FIBA World Cup LIVE: Germany’s pain is Boomers’ gain as top rivals lose rising NBA star Wagner
The Boomers will look to construct on a dominant 98-72 win over Finland on the FIBA World Cup after they face a Germany aspect with out rising NBA star Franz Wagner.
Wagner had suffered an ankle damage late in Germany’s 81-63 win over Japan and whereas crew physician Oliver Putz dominated out a critical difficulty, it was nonetheless sufficient to rule the 22-year-old out.
ESPN’s Olgun Uluc was first to report the news on Sunday afternoon after offering an replace earlier from Putz on Wagner’s potential availability.
“We were able to rule out serious injuries,” Putz instructed ESPN.
“Nothing is broken, torn, or anything like this; things that would end the FIBA World Cup for him. Franz feels better this morning than yesterday. We did another MRI this morning. But, the problem is that we don’t have the imaging yet, so we can’t say exactly what’s hurt yet.”
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MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs Germany scores, updates, recreation breakdown
Germany already formed as Australia’s hardest take a look at within the group stage and can nonetheless pose a stern problem even with Wagner, a 6-foot-10 ahead with size and defensive versatility.
Wagner has additionally rapidly elevated his offensive manufacturing since his rookie 12 months with the Orlando Magic, averaging 18.6 factors, 4.1 rebounds and three.5 assists final season.
Australia’s consideration will now flip to shutting down the focus of Germany’s offence — Dennis Schröder, who must tackle much more playmaking duty now.
Wagner averaged 15.1 factors ultimately 12 months’s EuroBasket, trailing Schröder who has a behavior of taking his recreation to a different degree when suiting up for Germany.
Schröder was the fifth-leading scorer at EuroBasket 2022, averaging 22.1 factors per recreation and opened his World Cup marketing campaign with 14 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in opposition to Japan.
It shall be attention-grabbing to see who Boomers coach Brian Goorjian has guarding Schröder early, though it might find yourself being one other crew effort general as was the case in opposition to Finland and Lauri Markkanen.
The Boomers did properly to carry Markkanen to 19 factors, with Goorjian telling reporters on Friday evening he was “really pleased” with the best way his crew dealt with the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you’ll want to know in regards to the Boomers and FIBA World Cup
Boomers go AERIAL in opposition to Finland | 00:39
“He’s an incredible player and we watched all their games coming in,” Goorjian mentioned.
“He’s 40 and 15, scoring on the break, scoring inside, scoring on his right-hand penetration. I just thought Jack White, Nick Kay; it was kind of [like] the wrestling — you slap the hand and another guy comes in.
“It’s kind of a gang effect and then whenever he got the ball in scoring positions I felt like our double teams and rotations were tremendous. The gameplan they locked into and I thought it was successful.”
Of course, it’s not simply Schröder with Germany packing loads of dimension within the type of veteran huge males Daniel Theis, Johannes Thiemann, and Johannes Voitmann.
Franz is probably not match to play however older brother Moritz may also be in motion whereas Australia will must be cautious to not give Andi Obst an excessive amount of area after he set the tempo with 25 made three-pointers ultimately 12 months’s EuroBasket — essentially the most on the match.
HOW TO WATCH EVERY BOOMERS FIBA WORLD CUP GAME
As for the World Cup motion itself, the Boomers are a part of Group E and can play Finland of their first official recreation to kick off the match.
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That recreation is scheduled for 6pm AEST on Friday, August 25. Australia can also be scheduled to face Germany (6.30pm, August 27) and Japan (9.10pm, August 29) to spherical out the group stage.
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