Things are going well at the basketball Bundesliga team Alba Berlin. The 82:74 home win on Thursday evening against the Lithuanians from Zalgiris Kaunas was the third Euroleague win in a row and the eighth competitive win in a row.
“I’m happy, everyone gave 100 percent. We’re playing like a real team right now. We let the ball flow and always have good ideas,” said coach Israel González.
The cup victory almost two weeks ago gave the team a boost. “We have refined our systems and increased our defense again,” said guard Jonas Mattisseck. A few days off also helped the Berliners. The energy is back. And until the next game on Thursday against Olympiakos Piraeus there is an unusually long time. “We need that to finally train. It’s time to try some new things,” announced González.
Alba can currently even compensate for the loss of the three top performers Marcus Eriksson, Louis Olinde and Yovel Zoosman. Because others step in. “It’s an opportunity for the guys, who don’t usually have that much responsibility, to show what they can do. And we do that incredibly well. We have depth in the squad,” said national player Johannes Thiemann.
also read
► Alba Berlin continues winning streak against Zalgiris Kaunas
► Basketball player Thiemann: Nowitzki would “definitely help us”
The 28-year-old is someone who is currently taking on a lot of responsibility. “He developed very well in fourth position. He’s had some trouble with three-pointers this season, but we know he’s a very good shot,” González said.
Against Kaunas he converted three distance shots in quick succession and was the best shooter with 17 points. “Things didn’t go well for a few weeks after Corona, and I didn’t feel well physically either. But the feeling is slowly coming back now,” he said.