Men's basketball: Three takeaways from Greece vs. Germany

Greece has been eliminated from the Olympics. The Greeks fell 76-63 against Germany in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Germany will now progress to the semifinals and is one win away from guaranteeing itself a medal. 

Here are three takeaways from Germany's latest win. 

1. Greece lacked playmaking

There's no denying that Greece had the most talented player on the floor in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but a lack of playmaking ensured it was a frustrating morning for the former MVP. Greece ended the game with 12 assists, with no player registering more than three dimes. As such, Giannis was forced to push the tempo and try to carry the team's offense, which is never a successful recipe. 

Greece was forced to face one of the best defenses in the tournament without a legitimate playmaker. As such, the offense consistently faltered, leading to the lop-sided score. 

2. Bringing Dennis Schroder off the bench was a masterstroke

Schroder is having an incredible run in the Olympics. It's the second time in 12 months that he's set the international stage alight with his electric pace, smart decision-making and diverse scoring. Against Greece, Germany opted to bring the talented guard off the bench. As such, Schroder found himself attacking second-unit defenses, where he could carve them open at will and easily get into his offensive skillset.

Schroder ended the game with 13 points and eight assists while shooting 5-of-12 from the field. It will be interesting to see if he continues coming off the bench in the semifinals or whether he is moved into the starting lineup.

3. Germany dominated in the margins

Germany won each and every one of these battles—assists, defensive rebounds, offensive rebounds, steals, and turnovers. When an opponent is beating you on the margins and scoring at will, it's almost impossible to overcome.

Germany's roster continues to impress and brush their competitors aside. Greece will now be forced to look for ways to improve before the next international tournament gets underway.