CHANGSHA – Entering the knockout stage, Iran hotshot Nikkhah Bahrami said they’re still in an adjustment period with their new coach Dirk Bauermann.
The Iranian players know each other well but are groping with the system put in by the replacement to their old coach Veselin Matic who has moved over to the Lebanon team.
“As you see, the new coach is really different. Everyone is playing. The average of the player is 20-23 minutes. It’s not bad, but we need to adjust,” said Bahrami.
The Iranian do-it-all forward denied reports a rift within the Iranian federation led to the sacking of Matic, a European tactician who steered Iran to its title run in Manila in 2013.
Though a number of young promising Iranian players have emerged, Bahrami remains the team’s lead small forward, playing ahead of Mohammad Jamshidi.
Curiously in their 94-48 conquest of Palestine yesterday, Bahrami was utilized for 20 minutes and 41 seconds but didn’t take a single attempt. He issued three assists and made two steals.
Gilas Pilipinas stunned the defending champion last Monday in a game where Bauermann expressed dismay over their performance.
“In the second half, I don’t understand the way we played. We played without pace,” said Bauermann, coach of the German national team during the time of Dirk Nowitzki.
“Yes, we have certainly taken a blow to our face. We have to pick and dust ourselves up,” Bauermann said.
The Iranians did that against the Palestinians to finish with a 4-1 win-loss record in Group E.
Bauermann downplayed their loss to Gilas. “It’s just one game in a long tournament. The tournament is far from over,” he said.