Sometimes even setbacks can be valuable, this mantra was emphasised by the DBB team after the defeat against Canada in the Super Cup final. Captain Dennis Schröder saw a “step forward” and national coach Gordon Herbert underlined the learning effect from the game.
The first defeat of the preparation should not deter the German basketball players from their way to the hoped-for World Cup medal. National coach Gordon Herbert rated the 112-113 after overtime against Canada in the Super Cup final on Sunday evening more as a welcome learning effect.
The two NBA stars R.J. Barrett of the New York Knicks and All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder were particularly strong against the World Cup co-favourites Canada, whom the DBB team had beaten 86-81 in their first direct encounter during the week. The former gave the German team 31 points, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25. “We couldn’t really stop their stars,” Herbert summed up.
But the 64-year-old stressed: “You learn more from defeats than from victories. I’m glad we had this game. The boys did very well for 32 minutes. “
Schröder sees “a step forward “
However, the German team let a lead slip away in the closing stages, partly because captain Dennis Schröder had to watch from the bench after picking up his fifth foul. “That was a bit difficult, of course. But it was important that the boys played without me for once. That will help us at the World Cup,” said the Toronto Raptors point guard, who was the best scorer with 26 points. “We can also get into a situation at the World Cup that we have to play without Dennis. In that sense, today was a good practice and overall a good experience,” Herbert also said.
Schröder saw “a step forward” overall. The strong physicality of the North Americans was a good test ahead of the upcoming World Cup, the 29-year-old said. “I don’t think you can get tougher than that. They play hard, they have good defenders, good guys who play with energy. I think Australia is similar. But that was good for us. We needed that and now we have to move on. “
Two more endurance tests before World Cup start
After two days off, the German team will travel from Frankfurt am Main to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. There, two more test matches against title candidates USA and Greece are scheduled for the coming weekend. Herbert then wants to take further steps with his team. “If we have to take ten steps, we are currently on step three or four,” said the national coach. “But I am very happy with where we are at.”
The World Cup begins on 25 August in Okinawa with a clash against co-hosts Japan. Other opponents in the preliminary round are Finland and Australia. After winning bronze at the European Championships in Berlin last year, the German basketball players also want to win a medal at the World Championships in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.