Clearly, this game is the most important one for us to state the group position. If we win this one, we can almost secure the third position unless there will be weird things in the group. Germany tries to find their possible leader after Dirk's retirement. Schroeder come into prominence before anyone else in team and he has performed well until now in tournament. Dirk shares the leadership with him and maybe raise him under his tutorship. Actually, I have been not impressed by Schroeder during his NBA period this season since he tends to make a lot of easy mistakes but in this tournament, he has seemed more balanced to me than his NBA season. Maybe it is because of his role description here since Dirk slows him down, he is still playing his own game somehow. He is quite effective in isolation plays and plus created a lot of positions to his friends in two games. Against Turkey, he has a golden mine in his position. He can strike to his heart's content against Dixon. He never show mercy against slow guards and when we think Dixon's slow first step and way of understanding from defense, it won't be so hard for Schroeder to pass him out. Dixon struggles against players who have high ball handling skills, so it will be better if Güler or even Osman can guard him somehow. We will simply commit a suicide if Dixon and his ironic smile guard him. If Güler takes the helm in defense, I don't worry about him so much. When he can't find the enough space in offense, he will make his natural turnovers. Also, it is better if he can forget Dirk in offense.
Erden will play at his sweet will. If he decides to play with full concentration, we can hold them up to a point. Pleiss avoids from toughness and Erden's job is to create enough toughness against him. Savaş is out in this game too. This is not his game. Erden and İlyasova should abstain from foul trouble to make us safe in painted area. When Aldemir comes to C, we will be extremely undersized under the rim. There is no way to defend Dirk's shots from post, therefore we should bother him with backing defense from Osman f.e. In one n one positions, always keep the distance close between Dirk's guard and helping player. That's the key. Also Psycho Schaffartzik's unexpected threes should be guarded well. Germany has really secret weapons. At least, they are well managed team and knowing the importance of getting position after PnRs. It is time for us to play our real defensive game and Germany is so fit for our game. They can't find the high tempo unless Schroeder goes coast to coast.
Key match ups will be Dixon vs Schroeder and Nowitzki vs İlyasova. This is the game that matters defense from Turkish side. As long as we will be doing well in defense, we are close to victorious.
