Postseason matches - Starting the BBL finals, top basketball teams determine key factors.
It's time for the Bundesliga crown contest again as FC Bayern takes on Alba Berlin this Saturday at 8:30 pm. Both teams are preparing for a series of up to five showdowns in the championship series. The home team is the favorite, but the capital city dwellers know how to disrupt the Bayern's game plan in their home court.
Context
Bayern finished in the first spot in the regular season, securing five home advantages at the start of the series and a potential fifth game. The Munich team also breezed through their semi-final series against Würzburg, providing them with five days off before the first final round. Alba, on the other hand, was pushed to play four games against Chemnitz before their final showdown. They only had 48 hours to recover.
Personnel
Berlin faces significant injury challenges, with all three nominal point guards out. Adding to their woes, world champion Johannes Thiemann has been experiencing knee issues and played through the pain in their game against Chemnitz. Nonetheless, Alba is determined to defy the odds and pull off an upset with their "now-or-never" mindset. Munich has its issues as well, with Nick Weiler-Babb and Sylvain Francisco missing in action from their last games. Their status for the final remains unclear.
Critical Factor
If Bayern demonstrates their full potential, it will be challenging for any team to stop them. Their strong offense is led by captain Vladimir Lučić, former NBA star Serge Ibaka, international selections Isaac Bonga, Andreas Obst, and former Berliner Niels Giffey. Bayern also showed tremendous defensive prowess in their previous playoff games. Alba can only hope to stymie their opponent's momentum and catch their foes off guard with exceptional performances by Sterling Brown or Matt Thomas, as was evident in their matches against Chemnitz.
Facts
These two elite German teams have faced each other in the finals six times out of the last ten years. Bayern has won three titles, while Alba clinched two. Interestingly, all three of Alba's championship victories (2021, 2022, and 2020) occurred in Munich's hall. Additionally, the previous two Munich titles were clinched at Berlin's venue. In total, Alba has presented the championship trophy at Munich's hall three times while Bayern has won it there twice.
