Dirk Nowitzki and the 2005 silver medallists Germany hope to avoid an upset as they open their 2007 EuroBasket Group C campaign against underdogs Czech Republic.
Germany surprised many two summers ago by reaching the final against Greece in Belgrade, but they can't afford to look past the Czechs, who know a win against the mighty Germans could greatly improve their chances of advancing past the preliminary round in their first EuroBasket since 1999.
Last Time Out: Germany qualified for the 2007 EuroBasket by playing at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan while Czech
Republic booked their spot for Spain by finishing second behind Russia in Group C of the qualifications.
Key Match-up: Of course, the Czechs' ability to stop NBA MVP Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks
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| Welsch must slow down Okulaja as well as score | ||||
who is Germany's second main scoring option and their go-to man - should Nowitzki struggle.
Statistics: Nowitzki has continued to improve his overall game and look for more of his versatile play. He averaged 26.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.1 steals at the 2005 EuroBasket and 23.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.56 blocks and 1.0 steals at last summer's World Championship in Japan.
X-Factor: It will be interesting to see how Czech Republic respond to being back on the big stage for the first time in eight years. Zdenek Hummel was not only in charge of the national team back in 1999 in his first stint as Czech coach, but he also was playing when Czechoslovakia took silver in the Eurobasket in 1967 and bronze in 1969. Hummel and the rest of the Czech federation hope 2007 is just the start of a re-emergence of basketball in the country.
What It Means: The losers of this game face an up-hill battle to advance for the qualifying round as both teams still have to
go up against 2003 champions Lithuania and Turkey. So expect a very emotional battle as the stakes will be very high.
