Abstract City By Christoph Niemann

 I came across this article a while back in the New York Times and it's so fitting to the trip I'm preparing to take...back to the Deutschland. This will have to hold you over until I kick off the new season of Meet The Team because I'm going to spend the next few weeks getting ready to win games...until then, as always...do what you do...

"Do What You Do" --blackhercules21

48 Hours

As I count down my last 48 hours in America, I can only think about these three questions.

The first one being, did I do everything I wanted to do this summer? Looking back, it's been a great one. I rehabbed this bum ankle and finger. I went to Las Vegas, I attended my first bachelor party and my first wedding. I got to figure out which friendships were worth holding onto and which ones it was time to let go of. But most importantly, I finally made the effort to spend quality time with my family. In years past I was in such a rush to get back to America and see college friends, girlfriends, high school friends etc etc that I always returned to Europe thinking I should have spent more time with my FAMILY. As much as I never wanted to be, I was always that guy who went back to visit High School teachers and college coaches because, well sh*t Life Was Good and I needed to be reassured that what I was doing...they knew about. But I finally got over that. Although a European Challenge Championship is more than enough to brag about it wasn't something I really found myself doing. (Probably because my father had it done by the time I got home but whatever the case may be) I think I enjoyed this summer more than anyone thus far because I finally wasn't worried about rushing and doing a ton of things for other people but more about just doing whatever it was I wanted. I understand my situation is unique but I was telling my brother that if there is something out there you want to do, at the end of the day, you are the only one that stands between you and doing it. And I feel good knowing I took that advice to heart this summer. So I can honestly say, I did everything I wanted to do this summer...and some.

The next question I keep asking myself is Am I ready to go back? I've been very fortunate in my career to not have to deal with serious injuries, and maybe that's why I couldn't deal with being injured this past season. After all the work I put in, all the sprints I ran, all the laps I swam, part of me feels like I'm right back where I was last season. And for guys that have been injured, they know how it is to rehab...you're working harder than you ever worked just to get back where you WERE. The whole concept is crazy. But if it taught me anything it's that I need to keep up this work ethic all season long. I would NEVER, and let me repeat this...NEVER say any of the guys I played with last year took the easy route out by leaving...there are a ton of reasons why some players didn't come back...but for me, personally, there was no other choice. I'm the kind of player that needs to be pushed everyday and I know winning that title last year has now become a standard. I'm not going to go online and make any guarantees but the truth of the matter is that the people of Gottingen have now gotten used to winning. And when people come to expect something of you, it's the perfect "pressure" to perform. I obviously look forward to getting back out there, seeing my friends from the city, eating great food, but most importantly get to work with the new TEAM. So although this was my best summer, I'd have to say I am ready to get back.

The last question that's rattling around in this brain of mine is what am I going to do to escape from basketball this year. Because let's be honest...even if you are like me, and have the best job in the world, there is a negative outcome associted with making your job = your life. Everyone needs to get away from what they do fulltime for a little. My first year in Gottingen I really tried to travel every chance I got, last year I dedicated myself to blogging everyday but this year I was thinking about picking up another skill. Anyone that knows me knows that I'm on a few business ventures right now (which will be blogged about on a later date) but "other work" shouldn't be a release from "work." They also know that music is the only other thing I'm as passionate about as basketball. And that's why this year, I want to learn how to play the piano. So now my mission becomes finding someone in Gottingen to give piano lessons, probably no more than once a week, for a reasonable price. Escapes can often change but that's what it is right now.

So I just took myself (and you, the reader) on a journey of my past (summer) present (season) and future (new skill). Stay tuned to how it turns out. I'll be launching a new blog theme this year and although I won't be blogging as much, I'm hoping you'll still enjoy the content.

"Do What You Do" --blackhercules21

Home Sweet Home

As I type the title of this blog, I question whether or not I really mean that. Follow me on this for a second. I love being around my family, I love spending time with my friends from America, and there's nothing I love more than my mother's cooking...but is this my home? I'll be moving into my beloved New York City in a few weeks (after a short west coast stint) but is NYC my home? In recent years, I always had a internal countdown until I got back to America. Partly the break from basketball, partly the taste of Angela  Boone's Fried Chicken, partly the chance to ride around in my younger brother's Toyota Scion and hear stories about his adventures in college...but this year it wasn't the same. I used a "rehabbing excuse" to stay an extra week and a half but the truth of the matter is I didn't want to "go home" because I was "at home." And having a chance to see how good "Winning It All" felt...I did not want to leave Gottingen.

For those of you that don't know how the season ended...I'll try my best to be descriptive but understand every word I type is a little more painful than the last...

