FIBA Basketball
GER - Bauermann considers German prospects
BAMBERG (FIBA World Championship 2006) - Germany did very well at the FIBA World Championship in 2002 by winning bronze and last summer at the EuroBasket they captured silver.Expectations are high that in Japan this year, Dirk Nowitzki and Germany will once again challenge for honours - especially after being drawn in Group B against Spain, New Zealand, Panama, Japan
BAMBERG (FIBA World Championship 2006) - Germany did very well at the FIBA World Championship 2002 by winning bronze and last summer at the EuroBasket they captured silver.
Expectations are high that in Japan this year, Dirk Nowitzki and Germany will once again challenge for honours - especially after being drawn in Group B against Spain, New Zealand, Panama, Japan and Angola.
The Germany-Spain clash is a re-match of the 2005 EuroBasket semi-finals, which Nowitzki won for his team on a long turn-around jumper despite being closely guarded by Spain's Jorge Garbajosa.
The game is expected to be a showdown of the two top teams in Group B and could decide who wins the pool.
Germany's successful national team coach Dirk Bauermann discussed with PA Sport's David Hein his team's chances later this year in the 24-team tournament in Japan and also spoke about the country's prospects in the longer-term.
FIBA: You've been drawn in FIBA World Championship Group B against Spain, New Zealand, Panama, Japan and Angola. What do you think of the draw?
Bauermann: First of all, on paper, Spain and Germany are the top two teams in that group. But you can't take anybody for granted. You have to get ready and get focused for every one of these teams. Obviously it's going to be important to finish in first place, looking at the other groups. And in the Round of 16, you can't look past anybody, that maybe they're not as strong as the fourth team. And you can't look at the quarters at all.
FIBA: It's interesting that Spain have been drawn alongside Germany, especially as you beat them in that incredible semi-final last year at the EuroBasket. However, that team did not have Spain's best player, Pau Gasol.
Bauermann: Whether or not Pau plays, they are one of the favourites to win a medal. A lot will depend if he decides to play. If so, they're going to be extremely strong. They have great guards. (Spain have Jose Manuel Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro and maybe this year will include Raul Lopez). And to win you have to have great guards. With Pau, they'd have a dominant man in the middle. And they have quality veterans as well. They have to be one of the favourites to win at least a medal. On the flip side, we feel we can beat anybody. We're definitely not afraid of anybody. We're really looking forward to that game. But all the games will be tough. All these teams are there because they earned it.
FIBA: Looking at some of the other groups, do you believe Germany were lucky to be in Group B?
Bauermann: Let's put it this way. Some of the other groups are maybe stronger top to bottom than ours. But we have to take advantage of that and establish a nice rhythm going into the quarter-finals. We still have to get there, I know. But maybe this group is a good thing. This way we can work our way into the tournament and not put ourselves under enormous pressure to win every game. Yeah, we have to win every game too. But there's maybe a little more pressure on other teams.
FIBA: Dirk Nowitzki has been very open about his hopes to represent Germany at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Are you concerned he may pass on the FIBA World Championship in favour of resting up for EuroBasket 2007 - the tournament for Olympic qualification?
Bauermann: I haven't talked to him about that, but he's always given me the impression that he wants to play in Japan. It's totally up to him. He loves to play the game of basketball and loves to represent his country. So I'm pretty sure he'll play.
FIBA: Your team in Serbia & Montenegro had some late replacements for injured players. Your main playmaker from the silver medal run, Pascal Roller has been fighting injuries this season as has centre Patrick Femerling. What about injuries within the team - even though the season is still relatively young?
Bauermann: Injuries are part of the game. They happen to everybody. But Pascal is playing. Ademola Okulaja said he could have played last week but the coaching staff thought it was a week or two too early. But he's looking forward to playing in the summer. I talked to Pat, and he said the knee is fine. So I expect him to play. And Steffen Hamann and Nino Garris should be back as well. So I think there will be a lot of competition for spots next summer, which is good. I'm pretty optimistic.
