After a strong preliminary round, Germany’s basketball players feel ready for the really big tasks at the home European Championship. In the round of 16 of the European Championships on Saturday evening (September 10th, 2022) in Berlin in Berlin it is against Montenegro, in the quarterfinals there could then be a duel with Greece and Giannis Antetokounmpo for the selection of the German Basketball Association (DBB).
The European Basketball Championship has so far also been a shooting contest between two NBA superstars: Giannis Antetokounmpo against Luka Doncic. Who would he himself bet on as a top scorer? Doncic asked at the media round after the win against Germany. The Slovenian scoring machine had just given the host 36 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, nickname “Greek freak“, had played 41 points almost at the same time as Greece beat Ukraine. “I would bet on Giannis“, said Doncic and followed it with a grin: “Because he is Giannis Antetokounmpo.”
Less than 24 hours later, however, it was Doncic who topped the Greek’s performance: With 47 points against France, Doncic scored the second best value that a player has ever achieved in a European Championship game, among other things Doncic had a certain Dirk with his record Nowitzki passed.
DBB team first against Montenegro, then probably against Greece
The German team will probably soon be able to see for themselves which of the two basketball forces of nature is the more powerful: In the round of 16, the DBB team will first play against Montenegro.
Should Germany manage the task against the unpleasant, physical Montenegrins, then in all likelihood Greece will be waiting in the quarter-finals – with Antetokounmpo. The Greeks are the clear favorites in their round of 16 against the Czech Republic, they went through the preliminary round confidently and unbeaten, in a tricky group with co-hosts Italy, Croatia and the strong Ukraine.
Team Greece – more than just Antetokounmpo
Greece not only has its leader Antetokounmpo, who can hardly be stopped by any defense in the world. The Greeks have formed a powerful, experienced unit around their superstar: with playmaker Nick Calathes, dangerous shooters like Tyler Dorsey and experienced strategists like Kostas Sloukas.
A possible duel in the quarter-finals would be a real test for the German team: in the past, the German team often had nothing to gain in big games against the Greeks. Not even for the generation around Dirk Nowitzki, whose dream of winning the EM final in 2005 against Theo Papaloukas and Co. was shattered.
Lo, Thiemann, Wagner, Schröder – many leaders in the DBB team
But the German team of the year 2022 is different. In the preliminary round, the team proved that they can keep top nations in check. And that there are several players besides captain Dennis Schröder who take responsibility.
Sometimes it’s Maodo Lo and Johannes Thiemann from champion Alba Berlin, sometimes the young Franz Wagner, who played well against the Lithuanians, or the previous reserve man Chris Sengfelder, who used his minutes impressively against Hungary.
Maodo Lo: “We know we can beat anyone”
Also from the only defeat against Slovenia so far, the team wanted to take valuable knowledge for the knockout games. “We now know what must not happen. And how we should play instead“, said Maodo Lo. The team is going to Berlin with a good feeling and enough self-confidence to achieve the goal set by the association, a medal. “We know that if we impose our style of play, we can beat anyone“Said the playmaker from Berlin.
Playmaker Lo: A lot of self-confidence before the knockout games at the basketball championship
Compared to the big basketball nations, the DBB team no longer wants to make itself smaller than it actually is: Nine of the twelve players in the squad were last with a club in the NBA or in the Euroleague under contract.
All are seasoned players who have proven themselves at the highest international level for years. In addition, in the course of the tournament so far, no team has emerged that seems to be better than the German team in terms of the entire squad – not even the top favorites from Serbia.
Should the DBB team also get rid of Greece after Montenegro, they could face Lithuania again in the semifinals. Or against Spain, the world champion, who, after a major upheaval, no longer radiates the old dominance.
DBB team hopes for home advantage in Berlin too
In addition to the good team spirit, the German team can continue to build on the home advantage on the way to the targeted medal. Already in the preliminary round matches in Cologne the team was “incredible moodg”, as Johannes Thiemann confirmed: “I hope it will be just as great in Berlin. If not better, after all, it’s the knockout games.”
The team may then also get the chance to take revenge against the Slovenians Luka Doncic – Slovenia would be a possible opponent in the final on 18 September.