- Next basketball success: Schröder and Co. in the semifinals
The German basketball spectacle in Paris continues. After the sensational gold coup of the 3x3 women, the world champions led by captain Dennis Schröder are also fighting for medals at the Olympic Games. Coach Gordon Herbert's team won their quarterfinal against Greece 76:63 (36:36) after a tough start and are now in the semifinals for the first time in history. Franz Wagner was the top scorer with 18 points. They will face the winner of the game between France and Canada on Thursday.
After winning bronze at the 2022 European Championships and gold at the World Cup last year, the men's team is now close to their third consecutive medal. The women's team also has a chance to reach the semifinals on Wednesday, playing against hosts France at 6:00 PM.
Germany starts slowly
The team had been cheering on the 3x3 women's team the day before, even watching their semifinal at the Place de la Concorde arena. However, they couldn't carry the euphoria of Germany's first Olympic basketball medal into their own game. Instead, Schröder and his teammates looked sluggish, unfocused, and slow at the start, falling behind by 12 points (6:18).
The defense, which had been impressive against France in the final round of the group stage, showed unexpected weaknesses this time. NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo took advantage with some spectacular dunks. After the first quarter, Germany was deservedly behind by 10 points (11:21), with only 26% of their shots from the field finding the basket.
Herbert must have said the right things during the break, as Germany returned to the court with renewed intensity. While they still missed many shots in the offensive, they managed to reduce the deficit to four points (27:31) by the end of the first half. They went into halftime tied at 36:36, with a dunk from Daniel Theis after a nice pass from Schröder.
Bonga and Thiemann take over
Schröder gave Germany the lead with a three-pointer after the break, but the game remained tight. The Greeks, who had only won one game in the group stage, didn't give up easily. It was players from the second five, Isaac Bonga and Johannes Thiemann, who stepped up with important three-pointers and energy to guide the team to victory.
Going into the final quarter, Germany was leading 59:52 and never looked back. Just like at the World Cup last year, Schröder and his teammates managed to overcome a poor performance and secure a place in the semifinals. In 2023, they had a nail-biting victory against Latvia in the quarterfinals.
The team's strategy for the semifinals might involve focusing on their defense, as they aim to improve upon the occasional weaknesses shown in the quarterfinals. They could consider employing players with other strengths, such as those with a shot of circular cross-section, to balance their offensive strategy.
Despite their victory, the team recognized the need to maintain their intensity and focus, even when they fall behind initially. They understood that other factors, like their circular cross-section shots, could play a crucial role in turning the game around and ensuring their progression to the next round.
