Group B, Day 2: Greece vs. Philippines

[durden_tyler]

Thanks to DTown for reminding us that IBN will probably shut down when these two teams meet come the FIBA World Cup in Spain. i believe Greek/Filipino fans have quite a good number in IBN. (My personal request is for the mods/admin to work on security before the games begin, we don't want IBN hacked again at this time...)

Greece will probably be favored by double digits (-22.5 is a good number i think) but that's not stopping us from thinking we'll have a chance in this game.

i know line-ups may not be final at this point, but who's stopping me from creating a Game Thread eight months before it begins?

Anyway, the teams' Road to Spain:

Philippines - Placed 2nd in the FIBA Asia to qualify

Greece - via the wildcard only, which means they probably don't deserve to be in Spain.

(Half kidding Greek fans, just a little trash talk to get this eight month game thread going. Would appreciate if you can post probable line-ups from your team, as we'll post ours, and discuss the match-up moving forward )

[Dtown]

Aww c'mon man you forgot the poll.

While I don't expect a close game the chatter should be fun at least (provided the mods are really attentive.)

[PRSURF]

That game, and the Greece vs Puerto Rico will be entertaining.

[kaiziken_pinas]

We'll win. No problem. They couldn't even blow out the Chinese back in 2010 couldn't even beat Finland and finished 11th in Eurobasket :P HAHAHHAHA

[durden_tyler]

Aww c'mon man you forgot the poll.

While I don't expect a close game the chatter should be fun at least (provided the mods are really attentive.)

Wasn't it clear that i was overly excited in creating the thread? Of course i will forget the most important thing! (Mods/Admin can you add the poll please?!)

[Victorious]

Greece is favored for sure. But IMO the game is actually going to be played before the WC. It all depends on what the Greeks will bring in the tournament. Greece don't like their results in recent tournaments and some losses against teams like Nigeria and Finland are not taken lightly. So, it seems that Greece will for the first time in years (since 2008) will come to the tournament with a full roster and a good Greek coach who will be very defensively oriented. Most importantly, Greece played the last two tournaments without a real center. This probably won't be the case this year.
It is also the first game of the tournament, so teams will be well prepared. This works in favor of Greece.

My guess is that the Philippines will start shooting threes in the first half. If they make them, they'll stay in the game. If not, it will be over after the second period.

[ctongco]

First time we'll be playing at this level in a very very long time, of course Filipinos will be super excited.

Whether or not Greece sends its best line-up, they are still favored to win this one. However, a lot of things can happen. The most important would be for us not to get intimidated. Also, fast-tracking the naturalization of Javale McGee and Andray Blatche wouldn't hurt.

[ak1105]

Greece is favored for sure. But IMO the game is actually going to be played before the WC. It all depends on what the Greeks will bring in the tournament. Greece don't like their results in recent tournaments and some losses against teams like Nigeria and Finland are not taken lightly. So, it seems that Greece will for the first time in years (since 2008) will come to the tournament with a full roster and a good Greek coach who will be very defensively oriented. Most importantly, Greece played the last two tournaments without a real center. This probably won't be the case this year.
It is also the first game of the tournament, so teams will be well prepared. This works in favor of Greece.

My guess is that the Philippines will start shooting threes in the first half. If they make them, they'll stay in the game. If not, it will be over after the second period.

Greece is and will always be favored in this game..but don't count us out yet..if Philippines bring their A game just like that one they did against Korea plus a healthy Naturalized player and caught Greece off guard, then it should be a good game..

[durden_tyler]

Greece is favored for sure. But IMO the game is actually going to be played before the WC. It all depends on what the Greeks will bring in the tournament. Greece don't like their results in recent tournaments and some losses against teams like Nigeria and Finland are not taken lightly. So, it seems that Greece will for the first time in years (since 2008) will come to the tournament with a full roster and a good Greek coach who will be very defensively oriented. Most importantly, Greece played the last two tournaments without a real center. This probably won't be the case this year.
It is also the first game of the tournament, so teams will be well prepared. This works in favor of Greece.

My guess is that the Philippines will start shooting threes in the first half. If they make them, they'll stay in the game. If not, it will be over after the second period.

As mentioned, i do think a double-digit spread will be in order, somewhere the below-20s, which i feel is just apt.

Question: how young is your team? Not that it makes any difference since you play at a higher level of basketball but i guess any advantage, we'd take (We're sending a veteran-laden squad).

[adamosmaki]

As mentioned, i do think a double-digit spread will be in order, somewhere the below-20s, which i feel is just apt.

Question: how young is your team? Not that it makes any difference since you play at a higher level of basketball but i guess any advantage, we'd take (We're sending a veteran-laden squad).

well roster is far from finalized but the team is gonna be a mix of veterans and young ( under 24 guys ). There will be at least 3-4 23year olds ( Papanikolaou and most likely Mantzaris and Sloukas and or maybe Kalathes ). Then there is quite a big chance to have the 19year old Antetokumbo as well as Koufos. So the age average probably will be 26-27

[analyzed]

Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo was voted by media and analyst covering the NBA as the best "finished product" (when he reaches his peak) in last years draft. He is a heck of a talent , they say he is still growing (at 19 yrs old) , he grew 1 1/2 " since the draft !

[prince75]

A couple of years ago people in this forum only dreamt of the Philippine Team going up against the best in the world, Gilas was still out of the picture. But right now we are discussing our chances against One of the worlds best, the Spartans against Lapu-lapu if i may say. I do to imagined that we are -20 against them but if well play our A game and they will not then i think its well be at least -10. If Greece plays poorly and we play really good then that would give us a chance for an upset. They are a lot bigger than us and hopefully we could use our speed to negate it. No matter what well just enjoy the game win or lose.

[Victorious]

well roster is far from finalized but the team is gonna be a mix of veterans and young ( under 24 guys ). There will be at least 3-4 23year olds ( Papanikolaou and most likely Mantzaris and Sloukas and or maybe Kalathes ). Then there is quite a big chance to have the 19year old Antetokumbo as well as Koufos. So the age average probably will be 26-27

Would hardly call these players a weakness. All of them have won EL titles and played important roles in their teams. The only immature/inexperienced player would be Antekontoumbo, but I don't think he'll be part of the team. His position on the NT is filled with good players. The talented Antekontoumbo will have to wait. Perhaps next year or the Olympics would be a good time for him to take part of the senior team. I think that this year he'll be part of the young team.

As for the average age of the team, almost all players will be between 24 and 32. If Antekontoumbo won't come, no one will be under 24 next summer. There will be five players which will be between 24 and 25, and most of the rest will be between 29 and 32. So the average age is around 28.

[weward]

For me, if they dont blow the Philippines by more than 30, that means they are WEAK.

[durden_tyler]

Would hardly call these players a weakness. All of them have won EL titles and played important roles in their teams. The only immature/inexperienced player would be Antekontoumbo, but I don't think he'll be part of the team. His position on the NT is filled with good players. The talented Antekontoumbo will have to wait. Perhaps next year or the Olympics would be a good time for him to take part of the senior team. I think that this year he'll be part of the young team.

As for the average age of the team, almost all players will be between 24 and 32. If Antekontoumbo won't come, no one will be under 24 next summer. There will be five players which will be between 24 and 25, and most of the rest will be between 29 and 32. So the average age is around 28.

If this is true then we'd have practically the same/similar average age i believe.