Dennis Schröder makes plays, Germany outlasts Greece to reach Olympic semi-finals
A masterful Dennis Schröder made all the difference.
The German point guard provided two pivotal plays in the second half on Tuesday (6 August) as the world champions shut down the Greek offense to continue its historic Olympic run thanks to a 76-63 win on Tuesday (6 August).
Germany was beginning to take control of its quarter-final game against Greece after a subpar start, and Schröder, sought to make plays to put his club into the semi-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Firstly, he was brave enough to stand in front of a driving Giannis Antetokounmpo with full momentum to take an important charge to curtail a Greece third-quarter run and then Germany responded with one of its own. Secondly, Schröder ended all hopes of a Greek upset with a 30-footer to seal the win.
It continues to be a historic run for Germany, which have never finished higher than eighth in the Olympic tournament. That will change in Paris.
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 06: Dennis Schroder #17 of Team Germany dribbles the ball against Kostas Papanikolaou #16 of Team Greece during the Men's Quarterfinal match between Team Germany and Team Greece on day eleven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 06, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Franz Wagner led Germany with 18 points and Schröder added 13 after admittedly starting slow.
“I was struggling the whole game,” Schröder said. “The team carried me. Franz did a great job, everybody that came off the bench brought that energy because the 11 (a.m.) game is tough. The (30-footer) was good but I want to shout out all my teammates for just being ready and we finished it.”
On the charge against Antetokounmpo, Schröder said: “I played terrible offensively and I had to do something. I watch a film and watch a lot of games and I know what he likes to do. I knew he was gonna do the Eurostep. It was a great play but today was not about the individual.”
Greece jumped out to a 16-4 lead and looked as if it would assume control the entire way. Germany responded with stellar defense in the final three periods. Greece converted nine field goals in the first period and just 16 in the final three periods.
Wagner and Schröder fueled a fourth-period run to pull away as the Germans contained the mighty Antetokounmpo, who finished with 22 points but was minus-7 in his minutes. Schröder who was also one of Germany's flagbearers at the Opening |Ceremony, could be considered the best point guard remaining in the tournament.
While he has enjoyed NBA success over the past decade, Schröder is a wizard when running the German offense and the result has been an unprecedented run, including last year’s FIBA World Cup championship. Former German national team member and Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki sat courtside at Bercy Arena and enjoyed the show.
“We made history already, we’re in the semis, but with this team it’s just great to compete,” Schröder said. “We’re like brothers. We’re family and I’m not just saying that. It’s the real deal. Hopefully we’ve got two more steps in us to climb up that ladder. I think we did a great job defensively. That’s where we can really impact the game and we have to keep preaching that. Offensively, it will come.”
Gary Washburn is an Olympic Channel correspondent and National NBA Writer for the Boston Globe.