Gießen 46ers: Accurate analysis by TJ Williams

Another missed first half, again an inspiring second. Another defeat. The Gießen 46ers have to be more focused and bilious – especially in the first quarter. In Chemnitz it is only enough for a 75:82. TJ Williams makes a successful debut.

The Gießen 46ers lost on Saturday evening in the basketball Bundesliga ghost game at the Niners Chemnitz with just 75:82 (32:47). After a weak first half, Pete Strobl’s team improved and only gave up the game at the very end. Giessen’s new playmaker TJ Williams made a good debut, and with 17 points became the top scorer for the guests from Hessen.

In the first 20 minutes, it was the well-known construction sites that the Giessener presented in the empty exhibition hall in Chemnitz: Much too harmless and too predictable to attack, without the brilliant ideas, too many ball losses, weak throwing rate and poor defensive behavior during rebound.

Gießen 46ers: Much too harmless, poor throw rate

The people of Chemnitz were better, more alert and a tad smarter in all respects in the first two quarters. Especially newcomer Trent Lockett showed his skills. The all-rounder already had eleven points after half-time. Giessen’s new Guard T: J. Williams, who still has a few pounds too much on his ribs, tried hard, but had little luck with the throw from a distance in the first 20 minutes. He managed the first three of the 46ers in the game at 37:54 in the 26th minute – after ten failed attempts by the guests.

The Niners were already in the lead with 24:17 after the first quarter and finally went into halftime with a 15-point lead (47:32). The 46ers, in which the American Kyan Anderson had to sit out due to the import rules, reared themselves up after the break. With a furious 26:15 they came back into the game. With the encouraging 57:63 deficit after the third quarter, the race to catch up continued.

Gießen 46ers: McCullum – the ball thief

From ball wins – mostly from Kendale McCullum – the 46ers initiated successful fast breaks and caught up point by point. The guests from Hessenland turned the game. You saw a completely different basketball game. The favorite people from Chemnitz, who had previously bristled with self-confidence, got the cut. Niners top scorer Darion Atkins aptly summed up the chaos of his unsettled team: “We have lost focus, acted without energy and no longer played together.”

Quite different from the Giessen, who previously had massive problems in set-play and now generated their points via a quick switch game from defense to attack. Williams in particular was now playing big. The new playmaker took responsibility. After his three to 57:61 and his two to 59:63, the 27-year-old Texan followed suit. After his basket in the 32nd minute, the Gießen 46ers were in the front for the first time in the game (65:63). After that, an open exchange of blows developed, in which the Niners on the one hand threw their individual higher abilities into the balance and ultimately also had the necessary ounce of luck.

Pouring 46ers: Williams turns up

“We started the game way too slowly. We lost too many balls and made too many mistakes – and missed a few important baskets. But Chemnitz is also a good team. For us it was the first time that we played in this – with me – composition. We still have to come together – and that will take a while, ”Williams stated. Coach Strobl agreed with him: “The decisive factor was again how Chemnitz started the game, attacked it and we couldn’t stop it again. In the end we fought back well, we are fighters. “

The Gießen 46ers, who are in 15th place, are likely to face a big fight on Saturday when the Baskets from Bonn, with former 46ers players Karsten Tadda and Skyler Bowlin as leaders of the table, come to the Osthalle at 6 p.m.