In a tournament in Abu Dhabi, the DBB team won clearly against Greece on Saturday with 84:71.
Germany’s basketball players passed part one of their World Cup dress rehearsal in the desert with flying colours. Against Greece without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, the team around captain Dennis Schröder won their penultimate test in Abu Dhabi on Saturday with 84:71 (33:32) after a very concentrated and convincing performance.
Schröder (14 points), Franz Wagner (14) and Daniel Theis (15) were the most eye-catching players of the German team in front of about 1000 spectators at the Etihad Arena.
Schröder deputy Hollatz injured
With victory in a rematch of last year’s European Championship quarter-final, when Germany upset Antetokounmpo and Co on their way to bronze, the Germans, who lost Justus Hollatz to injury against the Greeks, are now on four wins from five Test matches. Hollatz is pencilled in as Schröder’s relief.
But replacing the 29-year-old newcomer from the Toronto Raptors is likely to be more complicated than ever. The undisputed leader is increasingly taking control of the offensive game and provides his teammates Theis and Johannes Voigtmann with pinpoint passes that they only have to dunk on. In preparation for the World Cup, Schröder gives the impression that he will be able to seamlessly build on his fantastic performance at last year’s European Championships. On Sunday, the elite ensemble from the NBA will be waiting for him.
On Sunday against the USA, then to Okinawa
Only last Sunday, the German Basketball Association (DBB) lost the final of the Super Cup in Hamburg against the World Cup co-favourites Canada with 112:113 after overtime. The final World Cup test is scheduled for Sunday, also in Abu Dhabi, against the USA, who won 108-86 against Greece on Friday.
Directly after the duel with the Americans, who will be without superstars such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Stephen Curry, the Germans will travel to the World Cup venue Okinawa. There, the European Championship bronze medallists will face the Japanese hosts in the opening match of the tough Group E next Friday. Other opponents in the preliminary round are co-favourites Australia and insider tip Finland.
