Germany kicked off its Olympic journey in Paris with a 97-77 win over Japan.
After their FIBA World Cup victory last year, Germany looks ready to go far in the Olympics and possibly win a medal.
Germany’s dominance was clear against an improving Japan team. Here are three key points from the game:
Key Takeaways:
Dennis Schroder shined on the international stage once again. He scored 13 points, dished out 12 assists, and grabbed two rebounds while shooting 50% from the field. Under FIBA rules, Schroder is one of the world’s most dangerous pick-and-roll players.
Germany’s captain continued his strong performance from last year. Teams aiming for gold must figure out how to stop Schroder if they want a chance at winning .
Fans might think that Germany is looking very strong this year.
Despite winning, Germany can improve its perimeter shooting. The team hit 38% of their three-point attempts (11 out of 29). Franz Wagner made only 2-of-8 shots, and Schroder went just 1-of-6 from beyond the arc. Once these players find their rhythm, Germany will be a formidable scoring threat at all levels.
Japan excelled in offensive rebounding, securing a 12-5 advantage and winning second-chance points. Even though Germany won, they need to improve boxing out and controlling defensive rebounds to prevent other teams from taking advantage of this weakness.
Other teams will notice Germany’s struggles with defensive rebounding and see it as an opportunity. Cleaning up this aspect is crucial for Germany moving forward.
What do you think? Can Germany fix these issues before facing tougher opponents?
