Super Bowl 2014

While the game itself was a little lopsided, I had something other to spend my time on:

Thanks to the most creative cook in the world  !

Las Vegas

Since I was sadly not chosen to participate in All-Star weekend, and I am sad about that… I was invited to visit Las Vegas.

Frist our flight though Dallas got cancelled because of snow, so we had to redirect through San Antonio with a one night layover. Time to sleep at home, have some homemade food, meet my parents in law. Our big dog. Always great to come here.

Then finally arrived in the city of sin and was stunned. You have to go there to believe. New York, Paris all in just a walk distance.

Shows and Casinos everywhere. Went to a great show by magician David Copperfield. 

Time flies in that city. So many things to do, so many places to visit, there just isn’t enough time for all.

Olympic Games

Olympic games have started in Sochi. I was blessed to be part of the Olympic Experience in Beijing with Team Germany, so I know what it feels like to be an Olympian.

I follow as many of the competitions as I can through internet live streams of ARD and ZDF and I fever for all German participants to win the Gold.


Meanwhile I love the USA for shopping. I can get casual shoes in my size in a regular shop. What a joy !

Q&A with Tim

Received a lot of feedback through my new twitter account @TimOhlbrecht, which I could not all reply to, please excuse me. Let me summarize some of the most frequent questions.

Living in the USA:

I really feel at home in the states. I have my family here, which was also one of the reasons to return to RGV for another run.

Regarding the NBA and my pursuit of it; I will try to explain it best:

Have you seen the Enterprise movie Generations ? Kirk and Picard are transported to the NEXUS, to which Soran wants to return so badly. The NBA is just like this, it is the NEXUS of Basketball. Once you have been there and experienced it… It is so hard to let go off it, to not strive as hard as one can to get back there. Don’t get me wrong, I am not blind running after a dream, but I will try it again this one year with all I have. Feedback from the league personal, that all of us get on a day to day basis, is good, so why not give it a try.

 

Shoutout to all Trekkis out there.

Level of play:

Don’t underestimate the level of competition the dleague is providing. The top 50 players of our league can compete for spots on NBA teams without question and would also make good impressions on almost any team outside the US. The kind of basketball is just different from Euro basketball. It is guard driven/dominated, high intensity, athletic basketball, but it is NOT up and down YMCA ball by no means. Coaches and almost all affiliated teams do have a clear philosophy and structure in what they do and expect. The dleague franchises we all play for are owned by business people to provide the pro sport of basketball to their region, they do business. Yes players are paid and employed by the league, but belong to the franchises.

If you have more questions, please mail or twitter, I will try to answer soon.

Home and Home with Toros

Back to back series, home and away, with the affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs the Austin Toros. It is always great to come here, as it is so close to my US Home near San Antonio. Had some family visiting the game and I provided them with a little treat scoring 29 Points.

  We had Rob Covington back on assignment from the Rockets, which makes us even stronger. Then we had a redeye nighflight back to McAllen to close out the series with the Toros at our home court State Farm Arena. Toros weren’t letting me beat them this time, sending double teams at me everytime I touched the ball. They held me to 10 points, which was disappointing, but by this they had to leave someone open and we shared the ball to get Rob Covington a fieldday with a double double of 34 points and 10 boards. Good thing, I hit a three again, which had deluded me a couple of games and we WON, which is first and foremost our team goal. My three is really coming back. No wonder, as I take so many of them after practice, it is just so hard to get some in our three-heavy offense, so I try to focus on the other things  we need.

Back 2 Back in Dallas

We went on to Frisco to a back to back nights series with the Dallas Mavericks D-League affiliate the Texas Legends.

The Legends featured PJ Hairston who has come into the league late but with a splash, averaging 27 a night. Larkin and Ledo were on assignment for the second game too from the Mavs, making thing not much easier.

We lost the first game close, but I have to take some blame for that, as I did not perform up to my standards with a 8 and 8 showing. I was fuming about this and really promised my teammates to not let the team down like that in the second game.

I didn't disappoint erupting for 29 and 20, which paced our team in both categories and secured us the win.  Felt good to have things clicking round the rim and in this second game my hands were like magnets to the balls, they just kept coming my way.

Had some problems getting back as ice and snow canceled our flight back. Hope to make it back in time to catch some Super Bowl.

Best Game so far

Had my best game of the season so far. In our win against Tulsa, who had beaten us badly just the other night, I managed 28 points and 13 rebounds in a season high 37 minutes to help my team take revenge on the 66ers. I was also voted Player of the Game:

It felt good to be out on the court with my teammates in State Farm Arena and we won the crowd some free taccos, when we cracked 120 points.

After the game I treated my body real well after the game with jumping into a tub of ice water:

This is what separates the boys from the men, and please, before you call me out for stepping into the ice with long sports tights...try it yourself and then judge me.

