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Victory against Slovenia: Dennis Schröder curbs euphoria before the EM – Sport

It’s not easy to glean an indication of his state of mind from Gordon Herbert’s facial expressions. In any case, after the World Cup qualifier against Slovenia, his expression hardly differed from that of his colleague Aleksander Sekulic. However, he had to explain a bitter defeat, the coach of the current European champion stated visibly contritely that his players simply had too little energy for this physical opponent.

And Herbert? If the sound of the coach of the German Basketball Federation (DBB) had been turned off, there would have been no indication that the winner of a great game was giving his analysis. Not a smile crossed the Canadian’s lips, he analyzed the 90:71 triumph against Slovenia in the World Cup qualification, which almost guarantees participation, with a deep crease between his eyes.

The offensive could be improved, the defense worked well, especially the rebounding, and yes, “we’ll enjoy it for a moment,” said Herbert soberly – “and then continue to work”. At least he doesn’t have to worry too much after his team’s remarkable performance, but the 63-year-old has been in the business far too long to allow himself to be carried away by euphoric predictions for the home European Championships in Cologne. The officials did that enough, DBB President Ingo Weiss reminded them again before the Slovenia game that you think about playing for a medal.

Coach Gordon Herbert and captain Dennis Schröder agree: This victory means nothing for the European Championship

Even Dennis Schröder, who rarely suspects too much self-doubt, jumped to his coach’s side at the moment of triumph on the pitch. Although the team showed a flawless performance, that means nothing for the start of the European Championship against France: “We played well as a team and did our job. France are the next top opponents, we have to stay humble and be ready on Thursday.”

In fact, it wouldn’t be the first time that such aroused expectations were quickly shattered. In 2013, for example, the DBB selection defeated the eventual European champion France for NBA great Tony Parker, only to lose to Belgium, Ukraine and England – all of them small basketball nations. In the end there was the ignominious elimination after the preliminary round, which cost the then national coach Frank Menz his job.

Of course, the prospects at this European Championship are much brighter, the victory on Sunday against the highly rated defending champion at least showed the way how the desired medal can work. Schröder acted as the coach-appointed leader, when in the first half all his attempts from distance plopped against the ring, he took control of the game and kept the pace up. In the second half he remembered his great strengths in a one-on-one game and contributed important points in the final phase.

Again, Franz Wagner is the most conspicuous player in the German team – the 21-year-old has developed enormously in the NBA

Andreas Obst made the important threes, and with his first action after coming into play, he sunk a long-range shot. Obst brought security to the initially stuttering offensive – and with it the turnaround against the initially dominant Slovenians around Luka Doncic. Franz Wagner was once again the most conspicuous attacker of the DBB selection, the winger was always there when points were urgently needed or Schröder took a break. Celebrating his 21st birthday on Saturday, he has grown tremendously in the NBA, where he had a strong season with the Orlando Magic. Wagner acts extremely flexible and carefree, he is also an excellent defender.

So far and no further: Andreas Obst (left) and Johannes Thiemann make life difficult for Slovenian Luka Doncic.

(Photo: Tilo Wiedensoler/Imago)

Which brings you to the determining factor in the German game: the defensive. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Wagner or Nick Weiler-Babb, Luka Doncic’s level of frustration increased as the game went on. The game of the Slovenians depends on their best, although they scored the best value of the evening with 23 points despite extra attention, but their colleagues also got little air to breathe from the poisonous DBB defense.

Above all, the rebound game, which was given extra praise by the coach, made the difference: the Germans fished 56 balls off the board, more than twice as many as their opponents. On the offensive this meant many second and third chances to throw, on the defensive it made it possible to switch quickly to the tempo game, and the Germans repeatedly attacked the opponent with quick counterattacks. Above all, Johannes Voigtmann, who also scored double digits, and Johannes Thiemann excelled, both are centers of the quality class that one does not like to play against.

In addition, NBA player Daniel Theis, who completed the warm-up program before the game but decided not to play because of his injured knee, could still join the team. Herbert gives him the time he needs and travels to Cologne with a squad of 13. If necessary, Gavin Schilling would have to give way to Theis. Leon Kramer and David Kramer are not there, both were not in the squad against Slovenia and have now been deleted.

The journey to the preliminary round was made with a good feeling, or in the words of the coach: “It was good, but only one game. And we’re in the group of dead.”

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