Basketball: Schroeder, Theis W. Share the ecstasy of the sports nation NDR.de – Sports

“In case you haven’t heard it yet: FIBA ​​World Cup sensation” – Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier opened the Citizens’ Festival in Berlin’s Bellevue Palace garden on Friday with these words – making it more than just clear how the spectacle of 113:111 can be classified for players German basketball in the World Cup semi-final against favorite USA.

After seven wins in seven matches, the selection of the German Basketball Association (DBB) is now close to winning World Cup gold – yet the team, celebrated as a great team, is trying to ignore the new hype as much as possible: ““ Captain Schröder said before the final On Sunday (2:40 p.m., in full audio report): “Winning against the USA is very nice, but we still have one game to go. We still have to stay focused and play against the strong Serbs.” on Sportschau.de).

Captain Schroeder silences the critics

The 29-year-old Braunschweig native, who has had to endure a lot of criticism in recent years, could be the one to lift the World Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines. After the European Championship gold in 1993, the World Cup bronze in 2002, the European Championship silver in 2005, and the European Championship bronze in Berlin last year, this success will be the most important in the history of German basketball.

“It’s the World Cup semi-final. Enjoy it.”
Dennis Schröder before the USA match

At the tournament, Schroeder fought with his old friend Daniel Theis in front of the cameras. Everything is yesterday’s news. The point guard is a great team leader and, aside from a poor performance, plays on Quarter-final against Latvia Great World Cup, pulling the strings, scoring well. The team is fully committed to the talented playmaker, who is under contract with the Toronto Raptors in the North American Professional League. “We don’t give Dennis enough credit as a German basketball player,” power forward Moritz Wagner said. What is remarkable is Schroeder’s willingness to play for the national team for many years.

Theis: “The best player no one talks about”

Theis is the agent to assist Schroeder in the attack. The 31-year-old from Salzgitter is coming off a frustrating period in which he sat on the bench for several months with the Indiana Pacers in the NBA. He quickly became important in the national team and, according to experts, the World Cup in Asia will see the best Daniel Theis ever.

National coach Gordon Herbert called him “the best player no one talks about”. Theis is also a defensive announcer and captain’s best friend off the field. According to his own words, the “big man” is fitter “than he has been in many years” – and he has succeeded.

Holtz, the next guy

Then there’s Justus Holatz, who has only played an assist role in the World Cup so far. The 22-year-old, who became a national player at Hamburg Towers, is likely to have a future in the German national team after the Schröder era.

As is the case in the European Championships, Holatz is third in the frame behind Schröder and Maudou Lu, but the future belongs to him. “Juice” is there when needed. The first-choice goalkeeper will play for Anadolu Efes in Istanbul next season – after a break in Spain, the Hamburg player has made the leap to international level.

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