FIBA: Obviously your veterans aren't getting any younger. How important is it to bring in some young blood? And do you see anybody getting close?
Bauermann: That's a necessity. We have to find some younger players who are good enough to compete at this level. I think (West Virginia University guard Johannes) Herber hopefully can compete for a spot. Hopefully he can convince us to take him. He has excellent court savvy. He's a good outside shooter and plays good defence. But he will have to hold his own against these veterans who have played successfully at this level. He will have to earn it.
FIBA: Any other guys?
Bauermann: (Former Penn State University centre Jan) Jagla is another one. Compared to 2004, he had made tremendous strides. He was with the Clippers and hurt his knee. Had he been healthy we would have taken him with us to Serbia & Montenegro. He had a lot better focus and was more professional. And I was impressed with his growth as a player. But he was never healthy. If he can come in healthy and a little more mature, he has a very good chance of making the team. Those two have the best chances at making the team. And then there's also Guido Gruenheid. He's a good outside shooter and has a good body. He's a candidate as well.
FIBA: Those three guys can't cope with all the loss of the veterans when they retire from the national team. There's lots of talk that Germany will experience some tough times when the current group call it quits. Your take on all that?
Bauermann: First off, let's talk about the generation that's carried us the last four years. Two medals. That's a good generation - a highly successful generation. But look at Spain, Greece and Lithuania. Even Russia and Slovenia. All those nations have really great young players. And we don't have that. We have young players who, if they develop, could be solid European players. All these other teams have players at that level contributing to the national team now. With that regard, if this generation stops playing, we're going to have to fight for quite some time to stay in the elite group of teams who compete for medals. We're going to have a difficult time ahead of us - no doubt about that.
FIBA: What do you mean when you say difficult?
Bauermann: We're going to fight to qualify for the European Championship. Without Dirk, Pat, Ademola, Pascal and the others, you're looking at a whole new team. We're going to fight with the Ukrainians and you name it - teams which are fighting just to get in. That's why German basketball now has to start an initiative to help us find highly talented "kinder" - 10-14 year olds. That's the key. We're a people of 90 million. If we make a conscientious effort and can start a programme to find these kids, then in five, eight or 10 years, we won't have to worry about things. I mean, we'll always find guys. We'll always be able to compete - maybe not at the same level as the last four years. But to get where we are now - the silver medal even if it's unexpected - we now have to focus on the very young kids. That's the future.
FIBA: And where do you see Germany in the mean time?
Bauermann: We have to use that time to develop the 20-24 year old players. We have some 16- and 18-year-old guys who are very talented. Not in great numbers. We're only talking about one or two players here. We need to find the numbers. We need to pay attention and look for these players and not always wait until the generations are 18 years old and say we don't have a lot of players. We need a strategy and we're in the process of doing that. We have 90million people and not nine million. Logically, if you put in the effort, time and money, there's no way you don't find these people.
FIBA: And which group do you think has the biggest responsibility?
Bauermann: It's everybody. The league has to pitch in. If there's a talented 6ft 4in 13-year-old kid in Berlin, Cologne, Bamberg or Oldenburg, there's a tremendous chance of getting him since basketball is popular in those places. But it's in the cities and towns where the top sports are handball or ice hockey where it's a lot more difficult. The German federation has to help out as well. And amateur basketball is a real problem.
FIBA: Because of the number of foreigners, right?
Bauermann: Yeah. Right now, in the third and fourth divisions we have teams with six or seven foreigners. That's impossible. One or two is okay. But not more than that. We have to restrict the number of foreign players in the lower divisions. It's bad enough in the top two leagues. But if that's the same as in third, fourth and fifth, that's counter-productive and really bad for the development of talented young players. The regional federations have to be part of this whole thing. We're trying to convince them that something must be done. Legally you can't force it. If somebody sues, then you have no chance. But if it's voluntary and everybody agrees, then it's okay. You can't force anybody to hire somebody they don't want to hire. It's going to take a vision. If not, we're going to get stuck.
