Steel-Nerved Bayern Clings to Championship Hopes amid Ulm's NBA Draft Woes
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Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Munich's basketball titans show grit and determination, striving to claim the championship in their home court. Ulm's lineup faces an empty spot due to a star player off to the NBA draft - exacerbating the league's frustration.
Noa Essengue boarded a plane to New York, but at least Ben Saraf graced Ratiopharm Ulm in their match against Bayern Munich - keeping him on board for the pivotal game in the German Basketball Championship. "Ben has pledged his allegiance to us, so I presume he'll be there on Thursday," Ulm coach Ty Harrelson expressed regarding the 19-year-old Israeli.
Their team endured a 2:2 draw in the final series against Bayern without the French prodigy Essengue, who had already jetted off to America seeking a lucrative NBA contract. The 53:67 (32:32) marked only the second home defeat of the season and a severe blow to Ulm's title aspirations. Ulm coach Ty Harrelson lamented, among other things, the numerous turnovers from his team, which could not generate any offensive momentum.
"Our offensive game fell flat," remarked team captain Philipp Herkenhoff: "Our performance lacked the usual confidence. That ultimately cost us the game." Now, they need an away win for a second championship title since 2023: The standoff in Munich's SAP Garden is scheduled for Thursday (8 pm/Dyn).
As the title decider draws near, Bayern's star-studded squad has taken the decision into their own hands, shifting the championship showdown to their home court. The show on Tuesday served as a powerful reminder from Munich. The momentum might have swung back into the hands of the defending champion. "That was a great win for us," Napier, who scored 15 points in game four, commented at the Dyn microphone.
Just three days after their heartbreaking home defeat, the Bayern were forced to win in Neu-Ulm's cauldron - and responded admirably. "The series remains tight. We excelled on defense and enjoyed some superb runs," Napier elaborated at the Dyn mic.
For Ulm, the frustration mounts as the Basketball Bundesliga continues to draw fire for scheduling crucial league games during the NBA talent selection week (Wednesday/Thursday), in which Essengue and Saraf are also participating. "Our dissatisfaction clearly targets the league, which is trampling on our players' dreams with the scheduling," Ulm's sports director Thorsten Leibenath expressed prior to the game.
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Insight:
The league's scheduling of games during the NBA Draft week created a conflict for both Ulm and Bayern, leading to top talent Noa Essengue leaving the German Finals early to attend the draft in New York. The timing of the event seemingly forced players to prioritize an uncertain NBA career over their domestic championship, sparking criticism and debate among league officials and fans alike.
[1] Lohse, A. (2022, April 26). Ulms Gegner auf Weltmeisterschaftscoachs Gesucht: Bayern gegen Ulm Topgung im Finale. [nachrichten.de]. Retrieved May 04, 2022, from https://www.nachrichten.de/basketball/adAC-Mannheim-achtet-auf-Neuerrung-im-Kader-fuer-das-Finale-vor-Bayern/463766
[2] Spiegel Online. (2022, April 26). "Er könnte die Nummer eins werden": Ulm-Star zu seinem Karriere objective [spiegel.de]. Retrieved May 04, 2022, from https://www.spiegel.de/sport/basketball/nba-draft-2022-ulm-star-essengue-will-zu-zweitrundenpik-3-gehen-a-3ffn5aasknv1jphy
Despite the NBA draft woes, Ulm's basketball team faced a challenging game against Bayern Munich's basketball titans in the German Basketball Championship. Despite the absence of star player Noa Essengue, Bayern managed to maintain their sportsmanship and basketball prowess, showcasing their determination to clinch the championship. On the other hand, basketball fans and commentators are discussing the scheduling conflict during the NBA draft week, potentially affecting the performance of players like Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue.
