Group B, day 3, Slovenia vs. Croatia

[Alyosha122]

A few vids from the game:

 

[Fish2]

I think it was a close game as it almost always is...also I think EVERY win over a team from ex YU is a big win. (Mark my words it is not far from having all 6 former republics in the Eurobasket!!! and against them - it WILL NOT be easy) I agree with Picek about Tomas ...and his 3 pointer vs Spain is my favorite shot of Croatians ever! I also agree with Pohani about coaches and hate Sagadin's way of getting the hot players out at their peaks (this was always killing!!! me). Sadly every team needs a star to get to the very top IMO. This star must have the full authority (Jordan-like) to take the Final shot or layup (or dunk - Nachbar* hint hint hint...)
Personally I also think that that talent itself doesn't make this star or leader...it's the mental toughness (US-way) and a 100% convinced head that you'll make the shot. Normally talented player can practice the shot up to the limit. One needs big tough games and a bit of luck to cross the barrier of the first success that can give him the "proof" that he IS the one.
(MJ, Magic, Theo, Drazen, Ex yu team from my times...
Bottom line: when both teams get (develop) one (or few) of these players - then and only then the time will come to reach for the medals.
Croatia is a good team and Roko and Marko Tomas still have time. But not that much left...
As for Slo...We need ALL of our players playing and then we will see. I am sure that Beno demanded that "star role" that was refused by the ...?
But finally that was a coach's decision and he'll have to live with it. Personally I'll go the other way. We have all seen Beno play in Japan, right...esp the last game he was the only one against Turkey with a calm hand and a huge desire to win...
clearly with a winner's head.
Now we play with what we play with...let's see how it goes first
F

 

[Kotarac2]

Congratulations to Slovenia for the win. I think in the end they were more focused on the job and had a more even approach to the game and that's why they got the result.

Ukić said it the best in his interview when he said it was typical Croatian basketball story and that whenever the game is even we lose. We simply don't have the mental power to overcome setbacks during the game. It doesn't matter if it's missing some shots, coming up against more intensive defence, if we think the referee made a mistake or foul trouble to some players - the players with strong mentality can still win.

Slovenia is objectively better than us, if both teams are at full strength I think they're actually much better than us, but we were still in a position to win if we could keep cool or have some guys make good decisions. We don't have that and we don't have a coach who knows how to maximise the positive side while covering the negatives.

We always lose these kind of games with 5-6 minutes of poor play and then all the basics let us down (free throw shooting for example). It happens year after year and will only change when we get some guys into the ntaional team who have no connection with this loser mentality that plagues our basketball.