Germany makes life difficult against Iceland – Berliner Morgenpost

  06.09.2015, 05:00
 
 

 Basketball Championship: Shortage opening victory against outsiders

                 Berlin. Iceland sounds a bit like Estonia. In this respect, the prelude opponents of the German basketball player awakened bad memories at the European Championships in Berlin. Because in the last European Championship in Germany, the hosts had lost at the start against the Estonians 1993rd This fate was Dirk Nowitzki and his colleagues on the Saturday before 12,500 spectators at the Mercedes-Benz Arena spared, they defeated the underdogs despite a disastrous last quarter with 71:65 (41:26). But not only of the Dallas Mavericks superstar was not quite happy with it. “We could have put us at the end a little easier,” he said.

After about 30 minutes all looked for a clear success. 61:43 the team of national coach Chris Fleming lay ahead. The game ran. The Icelanders, who are somewhat play like the Estonians, did not get the goal with her nimble legs and their distance throws. Until suddenly a break in the German game came. A moment of shock was also that Robin Benzing limped quickly gets to the bank; He was bent over and will definitely turn out on Sunday against Serbia. Anyway, worked at one time nothing more, what had previously been well.

“We have our clear guides are not used, to make sure the thing,” complained Nowitzki. In attack, the ball was not moving well, in Save the Icelandic launcher could freely close the gap. And already, it was just under three minutes remaining only 69:63. “Not rudimentary” criticized Heiko Schaffartzik, “we have since played what we had planned.” The last quarter won Iceland 22:12.

The game could even have lost the outstanding Jon Stefansson (23 points) could not be forgiven in this phase three good chances to further get hold. In this respect, was the Berlin Niels Giffey “only once satisfied, if not effusive.” But for “glad that Dennis and Dirk such a good game had”. Dennis Schröder and Dirk Nowitzki came on 15 points each, but particularly when playmaker Atlanta Hawks is still room for improvement when it comes to the organization of the event. A special commendation from Fleming earned the second Berlin Alex King: “Whenever he came, he brought new energy to the field.” Against vice world champion Serbia it is, however, on this Sunday (15 clock, ZDF) need a lot of energy. Schaffartzik was certainly clear: An encouragement was not our performance today “

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 (DIW)