Germany coach Dirk Bauermann is keeping his fingers crossed that Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman will represent the country at the EuroBasket in Poland. Both players helped the Germans capture the last spot on offer for the Beijing Games at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament last year.
Injuries limited Kaman to just 31 games this season with the woeful Los Angeles Clippers and his campaign is over but Nowitzki, who has had to deal with some off-the-court issues in recent times, is still competing in the Western Conference play-offs with the Dallas Mavericks.
"I'm cautiously optimistic rather than pessimistic. That's my gut feeling," Bauermann said at a press conference on Tuesday in Karlsruhe. Bauermann doesn't expect to know about the availability of Nowitzki or Kaman until the middle of August.
"We very much hope that both will play," Bauermann said. "If Dirk were not to play, no one would be angry because he has given so many years to us." Bauermann revealed that he has been in contact with Nowitzki and offered his help on a personal problem the superstar is dealing with. "I did, knowing that he will not accept help," Bauermann said. "He is a very private man."
source : eurobasket2009.org
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