Group C, Day 6, Russia vs. Greece

[christodoulou762]

Who will win? Who will try to win? Who will try to look like they are trying to win? Who will succeed in looking like they are trying to win?

 

[deusexm12]

Greece will Win.

 

[Gytaz2]

 

[guilherme.rcf2]

What if Greece decided to lose?

 

[Gytaz2]

What if Greece decided to lose?

It's not certain whether it will be France or Spain (hell, theoretically it might even be New Zealand) that finishes 2nd in group D, so losing on purpose wouldn't be so smart. Also it's not clear, which of these teams is a harder opponent now. France did manage to beat Spain...

 

[T.W.Is.M.2]

What if Greece decided to lose?

U know what's the most interesting part? That both teams may try 2 lose the match without even knowing who they face if they lose. That's because France faces New Zealand later and they can pick an opponent according 2 their result!
Imagine if Greece loses intentionally 2 Russia in order 2 finish 3rd and avoid Spain only 2 find out that France lost 2 New Zealand, which sends Spain to 2nd place and against Greece in the second round.

 

[guilherme.rcf2]

It's not certain whether it will be France or Spain (hell, theoretically it might even be New Zealand) that finishes 2nd, so losing on purpose wouldn't be so smart.

You have to look one step ahead.

 

[Gytaz2]

Oh, I forgot, second place means the U.S. in the quarter-finals, right? Still, I don't think they're going to try to lose intentionally. It's hard to predict everything, it's best to try to win every game.

 

[Adon2]

I hope we'll try to win.I'm sure Russians won't try.We have not the performance of a great team yet,let's have at least the mentality of a great team.

Spain as an appetizer and USA as the main plate!

 

[nikolaos2]

U know what's the most interesting part? That both teams may try 2 lose the match without even knowing who they face if they lose. That's because France faces New Zealand later and they can pick an opponent according 2 their result!
Imagine if Greece loses intentionally 2 Russia in order 2 finish 3rd and avoid Spain only 2 find out that France lost 2 New Zealand, which sends Spain to 2nd place and against Greece in the second round.

I don't think the problem is Spain but the USA. We can beat Spain if we really want to, but USA is another thing, I don't think we can do the same thing we did 4 years ago, that's past, things have changed, USA is full of young players with talent, the chances for us to beat USA are low, like 1%

but again, as someone said earlier to my post and I agree, we just have to play and win, as for who comes to our way, well that's not something we should decide.

We can beat Russia, their team is mediocre, Greece can handle such teams

 

[Adon2]

The litany against fear is an incantation used by the Bene Gesserit

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

(without a medal)

 

[Buzissa2]

If New Zealand beats France and Spain beats Canada, 3 teams are 3-2. Spain has +11 in goal average, France has +6 before the game (so, they won't finish 2nd if they lose) and New Zealand has -17 (needs to win by 29 to be 2nd, +12 to be 3rd). On that case, Greece and Russia have all the interest to win this game.

 

[Luíz for 32]

I hope we'll try to win.I'm sure Russians won't try.We have not the performance of a great team yet,let's have at least the mentality of a great team.

Spain as an appetizer and USA as the main plate!

You are very confident Anyway, I share your opinion, a team with Greece hopes should play always to win and not thinking in the opponent in the eights and then in the quarters.

 

[Adon2]

You are very confident Anyway, I share your opinion, a team with Greece hopes should play always to win and not thinking in the opponent in the eights and then in the quarters.

Rather pride than confidence

 

[granger2]

Who will win? Who will try to win? Who will try to look like they are trying to win? Who will succeed in looking like they are trying to win?

nice one

ps. I didnt vote, because nobody wants to win

 

[T.W.Is.M.2]

I don't think the problem is Spain but the USA. We can beat Spain if we really want to, but USA is another thing, I don't think we can do the same thing we did 4 years ago, that's past, things have changed, USA is full of young players with talent, the chances for us to beat USA are low, like 1%

but again, as someone said earlier to my post and I agree, we just have to play and win, as for who comes to our way, well that's not something we should decide.

We can beat Russia, their team is mediocre, Greece can handle such teams

Τhe bold part is something I believed in last year. Facts proved me wrong though. If we had played 100% for the win against France, we would have finished 5th after losing 2 Spain in the quarter-final. and France may have won the medal at the end. We didn't avoid the loss 2 Spain, but it happened one day(and one round) later.