So we do enough to secure home court advantage in the opening Best-Of-Five game series. We are a lock at the number 3 spot and are awaiting an opponent. Up until this point in the season we'd only lost two games at home (one in the Eurochallenge and one in the regular season) making us feel extremely confident that we could beat whoever we played. Turns out, due to a conflict of schedule, our home gym, the Lokhalle, was being used during the first day of the Leagues playoffs so we had to travel to a neutral site. Our nervousness was calmed by the fact that we'd bring our home court floor/baskets and 2000 fans. Game 1 was a blowout in our favor. Game 2 rolls around and we're sure that if we can get this W the series is just about over...to come back and beat us 3 in a row (with two of them at home) is a task that no team in the league could have possibly done but unfortunately we didn't come out ready to play and this time the blowout was in their favor. So game 3 rolls around, all knotted at one game apiece, it's back home, we're thinking about what happened last season (where we won the first game and then got beat 3x in a row) but we fought our way through a tough battle and ended up taking the 2-1 lead in the series. Closeout game...on the road, don't want to have to play a game 5 so we come out in game 4 ready to finish it up. Had a solid lead but they hit some big shots down the stretch (and also shot 50 fts as a team) so we're forced to come back home and play a fifth game. Although we blew a lead in game four, we were supremely confident going into game 5...I mean it was at home, the place was sold out, and we were watching the number 1 seed lose to the number 8 seed, the number 2 seed lose to the number 7 seed and the number 4 seed lose to the number 5 seed...meaning if we won game 5 we'd be the highest seed left and secure home court advantage throughout...but we weren't able to make that happen...and the worst part is that we were winning by 12 with 3 minutes to go...shortly after that I fouled out and was forced to watch our opponent come back more and more...it was a pretty helpless feeling and as I watched that last shot go up and fall in at the buzzer I was in complete shock that we had just been eliminated.

So being home is bittersweet because I'd give almost anything to still be in the hunt for a title...and I hadn't realized until I got back that nothing here is enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, the season wasn't all bad, we had a ton of success and even won the EuroChallenge championship but there's no feeling worse than feeling like you've left something undone...

Playoffs = Unity

With the BBL Playoffs kicking off today I couldn't help but post this...the NBA sure knows how to market their league...I was waiting for the BBL to call me for our commercial...I could have even done it in German if they wanted...but in the meantime I'll let these guys relay the message...

Do What You Do      Hallelujah Hollaback      ...blackhercules21...

Takin' Over The City

Do What You Do      Hallelujah Hollaback      ...blackhercules21...

It's A Celebration B*tches

 

Do What You Do       Hallelujah Hollaback      ...blackhercules21...

The Greatest Joy

As my eyes opened this morning, champagne on my breath, hangover creeping into my head, I couldn't help but think of how much excitement I felt last night. And no it wasn't just because the Russian Cheerleaders were dancing to my favorite song. This excitement was deeper than that.

As a basketball player, I've been a part of some good teams and some not so good teams but throughout it all I've had a chance to meet people who will remain my friends for life. And some of my biggest basketball joys have been playing in a highschool sectional final with my friend Jalil, or Tear(ing) It Up with my boy Jared...even winning the ECAC final with the likes of Basford and DeCorso. But as memorable as those teams were, I don't think I've ever been apart of a team as special as the one I'm currently on.

People say we're having a dream season, people say we're exceeding expectations, but it's like that Nike commercial I posted the other day "this isn't a math test...this is a completely different kind of test...one where PASSION has a funny way of trumping logic" ( <--if you haven't seen that commercial then click that link immediately). And because we play with so much passion, it's only fitting that we were able to win this EuroChallenge championship.

But it's more than just being crowned a champion that's getting to me right now. It's finally understanding those lessons that your parents teach you growing up. The whole "if you work hard enough you can do it" lesson...remember that one? I've been fortunate in a sense that some things in my life came easier than others...mathematics for instance was always my best subject...besides lunch and gym. I never studied a day in my life for a math test and practically aced right through it...but when it came to English or Social Studies I usually found myself in a bit of a struggle...so the 80's and 85's I got on those tests were usually a little more gratifying than the 95 100's I used to get in math. It's just the feeling of actually going out and earning something rather than just having it given to you.

In high school we used to schedule the weakest teams around for our Tip Off Tournament so we would show up, get a few wins..hoist a trophy or a plaque up and then begin to play the actual regular season. But it was always known that we were expected to win...but with this team I'm on now...no one outside the 15 guys in that locker room and the best fans in the world would have EVER given us a shot to win this title. And because of that, it is so much sweeter.

