GER - Nowitzki: "Kind of weird being in this city which is famous for a tragedy"

HIROSHIMA (FIBA World Championship) - No team in Japan relies as much on just one player as Germany does on Dirk Nowitzki.

Dirk Bauermann's team was reminded of that on Monday when Spain held Nowitzki to 14 points on just nine shots in a 92-71 setback for Germany. Nowitzki's team-mates failed to knock down many of the open looks they had. 

Bronze medalists at the FIBA World Championship four years ago in Indianapolis, Germany will try to re-group in Group B against Panama on Wednesday.

Nowitzki took some time to speak to FIBA about Germany's tournament so far and his experience in the Far East.

FIBA: Dirk, the team got the chance to get out of the hotel last night and this morning as you visited the Miyajima Shrine off the island. What did you think of that visit?

Nowitzki: "We went out last night and had some dinner. Just something different from the hotel. We went shopping and went out a little bit. So it was a little tough to get out this morning at like 9 o'clock. But it was good."

FIBA: You enjoy it?

Nowitzki: "I'm glad I did it. We travel a lot with our job. We don't really get to see a lot when we're moving around. We see a lot of hotels but don't really get to know the cities. When we were in China last week we didn't get to see much, so I was a little bit disappointed. So I used the chance this morning to get up and see the shrine. And it was good. We really didn't have much time because we're not really here as tourists. We're still trying to win a medal here. We kept it nice and short. But it's nice to see different cultures and try different foods and stuff."

FIBA: How does it feel being in the city of Hiroshima, which of course is known throughout the world as the target of the first atomic bomb?

Nowitzki: "I really want to see the (Hiroshima Peace Memorial) museum they have there. But we haven't had the chance. I hope we can make it there before we leave this town. Obviously, it's one of the most tragic moments in the world history. It's kind of weird being in this city which is famous for a tragedy like that. But I want to see it before I leave."

FIBA: Getting back to basketball, Panama have been out of rhythm and can't find any chemistry. What do you expect from them?

Nowitzki: "In these kinds of tournaments you still have to play game by game. You can't over look anybody, especially those teams who don't really have any pressure. They can come out there and shoot 30 threes. If they don't make them, it doesn't really matter. If they make 20 of them you're in trouble. Those are the kind of games you still have to approach like every other game and play hard."

FIBA: It looks like first place is out of reach after the defeat to Spain, so what's the new goal for the first round?

Nowitzki: "We'd still love to get second place. That means we have to win out the next two games. (Thursday's opponent) Angola is playing really well. So I think we can't relax. We have to go for it."

FIBA: The team struggled inside against Spain. How can Germany improve on that?

Nowitzki: "I think they clogged the lane really well with the zone defense. They played 3-2 and the 2-3. They really mixed it up on us pretty good. They also played some box-and-one. And there really was no room for me. Everywhere I was, there was somebody on me. We still have to find a way to keep the ball hopping and have the other guys make some plays if they're there. If not, move the ball."

FIBA: What do you think the problem was?

Nowitzki: "I just thought we got a little stagnated against the zone. So we have to work on that a little bit. But we're not discouraged at all. We had a tough loss. But we were right there in the third quarter down by one. But we had two crucial turnovers back-to-back, and they hit some threes on us. We have to be smart with the basketball. We know we can beat those good teams."

FIBA: What's the mood of the team now?

Nowitzki: "Every competitor hates to lose, so I think we'll respond the right way. We always have. This is a good group of guys. We've been around each other for a long time, most of the leaders. And we've always responded to tough losses. Last year (EuroBasket 2005), we lost the first game in overtime to Italy and we responded the right way afterwards. There will always be tough losses in a tournament. But you have to learn from losses and hopefully we did from this one.

FIBA: Dirk, thank you very much for your time.

Nowitzki: You're welcome. Take care.

By David Hein
FIBA