Which clubs do I trust to play much better in the new year because they haven’t yet exhausted their potential? I came across four teams in Munich, Berlin, Chemnitz and Vechta that are currently going through different stages in their development process, but also have different demands. I expect the Munich team to start the postseason from the top position. Berlin should move straight into the playoffs and avoid last season’s detour via the play-ins. I think the Albatrosses will take second place after the main round. They could resume their “traditional role” as Bayern’s biggest rival. I see Chemnitz and Vechta, who met in a direct duel on Sunday (RASTA won 96:90 at the NINERS), at least in the play-ins, but with a chance for more.
FC Bayern Munich
It may come as a surprise that I’m including the league leaders, who have ten BBL wins in a row, in a follow-up to the teams that will improve the most. But the German champions could finally exploit the potential of the squad after the coaching change. Svetislav Pesic has simplified structures and specified tasks and roles. Benefits from this Andi Fruitwho scored a career-high 37 points against Baskonia in the Euroleague on Wednesday. Justinian Jessup receives more playing time and confidence, giving him his best performances since his arrival in Munich. But the biggest winner is David McCormackthe one below Gordon Herbert was hardly taken into account and is now really blossoming. In addition, is Spencer Dinwiddie no longer part of the team. It was never clear which position he would be best suited to. As a playmaker he dominated the ball too much, while as a shooting guard he would have taken too many minutes. There was also a questionable attitude in defense, in which he only showed real commitment in the final phases. So the ex-NBA player, who was actually intended to be a royal transfer, was a factor of uncertainty. The comeback victory against Baskonia, in which his successor for the first time Nenad Dimitrijevic participated, underlined Bayern’s regained self-confidence.
ALBA BERLIN
The defeat in Oldenburg was certainly a setback, but overall I see the Berliners on the right track. What particularly impresses me is the team unity and the extremely high intensity in defense. Pedro Calles is currently doing his best job since the Cinderella story in Vechta. In Martin Hermannsson and Justin Bean The Albatrosses have two experienced leaders who provide support for the rest of the team. The distribution of minutes is relatively balanced and therefore provides an important basis for the strenuous style of play. Offensively, the Berliners share the ball. They lead the league with 20.3 assists, but have… Jack Kyle also a player who can create a 1-1 throw at any time. The depth of the squad will increasingly pay off in the second half of the season.
NINERS Chemnitz
Before the defeat against Vechta, the Saxons won three BBL games in a row. This speaks for an upward trend, which was also stopped because without Ty Brewer whose request to move to Russia was met at short notice by those responsible. Brewer will be missing, but hopes rest on his return soon Aher Uguak. Should the Canadian find his form again by the playoffs after tearing his patellar tendon in February last year, the NINERS will be a force to be reckoned with Kevin Yes the most effective German player and in Corey Davis have the best preparer in their ranks. Join in Amadou Sowwho was sorely missed due to flu against Vechta, and Defendant Mushidi getting better and better. The Chemnitz team recently won four times in a row in the Eurocup, which also speaks for a good development. If this double burden is eliminated at some point, more forces will be available for national competition again. Ultimately, I believe in Chemnitz above all because I Rodrigo Pastore I consider him to be an excellent coach who is undeterred by adversity and setbacks.
RASTA Vechta
Denied last Sunday Tommy Kuhse the second game after his injury break and once again proved how important he can be in crucial moments. In him, Alonzo Verge Jr. and Tevin Brown has Coach Christian Held Despite Verge Jr.’s high turnover rate, they have a fantastic offensive trio. In addition, there is the newly signed Euroleague champion Tibor Pleisswho recorded his first double-double in Chemnitz. The 36-year-old should stabilize the defense, which is in Lloyd Pandi and TJ Bamba also has two stoppers on the outside positions. Overall, in my opinion, this team is very well positioned. The injury problems are still not over because the two big men Philipp Herkenhoff (shoulder) and Malcolm Dandridge (adductors) are missing. But a healthy Vechta team will climb in the table.
Koch’s second helping
Now you can of course ask why I didn’t explicitly cover Oldenburg in this column. Well, from my point of view, the turnaround for the Thunderbirds has already been completed with four wins in a row. After three away wins with an average point difference of +22.3, Oldenburg recently proved in their 76:73 win against Berlin that they can beat a top team. The new head coach Lazar Spasic is obviously doing a great job and has already fully exploited the potential for improvement!
Stefan Koch was a head coach in the premier league for two decades and was named Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2005. He regularly reached the playoffs with his teams and appeared seven times in the European Cup. He took part in the TOP FOUR six times and won the cup with Frankfurt in 2000. The Hessian was also head coach of the All-Star Game three times.
Koch currently works as a commentator at Dyn and previously worked as an expert and commentator for SPORT1, Premiere, Sportdigital, DAZN and MagentaSport, as well as a scout for the NBA. In the podcast “Talkin’ Basketball”, which is available on all common platforms, he and Oliver Dütschke regularly talk to protagonists from the German basketball scene. His column on BBL events can be found regularly here in the News Center on the right under the “Kochs Nachschlag” section.