Twitter

Hey my der followers, after I received so many requests, I set up a TWITTER account.

@TimOhlbrecht

Come follow me, and I will twitter additional to my blog.

Puppy

On my way to practice I recogniced a poor little dog beeing tied to a waste bin.

I felt bad and I promissed to me, if it is still there on the way back, I'll pick it up.

And you know what:

I took him home with me. This poor little thing was starving for some love.

I could not keep him though, so we searched for a new family and within 48 hours the little boy had a new loving home...

Tall, taller, Paul Sturgess

Playing against the Texas Legends you can really see something. Their bench center Paul Sturgess really is a tall guy. Found a pic on the net to give you an idea:

I mean he can dunk without jumping.



Guys I have played with tall ones. Tibor Pleiss is tall, Nick Schneiders is long, but this Paul Sturgess really tops them all. He is listed at 7 foot 8 inches, this is 2 meters and 38 centimerters. I have never seen such a big man, not even in Basketball. Okay he does not play a lot, but just watching this big big man is something. I am not small but next to him I feel small. And hey he was a Harlem Globetrotter, so he should have some winning record !!

Temptations

I received some serious offers from overseas after the showcase phase, but none was enticing enough to make me jump ship from my RG Vipers. My management received some requests for trades inside the league, but the Rockets quickly put those to rest, as they would only let me go for a ransom that would reflect my value.   Seems they like me after all. Asian teams inquired, but I fell I am not finished here yet.

Assignment and Call Up Feeling

My Vipers team lost Covington to the Rockets on assignment, but in return Canaan was reassigned to us. I know exactly how this feels in both directions. On the one hand it feels so bad to get away from your NBA team, since practices are so intense up in the league and watching all those great players perform on the biggest stage just excites you. But when you then come back to the D-League you know that you have it now, the game just comes  a little slower to you. You perform at a new level because of being up in the league. It is addictive once you tasted the NBA. All is so much bigger, much more organized, more intense, faster. You want to get back into it, no matter what.

in the Zone

I really had some solid games after the showcase, specially the one game against Idaho.

 I really caught fire in the first quarter having 13 points and 6 boards in only a 7 minute span. 
You should go to the D-League Youtube side and watch out that first quarter.

 D-League on Youtube


 Sadly I had some foultrouble the rest of the game, but that first quarter I really had it going. People always talk about being in the zone and that was what was happening here. All was moving in slow motion and all things came without thinking.

Long Time Gone

Had some time off from my blog and I am sorry for all my readers, but it was so busy. 

As the Dixie Chicks sing: Long time gone !

I’ll try to recap a little what went down since my last blog.

We had the showcase event in Reno Nevada. I had a good first game and an awful second game.

Even if it hurts each time, I would like to share my showcase poster moment of the second game with you:

Hilton Armstrong being mean to Tim Ohlbrecht 

It is always great to be at the showcase, because you meet so many people. This time I had the pleasure to go out to dinner with Mitat Demirel, the GM of ALBA Berlin and also with former Ulm HC Mike Taylor, who now coaches in the D-League.

Showcase Reno

We are now in Reno (Nevada) for the anual D-League showcase. We had our back to back road games in Boise before heading to Reno.

May I tell you Boise is remote...

I set myself 3 goals before the Boise games.

1st cracking the starting lineup, which was a check in both games.

2nd I wanted to play some major minutes, which I kind of half checked, playing 33 minutes in the 2nd game, but killed myself with some foultrouble in the first. I have to adjust better.

3rd I wanted to get a double double, which I missed in both games... no check here.

I give my performance a C+.

Well there is some room to grow for the showcase.

The Boise trip was some ride, first we got stuck changing planes and then our equipment did not travel and had to be speed delivered just before the first game, otherwise the game would have been in doubt, but all worked out and we finally got our jerseys and shoes just in time.

I am currently in a limbo regarding the showcase. The Rockets may send DMo (Donatas Montiejunas) down to us to get some gamerun and exposure, which could hurt my playing time as we are playing 4 smalls. Coach said he will play 2 bigs also, but I kind of hope the Rockets need DMo more than we do.

Lots of officials here in Reno taking a look at everything, also lots of overseas teams also here to find some good players. This really is a stage for everyone here. Last year this hurt, as everyone was balling and gunning all for themselves. I will be prepared this time.

We stay at a casino Hotel and after practice I like to stroll down through the gambling hall. I invested 100 dollars of my per diem to play some black jack and made 400€, which I will later donate to a charity in McAllen.

Those NFL wild card playoffs were some show. I never would have given the Colts a chance to come back from this deficit. That Andrew Luck is just SPECIAL.

