Split (AP) – After the last minute cancellation by NBA star Dennis Schröder, the German basketball players conjure up solidarity before the Olympic qualification tournament in Split.
“We have to collect it as a collective,” said Maodo Lo from the German champion Alba Berlin. The 28-year-old point guard will be given significantly more responsibility following the failure of Schröder, who had to fit in shortly before departure due to unresolved insurance issues on the Croatian Adriatic coast. Together with Joshiko Saibou and Isaac Bonga, Lo will have to lead the German team. “I don’t see it as having to carry it alone,” said Lo.
Schröder only joined the team on Monday in Heidelberg and has been training with the team ever since. Away from the floor, however, the German Basketball Federation – unlike two years ago at the ultimately disappointing World Cup in China – was not able to clarify the question of insurance financially this time.
First against Mexico, then against Russia
Schröder, who was last under contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, is currently without a club, but is hoping for a high-value contract for the coming years. That and the corona situation ensured that the costs for Schröder’s insurance could not be financed, the association said. Why the question was not clarified long before the start of preparation remained unanswered.
National coach Henrik Rödl will now have to do without his best player at the tournament that starts on Tuesday, but does not believe that the team is too depressed. «I think we handled that very well. I don’t have the impression that the boys are really shocked, ”said Rödl. It starts on Tuesday against Mexico, after which Russia is the opponent. Only the winner of the six-team tournament goes to Tokyo.
Strong approaches – even without Schröder
In the few remaining units in the Spaladium Arena in Split, the German basket hunters now have to build on the positive experiences of the Supercup. The DBB team won the tournament in Hamburg thanks to a victory against strong Italians and showed a lot of good approaches even without Schröder. “We couldn’t even test what it was like with Dennis because the dress rehearsal against Senegal was still canceled,” said Rödl. The test in Heidelberg had to be canceled on Thursday shortly before it began because the Senegal team had positive corona tests.
“That’s why the change is not that big now,” said Rödl, who only has to integrate the Berlin master trio Maodo Lo, Johannes Thiemann and Niels Giffey. «But the guys played a lot and are in rhythm. I don’t see any major problems, ”said the national coach.
In training, Rödl let his team complete more forms of play than usual. “We played a lot of five against five or tournaments with three teams,” reported Lukas Wank from the Löwen from Braunschweig. “The mood is good, we absolutely want to fulfill our dream of the Olympics.” Without Schröder then as a collective.
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