The MLP Academics Heidelberg still have to worry about staying in the league. They clearly lost to the German champions 57:73 on Saturday. The Ulm team impresses with a strong defense.
If the Heidelbergers, who are threatened with relegation and have recently been playing well, had won their fifth home game in a row, it would have been relegation for the MLP Academics. But strong defensive work from Ulm ensured that the otherwise well-known Heidelberg offensive never really got going.
Strong Karim Jallow at ratiopharm Ulm
After a slow start by both teams, ratiopharm Ulm got going in the middle of the first quarter, and then spectacularly with two dunkings in a row, first LJ Figueroa after winning the ball and then Karim Jallow to give Ulm a 9:4 lead. Jallow in particular cannot be stopped by the Heidelberg defense. The ratiopharm winger increased the score to 20:10 from Ulm’s perspective with a layup. For the home team, who recently specialized in long-range throws, the threes don’t fall. After the first section it is 24:17 for the German champions.
Heidelberg is having a hard time against Ulm’s defense
The MLP Academics are having a hard time against a stable and aggressive Ulm defense. The home team fights and struggles, occasionally scoring points from offensive rebounds. The ratiopharm team misses several shooting opportunities, but with a three from Jessup they are able to extend the lead to eleven points. Heidelberg is behind 31:42 at halftime.
It remains a difficult game after the break. The Heidelberg team is having a hard time finding gaps. The master increasingly misses the mark or loses the ball during the build-up game. Lots of fouls, lots of free throws. The two teams worked together to make the score 46:60 from Heidelberg’s perspective at the end of the third quarter.
Only 15 percent three-point rate at MLP Academics
In the last section, the home team’s three-point quota remained far too weak (only four out of 27 attempts were successful) to pose a threat to the confident German champions. Not everything works offensively at ratiopharm Ulm, but the defense is stable until the end. Heidelberg is kept at just 57 points. Final score 73:57 for Ulm. The Academics now have to try to stay in the league in the last two games against Würzburg and Tübingen. With the away win, the Ulm team consolidated their good starting position for the playoffs.
2024-05-04 20:00:16
#BBL #Ratiopharm #Ulm #Heidelberg #Academics #chance
