They are the absolute surprise team of the BBL season so far: When the Telekom Baskets Bonn welcome the BG Göttingen on Sunday at 3 p.m., the leaders of the basketball league ask for a home game. The violets are also among the positive surprises of the season, but as they are currently bottom of the table they still have to fight for a place in the playoffs. After losing to Alba Berlin, an away win at the leaders would be a powerful sign in that regard.
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A coup by the BG with the people of Bonn is by no means ruled out. The 90:81 win in the first leg in the Sparkassen-Arena is an example of this thesis. Point guard Stephen Brown (19 points) and shooter Jake Toolson (14) scored double digits, as did center James Dickey, who had moved away in the meantime and ended up with twelve points on the credit side. As so often, the match winner was Kamar Baldwin, who made life difficult for Bonn as the top scorer of the game with 27 points.
BG burns fireworks against Berlin in the first half
Baldwin is now injured, but BG have signed a good replacement in Jeremiah Martin – who showed his strengths and leadership qualities, especially in the first half against Berlin. Before the break against the Albatrosses, the Violets set off a veritable firework display, in which Martin played a key role.
If the BG wants to have a chance in Bonn, they have to build on the good first half against Bonn. “We’ve shown all season and in recent games that we can keep up with any opponent if we play with intensity and aggressiveness on offense and defense,” said Olivier Foucart, assistant to BG head coach Roel Moors. “We have to act with self-confidence and believe in our chance.”
At the same time, Foucart warns of the opponent of Baskets head coach Tuomas Iisalo: “Bonn plays very aggressively on offense with a lot of creativity in pick-and-roll, both with their guards and with their centers.” On the other hand, the team practices on defense a lot of pressure on the ball.
Bonn also struggled with injury worries in the past few games, but extended the winning streak to nine wins in a row. Top scorer in the past four games was Javontae Hawkins. The US forward was signed in mid-December, ending his long injury break due to a cruciate ligament rupture.
“Hawkins is a very strong player who can throw well from outside, post well and often takes the initiative,” emphasizes Foucart. The Baskets have had to do without US forward Tyson Ward (knee injury) for a long time. Two weeks ago, Jeremy Morgan joined the hospital with an ankle injury and top scorer Parker Jackson-Cartwright (19.3 points per game) was unavailable. The US Guard is staying in the United States due to a family bereavement.
The people of Bonn can currently rely on Hawkins
Above all, the people from Bonn can currently rely on Hawkins – the forward is the second-best points collector in the Rhineland behind Jackson-Cartwright (15.2). He is followed by the injured Morgan (14.0 points per game) and Lithuanian forward Saulius Kulvietis (10.6), three-pointer specialist Skyler Bowlin (10.5) and German center Michael Kessens (10.2).
“Bonn has a very deep squad and, in addition to Jackson-Cartwright, they also have Bowlin and Tadda, who can play pick and roll, as well as Kessens and Leon Kratzer,” emphasizes Foucart. “They have remained true to their philosophy in the past games” – and with success: Although the Bonn team can still be knocked out of the top spot, they should not be able to take away their home advantage in the first playoff round.
