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[1/8 finals - Day 1] Greece - Belgium

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pero2
  • Start date Start date

[1/8 finals - Day 1] Greece - Belgium

  • Total voters
    33
it is just a game,40 minutes
anything could happen
 
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Good game for Greece and a very important win psychologically since this was a KO game and are also very close to the Olympic Qualification stage (which was a minimum for this team).

The Belgians could not play with the same level intensity for a full game. The defense was too much for them. At some point they were just shooting threes.
This all goes to show that exhibition games are not the same as official, or better yet, knock out games.
 
The Greeks will extract revenge against the Spanish for 2006 and 2010. They clearly have the better team this time and they will prove it on the court.
 
usagre said:
The Greeks will extract revenge against the Spanish for 2006 and 2010. They clearly have the better team this time and they will prove it on the court.
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From your lips to God's ears (assuming God exists).

Btw, you've been proven right about Koufos. He was outstanding in today's game.
 
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Hilarious quotes from Greek players after game:
Sloukas: I would prefer to play POL.
Bourousis: ESP cheated us out of a victory in 2007.

;)
 
Katsikaris can't try to be too fancy by incorporating everyone in the Spain game. Greece has an excellent core rotation of 8.
Stick to them and keep Pap, Mantzaris, Perp, and the goofy looking guy with the name I can't spell or pronounce away from this one.
 
usagre said:
Katsikaris can't try to be too fancy by incorporating everyone in the Spain game. Greece has an excellent core rotation of 8.
Stick to them and keep Pap, Mantzaris, Perp, and the goofy looking guy with the name I can't spell or pronounce away from this one.
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Well, I disagree with you here. Yes, Matzaris, Pap and Perp should stay on the bench but goofy Bourousis should definitely play some minutes. ;)

Also, without Kaimakoglou, we have no chance of winning the hipster beard battle against ESP.
 
Some respect to Poland please. I know Spain is favorite, but let the Poles have their due until the fat lady sings.
 
Congrats to Belgium also for putting up a fight, at least for the first 25' of the game. They have a very incomplete roster since they lack big men and a bench, but they play good defense and sensible offense with what they have. They kinda spoiled their image by losing their focus and giving up for good at the end of the 3rd quarter but really it was a done game at that point.
 
It wlll be interesting to see if Katsikaris starts the game with Koufos or Bourousis against Gasol (or Gortat :)).
 
Well, hate the fact that someone has to say it, however Greece is good enough not to need those small gifts it received towards the third quarter. Spanoulis is good but that doesn't justify a protection he won't see 99% of the time in the euroleague. Belgium would crack eventualy just as I kept saying, however 3rd Hervelle, and some others right in that period helped to crack the Belgian spirit, those weren't neccesary either for Greeks or for Belgians.
Big minus as far as refereeing go, to otherwise good basketball game. Now I hope Spaniards won't be getting the same treatment over already that worse Poland.
 
Joško Poljak Fan;1000946 said:
Well, hate the fact that someone has to say it, however Greece is good enough not to need those small gifts it received towards the third quarter. Spanoulis is good but that doesn't justify a protection he won't see 99% of the time in the euroleague. Belgium would crack eventualy just as I kept saying, however 3rd Hervelle, and some others right in that period helped to crack the Belgian spirit, those weren't neccesary either for Greeks or for Belgians.
Big minus as far as refereeing go, to otherwise good basketball game. Now I hope Spaniards won't be getting the same treatment over already that worse Poland.
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Agree with you. Refs were terrible at start of 3rd quarter.
 
adamosmaki said:
nahh i still think its a 50/50 game. Depends how many players will be on a good day on that certain day. The only difference is the bit better bench depth Greece has compared to Spain for once in this last decade
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For this reason, and because Spain is not playing well Greeks would be favourites. Players like Llull and Rodríguez are like flipping a coin, you don't know if they will play well or not, Rudy injuried, but trying to help. Pau Gasol is carrying a heavy burden and is 34-35 years old. Fortunately Pau Ribas has stepped forward, playing better than I expected in both sides (nice player for Barça :)). Everybody could see that Germany was close to get an overtime when the match was supposedly under control.

On the other hand Spain has talent enough to win the tournament if important players give their best, and others play better, no doubt, but it must begin today and beat Poland, first of all.
 
Joško Poljak Fan;1000946 said:
Well, hate the fact that someone has to say it, however Greece is good enough not to need those small gifts it received towards the third quarter. Spanoulis is good but that doesn't justify a protection he won't see 99% of the time in the euroleague. Belgium would crack eventualy just as I kept saying, however 3rd Hervelle, and some others right in that period helped to crack the Belgian spirit, those weren't neccesary either for Greeks or for Belgians.
Big minus as far as refereeing go, to otherwise good basketball game. Now I hope Spaniards won't be getting the same treatment over already that worse Poland.
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I agree, there were 3 to 4 calls mid 2nd q onwards, that were pro Greece in a silly way. If half of them were given in 4th q I would be sad. They had the halftime to think it over, calm down and not be that affected though. They should have managed that, taking into acount that such calls were absent in the second half.

Anyway, bad calls, they took some joy out of me as well, I have to admit it. But then again, maybe it was Karma, I was really frustrated when that off-time basket was given against the liths, it ruined my day. :)
 
Navarro #7 said:
For this reason, and because Spain is not playing well Greeks would be favourites. Players like Llull and Rodríguez are like flipping a coin, you don't know if they will play well or not, Rudy injuried, but trying to help. Pau Gasol is carrying a heavy burden and is 34-35 years old. Fortunately Pau Ribas has stepped forward, playing better than I expected in both sides (nice player for Barça :)). Everybody could see that Germany was close to get an overtime when the match was supposedly under control.

On the other hand Spain has talent enough to win the tournament if important players give their best, and others play better, no doubt, but it must begin today and beat Poland, first of all.
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ESP still has the psychological advantage over GRE after all those victories in the past decade. It doesn't guarantee victory, but it is a factor.
 
We have a big disantvadage against Spain and it's name is Pau. Neither Bourousis nor Koufos can confront him. He must not take the ball near the post or else we will have serious problems. And we ought to hit some threes with a decent % if we want to win. If Spanoulis is in good form the threes and the victory are guaranteed imo.
 
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