101:90 against the Czech Republic |
Germany in the Supercup final!
The goal is clear: At the European Championships at home (September 1st – 18th) Germany’s basketball players want a medal for the first time since 2005 (silver).
The start of the Supercup in the Barclays Arena in Hamburg showed that this doesn’t have to remain a dream. The DBB team won 101:90 (56:44) against the Czech Republic, number 12 in the world, in front of around 4,000 fans and remains undefeated in the pre-season.
NBA star Dennis Schröder (28/16 points) led the strong offensive with crazy dribbles and magic passes. And dived after the ball in front of his pregnant wife Ellen (the third child is due in December).
However, three minutes before the end, the new captain twisted his left ankle and had to be replaced. Whether he can play in the final on Saturday is open…
The DBB team took command in the second quarter and never gave up the lead. The top scorer was NBA star Franz Wagner (20/Orlando Magic) with 26 points.
“We played well together as a team and had good actions,” said Berlin’s Maodo Lo (29/13 points) after the third test. “I think you can say that it was an improvement. It’s already forming.”
Ex-Tower Justus Hollatz (20/moves to Spain) was nervous at the end (2 points) – and has to worry about his EM ticket. Also because the newly naturalized Bayern star Nick Weiler-Babb (26) is supposed to make his debut on Saturday. Neu-Hamburger Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann (32) should have his place as a tower under the basket.
On September 1st, the EM kick-off against France will take place in Cologne. Until then, however, national coach Gordon Herbert (63) still has to plug the big holes in the defense.
On Saturday (6.30 p.m., Magenta Sport) in Hamburg, defending champion Germany will first have to do with winning the tournament against Serbia with NBA MVP Nikola Jokic (27/Denver Nuggets). At 4 p.m. Italy and the Czech Republic play out for third place.