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The tension couldn’t be much higher: For the first time, FC Bayern Basketball team will play a Play-In game in the EuroLeague — and it’s also the first knockout duel ever held at the SAP Garden. On Tuesday evening at 8:30 p.m., they’ll face Red Star Belgrade for a spot in a second Play-In, which would then serve as a final for playoff qualification on Friday (in Madrid or Paris) for the winner. The SAP Garden will once again be sold out with 11,200 fans, with the last tickets going on general sale since Monday morning..
Red Star will arrive on Monday after a weekend without a game, while Bayern returned to Munich late Sunday night following their 94–83 win in Oldenburg. Head coach Gordon Herbert and his staff were already analyzing the opponent early in the morning, reviewing both the clear 77–101 defeat at the end of November in front of 20,000 fans in Belgrade and the many positives from the thrilling rematch at home in early March (100–82).
"Defense will be the key"
“After the poor performance in our last game against Fenerbahce, we have a chance to bounce back in front of our own fans,” said Herbert before the morning team meeting. “Of course, there’s pressure now, but we’re confident and can handle it. Pressure also means you’re fighting for something meaningful — something you’ve earned. That’s what we’ve worked for all year. The key will be to start better than we did against Fener. Then the crowd will really be in the game with us. It’s a do-or-die game — we have to come out focused and pay attention to the details on every possession. In big games like this, it’s also crucial to stick together — on the court and on the bench — staying tightly connected, even when mistakes happen. We’ll need to go beyond our limits in terms of effort. It’s our fifth game in ten days, okay — but there are no excuses at this point.”
Bayern can rely on their offense in this strong season, with 19 wins from 34 regular-season games. Carsen Edwards is the second-best scorer in the EuroLeague with 20.5 points per game, just behind the likely MVP Kendrick Nunn (21.1). The team’s three-point shooting percentage was too low against Fenerbahce, and Red Star, known for their physical defense, will likely take a similar approach. However, FCBB’s main focus will be maintaining balance through their own relentless defense.
Matching Belgrade’s physicality
Red Star’s point guard Codi Miller-McIntyre (10.2 PPG, 4.5 APG) has recently taken on a leading role offensively, while Serbian World Cup runner-up Filip Petrusev (13.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG) caused problems for Bayern in the first meeting. Shooters Isaiah Canaan (10.1) and Nemanja Nedovic (9.0, 40% 3PT) must be kept from getting hot, as experienced players like Nikola Kalinic (8.7, 43% 3PT) would capitalize immediately. Last week, during their 104–111 overtime loss at Panathinaikos Athens, Red Star also had captain Luka Mitrovic (13 points) and Mike Daum (5.9 PPG) back in the lineup, while center Joel Bolomboy (10.2) is nearing his return.
“We’re not in the playoffs yet, unfortunately, but we still have the chance to make it,” said FCBB guard Nick Weiler-Babb. “It’s going to be a very hard-fought game — a lot is on the line for both teams. The good thing is we’re playing at home with the crowd behind us. Red Star is a very physical team, and they have a lot of scoring threats. The key will be which team plays better defense.”