WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP JAPAN 2006
which were applauded by the public. “This team is concerned about basketball at tries to put it
into practice properly, playing with the others not against them” said Battier. However, others were
also playing well. Greece had no problems against China (95-64), Argentina against New Zealand
(79-62) and Spain beat Serbia and Montenegro (87-75) which meant that the reigning champions
were eliminated. The great performance of Darko Milicic (18 points and 15 rebounds) was not
enough. “It was a good experience for our young team. Spain played a fast game and we couldn't
keep up with the pace”, admitted Marko Marinovic, who scored 15 points in the match. The
reigning champions were eliminated while none of the favourites had any problems in reaching
the quarter finals, as expected from the start of the competition. The order of the day on 30
August 2006 as far as the Americans were concerned was quite clear; stop Dirk Nowitzki. He
needed no introduction, his record in the Mavericks was enough to make all Krzyzewski's planning
centre on him. The Americans expected a ha