Germany ends USA's FIBA World Cup run in semis

Team USA loses to Germany in the World Cup semifinals, denying them a shot at the gold medal for the second time in a row.

In the quest for World Cup glory, Team USA took a calculated risk. They knew they were at a size disadvantage compared to other teams, but they believed that their other strengths could compensate for it. Unfortunately, their bet did not pay off, and Germany, a towering European team, capitalized on their advantage to defeat Team USA 113-111 in the world semifinals.

This loss means that Team USA will once again miss out on the gold medal. Instead, they will have to settle for playing for bronze against Canada, who lost to Serbia in the other semifinal. Despite their defeat, the Americans played with spirit and aggression. However, their lack of size proved to be a recurring issue, just as it did in their previous loss against Lithuania.

Team USA coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the challenge they faced, stating, "They've got a lot of big strong guys. They put a lot of stress on your defense, and they outplayed us." Germany's ability to secure offensive rebounds and convert them into second-chance points gave them more opportunities to score. In contrast, Team USA struggled to capitalize on their limited chances.

Point guard Dennis Schroder was particularly effective against the American team. His ability to handle their ball pressure, combined with Germany's height advantage, led to a steady stream of high-percentage shots. The U.S. simply couldn't withstand this onslaught.

Guard Anthony Edwards, who scored 23 points in an attempt to lead a late comeback, admitted, "We got outrebounded all night. They were more physical than us." Despite narrowing the gap to just one point in the final two minutes, a crucial 3-pointer by Andreas Obst, who finished with 24 points, sealed the victory for Germany.

The mismatch created by the U.S. switching on screen-and-rolls allowed Germany to find open shots from outside. They took full advantage, sinking 13 of 30 3-pointers. This, combined with their dominance in the paint, where they scored 50 points, resulted in an impressive 58% shooting percentage for the Germans.

In addition to Schroder's 17 points, the German NBA big men also made significant contributions. Franz Wagner finished with 22 points, while Daniel Theis added 21. Austin Reaves, who scored 21 points for Team USA, lamented their defensive performance, saying, "If you give up 113 points in a 40-minute game, you're not going to win many of those."

Throughout the tournament, Coach Kerr opted for a small lineup, with Josh Hart at power forward and Jaren Jackson Jr. at center. He continued with this strategy, using Paolo Banchero as a backup big man and leaving true center Walker Kessler out of the rotation. While this lineup proved successful under certain circumstances, it required an aggressive and fast-break-generating defense, which was difficult to maintain consistently.

Team USA also had to contend with the absence of Brandon Ingram, who missed the game due to an upper respiratory illness. This was the first game missed by a player on the team due to injury or illness in the tournament.

Anthony Edwards led the scoring for Team USA with 23 points, followed by Mikal Bridges with 17. Jalen Brunson, who contributed 15 points and seven assists, acknowledged the high expectations placed on the team, saying, "We're expected to win, I guess, year in and year out because of the history of USA basketball. We obviously didn't come ready to play from the start."

In conclusion, Team USA's gamble to overcome their size disadvantage fell short against Germany. Despite their spirited performance, they were unable to match their opponents' physicality and rebounding prowess. The loss means they will have to settle for playing for bronze, while Germany advances to the World Cup finals.

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