Following Germany’s triumphant 81:63 victory over Japan in the first round of the FIBA World Cup, head coach Gordon Herbert shared his insights on the game.
Germany demonstrated a commanding performance as they comfortably secured a win against Japan in their World Cup opener. The match was characterized by Germany’s complete control from start to finish, resulting in an impressive triumph before a lively arena filled predominantly with home supporters.
“In the first 20 minutes, we played really good basketball. Our defense was solid, ball movement in offense was excellent, we had many open shots, and grabbed offensive rebounds. The second half was more challenging for us,” Herbert remarked in his opening statement.
Germany heat up early, rout Japan in World Cup opener! ๐#FIBAWC x #WinForDeutschland ๐ฉ๐ช
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ๐ (@FIBAWC) August 25, 2023
When asked about the significance of having Moritz Wagner and Isaac Bonga back on the team after missing the previous European Championship due to injuries, Gordon Herbert highlighted their valuable contributions coming off the bench. He praised Wagner’s outstanding offensive play in particular, emphasizing his confidence-boosting layups.
In the upcoming match, Germany is set to face Australia on Sunday, a significantly stronger opponent compared to Japan. Herbert acknowledged the team’s strong first-half performance in the current game but noted room for improvement, especially in terms of turnovers. He mentioned focusing on reviewing game footage and expressed readiness for the upcoming match against Australia.
As the FIBA World Cup continues, Germany’s clash with Australia is anticipated to be an engaging encounter, promising more thrilling basketball action for fans worldwide. The match is scheduled for Sunday at 10:30 AM Central European Time, while Japan will take on Finland at 2:40 PM on the same day.