My only goal right now in my life is to feel that sense of accomplishment again...and luckily I don't have to wait until next season...because the German playoffs are right around the corner...time to get even more focused...

Do What You Do      Hallelujah Hollaback      ...blackhercules21...

BG74 Gottingen vs. EnBW Ludwigsburg 81:76

Gottingen clinched a playoff spot with their 81-76 win at home against Ludwigsburg. Taylor Rochestie was the top scorer with 23 points while Jason Boone led the team with 6 rebounds. Michael Haynes scored 18 in the losing effort.

View Hightlights Here (scroll down)

BG Göttingen
			Field goal				Free throw	Rebounds
#	Name	Pts	ND 2P	MD 2P	3P	Total	M/A	Off	Def	Tot	TO	AS	ST	BS	PF	EFF	+/-	Min.
5	KULAWICK, Robert *	6	0-0 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	2-4 50.0%	2-4 50.0%	0-0 0.0%	0	3	3	3	1	1	0	3	6	-3	24:10
7	MCNAUGHTON, Christopher	9	3-5 60.0%	1-1 100.0%	0-0 0.0%	4-6 66.7%	1-1 100.0%	2	3	5	0	0	1	0	3	13	3	23:14
8	Welzel, Tobias *	0	0-0 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	00:04
10	ROCHESTIE , Taylor	23	6-11 54.5%	1-4 25.0%	1-6 16.7%	8-21 38.1%	6-6 100.0%	3	3	6	2	2	1	0	1	17	7	34:32
11	LITTLE, John	14	6-9 66.7%	0-0 0.0%	0-6 0.0%	6-15 40.0%	2-2 100.0%	0	2	2	0	3	1	0	2	11	3	29:36
12	Jacobson, Ben	Nicht eingesetzt
15	Meeks, Michael	6	0-1 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	2-5 40.0%	2-6 33.3%	0-0 0.0%	2	1	3	0	0	2	0	0	7	9	17:25
21	Boone, Jason Gregory	0	0-3 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	0-3 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	1	5	6	0	1	0	1	2	5	2	15:09
23	OLIVER, Chris	15	4-7 57.1%	3-3 100.0%	0-3 0.0%	7-13 53.8%	1-1 100.0%	3	3	6	3	1	0	0	2	13	-4	24:12
25	Schiecke, Jan	Nicht eingesetzt
30	Jordan, Antoine	8	3-3 100.0%	1-1 100.0%	0-1 0.0%	4-5 80.0%	0-0 0.0%	0	5	5	1	4	1	0	1	16	4	27:53
33	Adamczak, Nico *	0	0-0 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	03:45
	TEAMAKTION							2	1	3	2	0	0	0	0
	TOTAL	81	22-39	6-9	5-25	33-73	10-10	13	26	39	11	12	7	1	15	88	25	200:00
	PCT		56.4%	66.7%	20.0%	45.2%	100.0%									7.3
EnBW Ludwigsburg
			Field goals				Free throw	Rebounds
#	Name	Pts	ND 2P	MD 2P	3P	Total	M/A	Off	Def	Tot	TO	AS	ST	BS	PF	EFF	+/-	Min.
5	KING, Michael	11	3-5 60.0%	0-0 0.0%	1-4 25.0%	4-9 44.4%	2-3 66.7%	0	4	4	2	2	0	0	4	9	-6	23:44
8	McCray, David *	7	2-3 66.7%	0-1 0.0%	1-2 50.0%	3-6 50.0%	0-0 0.0%	0	1	1	2	1	0	0	0	4	-7	22:20
9	THOMPSON, TJ	9	0-2 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	2-6 33.3%	2-8 25.0%	3-4 75.0%	0	4	4	1	6	0	0	1	11	-2	30:53
10	Jones, Domonic	6	2-3 66.7%	0-1 0.0%	0-1 0.0%	2-5 40.0%	2-2 100.0%	0	0	0	4	1	1	1	4	2	6	16:24
12	Hadzovic, Nedim *	Nicht eingesetzt
14	HEYDEN, Phillipp *	5	1-1 100.0%	0-1 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	1-2 50.0%	3-7 42.9%	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	2	1	-12	12:25
15	Haynes, Michael	18	2-4 50.0%	0-0 0.0%	4-8 50.0%	6-12 50.0%	2-2 100.0%	2	6	8	5	1	0	0	3	16	-8	27:12
22	CHANEY, Richard	7	2-3 66.7%	0-0 0.0%	1-2 50.0%	3-5 60.0%	0-0 0.0%	1	4	5	0	2	2	0	1	14	-6	26:39
23	Freeman, Rashaun	8	3-4 75.0%	0-0 0.0%	0-0 0.0%	3-4 75.0%	2-2 100.0%	2	3	5	0	0	0	0	2	12	8	11:23
34	Sanders, Marco	Nicht eingesetzt
44	LOLLIS, Quadre	5	1-1 100.0%	0-0 0.0%	1-3 33.3%	2-4 50.0%	0-0 0.0%	1	3	4	2	3	0	0	2	8	2	29:00
55	Visser, Kyle	Nicht eingesetzt
	TEAMAKTION							1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
	TOTAL	76	16-26	0-3	10-26	26-55	14-20	7	25	32	17	16	4	2	19	77	-25	200:00
	PCT		61.5%	0.0%	38.5%	47.3%	70.0%									7.0
* Deutscher U24-Spieler
Teamvergleich
			Field goal				Free throw	Rebounds
		Pts	ND 2P	MD 2P	3P	Total	M/A	Off	Def	Tot	TO	AS	ST	BS	PF	EFF	+/-	Min.
	BG Göttingen	81	22-39	6-9	5-25	33-73	10-10	13	26	39	11	12	7	1	15	88	25	200:00
			56.4%	66.7%	20.0%	45.2%	100.0%									7.3
	EnBW Ludwigsburg	76	16-26	0-3	10-26	26-55	14-20	7	25	32	17	16	4	2	19	77	-25	200:00
			61.5%	0.0%	38.5%	47.3%	70.0%									7.0

