After Dennis Schröder’s poor performance against Latvia, coach Herbert continues to rely on his captain. The team is also united behind Schröder, who is to lead the team to the World Cup final on Friday (September 7th, 2023, live in the sports show audio stream).
In the Glaspalast in Manila, two points separated the German basketball players from a safe entry into the semi-finals of the World Cup on Wednesday. Of course, captain and playmaker Dennis Schröder took the ball 32 seconds before the end of the game to seal DBB’s greatest World Cup success in 21 years. A quick look at Coach Gordie Herbert, a slap on his shoulder: Schröder had initiated a move.
The goal: A taller – and therefore slower – player should defend him. But Schröder couldn’t get past his opponent and dribbled his way. Only when the shot clock expired did he make an unsuccessful attempt, but in return the Latvians had the chance to score a three-pointer to win. But Davis Bertans rejected it.
The German team immediately rushed to celebrate Schröder, who had had a bad evening. Everyone hugged him. “That was one of the worst games of my career“, he said ruefully afterwards. Only four of his 26 throws were successful.
Herbert trusts Schröder
His coach still didn’t even think about taking Schröder off the field in the crucial minutes. After all, the point guard was the most valuable player in the tournament until the game against Latvia. “Without him we wouldn’t be here at all“, said Herbert in the team hotel on Thursday (September 7th) without a game. Schröder led the team especially after Franz Wagner was out.
With an average of 18 points and 6.3 assists per game, he is statistically Germany’s best offensive player at the World Cup despite his performance on Wednesday. Coach Herbert has formed the squad around Schröder into a unit since the successful home European Championships a year ago. He was able to do this because he knows when to hand over responsibility to his captain.
Schröder fights for the “family”
When the players talk about the team, the word “family” comes up again and again. How seriously the head Schröder takes this family, he proved when he spoke out against the World Cup nomination of the NBA professional Maxi Kleber because he canceled for the European Championship last year.
Kleber decided against the team at the time and can’t take anyone’s place now, Schröder said, introducing himself to players like Johannes Thiemann and Johannes Voigtmann, who had found it so difficult to play.
The team jumps into the breach for the captain all the more energetically. After the game against the Latvians, Voigtmann said: “Dennis has played an incredible tournament so far and i think it’s a good sign that we don’t always need a heroic performance from him to win.”
Germany needs a more variable attack
Moritz Wagner had an explanation for Schröder’s problems against Latvia: “Everyone talks about Dennis, they sit there in the locker room every two hours and think about how they can stop him.” It would be good for the German team to attack a little more variably against the USA.
The fact that Moritz’s brother Franz is fully operational again after his injury is encouraging in this regard. After all, alongside Schröder, he is probably the most talented player on the team. In order to find a better balance in attack, Franz Wagner could get the ball more often against the USA.
Herbert: “Dennis will come back”
The Germans still need Schröder to be in better form in the semi-finals. After the Latvia game, Moritz Wagner answered the question of how the team wanted to give Schröder back his self-confidence: “It’s a beast, you don’t have to build it“. Herbert wasn’t worried about his captain on Thursday either: “Dennis will be back“, he expects.
Germany’s offensive will therefore continue to rely on Schröder. “What’s great about Dennis is that he takes the ball and really dares to do something“, says Herbert. Schröder is not afraid to make decisions and take the decisive throw. Like in the final phase of the weak game against Latvia.