[Day 3a] Game B/8: France - Germany

[Luíz for 3]

Date: 02.09.2011
Time: 21:00 local (EEST (UTC+3))
Venue: Šiauliai Arena, Šiauliai

Alongside with TUR-LTU, this is the game of the day. Two of the best scorers of the competition meet each other tomorrow (Nowitzki vs. Parker) for a decisive game in this group B.
I'd go with Germany to win this one. The duo Dirk-Kaman is working extremely well and Germany is showing a health which have not been seen in the last years.

[CKR13]

Les Bleus

[pimpekaustas]

there's no way france can beat this germany

[fasoulaki]

My heart says Germany but reason says France!

[pimpekaustas]

My heart says Germany but reason says France!

why? i think germany is big favourite

[Hater]

I think Germany will win, they are playing very well

[Frosties]

France. It is a more solid team.

[Joško Poljak Fan]

Both teams are so far having up's and down's depending on the lineup, however I believe French are suffering more from it as their 2nd lineup does seem as lacking creativity.
I expect a close game as there isn't really a true quality gap here. French aren't excelling playing against set defences in this championship (just as their tradition) so in case Germany manages to control the defensive rebounding part and since they generaly don't select those hasty shots and make as cheap turnovers, along with placing majority of their offensive efforts under or around the rim, making it less likely for a succesfull fast break on the french side, I call it a tie with a slight German edge as I believe in control more than in speed.

In a knock out stage I'd bet on Germany with ease though.


The general recepee for beating France will be almost the same as in the past championship. Slow paced, controlled game without hasty actions in offense, using fouls up to the bonus to cut on the fast breaks. If that is done succesfully in wast percentages French will be prevented from fast and semi-fast breaks and will have much bigger issues with scoring on a set defense, potentialy switching to zone occasionaly. Noah will be an upgrade here, but still doesn't really change the big picture.
Whoever will want to outrun and outscore France should lose... I have to watch their game vs. Spain, that should be a nice matchup.

[fasoulaki]

why? i think germany is big favourite

France is a very athletic and fast team. In direct comparison, most french players are more experienced than the young german players. France has an advantage on the PG position. However France has a problem with tight matches and tends to underachieve. So Germany has to control the game and to slow down the rhythm.

[Liha]

This is a complete coinflip. Either team may win 50/50. Too bad it comes at the same time as Turkey Lithuania. I'd really like to see this. Do they put videos of full games somewhere on to a site to watch later?

[Silvio]

I see Germans winning by 5 to 10 points.
Teams are of similar strength looking players only. But Frenchman are perennial underachievers, while Germans quite opposite almost always overachieve.
One of reasons is that Germany is coached by genius Bauermann, while French coach is clown Collet.
Other thing is Germany has perfect clutch player in Dirk, while Parker is used to watch last action from corner - he's spreading the floor while ball is Manu's hands.
Not gonna be easy, but same as yesterday vs Italy, in last minutes there will be only one. Only one team, Germany.

[stefann7693]

There are 3 questions:

1.Will Dirk be rested (he is in ~50% shape compared to the playoffs)
2.Who guards Dirk (Italians did a decent job there. Can France do the same ?)
3.Who guards Parker

[Silvio]

There are 3 questions:

1.Will Dirk be rested (he is in ~50% shape compared to the playoffs)
2.Who guards Dirk (Italians did a decent job there. Can France do the same ?)
3.Who guards Parker

1. LOL, rested. Iron man rested in a key game.
2. Diaw guards Dirk. When he's on bench Florent Pietrus. Not ideal solutions because of height advantage, but better than most of teams have.
3. I expect Germany deals with problem called Parker with ... brutal force. Parker is one very fast moving object ... but it is well known fact objects doesn't move when they are nailed to the floor. I think Germans will simply try to intimidate him with many hard fouls and Bauermann to use fact that European refs consider Parker a flopper, sometimes even not giving him a call when he actually was fouled.

[surfer]

If France lose, they are out of quarters. Simple as that.

[aspsgge]

1. LOL, rested. Iron man rested in a key game.
2. Diaw guards Dirk. When he's on bench Florent Pietrus. Not ideal solutions because of height advantage, but better than most of teams have.
3. I expect Germany deals with problem called Parker with ... brutal force. Parker is one very fast moving object ... but it is well known fact objects doesn't move when they are nailed to the floor. I think Germans will simply try to intimidate him with many hard fouls and Bauermann to use fact that European refs consider Parker a flopper, sometimes even not giving him a call when he actually was fouled.

To guard Dirk and Kaman, their is also the solution with two big guys (Seraphin + Noah) and also Batum over Dirk. He already has done this in NBA.
http://vimeo.com/9118007 (sorry for the bad quality of the video)

It's 50-50 for this game. I hope France will win but it will be difficult, especially if the bench players stay as unproductive as the previous game.