Time 4 a flashback 2 those times when Greece picked opponents(or had the opportunity and didn't):
1)1994 WC first round: Greece faces Puerto Rico in the first round. We had already beaten Germany and we were losing by 9 to PR in our last game, which led 2 a 3-way tie. If we lose by 8 or less, we finish 1st and seemingly face Croatia, Canada and Spain. If we lose by 9, we finish 2nd and play against USA, Russia and I think Brazil. Sigalas is at the FT line with seconds remaining. The direction from the bench is 2 miss the FT so that we avoid Croatia(who was beating us at that time like Spain does now), the hosts of Canada and Spain(always dangerous). He banks the FT in accidentally, we lose by 8, but Spain loses 2 China, so we play against Croatia, Canada and China.
Result:We beat China and Canada and advance 2 the semis 4 the first time.
2)1994 WC again, this time at the quarter-final groups. After beating Canada and China we face Croatia 4 the top spot of the group. We prefer not 2 fight much this game and face USA in the semi-final 2 b more energetic and less tired 4 the bronze medal game against Russia(who would lose 2 Croatia in the other semi).
Result:Russia beats Croatia in the other semi-final and we face Croatia again 4 the bronze medal and lose once again.
3)1996 Olympic Games, group stage. In the last matchday we face Australia and the winner gets the 2nd place of the group and faces Croatia. The loser faces Lithuania. The Greek team prefers 2 avoid Croatia once more, doesn't play at 100% vs Australia and loses by 40!
Result:We enter the quarter-finals with a bad momentum and get blown out by Lithuania too. Australia instead beats Croatia and advances 2 the semifinals.
4)2004 Olympic Games, group stage. Greece faces Puerto Rico again at the last matchday. With a victory we force a 3-way tie with Puerto Rico and USA. If we surpass a certain point difference(which I can't remember, but it was around 8 points), we finish 2nd and face Argentina. If we win with a smaller margin, we finish 3rd and face (the seemingly easier opponent) Italy. Greece is playing at home and chooses 2 give 100% and cover the point differential in order 2 finish 2nd.
Result:We lose 2 Argentina and get eliminated from the semis in our own Olympic tournament. On a side note, Argentina gets the gold medal, while our other possible opponent, Italy, gets the silver!
5)2009 Eurobasket, 2nd round. The story we all remember; Greece loses 2 France 2 finish 3rd in the group and avoid facing Spain in the quarter-finals. The French players didn't look happy at all with their victory.
Result: Greece beats Turkey and goes on 2 clinch the bronze medal after losing in the semi-final 2 Spain. France loses easily 2 Spain in the quarter-final.

We have 3 opponent picks, 2 of them wrong calls and 1 of them right. We also have 1 "non-pick", which proved 2 b a wrong call and 1 accidental "non-pick" which turned out 2 b correct. Not so good record(2-3). I hope pick #6 proves 2 b the correct one and evens the score.

 

[g.g2]

Basketball is the game of opportunity and there is no better opportunity for Greece to face Spain. The boost of such win is strong enough to lift this team high enough to look USA straight in their eyes.

Greece-Russia
93-78

 

[Adon2]

....so,unsporting behavior is nothing much in comparison with a medal.Well,this is the world we live in!
Honor means nothing.Benefit is everything.

 

[g.g2]

Τhe bold part is something I believed in last year. Facts proved me wrong though. If we had played 100% for the win against France, we would have finished 5th after losing 2 Spain in the quarter-final. and France may have won the medal at the end. We didn't avoid the loss 2 Spain, but it happened one day(and one round) later.

Time 4 a flashback 2 those times when Greece picked opponents(or had the opportunity and didn't):
1)1994 WC first round: Greece faces Puerto Rico in the first round. We had already beaten Germany and we were losing by 9 to PR in our last game, which led 2 a 3-way tie. If we lose by 8 or less, we finish 1st and seemingly face Croatia, Canada and Spain. If we lose by 9, we finish 2nd and play against USA, Russia and I think Brazil. Sigalas is at the FT line with seconds remaining. The direction from the bench is 2 miss the FT so that we avoid Croatia(who was beating us at that time like Spain does now), the hosts of Canada and Spain(always dangerous). He banks the FT in accidentally, we lose by 8, but Spain loses 2 China, so we play against Croatia, Canada and China.
Result:We beat China and Canada and advance 2 the semis 4 the first time.
2)1994 WC again, this time at the quarter-final groups. After beating Canada and China we face Croatia 4 the top spot of the group. We prefer not 2 fight much this game and face USA in the semi-final 2 b more energetic and less tired 4 the bronze medal game against Russia(who would lose 2 Croatia in the other semi).
Result:Russia beats Croatia in the other semi-final and we face Croatia again 4 the bronze medal and lose once again.
3)1996 Olympic Games, group stage. In the last matchday we face Australia and the winner gets the 2nd place of the group and faces Croatia. The loser faces Lithuania. The Greek team prefers 2 avoid Croatia once more, doesn't play at 100% vs Australia and loses by 40!
Result:We enter the quarter-finals with a bad momentum and get blown out by Lithuania too. Australia instead beats Croatia and advances 2 the semifinals.
4)2004 Olympic Games, group stage. Greece faces Puerto Rico again at the last matchday. With a victory we force a 3-way tie with Puerto Rico and USA. If we surpass a certain point difference(which I can't remember, but it was around 8 points), we finish 2nd and face Argentina. If we win with a smaller margin, we finish 3rd and face (the seemingly easier opponent) Italy. Greece is playing at home and chooses 2 give 100% and cover the point differential in order 2 finish 2nd.
Result:We lose 2 Argentina and get eliminated from the semis in our own Olympic tournament. On a side note, Argentina gets the gold medal, while our other possible opponent, Italy, gets the silver!
5)2009 Eurobasket, 2nd round. The story we all remember; Greece loses 2 France 2 finish 3rd in the group and avoid facing Spain in the quarter-finals. The French players didn't look happy at all with their victory.
Result: Greece beats Turkey and goes on 2 clinch the bronze medal after losing in the semi-final 2 Spain. France loses easily 2 Spain in the quarter-final.

We have 3 opponent picks, 2 of them wrong calls and 1 of them right. We also have 1 "non-pick", which proved 2 b a wrong call and 1 accidental "non-pick" which turned out 2 b correct. Not so good record(2-3). I hope pick #6 proves 2 b the correct one and evens the score.

Great post with a T W I S T (am going to call you TWIST from now on)....
What do you think Greece should do tomorrow?

 

[T.W.Is.M.2]

Basketball is the game of opportunity and there is no better opportunity for Greece to face Spain. The boost of such win is strong enough to lift this team high enough to look USA straight in their eyes.

Greece-Russia
93-78

Do u believe that there is a single one team from the other 22 participants that is able 2 beat both Spain and USA in consecutive knock-out rounds, especially when these rounds r not the semi-final and the final?