Dress rehearsal against the superstar
DBB team does not completely inspire the national coach
08/26/2022, 06:13 am
There is still one game left, then Germany’s best basketball players can finally start their home European Championship. On the way there, the team around NBA star Dennis Schröder ensures a good feeling, especially for the national coach.
Veteran Gordon Herbert was largely satisfied with his basketball players. Clear victory, no mistakes and a solid team performance against the strong Swedes: With these achievements, the head coach of the national team was able to start the journey home towards Munich with confidence. “I’m proud of our defensive lads that we kept Sweden at 50 points,” said Herbert at the press conference after his team’s 67-50 win in Stockholm. “We played really good basketball in the first half. After that we had big problems going forward. Sweden never gave up.”
The internationally rather nameless Swedes, who had never qualified for a World Cup, were overwhelmed from the start and, despite loud support, fell clearly behind early on. The first successful three-point shot came in the second half, but it wasn’t enough for a big catch-up race. For head coach Herbert, however, there were several reassuring aspects: the ankle of leader Dennis Schröder, who made a game uncertain until a few hours before the game, is holding, winger Franz Wagner continues to play at a high level and the defensive works solidly.
Qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines is taking on more and more concrete shape. With six wins from seven games, the team around captain Dennis Schröder has consolidated its top position. Better still: For the national team, the trip to Sweden was the last one for the time being, because from now on there are only home games. On Sunday (3 p.m. / Magentasport) in Munich in the World Cup qualifier against European champions Slovenia with superstar Luka Doncic, then five European Championship group games await in Cologne before the final round begins on September 10 in Berlin.
If everything goes well, there will be a total of ten home games until September 18, when the final takes place in the Mercedes-Benz Arena. “In any case, we’re happy about it. We’re only moving in Germany from now on. Nobody’s going home anymore. We’re going from Munich directly to Cologne. That’s clear when it comes to travel stress,” said DBB Vice President Armin Andres . The official announced: “The mood in Cologne will be boiling.” The biggest hopes are the two remaining NBA professionals Schröder (currently without a club) and Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic). Playmaker Schröder has a lot of international experience, Wagner plays carefree and enriches the offensive, which has suffered from the numerous failures. A key to success at the European Championship (September 1 to 18) is likely to be a quick comeback by Theis. The NBA pro of the Indiana Pacers is currently struggling with knee problems and will not be used against Luka Doncic and Co. in the last World Cup qualifier before the European Championship.
