Stuttering start in the Euro League, unexpected defeats in the BBL – things are not going well at FC Bayern Basketball. Now a “ghost game” is coming up – the away game against Tel Aviv will take place in front of empty stands in Belgrade because of the Hamas attack.
The German Cup winner has only had a chance this season so far: in the EuroLeague game At FC Barcelona, coach Pablo Laso’s team was defeated 59:98. In all other games, the Munich team were at least able to keep up for long stretches or, in some cases, won clearly, twice in the EuroLeague (against Alba Berlin and at Baskonia Vitoria Gasteizfour times in the BBL and in the BBL Cup against Oldenburg.
Changing formations a reason for the low?
What’s a bit worrying is that they recently suffered three defeats in four competitive games – their form curve is going slightly downwards. The reasons for this are difficult to determine. The many personnel changes, which are also due to the “6+6” foreigner regulation in the BBL and which also make sense given the tight program in the BBL and EuroLeague, could be one of them.
Head coach Pablo Laso repeatedly lets his players who are under serious strain take a break. It’s difficult to get used to it like that. In the unexpected 81:83 defeat in Braunschweig, Serge Ibaka, Devin Booker and Carsen Edwards remained out – three players who are otherwise part of the fixed rotation and are usually even starting five players. But even without them, the squad was even deeper than that of Lower Saxony.
There was a lack of energy in Braunschweig
So perhaps the team took the opponent lightly? Elias Harris denied that after the game: “We knew what was coming and didn’t underestimate them. We were aware that Braunschweig would come onto the court with energy. We just couldn’t match that energy and then something like that happens.”
The coaching team is primarily responsible for the energy level. Pablo Laso analyzed it like this: “They played tough from the start. We let them come in with a lot of energy and when we reacted, it was almost too late. (…) It’s a tough defeat for us, because we Were not able to perform at our best level.”
“Ghost game” against Maccabi Tel Aviv – A win is almost mandatory
On Thursday (8:05 p.m.), when they play in Belgrade in the Euro League against the top Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv (three wins, two defeats so far), the team has to be there again from the first second to have a chance of winning. There are two wins and four defeats in Europe so far – in order not to endanger the play-off goal (at least eighth place) at an early stage, points have to be gained slowly. A win is almost mandatory.
The Munich team proved that they can do it against Alba Berlin and at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz. Against Panathinaikos Athens, Red Star Belgrade and Fenerbahce Istanbul You kept up well for a long time before running out of steam at the end. Maccabi is a similarly strong team. The situation will certainly be unusual. Because of the war in Gaza, the game will not take place in Tel Aviv, but in a small hall in Belgrade – without spectators. Macabi’s domestic league games have all been suspended and the Euro League is still looking for a suitable setting for such duels. Most recently, the Israelis won 98:90 at Olimpia Milan. The first “home game” since the Hamas terrorist attack is now against FC Bayern.
A difficult duel awaits, “because it takes place in an unusual atmosphere without fans,” said coach Pablo Laso and added: “No team will have fans and it’s good that we are playing,” said Laso, “that’s exactly what it is So my attitude is: be ready for a difficult game and try to win.” World champion Andreas Obst regrets the circumstances. “It is of course special to play against Tel Aviv in Belgrade, but unfortunately that is the situation,” said the three-man expert. Nevertheless, a win is important: “After things didn’t go so well for us last week, we want to give an answer as a team.”
Current fixtures, results and tables: Basketball in the BR24Sport results center.
Source: BR24Sport on the radio November 9th, 2023 – 10:55 p.m
