Germany and Iceland will open things up for Group B competitions in the 2015 FIBA EuroBasket on Saturday, September 5. The match will be held at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
The Germans will once again boast off Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki as their team leader and primary scorer with the 37-year-old NBA veteran deciding to come back to international competitions after a four-year absence.
The 2011 NBA champion and NBA Finals MVP last played for his national team during EuroBasket 2011 and averaged 19.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. The allure of playing in front of his own countrymen made him decide to represent his nation again, as per the Maverick's official website.
Germany, who will now be coached by American Chris Fleming, placed a lowly 17th during that time in Ljubljana, Slovenia, finishing with a 10-3 win-loss slate. Other NBA players in their lineup are center Tibor Pleiß of the Utah Jazz and point guard Dennis Schröder of the Atlanta Hawks.
Meanwhile, Iceland will be mentored by new coach Craig Pedersen and does not have any NBA players in their lineup.
The team is not in the final 24 of the tournament's 2013 edition and had a win-loss record of 1-9 during the qualifiers, as per EuroBasket 2015's official website.
Germany is expected to blow past the Icelanders especially with the NBA's 2007 regular season MVP back in harness.
Prediction: Germany wins, 82-62
Germany starting five: Tibor Pleiß (C), Dirk Nowitzki (PF), Robin Benzing (SF), Paul Zipser (SG), Dennis Schröder (PG)
Iceland starting five: Ragnar Nathanaelsson (C), Hlynur Baeringsson (PF), Helgi Magnússon (SF), Logi Gunnarsson (SG), Jon Stefansson (PG)