Germany - Puerto Rico, Game Preview

ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) – Who is going to win the third ticket? Croatia and Greece have already packed for Beijing, and the question is, who will follow them on the Silk Road: Germany, or Puerto Rico?

The Germans crave for this qualification, and don’t try to hide it.

They long to dedicate it to Dirk Nowitzki (30, 2.13m.) as a gift for his contribution to the National Team, a gift that he will be cherishing for life.

Thus this evening’s game seems to be a real mission for all players, with Pascal Roller (32, 1.80 m.) stating: “We have a second chance to make the Olympic Games, and we will try to grab it.”

The German team scores 85 points per game (on 41% for three points and 89% from the free throw line); nevertheless, the Croats trapped it and limited it to 70 points, thanks to their hard defense.

Chris Kaman (26, 2.13m.) never heated up (6-13 from the field), the Germans expected just about everything from Nowitzki (25 ppg, 56% shooting for two points, 91% in free throws) and that cost them dearly.

As a result, Germany lost its semifinal, and now coach Dirk Bauermann’s wish will be fulfilled: “If the Olympic Qualifying Tournament were held in Puerto Rico, I would have liked to face Greece in the critical game; but it takes place in Athens, so I’ll go for Puerto Rico.”

Puerto Rico is in fact standing on Germany’s way, as Manolo Cintron’s players are trying to lead their team to the Olympic Tournament for the tenth time in history.

Against Greece, they scored 13 points below their average (76), and saw all their offensive sets fail.

To add to their troubles, Carlos Arroyo (29,1.88m.) stayed on the floor for just nine minutes before limping off, and his participation tonight is highly doubtful.

The gap he left may have been partly filled by Jose Juan Barea (24, 1.81m.), the squad’s other guard playing in the NBA (Dallas Mavericks), but it can be expected as a certainty that Puerto Rico will have problems in attack without his “magician”, as the offensive game of Cintron’s team relies mainly on three-point shooting.

Before the Greece game, they shot 51% from behind the arc, and Arroyo himself was 56% accurate.

The game, among others, bears a special interest as far as the NBA, and namely Dallas, is concerned: On one hand, Barea v Nowitzki the Mavericks teammates, will face each other.

On the other, Kaman will at last find someone with his size and experience playing against him, as both Daniel Santiago (32, 2.16 m.) and P.J. Ramos (23, 2.21 m.) have had spells in the NBA, with the Bucks and Wizards respectively.

Head to head:
This is the fifth encounter between the two teams in a FIBA major tournament, and wins are split, 2-2.

Year Tournament Result
1972 Olympic Games FRG v PUR 74-81
1986 World Championship FRG v PUR 69-81
1992 Olympic Games GER v PUR 96-86
1994 World Championship GER v PUR 81-74 

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