Basketball: This is how the MHP giants Ludwigsburg became a playoff surprise | sports mix

Who would have thought?

The MHP giants Ludwigsburg are scraping the semi-final playoffs in the easycredit Bundesliga. After the two wins at EWE Baskets Oldenburg (90:80, 73:72), they need Basketball players from the baroque city in the series “Best Of Five” only one more victory to reach the next round.

On Sunday (6 p.m., MHP Arena) they have their first match point in their first home game.

Of all things against feared opponents Oldenburg, against whom it had previously suffered three bankruptcies in the league and cup, the giants and coach Josh King (37) celebrated their rebirth. After only four wins from the last twelve games in the main round, hardly anyone expected such an increase.

President Alexander Reil gave a clear speech to the team of the MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg

But what is really behind the biggest surprise of the previous BBL playoffs?

An announcement from the boss! As BILD learned, President Alexander Reil (55) had taken his players to heart before the start of the playoffs in consultation with King!

Reil: “I do that a lot during the season. But now I’ve said in no uncertain terms to the players that we need to present ourselves differently in the playoffs. We now need over 40 minutes of the highest and total intensity, especially in defence.”

The plan worked. Reil before the two home games: “We now have two match balls, we have to use one.”