FIBA Basketball
GER - Roller upbeat about Germany hopes
FRANKFURT (FIBA World Championship) - Frankfurt captain Pascal Roller isexpected to be a key part of Germany's team at this summer's FIBA WorldChampionship.The point guard finished as his country's third-leading scorer at lastyear's EuroBasket and can punish any team which gives him space to shootfrom three-point range
FRANKFURT (FIBA World Championship) - Frankfurt captain Pascal Roller is expected to be a key part of Germany's team at this summer's FIBA World Championship.
The point guard finished as his country's third-leading scorer at last year's EuroBasket and can punish any team which gives him space to shoot from three-point range.
However, after the highs of helping Germany to the silver medal in Belgrade, Roller has endured a tough season back in the Bundesliga where the Deutsche Bank Skyliners dropped all the way from vice-champions to relegation candidates this year.
Roller recently spoke with PA Sport's Johannes Berendt in Frankfurt about the forthcoming FIBA World Championship, his ambition to play abroad, and some of the challenges facing German basketball.
FIBA: Germany sprang a surprise in Belgrade by marching all the way to the final. What are the strengths of the team as you get ready for Japan?
Roller: The big advantage we have right now is that we have played together for a long time. It is our fifth or sixth year together. This means there is a risk of a makeover in three or four years - or maybe two or three - but right now we have 15 people who fit together very well. We have a great deal of experience due to the many tournaments and the many close games we have won. This adds up to the success we had last summer and hopefully will have again in Japan.
We have a very homogenous team. It goes without saying that Dirk Nowitzki is our top player and certainly a crowd-puller for both the national team and German basketball in general. He makes it possible for us to play at this high level. But the rest of the team adjusts well and makes it possible to perform that well. We depend on Dirk on the one hand but on the other hand we can take responsibility when he needs a break. This makes us different from teams like Serbia and Montenegro who fielded so many NBA players last summer but could not put it together as a team. The German team certainly has the will to play together and to function on the court.
FIBA: With the soccer World Cup coming up, Germany has been consumed by the debate over whether Jens Lehmann or Oliver Kahn should be the goalkeeper. Do you have any similar situations in the basketball team?
Roller: Yes, but it is not that bad. We also have a very balanced team. Last summer Jan Jagler had to stay home. Misan Nikagbatse was sent home first and then could return. This summer with Steffen Hamann, Mihtat Demirel and me there will also be a decision. Two will go to Japan, one will stay at home. Maybe three will go but there is always a situation when you have 14 or 15 guys and only 12 can go. You need to fight your way through but often the current form makes the difference. You need to accept that and over the years you learn how to deal with setbacks.
FIBA: How do you rate your own chances of making the squad?
Roller: After the tournament last summer I thought I had a great chance. But after the season here in Germany, during which I had two ankle injuries, I need to wait and see whether I am in good shape. The training camp starts in mid-July, so I have enough time to get my body in good form. If I present myself well at the tryouts, it could work to my advantage that I had a good tournament last summer.
FIBA: The expectations for this summer's tournament will be sky-high. However, it is not that long since the disappointing EuroBasket in 2003 when you suffered an early exit. Is that still in the back of your minds?
Roller: I think the last EuroBasket really showed that we're over it and that 2003 was only a little let-down. I think we have established ourselves at a certain international level because we have been playing together for so long. It is hard to make a prediction for the FIBA World Championship, however. Reaching the round of eight would be a great start and then you can take it on a game-by-game basis.
FIBA: Some of your team-mates have spoken about finishing on the podium. How do you feel about that?
Roller: I think if you start well in a tournament it can work to your advantage if you have experience. The memories (of Belgrade) would be in the back of our minds. We have reached a certain level and would like to prove it. But I am very careful about saying that we want a medal. I actually did so before the EuroBasket, but I am always cautious. It is good to have these ambitions but I would not announce them in public. If we can maintain our level from the past, we have a great chance to finish somewhere near the top."
FIBA: Germany's domestic teams have struggled to match the achievements of the national team. Why is that?
Roller: It goes without saying that the national team benefits from having Dirk Nowitzki. The Bundesliga does not have too many superstars, but it does have a decent level within Europe. It has very good standards of player treatment, arena standards and so on. But there is too much fluctuation of players. Germany clubs have problems to solve continuously and that's why German clubs will always have a disadvantage in international competition. There are a lot of players who make a name for themselves in Germany and then go elsewhere. They may stay for two years, but then higher wages and their ambitions make them look to other leagues like Spain which has a great standard throughout the league.