FIBA: Sounds like a less-than-pretty picture?
Bauermann: If we don't see the writing on the wall, Germany will disappear from the top level. If we do see the writing and make the right moves with everyone getting involved in the endeavour, then the future will be bright. But things have to change drastically.
PA Sport, Exclusively for FIBA
Expectations are high that in Japan this year, Dirk Nowitzki and Germany will once again challenge for honours - especially after being drawn in Group B against Spain, New Zealand, Panama, Japan and Angola.
The Germany-Spain clash is a re-match of the 2005 EuroBasket semi-finals, which Nowitzki won for his team on a long turn-around jumper despite being closely guarded by Spain's Jorge Garbajosa.
The game is expected to be a showdown of the two top teams in Group B and could decide who wins the pool.
Germany's successful national team coach Dirk Bauermann discussed with PA Sport's David Hein his team's chances later this year in the 24-team tournament in Japan and also spoke about the country's prospects in the longer-term.
FIBA: You've been drawn in FIBA World Championship Group B against Spain, New Zealand, Panama, Japan and Angola. What do you think of the draw?
Bauermann: First of all, on paper, Spain and Germany are the top two teams in that group. But you can't take anybody for granted. You have to get ready and get focused for every one of these teams. Obviously it's going to be important to finish in first place, looking at the other groups. And in the Round of 16, you can't look past anybody, that maybe they're not as strong as the fourth team. And you can't look at the quarters at all.
FIBA: It's interesting that Spain have been drawn alongside Germany, especially as you beat them in that incredible semi-final last year at the EuroBasket. However, that team did not have Spain's best player, Pau Gasol.
Bauermann: Whether or not Pau plays, they are one of the favourites to win a medal. A lot will depend if he decides to play. If so, they're going to be extremely strong. They have great guards. (Spain have Jose Manuel Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro and maybe this year will include Raul Lopez). And to win you have to have great guards. With Pau, they'd have a dominant man in the middle. And they have quality veterans as well. They have to be one of the favourites to win at least a medal. On the flip side, we feel we can beat anybody. We're definitely not afraid of anybody. We're really looking forward to that game. But all the games will be tough. All these teams are there because they earned it.
FIBA: Looking at some of the other groups, do you believe Germany were lucky to be in Group B?
Bauermann: Let's put it this way. Some of the other groups are maybe stronger top to bottom than ours. But we have to take advantage of that and establish a nice rhythm going into the quarter-finals. We still have to get there, I know. But maybe this group is a good thing. This way we can work our way into the tournament and not put ourselves under enormous pressure to win every game. Yeah, we have to win every game too. But there's maybe a little more pressure on other teams.
FIBA: Dirk Nowitzki has been very open about his hopes to represent Germany at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Are you concerned he may pass on the FIBA World Championship in favour of resting up for EuroBasket 2007 - the tournament for Olympic qualification?
Bauermann: I haven't talked to him about that, but he's always given me the impression that he wants to play in Japan. It's totally up to him. He loves to play the game of basketball and loves to represent his country. So I'm pretty sure he'll play.
FIBA: Your team in Serbia & Montenegro had some late replacements for injured players. Your main playmaker from the silver medal run, Pascal Roller has been fighting injuries this season as has centre Patrick Femerling. What about injuries within the team - even though the season is still relatively young?
Bauermann: Injuries are part of the game. They happen to everybody. But Pascal is playing. Ademola Okulaja said he could have played last week but the coaching staff thought it was a week or two too early. But he's looking forward to playing in the summer. I talked to Pat, and he said the knee is fine. So I expect him to play. And Steffen Hamann and Nino Garris should be back as well. So I think there will be a lot of competition for spots next summer, which is good. I'm pretty optimistic.
FIBA: Obviously your veterans aren't getting any younger. How important is it to bring in some young blood? And do you see anybody getting close?
