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In the previous episode of Borås Basket's documentary series "Resan är målet":
The fight for the 12th spot on the roster was fought. Team management discussed quite a few names.
In the end, Richard Maråker came out as the winner.
He is now a part of Borås Basket's official roster.
In this, the second episode of "Resan är målet", you will see the first fourth of the regular season.
Join us for the ride, get the inside thoughts and explanations. And of course, game footage.
Which were the expectations?
What would the season be like?
Would the fans show up for the games? And what effect would the team's new players have?
Borås Basket had to win games.
Play an exciting brand of basketball. And offer the best show in Basketligan.
Welcome to "Resan är målet" - the story about Borås Basket's season in Basketligan 2013-2014.
The team played well and won all nine pre-season games.
Borås entered the new regular season with confidence.
Opening night was on October 3 against EcoÖrebro.
Perhaps not Basketligan's most feared team, but a worthy and capable squad.
Borås' team machinery was in full gear. Mike Palm and Chris McKnight scored a combined 50 points
on the way to the first win of the season.
Second game. Away this time, in Östersund.
Jämtland, with its new coach Pontus Frivold and two unknown American players
had also won their opener. On the road versus LF Basket.
It was difficult to know how good the Jämts would be. The game turned out to be very tough.
But Borås had JJ Miller who scored 33 points.
This was the game in which the new players introduced themselves for real.
Wictor Grenthe played a crucial part in rebounding, as Mike Palm got into foul trouble.
Roope Ahonen made the most important shot of the game - a threepointer in crunch time
Thanks to that shot Borås traveled home as winners.
Game three. Back in Boråshallen and a game against Norrköping Dolphins.
This turned out to be the toughest game so far.
The Dolphins lead was 14-20 after one quarter and Borås was down by as much as 13 at one point.
Until JJ Miller took over the game and gave the crowd a show.
After three quarters he was at 27 points and the Dolphin lead was down to a mere two points.
The last couple of minutes belonged to JJ Miller. He dominated the game. Even more than the fans are used to.
His shot at the shotclock buzzer gave Borås its third straight victory.
-It was one of those nights I guess. I try to do everything I can to help the team win.
Whatever we need. And tonight we needed me to make some shots down the stretch, and I was able to do it.
-That last shot you took?
-With that last shot I knew I wanted to take all the time off our shotclock. I wasn't gonna give the ball up early so that they could have a chance to come down and score.
When I saw them trying to trap me, I knew it was an opportunity for me to make a fake and get free.
JJ Miller är kanske Basketligans största matchvinnare.
-The shots at the end of the game;
I guess I'm not thinking about the moment consuming me.
I'm trying to think about making the play. So I'm extremely focused.
At that point it's time to win the game, so you really have to be locked in and engaged. Obviously you're not gonna make them all.
But I try to make sure I'm really focused during that time of the game to make sure I can help my team win in whatever way I can.
-Actually the opposing coach's reaction was kind of, I don't wanna say that's something I would have done myself.
But the way that both of the guys left me. And kind of left me open.
I was a little shocked myself... For me to get that open. For me to get a good look like that, I was surprised.
And his reaction kind of said it all. As far as the way I had been shooting going down the stretch.
We started the season good, 3 and 0. Everybody's kind of meshing into their roles right now.
I think we're confident. I believe we can play with any team in the league.
So hopefully we'll be able to continue.
JJ Miller has good things to say about the team's newest players.
Both of those guys are very good additions to us. I mean Roope adds another dimension to the guard spot.
Kind of takes some pressure off me at the point guard position. And he's really a very smart player.
Wictor speaks volumes down low. Mike and Chris have that rotation.
When he comes in we really don't lose anything. We continue to stay at a high level. And that's really huge for us.
JJ Miller knows what a road game against rivals Nässjö means.
-That's gonna be a tough match down there. They always play hard in their gym.
They've got a decent team who can knock some teams off if you're not careful. I expect it to be a battle.
