A Conversation with Chris Oliver

Every so often, the eurobasket website will "have a conversation" with a player about stuff pertaining to the team and just random questions they like to ask. I usually get a kick out of it because it seems like the players are caught off guard with some of the questions and give generic, unexciting answers. The first teammate of mine to have a "conversation" with the Eurobasket site was the player who won the GM challenge in last weeks blog, so go ahead and get to know my boy Chris Oliver a little better by reading the "conversation" he had with Eurobasket.


A Conversation With Chris Oliver (MEG Gottingen) - Oct 26, 2009 (by Miles Schmidt-Scheuber)
Chris Oliver (198-F-85, agency: Court Side, college: Radford) is a 24 year old 198cm forward playing his second season with MEG Goetingen. He is a athletic forward that has great hands, the versatility to play inside and outside, with three-point range on his jump shot, and has tremendous poise and maturity. He played at Radford from 2003-2007 and in his senior year, he played 30 games averaging 18.8ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.1apg, 1.9spg, 1.3bpg, FGP: 48.7%, 3Pts: 25.8%, FT: 74.8%. He came to Germany in 2007-2008 and played for the Kaiserslautern Braves of the PRO A playing 30 games: Score-2 (20.5ppg), Reb-5 (9.0rpg), 1.2apg, 1.3spg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 56%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 79.6%. Last season in Goettingen, he averaged 10.6ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.4spg, FGP: 46.4%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 75.5% in 34 games. He spoke to Eurobasket about basketball and life.

You guys had no game on Sunday. Did you have an off day, or did coach John Patrick have practice?

We had an off day. Some guys were sick and some rested so it was a good thing.

MEG Goettingen started off on a 2-2 record. The team has shown that it can score, but will it play defense as well as last season?

Yes we will. We are still trying to find our defensive rotation, but I feel that we will still be as capable of playing good defense as last season.

You were the top scorer in 3 of the first four games with more than 20 points. Are you comfortable with being the go to guy this season?


I am comfortable with this role and the go to guy is more my role this season. I worked really hard this off season on my game and it is really paying off now.

You are averaging 4,8rpg and are under your average from last season. Do you think you will get back up to the 7-8 rebound total or will the rebounding be more balanced this season.


I would like to get back to where I was last season. But we have many guys that can rebound with Jason Boone, Chris Mcnaughton, Dwayne Anderson and Taj Finger. Our guards ae also rebounding well and we just have more guys rebounding this season.

What are the biggest differences to last season? Is the guard terror not so much the focus anymore?

We still get good guard play. Ben Jacobson is scoring and setting up our offense, while Robert Kulawick is making big three pointers and Chester Fraizer and John Little are defending very well.

What is it like playing together with 8 Americans? What is the biggest advantage?



I see the advantage more off the court. I can relate to the guys and it feels like home hanging out with the Americans. But The Germans play just as well.

Will this be the year where Robert Kulawick has his break through?


I think so. He is shooting the ball really well, rebounding and defending. I hope it is his big year and as well as also for the team.

As you were the second best scorer of the PRO A in 2007-2008, did you ever think that you would have such a solid BBL rookie season despite your injury?

Yes I did. I have always been confident in my abilities. The injury did slow me down, but my self confidence was good enough to get me going.

You come from North Carolina. Not only the State of Ohio has first class basketball players, but also North Carolina. Why is that?



I am not really sure, but in North Carolina there is not too much to do, so guys just go to the gym and work out. I also think that many guys want to play at the big basketball schools as well which gets a lot of interest for basketball in the State.

Who was the best basketball player that you played against at Radford that might be in the NBA now?


Rodney Brewer of the Utah Jazz.

What do you do on an off day in Goettingen?


We relax, go out and eat and then come home and play the X box and just rest our bodies after a hard week of practice and games.

What besides family and friends do you miss most from home?


The restaurants like Olive Garden. They dont have something like that in Germany.

Who are your favorites to win the NBA title?


I am a Cavaliers fan, so I am going with them. The Lakers also have a chance, but I am not a fan of them.

Will Shaq make the difference?


I think he could. He is a big presence inside and the big wing players will take a lot of pressure off Lebron.

What was the last DVD that you saw?


The last house on the left.

Thanks Chris for the chat! Good luck this season!
Thank You.

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