The reason why Alba Berlin hired Coach Katzurin - Play-offs begin with mental dominance in focus

Coach Muli Katzurin

Since Coach Katzurin arrived, his team has played 500 ball - winning as much as losing and placing third in the league. 

The results were satisfying in that the team regained its identity as a legitimate play-off contender.

The second meeting with power-house Bamberg was a different game - Berlin nearly won the contest, but missed two errant last minute 3 point shots while Bamberg capitalized on strategic fouls and two key three-pointers by Predrag Suput and Brian Roberts (97 - 93).

Berlin was as dominate if not more dominate than Bamberg. 

Top offensive player Suput shot a perfect game - making all his shots from the floor.

The playoff picture is set - Berlin kicks off with Oldenburg. 

Berlin beat Oldenburg in the regular season - twice.

Bamberg and Berlin - more than likely will meet in the semi-final. 

The play-offs and Berlin's status coming into the championship round is exactly why Coach Katzurin was brought to Berlin - play-off time is the time to deliver and he has his team in the right place at the right time.

Berlin will match-up well with Bamberg - if the assignment selection is correct. Putting a healthy McElroy on Suput will shut down the outside shooting threat and Taylor on Roberts will cut the transition game.

Rochestie will have to deliver quicker passes in transition - fast break scenarios - dribbling less opens key three point shots by go-to-man Jenkins.

In the paint, a strong performance will require Allen and Raduljica to manipulate the boards and score with consistency.

The starting five in Berlin's squad average between 10 - 15 points - statistically this signals that all players are capable of being a scoring threat, but minimizes a go-to-player in crunch situations.

Berlin's bench will have to deliver and support if they want to exploit their opponents - Dragicevic, Idbihi, Schultze, Saiger and Schaffartzki will have to play above their current performance level to make it to the final - and win.

Coack Katzurin knows what is required. 

He yanked and drilled his players during the last league match-up with Walter Tigers Tübingen. 

Winning in a less than motivated performance (88 - 76) - each time an errant pass, shot or mental lapse emerged - Coach Katzurin captured it.

Berlin's game plan entering the play-offs will need to emphasize mental dominance - performance and motivation will be linked to their psychological will-to-win.

Intensity with a hunger for wanting to be champions will require all-around extraordinary motivation and mental persistence.

Coach Katzurin was brought to Berlin for this test - he has met the challenge and now the overall capacity to accomplish the feat is a game plan that emphasizes psychological preparedness - focus.

* * *

David Gwodzik is a Freelance Journalist and Sports Psychologist