Next, it was time to play the rivals from Nässjö on the road. In the first part of a four part war.
And like it should be in these games, it was tough and exciting.
The home fans nearly carried their team to a huge upset. But Borås got 30 points, 15 rebounds,
and a whole lot of will power from Chris McKnight. Nässjö had no answer and Borås
got their fourth straight win.
Game five was against LF Basket, at home in Boråshallen. The visitors were good at first and owned the
better part of the first half. But when Fred Andersson made a
threepointer with four minutes left of the second quarter, and Chris McKnight followed it up with two of his own,
it fueled the start of a game winning run.
Pat Ryans zone defense was also a factor behind the fifth win.
-We went to a little zone defense there. They had some problems with that.
They couldn't run their pick and rolls. They couldn't go inside as much.
And then, when we did go back to man, we played much better than we did in the first half.
One of Borås newest player is Roope Ahonen
-From Finland. 23 years old.
Basketball player who's trying to be a friendly guy, an outgoing guy.
I love to be here. It's a very nice city. Almost like in Finland.
Last year was a great time, my first year in Sweden. I really enjoyed my time
and decided to stay another year.
Last year in Solna was my first year and first time
I had a really different role in a team.
I was a pure point guard. My game was create for others, pass the ball and be the leader for the team.
And now, this year, when I came to Borås, coach gave me a lot of freedom.
I think that helped me a lot this year, to get better as a player. I try to concentrate more on defense.
Because people scored a lot of points against Borås. We try to make a difference this year. Play better defense all around, as a team.
So far we managed to get five wins in a row and that's great, that we're 5 and 0. We work extremely hard in practice every day.
Everybody competes. That's the great thing about this team. Every time you go to practice you know
you're gonna bring a 100 % and compete. Because everybody wants to win in practice.
When we do that in practice that becomes automatic in the game situations.
Sundsvalls sporthall is the toughest arena in Basketligan
At least for Borås it has been.
Borås hasn't won in Sundsvall since Christoffer Anrin's last second shot five years ago.
This time, the team managed to own the lead at halftime, 53-58.
Although many things happened in the second half,
a lot of scoring from JJ Miller and Roope Ahonen for example,
Borås had the exact same point differential when the final buzzer sounded.
The curse was broken. Not only had Borås Basket won a game in Sundsvalls sporthall - the team was also 6 and 0.
-Chris McKnight looks strong as always. He had a bit of a milder year last season. But he is performing much better this year.
Mike Palm is unbelievable. Scoring a lot and grabbing rebounds.
We have Wictor Grenthe, who's also grabbing many rebounds.
Fighting spirit. Carlsson and Göransson - they're rock solid. I hope we can get the youngsters going too.
Dmytro Purdik and Hajzer Ismaili. And Nick Rajacic and Richard Maråker.
We should be able to have a nice ten man rotation.
After nearly a month of league competition, it was time for the toughest of all tests
reigning champions Södertälje Kings.
Just like Borås, Södertälje were undefeated
when they, on October 30 came to Boråshallen. The pace of accepted Facebook invitations
was rapid and the organization expected a pretty nice attendance number.
But more than 2400? Not in the wildest of dreams.
But that was exactly how reality looked on this night.
And what a game! Södertälje took control of it.
Borås had to chase. When less than three minutes remained,
the visitors were up by 12 points. But Borås did everything right in crunch time.
And the chance to win came with three seconds left. Kings forward Mantas Griskenas was at the freethrow line.
He missed one, and made one. Södertälje was up by two points.
-I'm speechless man. This is one of the best feelings.
Win the game on a last second
threepointer by JJ. It's unbelievable.
-Just after the final buzzer. I know you haven't had time to gather yourself.
Describe your feelings right now. -Unbelievable.
I thought, they are not going to foul him.
He's so quick that he was going to get a shot off. It was from far away, but he's good at those.
I've waited for five years for us to win on a buzzer shot.
And this was a very good time to do it.
-What was that? I've never seen anything like it.
-We said no matter what we're gonna play until the buzzer sounds.
