The OPEL SKYLINERS welcome GHP Bamberg in game two on Thursday and this could become the most important game of the 2004-2005 season. Frankfurt needs to win this, because a loss would give GHP Bamberg a 2-0 lead in the best of five series and then they could win the title in front of their dedicated fans in the Forum in Bamberg. Game two won´t be a walk through the park, but coach Didin is not sceptical in any way that his team could lose in game two. "We have no pressure in game two. If you have fear, then that invites badness. We feel good and are only in the first quarter of the series. It´s still a long series and I am confident we will tie the series in game two." Frankfurt was able to defeat GHP Bamberg 72 to 67 early in the season in the Ballsporthalle.
GHP Bamberg played excellent in game one, but they had the support of the hometown crowd. Now, they must come into the Ballsporthalle and do it again. The OPEL SKYLINERS have proven so many times that they return strong at home after a loss on the road. "Bamberg played a great game Sunday, but now it is our turn to play a good game. It will not be easy, but we believe it will be our game", said a confident Murat Didin. In the final series last year, no team was able to win at home. The trend in this year´s final is winning on the home court. Frankfurt will need to take advantage of this, because GHP Bamberg is a team that can win on the road. They showed that in the Gießen series.
The OPEL SKYLINERS will need to get their offense machine rolling in game two. Chris Williams had a good rebounding and assist game in Bamberg, but he had problems getting good positions near the basket. Williams scored only 12 points, due to the Bamberg tough defense. The OPEL SKYLINERS will need to shake up the Bamberg defense right from the start. "In game one, we had bad offensive selections at the beginning, because we were not patient enough. This helped their confidence defensively", said Murat Didin. Coach Didin will most likely keep the Bamberg defense off guard with another new starting formation. Centers Badiane and Kruel will probably play more minutes than in Bamberg and hopefully play aggressive under the basket and make it tougher for Chris Ensminger. Frankfurt will need great games from Tyrone Ellis and captain Pascal Roller. If Jukka Matinen can score 10-15 points, then that could give Frankfurt the added edge down the stretch.
Demond Mallet had a superman-like performance in game one, scoring 31 points. A repeat performance is unlikely in the Ballsporthalle. Ibrahim Diarra did a great job covering Mallet in the second half of game one and this should be continued in game two. Koko Archibong had an uncharacteristic 19 points in game one and his output in game two could be the key to whether Frankfurt wins the game or not. Chris Ensminger is tough to stop and hindering his usual 12-14 points and 10 rebounds should be a task the OPEL SKYLINERS should pursue.
Now, high noon is nearing for the OPEL SKYLINERS, but they were there last year in the playoffs, trailing GHP Bamberg 2-1 in games. The OPEL SKYLINERS gained more experience this year with the Euroleague and their tough series against the Artland Dragons and Alba Berlin. The OPEL SKYLINERS know what is at stake and surely won´t disappoint their fans at home. Assistant coach Simon Cote said that achieving a victory has less to do with trying to find the weaknesses of Bamberg, but more with the OPEL SKYLINERS.
"If we play hard, physical, smart and as a team, then we will have a good chance." Whenever Frankfurt plays as a team, then a victory is as good as guarenteed. Game two is Thursday at 19:15 in the Ballsporthalle in Höchst.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber reporting for the OPEL SKYLINERS
