HIROSHIMA -- The Japan National Team held a light, hour-long practice Friday afternoon at the Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Center.

The players looked loose, relaxed and focused during shooting drills.

After arriving here, Japan coach Zeljko Pavlicevic's squad used Thursday's practice to go over its upcoming game plan and some of the specific tactics it plans to use against Germany at the FIBA World Championship.

On Friday, players flashed smiles and also had deep looks of concentration as they ran up-tempo, full-court drills and took shot after shot.

"If they will be under all kinds of stress, it will be very difficult for them to make it much easier for Germany," Pavlicevic said just moments after Angola took the court for the next workout.

Japan faces Germany in the Group B opener at 1 p.m. Saturday. The other Group B games are Angola vs. Panama at 4 p.m. and Spain vs. New Zealand at 7.

JAPAN'S OUTLOOK

Indeed, Germany, led by NBA star Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, is a difficult first foe for Japan. And Pavlicevic, no stranger to marquee competitions in a storied coaching career, understands the nature of this tournament.

On Thursday, Pavlicevic discussed Japan's first game of the tournament. He understands the difficulty of this matchup and the realization that it's far from a must-win game.

"If we lose this first game, nothing happens to us," the coach said candidly. "But we have to be ready for the next game. If we lose by 10 or 15 points, it could be a good game for us. It's a chance for us to enter the competition slowly and feel the (ambience) of the tournament."

Japan takes on Angola at 1 p.m. on Sunday. It meets Panama on Monday, New Zealand Wednesday and Spain on Aug. 24.

Pavlicevic, 55, spoke again about the game against Germany in a post-practice interview Friday with The Japan Times.

So what'll it take to beat Germany?

"Look, we need to (focus on) rebounds first of all," he said, "and wait for a not-so-good day for Nowitzki."

The coach laughed. Then he continued his analysis.

"If we rebound, we'll see what happens."

Does Japan plan on double- or triple-teaming Nowitzki?

"No, no, no," the coach answered.

"I think if he will play so-so, maybe we'll have a chance. . . . But nobody can stop him in the NBA. In (the playoffs), he scored 50 points."

Germany's practice was closed to the media Friday. As the topic came up, one reporter joked to another that "it's a secret" that Nowitzki will take many shots in Saturday's game.

GERMANY'S OUTLOOK

The German squad recently watched footage of Japan's exhibition games in Spain earlier this summer and scouted the Aug. 13 contest against Senegal in Urayasu, Chiba Pref.

Those games gave German coach Dirk Bauermann a chance to form an opinion about his team's first foe in the tournament.

From the get-go, the German squad will look to shut down veteran shooting guard Takehiko Orimo.

The 36-year-old is the team's best, and most consistent, player, according to Bauermann, citing his ability to drill 3-point shots with regularity.

"If he gets off to a good start, it'll help everybody with their confidence," the German coach said of Orimo.

Naturally, that's not what he wants.

"The key is to shut him down early," Bauermann said.

That would send a "defensive statement," the coach added.

Germany's two-pronged approach to Saturday's game is simple: crash the offensive boards and work its offense from the inside out.

"We have to get the ball inside on a consistent basis," Bauermann said.

This venue, which is also called the Hiroshima Green Arena, is set up to seat 10,000, a FIBA official said.

The host nation is expected to pack the stands Saturday, which could give it a decisive home-court advantage.

Tickets still available

Tickets for the FIBA World Championship can be purchased at the following locations: JTB offices, JTB Traveland offices and JTB partner agencies, as well as Ticket Pia, Family Mart, Circle K, Sunkus and Lawson stores.