Basketball, NBA: In September, Dennis Schröder and Daniel Theis want to cause a sensation with the German national team at the European Basketball Championships in Cologne and Berlin. In the NBA, however, the two buddies were part of a spectacular deadline day, in which the player swap between the two superstars James Harden and Ben Simmons between the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers eclipsed everything else. From a German perspective, however, Theis’ return to the Boston Celtics caused a stir – especially because Schröder was traded to the Houston Rockets along with two other players. A disappointing basketball year continues for Schröder. In the summer, the 28-year-old point guard speculated on a high-value multi-year contract worth more than $100 million and therefore turned down an $84 million offer from the Los Angeles Lakers over four years.
But Schröder gambled and ended up in Boston on a one-year deal for just $5.9 million. After initial difficulties, Schröder got along better and had a not inconsiderable share in the upswing of the Celtics, who are now again a serious playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. The native of Braunschweig has averaged 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists so far this season. But now Schröder is going to Houston to see the Rockets – the worst team in the Western Conference. He has no chance of making the playoffs there. He will hardly be able to look forward to more playing time in Houston either. In Boston so far this season he has been on the floor for an average of 29.2 minutes, with the Rockets it should be less. The only good thing for Schröder: his contract expires at the end of the season, then he can renegotiate again – this time maybe a little better than last summer.
Football, England: Coach Ralf Rangnick from the troubled English football champions has made Cristiano Ronaldo responsible. “He needs to score more goals, that’s obvious,” said Rangnick on Friday. “We create chances but haven’t scored enough goals.” At the same time, the coach emphasized that the Portuguese was not solely responsible for this. “It’s not just Ronaldo’s problem, it’s also a problem for the other players. If you look at how many chances we create, that has to change in the next few weeks.”
After a disappointing 1-1 draw with Burnley FC, Man United host Southampton FC in the Premier League on Saturday. Rangnick worked with his coach Ralph Hasenhüttl at RB Leipzig for a long time. “I’ve known him for six or seven years now,” Rangnick said. “He’s evolved since then, that’s obvious, you can see that by what he’s done with Southampton.” According to Rangnick, the good relationship between the coaching colleagues has to rest on Saturday. “We need the three points tomorrow and that’s what it’s all about.”
BVB, Playoffs: Coach Marco Rose from Borussia Dortmund spoke out against the mode in the discussion about possible playoffs for the German football championship. “It’s not really my thing. I like football the way it is. I don’t even know how to organize it,” said the 45-year-old on Friday. “I think the Bundesliga is interesting with a season of home and away games,” said Rose.
