Greek NT 2024

[R1ou]

Itoudis claims it was his idea to hire Spanoulis as NT coach.

https://www.gazzetta.gr/basketball/2273258/itoydis-gia-spanoyli-itan-diki-moy-idea-na-analabei-ethniki

There is a Greek proverb which suits very well to this situation in my opinion:

Everybody talk and also the asses talk.

You're speaking out of your head for no fcking reason. You make an attack to him for saying that, fine, even if it sounds totally stupid from your side, but let me ask you why he'd come out on public and claim such a thing if there wouldn't be any trace of truth in his comments.

[fasoulaki]

You're speaking out of your head for no fcking reason. You make an attack to him for saying that, fine, even if it sounds totally stupid from your side, but let me ask you why he'd come out on public and claim such a thing if there wouldn't be any trace of truth in his comments.

C'mon people were speculating about Spanoulis beeing the next NT coach for several years now. I read 10-20 articles of reporters suggesting Spanoulis should get the job already one year before the WC tournament.

Itoudis main concern is to limit the damage that being kicked out of the NT has done to his reputation. The best way to achieve this is to shut the f. up. He instead emphasizes that it was a "common decision" to change NT coach and that he plans to help the NT by "counselling", Now he claims that it was his idea to choose Spanounlis as the next NT coach bla bla bla.

Itoudis failed during the EC because he was not able to invent something new to include Giannis into the team and during the WC because he disgusted important players out of the team. He had his time to decide and to speak. Now its time to shut up.

[R1ou]

Itoudis failed in the EB because they game plan to let Germany shoot the ball so comfortable was doomed to fail and not because they couldn't utilize Giannis. Greece's offense was flowing in all their games and yet again losing to this hot Germany wasn't a failure, if anything Greece has lost to inferior opposition in important games many times the last decade.

[Toruko]

Itoudis failed in the EB because they game plan to let Germany shoot the ball so comfortable was doomed to fail and not because they couldn't utilize Giannis. Greece's offense was flowing in all their games and yet again losing to this hot Germany wasn't a failure, if anything Greece has lost to inferior opposition in important games many times the last decade.

Its clear that no coach was able to utilize Giannis properly. Greece may have had the better player individually but what Giannis needs a floor stretching and Greece is one of the worst shooting teams in Europe and Germany on the other hand has better chemistry. Especially Franz Wagner turned out to be a great addition.

If Itoudis game plan was to let the Germans shoot good night for Greece. Germany is a team built out of great till good shooters. Greece could keep up with Germany in the first half but nothing was flowing in the second half. You just saw stupid three pointer attempts of Giannis. The Germans would accept it all day long.

[Victorious]

Germany could have won that Eurobasket as well. They played a bad game against Spain because they overhyped the victory against Greece which at that point was the best team of the tournament.

Over the last two years, Germany was one of the worst teams to play agains because they reached top level while they were not yet acknowledged by the sports world. So against top teams like Greece they felt comfortable.

Greece on the other hand played as favorite in Berlin against a very good Germany. This is why Germany hit their shots. They also hit their shots against the USA in the semi's. Not so much against Latvia. The only WC play off game Germany was not allowed to loose.

Since Greece will not be an underdog any time soon. They can only win a medal having a full roster and a little bit of luck. All countries can play basketball at a high level. One can not afford to enter a tournament without 6 of your best players. Basketball is a sport in which a team can win a torunament with 8-9 players. How arrogant to show up without 5 of your very best, and then complain that you lost. What an ignorance to the game of basketball these people and sports analysts are.

Missing one or two players can make you loose games on a bucket. Missing three or four players can make you loose control of the game in the last quarter, or have bad runs within a game, upon which you end up loosing by a big margin. This is how it works. Greece deserved NOT to win and NOT to make the play offs. But Greece does have the potential to win tournaments. As long as the players understand what is required to do so.

[Toruko]

https://www.eurohoops.net/en/olympic-games/1586498/giannis-antetokounmpo-talks-greece-milwaukee-bucks-nba/

King Leonidas would kiss Giannis on his forehead. He is the proudest Greek on earth.

[R1ou]

He probably said that since there's a speculation Greece will host one of the tournaments and the chances to make it increase heavily.

[fasoulaki]

Very likely he knows himself that it is not possible to do both "... be the last team standing. And after that, try to qualify for Paris".
Either he wins another championship or he qualifies for Paris.

[tonia]

Very likely he knows himself that it is not possible to do both "... be the last team standing. And after that, try to qualify for Paris".
Either he wins another championship or he qualifies for Paris.

Won't the NBA finals be over by mid June 2024? The games in SEF will be on 2-7 July 2024.

[fasoulaki]

Won't the NBA finals be over by mid June 2024? The games in SEF will be on 2-7 July 2024.

The NBA Finals are scheduled to start on June 6, with a possible Game 7 scheduled for June 23.
So worst case one week time to reach Athens and integrate into the team. Forget it!

[Victorious]

Anything is possible. I would say, let Giannis win the NBA title and let Greece qualify without him. After which he can join during the Olympics.
If for whatever reason he doesn't make the finals, he could join Greece in the qualifiers.

It's not everyday you can make the Olympics.

[fasoulaki]

let Giannis win the NBA title and let Greece qualify without him.

The chances to qualify without Giannis are zero.

[Victorious]

So since Greece belongs to tier two and Latvia and Spain are tier 1 and organize an event of their own, it means that Slovenia or Lithuania will be playing in either Athens or Puerto Rico.
Or am I seeing this wrong?

So will Greece be able to beat any of these two at home without Giannis. That's the question.

[tonia]

The chances to qualify without Giannis are zero.

So "optimistic".. I wonder which you think are our chances with Giannis. Eitherway, Giannis would not be enough. I hope that both Sloukas and Calathes will participate.

[R1ou]

Bad draw considering how trash groups A and B are.