Germany humbled Team USA 113 -111 and Serbia upended Canada 95 – 86 to move forward to the FIBA World Cup 2023 Finals tomorrow, Sunday! It was a festive day for European Basketball as both Germany and Serbia clearly demonstrated superior team basketball basics to defeat the American challenge. This signals the further growth of global basketball, and serves as a wake-up call to the NBA, as the game’s popularity continues to sweep the world.
Germany, the only unbeaten team in the tourney, had been smarting from a winless record over the USA in the FIBA World Cup as well as the Olympics. This time, however, Germany came well-prepared, copying the Lithuanian formula of dominating the rebounds, using their 3-point snipers to open up the defense, and denying Team USA the open court. The German attack was clearly methodical, balancing exquisite outside snipes with a forceful inside presence. The balanced attack was never centered on Dennis Schroder, although he remained the catalyst as the orchestrator of the German offense.
This year’s version of Team USA was definitely more cohesive, and more focused compared to the previous iterration in China in 2019. Unfortunately, this time they met a methodical German team that had been playing together for a longer period, and had more experience with the FIBA style of play. That said, no amount of individual skill and speed could negate the balanced team effort from the Germans, particularly on the defensive end. Team USA’s 110 points would have been enough to score a comfortable victory in other games, but their lack of pug-nosed defense allowed the Germans 113 points, totally negating their offensive barrage. It was an almost perfect game for the Germans, and as Franz Wagner would say after the game, “obviously a historic win for Germany”, to have finally broken the string of setbacks it had absorbed from the USA through the decades.
The same holds true for the Serbia – Canada game. With 9 NBA players led by all-star Shai Gilgeous Alexander in their roster, many believed that Canada had the best chance to compete with Team USA. Canada played a similar style as their all-NBA neighbors, Team USA. As for Serbia, they had to buck the absence of NBA MVP Nikola Jokic as the tourney neared. To address that, Serbia focused on a more defense-oriented style of play. And leaving behind the what-ifs when Jokic opted out, Serbia has been more relaxed, and has surprisingly come out better chemistry. Serbia has turned out to be the best shooting team in the tourney so far. Led by the NBA veteran, Bogdan Bogdanovich, this team has made believers of many fans. Serbia was not high on the list of favorites at the start of the competition, but combining the NBA flair with the Euro discipline and focus on collective defense has done wonders for this team as well.
Team USA and Canada, earlier picked to meet at centerstage in the Finals of the tournament, will meet for the bronze medal instead. This Sunday, Germany and Serbia, 2 unlikely finalists from Europe, will meet in the Finals.
Expect the American gunbattle for third to be a high-scoring, offensive exhibition. Team USA will want to salvage a bit of their dignity by gunning for a bronze medal finish here, basketball being a most coveted sport in the US of A. Canada, on the other hand, will play with nothing to lose. If they play relaxed ball, they may still produce some surprises for the fans.
For the Finals, German Coach Gordon Herbert will work with Dennis Shroder, the brothers Mo and Franz Wagner, Daniel Theis and their surprise package, Andreas Obst. This team does not rely solely on Shroder to pump in the points. It is a well-balanced team that can harvest points deep in their roster. They will use their excellent recognition of proper spacing and efficient ball movement to try to break down the Serbian defense.
For Serbia, veteran Coach Svetislav Pesic will have Bogdan Bogdanovich leading the pack, with his fellow NBA players Nikola Jovic and Filip Petrusev, plus big man Nikola Milutinov anchoring the defense. Head-to-head statistics will show that Serbia has the upperhand in most significant statistical elements. Despite the fact that Serbia has lost once (to Italy) in the 2nd round, while Germany has not, Serbia leads Germany in points, assists, and field goals made (2pt and 3pt FGs). Bogdan is the spiritual as well as the scoring leader for the team. He will be targetted by German defenders, in the same manner that Schroder is expected to be hounded by Pesic’s attack dogs.
I foresee this to be a tactical battle with both coaches opting to beef up on the defense, and with both trying to occasionally outsprint the other on the offensive transition. This will be a chess match of Euro coaches, demonstrating more defense-oriented systems which may not be as exciting as the glitz and glam of the American playing style, but more like a slow wrestling pin-down where brute force and proper technique holds sway.
Germany and Serbia, 2 countries with the European basketball culture, but with the added experience in the NBA – or the American – style of play. This will be a toss-up; an interesting game between 2 teams with similar styles, and similar strengths and weaknesses.
But in the end, I see the Serbian flag being raised. Thank you, FIBA, for a most wonderful basketball experience. Thanks too, to the great athletes who graced this event. Truly, you have made so many lives happy!!!
Cover photo courtesy of Facebook. Other pics courtesy of FIBA.Basketball, NBC Sports, SunStar and YahooSports. For a closer look, just click on the pics.
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