It will be hard to change this because the German teams cannot match the financial offers. But then we have successes like Bamberg who had a great season in reaching the last 16 of the Euroleague. That is a big success for German basketball. It is very important for us to maintain standards in Germany. I'm not sure if the reversal of the foreign player restrictions will help. I fear it could lead to even higher turnover of players. Maybe you could find a way to bring more German players back to the league. That would help attract more fans. If you have several German internationals playing in Germany, they would probably be with one of the top teams. If you had five of us playing together, then we might make some noise on the international stage.
FIBA: From a team-mate's perspective, what is so special about Dirk Nowitzki.
Roller: What I have always admired is his ability to create his own shot no matter what. He is always in a position where he can get a good look and make his shot without being in too much trouble. This is something I admire. It makes him very easy to play with because if all else fails and you still have a few seconds left on the shot clock, you can always get the ball to him.
FIBA: America's dominance in basketball is over. Why do you think this is?
Roller: A few years ago the biggest difference was athletic ability. This has changed. The European players have always been at a very high level in terms of their knowledge of the game, their technical skills and their shooting ability. But the athletic ability and maybe the confidence - some would say 'arrogance' - of the American team always worked to their advantage. I don't think the Americans have the same level of confidence any more. They are still confident but they have taken some knocks, especially when the tournament was in their own country (Indianapolis, 2002). That makes a difference. It's the same with my team Frankfurt right now. You feel it in terms of the respect opponents have - how they don't fear you. Teams are not afraid to play the US any more. You know they are a strong team but you know you have a chance, whereas 10 or 15 years ago, it was a question of not getting torn to pieces. A lot of teams believed they had no chance at all.
FIBA: Regarding your own personal situation, do you harbour ambitions to play abroad?
Roller: It is something I would like to do. I have had some offers during the year. At one point Barcelona had problems at the playmaker position and I was surprised and flattered by their interest. However, it came at the wrong time as I had just returned from my second ankle injury and had only been training for three or four weeks. It would not have been a good fit so I never considered it as I wanted to finish the season at Frankfurt. There have been a few other offers in recent weeks.
Right now I am not thinking about it as I am focused on Frankfurt. However, it is something I will give serious consideration to and if they are good offers I could well accept one of them. I signed a six-year deal with Frankfurt which runs until 2011 and I would be happy to fulfil it. If I do, that would be 12 years with Frankfurt and then I would be happy to remain with the team in whatever function. My contract includes an option to play abroad so if I move, the contract would continue and it would basically be on a loan basis.
FIBA: Frankfurt were champions in 2004, runners-up in 2005 and now suddenly are in relegation trouble this year. What has gone wrong?
Roller: There are several reasons. Some, like injuries, that you cannot influence were key factor. And then there are coaches and players leaving which always takes a team time to adjust to. Also, our team is not as strong as it used to be. Our ambitions, like going for the title, would have been too high. There were too many factors which we could not influence that hurt the team.
FIBA: Is it hard for you to adjust from being the team leader with Frankfurt to someone who plays behind Nowitzki on the national team?
Roller: I don't have a problem at all. I love to be the leader but I do it in my own way. It's hard to explain this to people - some of them expect me to score 20 points, dish out 12 assists and to score the game-winning basket. But I try to carry the team my way. I might not be a big scorer - I never have been - bit I am good shooter who can knock-down shots and I am someone who can dictate the pace and flow of a game. But I need to play with strong team-mates. Otherwise it is very hard for me to carry a team. I could do it with my own moves, but it is better to have a strong team around me. I am a player who can settle back and do the little things, and I am not shy to take responsibility.
FIBA: What are the prospects for the future of German basketball in terms of the youngsters coming through?
Roller: It is important to have things like the NBBL (Junior Basketball Developmental League) and to support clubs financially in developing young players. It has been neglected for too long. The Bundesliga and the lower divisions took the wrong step. Young players haven't really had the chance to blossom. That's what strikes me when I watch other teams at events like the Albert Schweitzer tournament. Youngsters from other countries already boast great leadership skills and have played important roles on their teams. They know what to do in difficult situations. The German youngsters are as talented, motivated and enthusiastic - that is not the problem.
