Anthony Edwards on Team USA loss to Germany: 'It was all on us' / News - Basketnews.com

Edwards said that offensive rebounding and lack of toughness were the keys to Team USA's loss against Germany.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Anthony Edwards finished the game against Germany with a team-leading 23 points but that was not enough to defeat Germany, and Team USA suffered their second loss in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Player of the Game EFF 26 Daniel Theis Points 21 Accuracy 10-15 Rebounds 7 Assists 2

After the game, the Minnesota Timberwolves guard was visibly shaken.

"We lost, man. I don't know," he told BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas when asked to comment about things he learned about FIBA basketball.

Edwards singled out the lost battle of the boards as the key to the loss. Team USA got outrebounded 28-to-30, while Germany got 12 offensive rebounds compared to 8 from the US.

"Offensive rebounding. We got outrebounded all night. They were more physical than us," Edwards named the key to the upset.

Andreas Obst had a career night against Team USA. The sharpshooter made 4 three-pointers and was fouled three times when he was attempting one. Overall, he finished the game with a game-leading 24 points.

"We knew he was a shooter, he was a sniper. The gameplan was to take him out of the game, and he ended up getting off tonight. Kudos to him," Edwards said about Obst.

"I think we tried," the player said about attempts to defend Obst. "We fouled him a couple of times. I think we were trying, but we kind of gave him free points. Kudos to him, he played good."

Germany's Daniel Theis, who's a role player in the NBA, recorded 21 points and 7 rebounds, while Johannes Thiemann, a role player in the EuroLeague, had 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson Jr., the reigning NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, scored 8 points and grabbed just 3 rebounds during the match.

"It was just toughness. We, and even myself, could've played tougher and got more rebounds, it was on all of us," Edwards said.

After the loss, Team USA will have to play against Canada. who also surprisingly lost in the semifinals, in the bronze-medal game on Sunday.

"We just have to go out there and play, we've got another game," Edwards told the media about the upcoming match.

Despite the loss, Team USA has already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Edwards would love to be on the roster that travels to France next year as well. "I'd love to, for sure," he concluded.

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