Do What You Do      Hallelujah Hollaback      ...blackhercules21...

BG74 Gottingen vs. Phoenix Hagen 76:69

Goettingen improved to 20-8 record defeating Phoenix Hagen 76:69. Rochestie Taylor netted 20, Oliver Chris posted 18 and Boone Jason nailed 17. Griffin Chase delivered 20 points in the losing case.

View Highlights Here 

 

MEG GOETTINGEN (Coach: Patrick, John)

			Field Goals			Rebounds
#	Name	min	2pm-a	3pm-a	ftm-a	off	def	tot	ast	pf	st	bs	pts
10	Rochestie, Taylor	35	5-13	2-5	4-4	1	5	6	5	1	1	0	20
11	Little, John	31	1-3	1-1	0-0	2	1	3	1	3	2	0	5
23	Oliver, Chris	30	5-13	0-3	8-10	6	2	8	0	2	0	0	18
21	Boone, Jason	30	7-11	0-0	3-11	4	3	7	1	2	1	3	17
30	Jordan, Antoine	18	0-6	1-1	2-2	3	1	4	0	2	2	0	5
5	Kulawick, Robert	27	0-0	2-4	0-0	0	2	2	0	2	0	0	6
15	Meeks, Michael	12	0-1	0-4	0-0	1	3	4	0	2	0	0	0
7	McNaughton, Christopher	9	1-7	0-0	1-2	0	1	1	0	3	0	0	3
33	Adamczak, Nico	3	0-0	0-0	2-2	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	2
8	Welzel, Tobias	DNP - Coach's Decision
25	Schiecke, Jan	DNP - Coach's Decision
Total			19-54	6-18	20-31	17	18	35	8	18	6	3	76

PHOENIX HAGEN (Coach: Freyer, Ingo)

			Field Goals			Rebounds
#	Name	min	2pm-a	3pm-a	ftm-a	off	def	tot	ast	pf	st	bs	pts
5	Griffin, Chase	32	2-4	4-6	4-4	1	2	3	1	2	0	0	20
23	Jordan, Michael	28	1-2	1-3	1-2	1	5	6	4	1	1	0	6
34	Kale, Jonathan	27	4-7	0-0	3-4	2	4	6	1	4	0	2	11
4	Pryor, Quentin	16	0-4	0-1	0-0	0	4	4	0	1	1	0	0
14	Fleetwood, Aaron	12	3-5	0-0	0-0	0	2	2	1	4	0	3	6
44	Turek, John	21	3-5	0-1	1-1	0	4	4	2	5	0	0	7
15	Kruel, Bernd	17	2-2	0-0	4-7	0	3	3	1	4	0	1	8
7	Jonusas, Zygimantas	16	0-2	0-3	2-4	2	4	6	1	2	0	0	2
20	Alijevas, Rolandas	15	0-0	2-3	0-0	1	2	3	4	3	0	0	6
6	Schwarz, Malte	6	0-2	1-1	0-0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	3
8	Schwarz, Kristof	5	0-0	0-1	0-0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
9	Grothe, Matthias	DNP - Coach's Decision
Total			15-33	8-19	15-22	7	30	37	16	27	2	6	69

Do What You Do Hallelujah Hollaback ...blackhercules21...