Schiller: on important information from Germany and the underrated quality of A. Trincher Euroleague

Schiller smiles when asked if he got more attention from Germany last week.

Right before the next “Žalgiris” match in the Euroleague, here in the press conference room of the “Žalgiris” stadium in Kaunas, three Lithuanian journalists are campaigning.

Exactly one journalist from Germany called Schiller from Germany on a special occasion.

The family and friends of M. Schiller emphasize that German week more, but the 38-year-old strategist does not want to be original on the subject. It is also a special match for him, as it would be for Chimki, CSKA Moscow or Panathinaikos Athens.

“They are all special to me,” smiles Schiller.

But playing against German teams is definitely an advantage. Not only because Martin Schiller and his assistant Arne Woltmann know basketball in this country well. However, also due to additional information that may not be available to Lithuanians. For example, about the game of the most productive and useful Bayern basketball player Vladimir Lucicius in Kaunas.

“According to my data, there is no chance that I will play in Kaunas,” said M. Schiller.

Getty Images / Euroleague.net nuotr./Vladimiras Lučičius

M.Schiller, who started perfectly in the Euroleague and only descends for Shar’s best season in Kaunas with a 15-match start, will try to take an even higher position.

Bayern have risen to third place in the Euroleague to the surprise of many with 10 wins and 5 losses, but the fatigue and loss of the leader is not an inviolable beast.

Led by the clever Andrea Trinchieri, Bayern have revived the near-immoral Wade Baldwin of Piraeus Olympiacos, turned Jalen Reynolds into a serious force on the field and, with disciplined basketball, rise to the top of the Euroleague.

But Žalgiris now has all the tools to stop this ambitious German march.

“It is a very well organized and very well defended team,” emphasized Schiller. – It would highlight its athleticism and length. In defense, they are compact and try to eliminate advances. At the same time, they earn a lot of points for their activity and duration. Overcoming your defenses will be a great challenge.

On the other hand, it is a very talented and profound team. I would say that Baldwin and Djedovich are its creators. Zipser looks a lot like the fourth. It’s a very interesting and good team. “

– “Žalgiris” is living a great streak of three wins in the Euroleague. What impresses you the most in this stretch of team play?

– Obviously, the victories in the Euroleague are very positive. But on defense, the guys did a very good job. They were active, engaged. I was very pleased with his focus on defense.

– Where did the team progress the most in that series of victories?

– I’d say in defense. That daily work was a very important highlight. Having a defensive identity is important to us.

– Looking at it from the side, it seems that the people of Žalgiris simply enjoy playing with each other. How did you manage to create such a good atmosphere?

– I would like to go back to what we have been talking about during the last two months. It comes from daily work. Despite a series of defeats, this company has always been united. Already at the beginning of the season, I said that the character of this team and the characters of these players are top-notch. That this core is very stable, experienced.

Naturally, they are enjoyed when they win. But the most important thing is that they also stayed united in the face of defeats. Character displayed.

– Andrea Trinchieri made a name for herself in Italy and later became famous in Germany. What is the secret of your success?

– There are at least some reasons. First of all, he is a very good coach. A highly respected coach.

Second, dig into the details. Many people talk about his attack and the great lineup of players. I totally agree with that. They play with many design situations, depending on the players. For example, if Zipser plays the fourth number or Johnson, it makes a huge difference on the court. But people talk very little about Trinchieri’s defense.

Even in Bamberg, near Wanamaker, Tyus, Zisio, they were great teams. Everyone talked about the attack, but they always defended themselves very well.

– Augustine Rubit spent several seasons at the Bamberg Club run by Andrea Trinchieri. Did you have to discuss the niceties of this coach’s philosophy with him? How do you rate Augustine’s development in Žalgiris and what do you remember from the stage of her career in Germany, where she spent 5 years?

– Yes, we talked to him a bit about certain things.

I really like Augustine’s improvement in the last three months. It was difficult for him to start because he was injured in preparation. Then he had to learn, find a way to rotate, from his position. I think you implemented it perfectly.

And lately, it’s incredibly important to us. We can play with him both in the center and on the hard edge. He’s very focused, committed, very happy with his role. I think this role is perfect for him. We like your progress.

When he made his European debut in Tübingen, then played in Ulm for two years, then in Bamberg, I never saw him that much in the last period of his career. But many times before he had to face Ulm and Tübingen. His base of play remained similar: the fifth under, who plays head to head in the basket, can attack from a medium distance, has good skills. But it has improved a lot. It’s a lot of fun to watch a player start his career at Tubingen, a low-budget club, then go to Ulm, the European Cup team, and reach the Euroleague when he is approaching thirty.

His way of playing in Kaunas is the result of Augustine’s progress. I am very happy about that.

– Are you surprised that Bayern are at the top of the Euroleague?

– Yes, frankly, no. Why not? Because the team is perfectly armed, it is led by a very good coach. The club itself is well organized. A lot of work has been done in this organization over the last decade.

In the context of European basketball, Bayern is a young organization. But what they have done with their project over the last decade, especially for me, from Germany, looking at it up close, is impressive.