Does Germany crown itself Basketball World Champion for the first time?
The German national basketball team is in the final of the Basketball World Cup 2023 in Asia! What sounds like a real miracle is only deserved reward of a first-class performance of the men of national coach Gordon Herbert in this tournament so far.
The German aces around Dennis Schröder, Franz Wagner and Daniel Theis are the only team ever to have won all seven matches so far. The accolade came on Friday with the spectacular and impressive 113:11 victory over the favored US Americans.
Now the DBB team is unquestionably expecting the biggest and most important match in the history of the association, as Germany has never before been allowed to play a World Cup final. In the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, the German team is actually even considered the favorite. Before the tip-off, which will take place at 14:40 Central European Summer Time, the bet on the success of Herbert’s protégés will bring the lower odds between Germany and Serbia.
For Serbian coach Svetislav Pesic, by the way, a circle will close on Sunday in more ways than one. The 74-year-old veteran led the Germans exactly 30 years ago with the European Championship triumph to the greatest success in DBB history.
In 2002, the long-time Bayern coach was also on the bench for the Serbia/Yugoslavia team’s last World Cup victory. Will one of the best, most authentic and most successful coaches now crown his outstanding career, or will the forecast for the heroes from the Federal Republic of Germany pay off between Germany and Serbia?
Germany – statistics & current form
When it comes to the German national basketball team, one could run out of superlatives recently. The strongest DBB selection of all time, which was already able to cause a sensation last year at the European Championship with bronze, is so far the best team at this World Cup in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. It is not for nothing that all seven tournament games were won, the majority of these matches, especially in the preliminary round, even very clearly.
Coach Gordon Herbert’s protégés finally passed their absolute and, in world basketball, certainly most complicated test of maturity in the semifinals against the USA. Against the NBA stars from North America, the Germans played themselves into a real frenzy right from the start, hitting their shots at a high percentage and countering the American runs time and again.
When Anthony Edwards and Co. experienced their weakest phase at the beginning of the second half, the Germans pulled away a bit and maintained the lead until the final siren. The 113:111 victory was the logical consequence of an outstanding performance and also meant a new record, because never before had a national team been able to score so many points in a World Cup semifinal.
One step left to go…
At this point it would actually be presumptuous to single out individual players, yet it was above all Andi Obst who went over the blocks in “Stephen Curry” style, hit his threes and also handed out sensational assists. If you want to bet that the shooting guard will once again play an important role in the World Cup final, you can get odds of 1.80 between Germany and Serbia that Andi Obst will score at least ten points.
Otherwise, it will once again depend on the Germans functioning as a collective. However, there is no doubt about it, especially since the players emphasize in every interview how much fun it is to play in this team. Germany seems very stable, extremely well-rehearsed and also prepared for all opposition. In terms of quality, especially in terms of breadth, the DBB team doesn’t need to hide from the Serbs either. In short: Before the basketball World Cup final Germany vs. Serbia, we predict that Germany will be the new world champion!
Serbia – statistics & current form
Actually, the Serbs had started into this tournament without the very big expectations. This was primarily due to the cancellation of the dominant NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and other key players such as Micic, Lucic or Kalinic. Currently, however, it seems as if the absence of one or the other superstar has welded coach Svetislav Pesic’s team even closer together.
Unlike last year, when they sensationally lost out to Italy in the last 16 of the European Championship, the medal is already assured. Whether it will be gold-plated or silver-plated in the end, however, will be decided at noon on Sunday. If we look at the Germany vs. Serbia odds, the bookmakers expect a close match on equal terms, with slight advantages for the DBB selection.
Bogdanovic and Milutinov as X-factors in the Serbian game
However, the white eagles obviously feel comfortable in the role of the underdog, because already in the quarterfinals against the so far unbeaten Lithuanians and also in the semifinals against the favorites from Canada, the Serbs were given the worse chances on paper. Lithuania was then defeated by 19 (!) points difference, Canada still by nine, although the victory was actually not in danger at any time in the second half.
The Pesic squad is led by NBA player Bogdan Bogdanovic, who leads the tournament in points average after the retirement of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The German team will have to get to grips with the outstanding shot and the cool playing style of the man from the Atlanta Hawks. In addition, Milutinov must be kept in check under the baskets.
Another quality feature is the sometimes wild defense, which provokes many ball losses for the opponent. Especially the guards always have their hands on the ball and produce steals, which lead to quick and easy points in transition. However, we don’t expect the Germans to be as “sloppy” with the ball as the Canadians, who were surprised and couldn’t show their athletic advantages at all.
Germany – Serbia Direct comparison / H2H balance
The previous year, the two teams faced each other in the final of the DBB Supercup. At that time, the Serbs, in preparation for the European Championship and led by NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, prevailed with 83:56 (!).
In fact, four of the last six encounters since 2011 ended with a success for the white eagles. However, since the teams are currently in completely different constellations and the DBB selection has taken such an impressive development, the head-to-head before this title game is not really meaningful.
Germany – Serbia Tip
The tension before the final of the 2023 Basketball World Cup in Asia is hard to put into words. After the German selection flew somewhat under the radar so far and also received little attention in the domestic TV landscape, the ZDF has now jumped on the success bandwagon and broadcast the final Germany vs. Serbia live on public television.
This is highly deserved, as Dennis Schröder and Co. have played a sensational tournament so far, winning all seven matches and knocking the towering favorites from the USA out of the competition in the semifinals. There has never been a better German national basketball team, which is why the hope for the really big coup is definitely alive. Even at the bookmakers, Germany against Serbia is rated razor-thin with advantages according to betting odds.
We fully agree with this assessment and are also convinced that Herbert’s team will now take the final step towards winning the title. In terms of team chemistry, interplay and form, Germany is the measure of all things in this tournament.
Although the white eagles should of course not be underestimated and superstars like Bogdanovic, Guduric or Milutinov can always rise above themselves and decide a game, we are very good things that between Germany and Serbia the tip on the success of the DBB selection will come true. At the top, Betano offers a 1.90, which we confidently play with seven units.