But the youngsters find themselves in a situation where they have to learn mainly from their mistakes, whereas players abroad have already been in pressure situations before. They know how to deal with responsibility and that makes the difference.
PA Sport
The point guard finished as his country's third-leading scorer at last year's EuroBasket and can punish any team which gives him space to shoot from three-point range.
However, after the highs of helping Germany to the silver medal in Belgrade, Roller has endured a tough season back in the Bundesliga where the Deutsche Bank Skyliners dropped all the way from vice-champions to relegation candidates this year.
Roller recently spoke with PA Sport's Johannes Berendt in Frankfurt about the forthcoming FIBA World Championship, his ambition to play abroad, and some of the challenges facing German basketball.
FIBA: Germany sprang a surprise in Belgrade by marching all the way to the final. What are the strengths of the team as you get ready for Japan?
Roller: The big advantage we have right now is that we have played together for a long time. It is our fifth or sixth year together. This means there is a risk of a makeover in three or four years - or maybe two or three - but right now we have 15 people who fit together very well. We have a great deal of experience due to the many tournaments and the many close games we have won. This adds up to the success we had last summer and hopefully will have again in Japan.
We have a very homogenous team. It goes without saying that Dirk Nowitzki is our top player and certainly a crowd-puller for both the national team and German basketball in general. He makes it possible for us to play at this high level. But the rest of the team adjusts well and makes it possible to perform that well. We depend on Dirk on the one hand but on the other hand we can take responsibility when he needs a break. This makes us different from teams like Serbia and Montenegro who fielded so many NBA players last summer but could not put it together as a team. The German team certainly has the will to play together and to function on the court.
FIBA: With the soccer World Cup coming up, Germany has been consumed by the debate over whether Jens Lehmann or Oliver Kahn should be the goalkeeper. Do you have any similar situations in the basketball team?
Roller: Yes, but it is not that bad. We also have a very balanced team. Last summer Jan Jagler had to stay home. Misan Nikagbatse was sent home first and then could return. This summer with Steffen Hamann, Mihtat Demirel and me there will also be a decision. Two will go to Japan, one will stay at home. Maybe three will go but there is always a situation when you have 14 or 15 guys and only 12 can go. You need to fight your way through but often the current form makes the difference. You need to accept that and over the years you learn how to deal with setbacks.
FIBA: How do you rate your own chances of making the squad?
Roller: After the tournament last summer I thought I had a great chance. But after the season here in Germany, during which I had two ankle injuries, I need to wait and see whether I am in good shape. The training camp starts in mid-July, so I have enough time to get my body in good form. If I present myself well at the tryouts, it could work to my advantage that I had a good tournament last summer.
FIBA: The expectations for this summer's tournament will be sky-high. However, it is not that long since the disappointing EuroBasket in 2003 when you suffered an early exit. Is that still in the back of your minds?
Roller: I think the last EuroBasket really showed that we're over it and that 2003 was only a little let-down. I think we have established ourselves at a certain international level because we have been playing together for so long. It is hard to make a prediction for the FIBA World Championship, however. Reaching the round of eight would be a great start and then you can take it on a game-by-game basis.
FIBA: Some of your team-mates have spoken about finishing on the podium. How do you feel about that?
Roller: I think if you start well in a tournament it can work to your advantage if you have experience. The memories (of Belgrade) would be in the back of our minds. We have reached a certain level and would like to prove it. But I am very careful about saying that we want a medal. I actually did so before the EuroBasket, but I am always cautious. It is good to have these ambitions but I would not announce them in public. If we can maintain our level from the past, we have a great chance to finish somewhere near the top."
FIBA: Germany's domestic teams have struggled to match the achievements of the national team. Why is that?
Roller: It goes without saying that the national team benefits from having Dirk Nowitzki. The Bundesliga does not have too many superstars, but it does have a decent level within Europe. It has very good standards of player treatment, arena standards and so on. But there is too much fluctuation of players. Germany clubs have problems to solve continuously and that's why German clubs will always have a disadvantage in international competition. There are a lot of players who make a name for themselves in Germany and then go elsewhere. They may stay for two years, but then higher wages and their ambitions make them look to other leagues like Spain which has a great standard throughout the league.
