Despite a new star coach and an ex-NBA star on the team, things aren’t going well at FC Bayern Basketball at the moment. World champions Andreas Obst and Isaac Bonga were also injured in the Bundesliga game in Bonn. The crisis is here.
The FC Bayern basketball players are in danger of losing sight of their goals for the season early on in the season. At runner-up Telekom Baskets Bonn, the Munich team, who started the season as big favorites for the championship, suffered their third defeat in the league.
The slide to eighth place in the national BBL at such an early stage in the season is certainly just a snapshot that can still be corrected. Things look different in the EuroLeague. With only two wins from seven games and 16th place in the table, the gap to the desired play-off places is already alarmingly large. With another defeat on Wednesday against Partizan Belgrade (8.30 p.m.), the play-off goal would not yet be finally conceded. But the way back on track would be difficult.
There is a lack of consistency and energy
The sporting crisis comes as quite a surprise. Because after the first games of the season, not all of which were successful, There were clear improvements in play compared to the previous year under Andrea Trinchieri. But – for whatever reason – the team, which star coach Pablo Laso has provided with a new, faster style of play, does not bring any consistency to the floor.
This was also evident on Sunday in Bonn, when Bayern gave up a double-digit lead and lost 83:88 after extra time. The Munich team was also unlucky with injuries – Andreas Obst was unable to continue playing with a foot injury, and Isaac Bonga was no longer used as a precaution after just two and a half minutes of play due to groin problems. But as in the BBL game in Braunschweig, there was a lack of energy in the crucial phase.
Fruit and Bonga injuries “no excuse”
“Congratulations to Bonn, they played very well. (…) They were able to come back in the third quarter and then take over the rhythm of the game. They played with a lot of energy, we couldn’t keep up with that energy later,” analyzed the head coach Laso blamed the defeat and also criticized the lack of cleverness in the final phase. He had already commented on the bankruptcy in Braunschweig with similar words.
Former NBA star Serge Ibaka became clearer: “We have to control the ball better, especially in the crucial moments in the game. We didn’t manage to do that today.” Ibaka also referred to the two injured world champions. “But that’s not the case Excuse. Bonn was simply better today and deserved to win.”
Against Partizan: A home game only on paper
You can’t train cleverness. However, there is enough quality and routine in the FC Bayern squad, more than in most other teams in the Bundesliga. As far as the lack of energy is concerned, the reasons lie deeper. The short preparation for the season – long stretches without the World Cup participants – is still weighing on the people of Munich. Added to this is the tight schedule and the many personnel changes, which are also due to the “6+6” foreigner regulation in the BBL.
But that shouldn’t be an excuse either. That’s exactly why Laso rotates a lot and always protects his strongest foreigners. And now, of all times, Partizan Belgrade is coming to the BMW Park on Wednesday – a home game that will feel like an away game when a similar number of Partizan fans come to the hall as in recent years. It becomes the complete contrast program “Ghost game” against Maccabi Tel Aviv last week. But perhaps the mood of the Serbian supporters will also spur FC Bayern on and finally ensure a high level of energy again.
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Source: BR24Sport on the radio
November 15, 2023 – 8:55 p.m
