris (build-up), veteran Othello Hunter will also have to sit (back). Ognjen Jaramaz, meanwhile, has recovered from his infection and is back in training.
"Milan is in a good run"
"Milan is in a good spot and they've made another signing; a good mate of mine, Shabazz Napier, is there now and playing really well," Bayern international Niels Giffey said of the hosts.
As always, the game will be broadcast by MagentaSport.