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[Round 1 - Day 2 - Group C] Greece - Croatia

  • Thread starter Thread starter slice me nice2
  • Start date Start date

[Round 1 - Day 2 - Group C] Greece - Croatia


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About the "feud" between euro and nba players,I think we're reading too much into this.I'm not sure such a thing even exists.Anyway,if the euros didn't want the nbaers in the team,then they would have their way,trust me.

As for Antetokounmpo,nba and fiba competitions are worlds apart.He cannot be our main offensive threat.European defense would easily destroy a player who cannot shoot.I don't think he's being underutilised.He is just part of the team.Greek teams do not need stars.In fact stars hurt them.Even Spanoulis has backed down from being the de facto leader (congrats to Katsikaris).Personally,I like this team and the roles Katsikaris has passed down.Spanoulis is no longer the star,the team is.He is just there as a terrific player to help us when things get tough (like vs Croatia or last year vs Serbia,where his absence hurt us).But he doesn't get half our shots.As for Antetokounmpo,he can't contribute much on offense (although Katsikaris has done a good job here too,with him cutting from the weak side or penetrating when he finds the space),but he can be a very good role player (unless he learns how to shoot or becomes a C) to provide energy,defense with his long arms,some rebounds and fouls (where his inexperience shows btw).

As for Calathes,I think he is the most pure PG we've got and usually his assist/TO ratio is extraordinary.Plus he plays good on ball defense and he is a very capable stealer.But the truth is,he can't play together with Spanoulis.

About Koufos,I cannot but weep when I see what they've done to him.He is such an untalented player right now.And such a bad defender down low.But he contributes rebounds and around 10 points,so that's not bad I guess.

What I've gathered so far,is that Katsikaris is still trying things.We're still in preparation mode.That's understandable,because or preparation was not good this year.Personally though,I don't think that's a bad thing,especially with the relatively easy schedule we have.The point is to be ready for the QFs.I don't think that we can lose a game before that.However,we should be careful,because we've seen our team lose to the likes of Nigeria and Finland recently.
 
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European defense would easily destroy a player who cannot shoot.

That thing. Remember how USA team became successful again after hard period in 2002-2006 - they cut number of dunkers without shouting ability in their team and returned pure shooters. If you can't shoot oponent will use zone defences, defenders will stay closer to the basket and it is almost impossible to brake defence when there are 5 players in the paint. No matter how atletic you are if you can't shoot you'll be in big trouble.
 
Regarding Spanoulis beeing the star or not and the team beeing still in preparation mode or not, I heared Spanoulis saying something in an interview after the game against Croatia which I did not like.

He said everyone knows who I am and I also know myself who I am...does not sound very modest but at the end it might be just the truth.

In addition when the journalist asked about the bad shape of team and the goal to reach the peak in the k.o. stage, he said that he does not beleive in peaks but that it is obvious that the team does not play well at the moment but that nobody should expect perfect basketball on NT level due to the short preparation time. Again it just might be the truth but it does not follow Katsikaris communication strategy and somehow smells like vspan sees things different than Katsikaris.

Katsikaris bye the way is very good in communication I have to say. He twists things around as long as necessary to put things in the order he wants to have them, even if this means to circumvent the true and hard facts every now and then.
 
Well,our players,just because they are so succesfull,were always truthfull and sometimes even arrogant.They feel like they have nothing to prove and I think they are right.As for Spanoulis' comments,they're subject to interpretation.In my opinion,he stated the obvious.NT level can never be the same as club level.That doesn't mean that NTs cannot reach a peak,though.So,they could both be right.Anyway,I didn't see his comments,so I can't have the full picture.
 
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