MANILA, Philippines – Team USA meticulously curated a roster and mapped out a strategy for this World Cup stint, banking on a high-stakes gamble. While the gamble seemed logical, given the talent and past performances, the strategy had its vulnerabilities.
This gamble was the belief that sheer size disadvantages could be offset by other elements of the game. Unfortunately, this calculation proved misguided. Germany, a formidable European powerhouse known for their towering presence, leveraged their height to edge past Team USA in a nail-biting 113-111 win on Friday.
For the second time in a row, this loss ensures that Team USA won’t clinch the gold, pushing them to vie for bronze against Canada – a team bested by Serbia in another semifinal clash.
Despite the U.S. team’s commendable energy and determination, their lack of size became an apparent handicap, reminiscent of their struggle against Lithuania.
German players, with their impressive stature, posed a serious challenge. “Their big men pressed hard against our defense, and they genuinely played better than us,” commented Team USA’s coach, Steve Kerr.
Germany’s sheer size not only gave them more scoring opportunities but allowed them to rebound offensively 12 times, leading to 25 critical second-chance points, dwarfing USA’s 8. The agile German point guard, Dennis Schroder, exploited his proficiency against the USA’s defense, pairing it with Germany’s height to open up high-scoring opportunities.
The USA managed to close the scoring gap during the last minutes, even after trailing by 12 points at one stage. However, Andreas Obst’s crucial three-pointer – adding to his total of 24 points – staved off the USA’s spirited rally.
Defensive strategies by the USA, designed to neutralize the German size advantage, inadvertently opened up three-point opportunities for the Germans. They capitalized, sinking 13 out of 30 attempts. The German offensive was further bolstered by their NBA stalwarts – Schroder added 17, Franz Wagner 22, and Daniel Theis 21.
Austin Reaves, contributing 21 points, remarked, If you allow 113 points in a 40-minute match, victory is a distant dream.
Throughout the tournament, Kerr consistently fielded a smaller lineup. The absence of Brandon Ingram due to illness exacerbated the team’s challenges.
While the USA’s roster configuration had its moments of glory, the insistence on a fast-paced, aggressive defense became its Achilles heel against towering opponents.
Anthony Edwards was the top scorer for Team USA with 23 points, followed by Mikal Bridges with 17. Reflecting on the loss and the weight of expectations, Jalen Brunson, who chipped in with 15 points and seven assists, said, “Given USA basketball’s illustrious history, the pressure to win is always immense. But today, we were off the mark right from the outset
