After the semi-final defeat 111:113 against the ambitious but also strong Germany, the losers cast desperate and uncomprehending looks at each other. The Americans couldn’t handle the third quarter and the final push came late. The USA coaching team consisting of Steve Kerr (Golden State), Tyronn Lue (LA Clippers), Erik Spoelstra (Miami) was much more prominent than the team that flew to Asia with it. Fans speculate whether it was qualitatively an American ‘little boy’ or ‘little girl’. And that was not enough for the German.
“Basketball has become globalized over the past 30 years. This is no longer 1992 (the Dream Team led by Michael Jordan ran amok at the Olympic Games in Barcelona – note). Players all over the world are getting better and better. It’s not easy to win a championship or the Olympics,” Kerr claimed. “Congratulations to Germany, they were fantastic and deserved to win. They always showed what they needed at the right time. We couldn’t get through.”
Although Anthony Edward burdened the German account with 23 points and the tirelessly fighting Austin Reaves added 21, a number of their teammates showed inexperience and the inability to face the more collective concept of the Germans, which was supplied by Denis Schröder (17 points, 9 assists). “He was quick, he got the ball and he was constantly penetrating the defence,” agreed Kerr.
Bayern point guard Andreas Obst (24 points, 6 assists) then showed himself in the best light in the role of joker. “He had excellent sixes, he made a lot of threes for us. We opened up space for him and couldn’t control him,” the American coach knew.
“Germany also outplayed us physically. At Obst, we knew he was a shooter, a sniper. Our plan was to take him out of the game, but I’m in awe of how he pulled it off. We fouled him a few times. I think we really tried, but we kind of gave him points for free,” lamented Edwards.
Photo: Eloisa Lopez, Reuters
Disappointed American basketball player Anthony Edwards after defeat in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
His team was probably not sufficiently warned by the defeat against Lithuania (104:110) in the qualifying group. In the quarterfinals, the Americans overcame the Italians (100:63) and apparently succumbed to the impression that nothing could happen to them and would play Canada in the final for the gold. However, the Serbs screwed up, so the expected overseas fight will only take place in the match for 3rd place.
Led by Germany, however, it has shown its progress in recent years. 4 years ago at the World Cup, it finished in 18th place, then in the qualification it fought for participation in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where it took 8th place. Last year at the Eurobasket, the Germans won bronze, and now they already have silver. However, as the only team in the tournament, they have not lost yet and they would like to maintain this record even after Sunday’s final (2:45 p.m., ČT Sport).
2023-09-08 16:11:24
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