It will be hard to change this because the German teams cannot match the financial offers. But then we have successes like Bamberg who had a great season in reaching the last 16 of the Euroleague. That is a big success for German basketball. It is very important for us to maintain standards in Germany. I'm not sure if the reversal of the foreign player restrictions will help. I fear it could lead to even higher turnover of players. Maybe you could find a way to bring more German players back to the league. That would help attract more fans. If you have several German internationals playing in Germany, they would probably be with one of the top teams. If you had five of us playing together, then we might make some noise on the international stage.
FIBA: From a team-mate's perspective, what is so special about Dirk Nowitzki.
Roller: What I have always admired is his ability to create his own shot no matter what. He is always in a position where he can get a good look and make his shot without being in too much trouble. This is something I admire. It makes him very easy to play with because if all else fails and you still have a few seconds left on the shot clock, you can always get the ball to him.
FIBA: America's dominance in basketball is over. Why do you think this is?
Roller: A few years ago the biggest difference was athletic ability. This has changed. The European players have always been at a very high level in terms of their knowledge of the game, their technical skills and their shooting ability. But the athletic ability and maybe the confidence - some would say 'arrogance' - of the American team always worked to their advantage. I don't think the Americans have the same level of confidence any more. They are still confident but they have taken some knocks, especially when the tournament was in their own country (Indianapolis, 2002). That makes a difference. It's the same with my team Frankfurt right now. You feel it in terms of the respect opponents have - how they don't fear you. Teams are not afraid to play the US any more. You know they are a strong team but you know you have a chance, whereas 10 or 15 years ago, it was a question of not getting torn to pieces. A lot of teams believed they had no chance at all.
FIBA: Regarding your own personal situation, do you harbour ambitions to play abroad?
Roller: It is something I would like to do. I have had some offers during the year. At one point Barcelona had problems at the playmaker position and I was surprised and flattered by their interest. However, it came at the wrong time as I had just returned from my second ankle injury and had only been training for three or four weeks. It would not have been a good fit so I never considered it as I wanted to finish the season at Frankfurt. There have been a few other offers in recent weeks.
Right now I am not thinking about it as I am focused on Frankfurt. However, it is something I will give serious consideration to and if they are good offers I could well accept one of them. I signed a six-year deal with Frankfurt which runs until 2011 and I would be happy to fulfil it. If I do, that would be 12 years with Frankfurt and then I would be happy to remain with the team in whatever function. My contract includes an option to play abroad so if I move, the contract would continue and it would basically be on a loan basis.
FIBA: Frankfurt were champions in 2004, runners-up in 2005 and now suddenly are in relegation trouble this year. What has gone wrong?
Roller: There are several reasons. Some, like injuries, that you cannot influence were key factor. And then there are coaches and players leaving which always takes a team time to adjust to. Also, our team is not as strong as it used to be. Our ambitions, like going for the title, would have been too high. There were too many factors which we could not influence that hurt the team.
FIBA: Is it hard for you to adjust from being the team leader with Frankfurt to someone who plays behind Nowitzki on the national team?
Roller: I don't have a problem at all. I love to be the leader but I do it in my own way. It's hard to explain this to people - some of them expect me to score 20 points, dish out 12 assists and to score the game-winning basket. But I try to carry the team my way. I might not be a big scorer - I never have been - bit I am good shooter who can knock-down shots and I am someone who can dictate the pace and flow of a game. But I need to play with strong team-mates. Otherwise it is very hard for me to carry a team. I could do it with my own moves, but it is better to have a strong team around me. I am a player who can settle back and do the little things, and I am not shy to take responsibility.
FIBA: What are the prospects for the future of German basketball in terms of the youngsters coming through?
Roller: It is important to have things like the NBBL (Junior Basketball Developmental League) and to support clubs financially in developing young players. It has been neglected for too long. The Bundesliga and the lower divisions took the wrong step. Young players haven't really had the chance to blossom. That's what strikes me when I watch other teams at events like the Albert Schweitzer tournament. Youngsters from other countries already boast great leadership skills and have played important roles on their teams. They know what to do in difficult situations. The German youngsters are as talented, motivated and enthusiastic - that is not the problem.
But the youngsters find themselves in a situation where they have to learn mainly from their mistakes, whereas players abroad have already been in pressure situations before. They know how to deal with responsibility and that makes the difference.
PA Sport