At the EM game of the host Finland against Great Britain on Friday evening, Lauri Markkanen got 43 points, and it was later referred to the fact that Dirk Nowitzki had also hit at a basketball European Championship. These are snapshots of individual players who take on a lot of responsibility because they often play more than one class better than the rest of the team. The German national team, on the other hand, has long since left this Nowitzki era, it is now a team in which everyone has found their role, and none of them are insignificant.
She impressively demonstrated this against Lithuania on Saturday afternoon. In Dennis Schröder and Franz Wagner, the usual suspects scored the most points (26 and 24) at 107: 88, but behind it was also followed by Daniel Theis with 23 points, with significantly few minutes. “We know that the two do their thing anyway,” said the 33-year-old in magenta about Wagner and Schröder, they were not to be properly defended for two on the court. But: “We have such a depth in the squad, we have so much trust”, and so the bosses would be supported unconditionally. On this day especially from him, Theis, who had his big moment with a monster block in the 31st minute. Then he clapped his chest confidently.
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Leading player Schröder, once grew up together with Theis in Braunschweig, was happy about his performance: “He saved us today”, even if that might have been a little exaggerated in view of the entire team performance. He said about this team: “Everyone knows their role, it’s just awesome to play with them.” He was also pleased with this clear statement victory about the most strongest opponent in the preliminary round about the atmosphere in the hall in Tampere.
Schröder defends himself against monkey noises from the ranks
Schröder also addressed a topic that he did not want to leave. The Lithuanian fans had made monkey noises when the team went into the cabin for the break, said Schröder. Magenta sport broadcast reported that some Lithuanian fans of the hall had been expelled. “This is one thing that I cannot accept: racism in this world. That shouldn’t belong here. I get it with the Lithuanians for the first time. That makes me sad,” said Schröder.
His family was sitting in the front row this time again, Schröder’s children should have noticed the racist escapades. “When it gets heated, it is okay,” said Schröder: “I can also cope with insults of all kinds. But I can’t accept monkey sounds.”
Schröder had not showed anything during the game, and interim chief coach Alan Ibrahimagic did not mention the incidents immediately after the end of the game. “It was definitely a very, very good performance,” he said, and emphasized the few ball losses (seven compared to 18 of the Lithuanians). However, “the job is not over here, we want the first in the group”. The Finns with 43-point launchers Markkanen are still a serious opponent. In the next game against Great Britain on Monday, however, some regular players should get less time than before.
Third game, more than 100 points for the third time
If the previous opponents tried to take pace out of the game, the German team met this time for a team who wanted to play at the highest pace, and in phases. The first quarter was almost spectacular. However, the Lithuanians lacked those in the German soil, and when Jonas Valanciunas center already posted his third foul in the 13th minute of play (after the fifth a game exclusion), they were rarely able to keep the deficit. At the same time, FC Bayern should have taken note of how much responsibility the Lithuanian building actor Rokas Jokubaitis had taken on in his team. This will play in the Dress of Munich in four weeks. Against Germany he came to 20 points and seven assists.
The fact that the German team of the diseased head coach Alex Mumbru scored more than 100 points for the third time in the third game is no longer so surprising in view of their offensive force. It was interesting how the team finished this game: with concentrated defense and at relentless pace, although several players like Theis dragged physical problems around with them. The final quarter ended 28:18, although the game was decided after three quarters. After each game there is talk of sending “a message”. The news is likely to have arrived: Germany is currently playing into a role of favorite. And can live with it very well.