Road to the SHOWCASE

On we go as our Vipers Team traveled to Boise Idaho to take on the Stampede, affiliate of the Portland Trailblazers on back to back nights, before we are going to Reno for the annual SHOWCASE of our league.

In between our road travels and games we had intense practices and as always I was the first in last out, doing extra sessions to work on my game.

I don't really know why it isn't clicking, but I strongly believe I will find my sync with our style of play. I set my goal to outwork everyone to first crack the starting rotation and then take it from there. Nobody will outwork or outhustle me.

I felt we had some guys loosing their ground because of our strong record. Guys felt all would come by itself now, so a few guys skipped extra work offered, were lazy and sloppy in practice, one even missed the team bus on one ride... I can and will not accept this and will lead by example as a seasoned professional, taking some of those young guys aside and tell them that in our job nothing comes free. I think this is my part to support also our rookie Coach Smith and his staff.

So my personal goals for the next 2 games, besides winning them both will be:

Crack a starting job 1st with limitless energy and hustle,
Play at least  25+ minutes on average 2nd,
Get at least one double double 3rd

Judge me on those goals.

Most impressive thing I had the chance to witness this week. Michael van Gerwen winning the PDC World Championships. In the semis he sweept Adrian Lewis 6:0... I mean this is THE Adrian Lewis.
CONGRATS, this is world class !!!

Schumacher Tragedy

What a tragedy happening to Germanys finest superstar Michael Schumacher.
All our prayers go out to him and his family.
Keep fighting back into life please !!!!

8 game road trip / Call Up #2

We embarked on a 8 day road trip yesterday. We flew into Cleveland and then took the bus up to Erie (Ohio). We play the Bayhawks today. They have CJ Leslie and Jeremy Tyler on their roster, two of the hottest players in our league. I am really looking forward to match myself up with Tyler, who is a NBA player for sure.

We have a second call up to the league from our team, as the Rockets have called up our PG Isaiha Canaan. This was logical due to their backcourt injuries and IC's play lately. We will dearly miss his playmaking.

Vipers have new look

We had some practices to find our new composition, but let's see how it all works out today !

Watched the Portland:Clippers game tonight. What a game with Chris Paul taking over at the end of regulation and Batum sending the game into overtime with this monster three pointer. Aldridge is huge !

Andy Seiferth is coming on big for Trier against my former team Bonn !  AND what a game Elias Harris had in his debut for BAMBERG !!!!

Great to see Lukas Podolski back on the pitch for Arsenal... great GOAL !! Thats a way to come back from injury !

Christmas Break

Back in McAllen after we had couple of days off over the holidays.

We had a team XMAS celebration courtesy of our owner, who presented each of us with a little present. We will try to give back with WINS...

Surely we also had  some community work during the days, as the Vipers Team visited the local childrens hospital. We took pictures, played table games, autographes, the whole package. I love doing this as you can see the joy one can bring to all those children who are not so blessed right now. Children are always so amazed, not only for us beeing local celebrities, but specially me beeing so tall. Had some nice presents for them, that made their eyes shine!!!

 

I received some email questions regarding our style of play. Let me pleases show you this article:

The reliance on the 3-pointer

Published by Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) who is a staff writer for the Grantland Network established by Bill Simmons, who now works for ESPN.

It in a way explains what we are doing and why. GM Morey of the Rockets is one of the most innovative and creative minds in the business and he wants us to try this style of play, because if it works in our league, it may also be an alternative for style of play in the big league.

I can tell you it is physicly demanding to the max, as one is always running and running and running....

The christmas days I spend with my familiy in San Antonio at my parents in law's house. We had some exquisite dishes to choose from. Big shoutout to my parents and brother in Wuppertal, I missed you all big time.

Time flies by and soon enough we are back to McAllen and practice, practice practice.....

In between had the chance to watch Bamberg and Munich play some crucial Euroleague matches. The Bamberg game was so close, it was sad to see them loose. Shoutout to Elias Harris, who will make Freak City proud and will turn some heads in Germany.

Congrats to Bayern Munich for advancing to the next round with a convincing win over Galatasaray. Convincing performance by my former Bonn teammate Bryce Taylor. What a great job Coach Pesic is doing in Munich.

Viper Call Up #1 JJ

Our teammate James Johnson has been called up to the NBA Memphis Grizzlies !

Congratulations, this is what we all strive for. JJ averaged 18,5 Pts and 9 boards in only 30 minutes and led our team in blocks. He deserved  to be in the big league again.

Another player using the Vipers as a springboard to make a career....

There are some minutes, rebounds and points to be redistributed now. I will work extra hard get them.

Had some extra workout with Coach Mokeski, besides regular team practice. Coach is BIG (7'1), he played in the league himself and he can teach me so much each time we are out there.