Bauermann: That's a necessity. We have to find some younger players who are good enough to compete at this level. I think (West Virginia University guard Johannes) Herber hopefully can compete for a spot. Hopefully he can convince us to take him. He has excellent court savvy. He's a good outside shooter and plays good defence. But he will have to hold his own against these veterans who have played successfully at this level. He will have to earn it.
FIBA: Any other guys?
Bauermann: (Former Penn State University centre Jan) Jagla is another one. Compared to 2004, he had made tremendous strides. He was with the Clippers and hurt his knee. Had he been healthy we would have taken him with us to Serbia & Montenegro. He had a lot better focus and was more professional. And I was impressed with his growth as a player. But he was never healthy. If he can come in healthy and a little more mature, he has a very good chance of making the team. Those two have the best chances at making the team. And then there's also Guido Gruenheid. He's a good outside shooter and has a good body. He's a candidate as well.
FIBA: Those three guys can't cope with all the loss of the veterans when they retire from the national team. There's lots of talk that Germany will experience some tough times when the current group call it quits. Your take on all that?
Bauermann: First off, let's talk about the generation that's carried us the last four years. Two medals. That's a good generation - a highly successful generation. But look at Spain, Greece and Lithuania. Even Russia and Slovenia. All those nations have really great young players. And we don't have that. We have young players who, if they develop, could be solid European players. All these other teams have players at that level contributing to the national team now. With that regard, if this generation stops playing, we're going to have to fight for quite some time to stay in the elite group of teams who compete for medals. We're going to have a difficult time ahead of us - no doubt about that.
FIBA: What do you mean when you say difficult?
Bauermann: We're going to fight to qualify for the European Championship. Without Dirk, Pat, Ademola, Pascal and the others, you're looking at a whole new team. We're going to fight with the Ukrainians and you name it - teams which are fighting just to get in. That's why German basketball now has to start an initiative to help us find highly talented "kinder" - 10-14 year olds. That's the key. We're a people of 90 million. If we make a conscientious effort and can start a programme to find these kids, then in five, eight or 10 years, we won't have to worry about things. I mean, we'll always find guys. We'll always be able to compete - maybe not at the same level as the last four years. But to get where we are now - the silver medal even if it's unexpected - we now have to focus on the very young kids. That's the future.
FIBA: And where do you see Germany in the mean time?
Bauermann: We have to use that time to develop the 20-24 year old players. We have some 16- and 18-year-old guys who are very talented. Not in great numbers. We're only talking about one or two players here. We need to find the numbers. We need to pay attention and look for these players and not always wait until the generations are 18 years old and say we don't have a lot of players. We need a strategy and we're in the process of doing that. We have 90million people and not nine million. Logically, if you put in the effort, time and money, there's no way you don't find these people.
FIBA: And which group do you think has the biggest responsibility?
Bauermann: It's everybody. The league has to pitch in. If there's a talented 6ft 4in 13-year-old kid in Berlin, Cologne, Bamberg or Oldenburg, there's a tremendous chance of getting him since basketball is popular in those places. But it's in the cities and towns where the top sports are handball or ice hockey where it's a lot more difficult. The German federation has to help out as well. And amateur basketball is a real problem.
FIBA: Because of the number of foreigners, right?
Bauermann: Yeah. Right now, in the third and fourth divisions we have teams with six or seven foreigners. That's impossible. One or two is okay. But not more than that. We have to restrict the number of foreign players in the lower divisions. It's bad enough in the top two leagues. But if that's the same as in third, fourth and fifth, that's counter-productive and really bad for the development of talented young players. The regional federations have to be part of this whole thing. We're trying to convince them that something must be done. Legally you can't force it. If somebody sues, then you have no chance. But if it's voluntary and everybody agrees, then it's okay. You can't force anybody to hire somebody they don't want to hire. It's going to take a vision. If not, we're going to get stuck.
FIBA: Sounds like a less-than-pretty picture?
Bauermann: If we don't see the writing on the wall, Germany will disappear from the top level. If we do see the writing and make the right moves with everyone getting involved in the endeavour, then the future will be bright. But things have to change drastically.
PA Sport, Exclusively for FIBA