Bayern Basketball with a Confident Win in Their EuroLeague Opener

Posted: 1:40 am, October 19, 2013 by Carsten Arndt

Incredible home support kept Bayern ahead. Photo: DPA

In front of 4,800 spectators FC Bayern Basketball defeated Polish champions in their first ever EuroLeague game. Chevon Troutman scored 19 points to lead his side to a 94-73 win over Zielona Gora. Bayern dominated the game from the beginning and apart from some trouble in the third quarter, they completed a comfortable victory.

Bayern got bad news just before the tip-off. Captain Steffen Hamann had back trouble and so he couldn’t play. Paul Zipser replaced him in the squad.

Agressive start

Bayern began with Delaney, Djedovic, Savovic, Taylor and Byant in the starting five. As is usual this season Bayern playedup-tempo basketball and had a quick start. They put the Poles under pressure with their committed, defensive performance and converted their defensive pressure into a lot of fastbreak-points. After a nice tip-in from playmaker Malcolm Delaney, who played well in the early going, and two three-pointers from Nihad Djedovic, who currently has a percentage of 60 from downtown in the Beko BBL, gave Bayern a ten-point lead after five minutes (16-6). Gora had a lot of problems with the visitor’s defense and their shooting, especially from the three-point line (1/5). But with their only three-pointer they made it an acceptable seven-point deficit after the first quarter (23-16).

Chevon Troutman at his best

German captain Heiko Schaffartzik opened the second with his first points and a great assist for Chevon Troutman, who made seven points in a row, leading Pesic’s side to a 14-point lead (32-18) in the process. Bayern missed some open shots but the visitors couldn’t take advantage. So another two three-pointer from Djedovic (3/4 3P), who made 15 of his final 17 points in the first half, and a layup from Boris Savovic in the last second gave Bayern a 20-point lead after the first half (48-28).

Savovic stops Gora’s run

At the beginning of the second half, the visitors had to survive a little critical phase as Gora decreased the deficit to 13 points (37-50). Coach Pesic reacted, sending Delaney to the bench and Gora didn’t come closer. Boris Savovic took control of the game with five quick points, including an important three-pointer, making the lead over 20 again (63-42) with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. The game was done, helped by the fact Gora had had too many turnovers (14 total).

Bayern debut for Paul Zipser

In the fourth quarter, Bayern held onto their lead. The intensity of both teams wasn’t as high leaving points to be scored, especially for “Big John” Bryant, who hadn’t been the first offensive option up until that point. In the end, Bryant had 13 points and was one of five Bayern players who scored double digits. With 2:30 remaining, even the German youngster Paul Zipser got his first minutes for Bayern.

It was a confident and satisfying victory in Bayern’s first Euroleague match. Next week, Bayern will host the Italian champions from Siena. It will definitely be a more difficult task.

Man of the match:

As in the last match in the BBL, Chevon Troutman was our player of the game. Last season he played very well defensive, but this year he’s dominating offensively as well. Tonight he was Bayern’s topscorer with 19 points and a perfect 9/9 percentage from the field. Also with a strong performance: John Bryant who finished with 13 points and nine boards, as well as a lot of work in the paint.