And that's what we did. We got an opportunity to win it at the end.
And I got a good look, and it went in.
I knew I only had time for one change of direction.
So I got to my spot, changed direction, and got to the area where I wanted to be on the floor.
And I got a good look at the basket when I got there. So I'm confident that I could knock it down and it went in,
thank God.
Borås, 7 and 0 baby, yeah! Let's keep it going.
Wictor Grenthe är Borås andra nyförvärv. Förra säsongen blev han svensk mästare med Södertälje.
Nu var han med och besegrade sina gamla lagkamrater.
The feeling after the Södertälje game was awesome.
It's not often I've been in games like that.
when you win on the buzzer
The fans went crazy, It was wonderful.
I talked to the guys on Södertälje after the game. They were down.
I also talked to Vedran [the coach]. He was...
Like Vedran can be. Grumpy.
But I know that they will be ready to play when we visit them next time.
Last season, after Södertälje Kings won the championship, Wictor Grenthe decided to switch teams.
-I knew that I would get chances and more responsibility here in Borås.
Mike and I played well together from the first game and the first practice.
-Everbody in Borås knows who the players of Borås Basket are.
There are a lot of people attending the games.
People say 'hello' when they see me on the streets. In that way, it's a lot more fun.
The calm of the team. That's been why we won games in the last couple of weeks.
For example against Södertälje Down by 13 points with three minutes left.
Then JJ decides that it's time to turn it on.
He scores ten straight. Makes the game winner at the buzzer.
That's one of those games. We have a good inside rotation; Mike, Chris, me.
Hajzer. He gets a few minutes and does well.
Chris is fantastic.
Mike looks more rested. He doesn't need to take as much responsibility anymore.
He doesn't need to take as much responsibility anymore. He comes in, grabs some rebounds, scores some, and he gets his rest.
Then, if it's needed, he delivers. Roope by the way,
might be the best point guard I've ever played with. And he's very young.
Fred has developed, increased muscle mass.
Much improved.
-Uppsala on the road.
It's tough. Very tough. Fyrishov. Tough with that crowd.
They have a very good team. A lot of great names.
Favorites to win it all. Sure. But I don't see them a much better than us.
A few days later in Uppsala: Borås played a brilliant first half
and took advantage of a home team that wasn't on their toes in defense.
With a 19 point lead at the half, the game felt like it was already won.
But Uppsala found its pride and came back all the way
When Liam Rush gave Uppsala the lead on a dunk, the crowd went nuts.
The first loss of the season wasn't far away. But thanks to Fred Andersson's fourth quarter heroics
heroics Borås managed to change the momentum once more.
With that came the eight straight win.
-It feels like a complete team. We play much better defense.
Compared to before. And then we have our fearful offense.
Nervous? It's just that with every win we must come closer to a loss.
So I just enjoy the moment. It's a lot of fun while we're winning.
-Solna Vikings were hoping for Borås to underestimate them.
But it seemed that Solna didn't factor in Roope Ahonen.
The Finnish national team player wanted to play a great game against his former team.
And bring home win number nine for Borås.
It went according to the plan. Although the game wasn't as much of a show
as the fans in Borås are used to.
-It looked easier than it was. I don't think we had our best match today.
But we did what we needed to do in the crucial times to get the win. And that's what it's about.
I thought Roope really hit some crucial shots tonight. Coming back to his club that he played for last year. I know he wanted to perform well and he did.
-I think we're pretty good. We still got room to improve though. 9 and 0 and like I said; we try to take each game one game at a time.
And to be 9 and 0 right now is a great feeling. We've got a good momentum right now and we just wanna keep it up.
With the win against Solna, the first fourth of the season came to an end
Borås had defeated all the teams of Basketligan. 9 and 0 was a fact and Borås Basket
had sent a clear message to the rest of Sweden.
The ride of "Resan är målet" is in full stride and in Borås Basket it is the journey that is the goal.
Join us behind the scenes all the way, all season.