Warned Germany meets giants who suddenly wake up
After a slow start early in the morning, the German basketball team presents itself as a true top team and easily reaches the Olympic semi-finals. There, they face host France again, which eliminates co-favorite Canada.
It wasn't the German basketball team's start on Tuesday morning in Paris. "Playing so early is really tough," said captain Dennis Schröder after the lackluster but never endangered 76:63 win over Greece. "We were down by 12, but the game is long. We told ourselves: 40 minutes." Despite an early 12-point deficit and an initially dominant Giannis Antetokounmpo, the World Champions fought their way back into the game, leveled at halftime, and revealed that extra class that makes them the biggest threat to the "Gold Mission" of the US team at the Olympics.
Reaching the first Olympic semi-final in German basketball history has also given the team of coach Gordon Herbert two chances to win a third medal at the third international tournament in three years. This was once the ambitious and initially ridiculed ambition of the Canadian coach, which is now close to its glorious fulfillment.
In the style of an absolute top team
Even without their captain in top form, the German team managed to play their depth, balance, and versatility. "I had a hard time the whole game," said Schröder, who scored 13 points and eight assists. "But the team carried us. Franz was great. And everyone who came off the bench was strong. Shoutout to all my teammates who brought energy from the bench and made today's win possible."
Herbert changed his defense early, fortified the zone, and not only took the teeth out of Antetokounmpo (eight early points, 22 total) but also forced the Greeks, who were weak from a distance, to more and more jump shots, which increasingly missed. At the same time, he brought about the turnaround in the game with the introduction of Johannes Thiemann (10 points), Isaac Bonga (9), Moritz Wagner (8), and Nick Weiler-Babb (5).
"When the coach started here, he demanded that we all accept the roles he has for us," explained match winner Thiemann after the game. "That we've kept the team together is huge for us. We know our roles, know each other inside and out, and play together. Everyone knows that Dennis and Franz are the top players, and everyone accepts that. But when you're called upon, everyone can contribute their part, and that's the key for us."
"The first five sets the tone, but our job from the bench is to bring energy, do the dirty work, and win the 50/50 balls," says Weiler-Babb, whose aggressive defense in the half-court helped almost completely suffocate the already one-dimensional Greek attack and put Germany on the winning track after halftime. Top scorer Franz Wagner took over with a total of 18 points and seven of his eight successful shots from the zone area.
France again, but different circumstances
The head coach was satisfied: "One of our great strengths is that we have 12 players I can use. The others delivered today. Our second unit came in and did a great job. Our intensity and energy improved immediately. They set the tone, and we played much better after halftime."
In the first semifinal next Thursday (from 5:30 PM), Germany faces off against host France once again. The "Tricolore Team" shocked everyone by eliminating the heavily favored and previously unbeaten Canadians. A 82:73 victory at home not only changed the collective perception of the team led by Vincent Collet, but also brought back memories of past tournaments. In the past, the French team started off weak in the preliminary rounds, only to transform into nearly unbeatable heavyweights in the knockout phases, such as at the EuroBasket 2022 when they made it to the final.
After Germany's 85:71 preliminary round loss to France last Friday, tensions were high. Evan Fournier criticized Collet and his playing style, leading the coach to bench his veteran, along with Rudy Gobert, the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. "I wanted to play small and start with a defensive first five," Collet defended his decision to start Isaia Cordinier and Guershon Yabusele. It proved to be a masterstroke, as Yabusele (22 points) and Cordinier (20) became match winners for France.
A crazy three-pointer from Fournier, made from the mid-court line, turned the Paris Bercy Arena into a frenzy in the final seconds. Just like Germany, France benefited from their role players. Superstar Wembanyama scored only seven points, while Gobert, Nic Batum, and Nando De Colo didn't score at all. After the game, Gobert and Collet added another mystery by claiming Gobert had surgery on his finger, which Collet promptly denied. It's uncertain whether and how much Gobert will play against Germany.
One thing is certain, though: the revived hosts are likely to be much more dangerous in the rematch than they were a week ago. "France has made a strong comeback," said Herbert on Tuesday night. "They responded well, have home advantage, and had a great start today. That's obviously tough for the opponent. We've played each other four times in the last month, so we know each other very well. I expect a much closer game than last time."
The highlight of the day was Serbia's comeback against Australia, winning 95:90 in overtime. Patty Mills, with 26 points, had kept the Serbs at bay and forced overtime with a last-second shot. In the extra period, Serbia pulled through, becoming the first team to win a knockout game after being down by at least 12 points at halftime.
Serbia's turnaround came when coach Svetislav Pešić called a timeout midway through the second quarter, with his team down by 24 points. His stern words woke his team up, with six players scoring in double figures, led by superstar and NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, who took control late in the game and led his team to victory with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and eight assists. Jokić dominated the overtime, with almost all the points bearing his signature.
The rest is history: The USA strolled to an unthreatened blowout victory against Brazil in the fourth and final quarterfinal, with Brazil appearing overwhelmed in every aspect. Coach Steve Kerr started with his first five: LeBron James, Steph Curry, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, and Joel Embiid. The starters scored 46 of the 63 US points in the first half. An early 14-2 run and a further 15-0 run towards the end of the first half sealed the game. Kevin Durant (11 points, total 494) surpassed Lisa Leslie to become the all-time leading scorer in US basketball history, men and women. Devin Booker was the top scorer with 18 points, Anthony Edwards scored 17 points, and LeBron James contributed 12 points and 9 assists.
The USA now has a 34-1 record since 2004 and is just two wins away from their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal. They will face Serbia again, having previously won both a friendly in Abu Dhabi (105-79) and the Group C opener (110-84).
The German basketball team, after their impressive performance, is eagerly anticipating their semi-final match against France in the NBA. Prior to this, France upset co-favorite Canada, demonstrating their strong form.
With the NBA being a global stage for basketball talent, many fans are eager to see how Germany and France will fares in their upcoming match, with the potential for another surprising upset.
