It is the decisive game of a long season: the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers meet in the NBA finals for the seventh time. The players from OKC Velvet Isaiah Hartenstein.
“My whole career was somehow a game seven”, says the German center Hartenstein: “It may sound strange, but I was probably nervous in front of a training camp when I only had a contract for this training camp.”
Hard to believe if, as the second German, according to Dirk Nowitzki you have the chance to get the NBA title. And then awards them in the first attempt. Oklahoma City had the first match ball in the “Best-of-Seven”-Series thrown away in Indianapolis on Thursday, now there is another chance in its own hall, but also the last chance.
“These moments prepared me”
But Hartenstein continues: “Back then I fought for my career. These moments, and you don’t understand that at first, help me now and have prepared me.” Prepared for the perhaps greatest moment of his career on Monday (2:00 a.m. CEST).
Hartenstein plays his seventh NBA season and has only been really established in the league since the past season. Before the season, OKC invested a three-year contract worth $ 87 million in the $ 27, who was born in the United States and grew up in Quakenbrück. Hartenstein had a strong season at the New York Knicks, which made a fixed size in a good team. His skills as a passer and blocker for teammates as well as his strengths Rebound And in defense for many experts, the key to the Oklahoma City Thunder is the best team in the league this season
“We are ready”
That is why the Thunder also have home rights for the decisive game and that is why it is also easy to favor. It would be the first title in the NBA for both OKC and the Pacers. The predecessorfranchise The Thunder, the Seattle Supersonics, once won the title.
In any case, the German center sees itself and its team well prepared for the game. When asked whether he could imagine participation in the finals before moving to Oklahoma City in summer, he says: “It was a goal. You do everything to get into such a moment. And now that we are there, we are ready.”
determination Is asked
This also applies to leagueMVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the leader at OKC. There is no special recipe for him: “We just have to appear as we did all year round and then use the muscles that we trained all year round.”
It is important to appear against the Pacers. “That must be the focus”, says the Canadian: “We have a game that is about everything we worked for. And they too. The better team on Sunday will win.”