Gold Medal Match: USA vs Serbia

[reamily]

Saras was a distaster in Indiana. He had trouble advancing the ball past half court. So.....sloooooooow....

I actually had high hopes for Arvydas Macijauskas, believe it or not. But same problem for him. Good size, accurate shooter but his game was just too slow for the NBA.

It isn't enough to have skill for a guard, you have to do everything you do well at 1.5X the speed. American college players have the same problem. You either adjust or you don't. Unfortunately for many Europeans they are a bit older when they come to the NBA so they aren't afforded the same amount of time and it is harder for them to change themselves for that same reason. Usually the NBA club gets impatient or the player gives in to frustration and heads back home.

I should note that Drazen Petrovic had the same struggles but to his credit he kept working hard to adapt and eventually became one of the best guards in the NBA. So many NBA fans were happy for him his final breakout year in New Jersey because he worked so hard to make it happen.

US ball is fast paced, and a lot of training is based not on skills but on thephysical aspect, you need a good body to survive the 82 game season, Jasikevicious is too old to undergo physical training so really euro players need to come to the nba at age 20-22 as it was the right age for physical development, Manu survived the nba because not only Argentina plays fast paced euro ball but also preserved in Spurs team philosophy..

[Victorious]

US ball is fast paced, and a lot of training is based not on skills but on thephysical aspect, you need a good body to survive the 82 game season, Jasikevicious is too old to undergo physical training so really euro players need to come to the nba at age 20-22 as it was the right age for physical development, Manu survived the nba because not only Argentina plays fast paced euro ball but also preserved in Spurs team philosophy..

There are two sides of the coin. When Giannis plays for the Greek NT, he disrupts the rhythm of Greece's game. Especially the passing game suffers immensely. He makes up for it due to his athletic abilities in the fast breaks, but overall team chemistry goes down. His brother Thanassis gives a lot of energy to the team, but he too disrupts the flow. Yes, he is not an NBA player, but he was in the D league for two seasons. Once both Giannis and Thansassis are out, the remaining players change their style, and ball circulation speed picks up.

So why judge players based on their performance in the NBA if there are two styles of basketball?

[reamily]

There are two sides of the coin. When Giannis plays for the Greek NT, he disrupts the rhythm of Greece's game. Especially the passing game suffers immensely. He makes up for it due to his athletic abilities in the fast breaks, but overall team chemistry goes down. His brother Thanassis gives a lot of energy to the team, but he too disrupts the flow. Yes, he is not an NBA player, but he was in the D league for two seasons. Once both Giannis and Thansassis are out, the remaining players change their style, and ball circulation speed picks up.

So why judge players based on their performance in the NBA if there are two styles of basketball?

Exactly Greek have strong league and plays certain style, although Giannis brings the numbers, he disrupts team chemistry, its a matter on maximizing Giannis gifts especially defensively and when the team having difficult time executing in offense..But again his 21 still not mature enough on the advance aspects of team game (adjusting to the team styles etc)

[Victorious]

Exactly Greek have strong league and plays certain style, although Giannis brings the numbers, he disrupts team chemistry, its a matter on maximizing Giannis gifts especially defensively and when the team having difficult time executing in offense..But again his 21 still not mature enough on the advance aspects of team game (adjusting to the team styles etc)

Giannis never played pro-ball in Greece. He went straight to the NBA from an amateur club. He wasn't even dominant for the young Greek NT. So I don't think he will ever adapt to Greece's game. In fact, the opposite happened this year. Greece adapted its game to Giannis. He will become more dominant as he matures, but then Greece will rely too much on the skills of individual players. In international tournaments, where there are a lot of KO games, this is a big risk. One bad day can knock you out of the tournament. One has to emphasize on defense and teamwork.

[Bad Boys 2882]

There are two sides of the coin. When Giannis plays for the Greek NT, he disrupts the rhythm of Greece's game. Especially the passing game suffers immensely. He makes up for it due to his athletic abilities in the fast breaks, but overall team chemistry goes down. His brother Thanassis gives a lot of energy to the team, but he too disrupts the flow. Yes, he is not an NBA player, but he was in the D league for two seasons. Once both Giannis and Thansassis are out, the remaining players change their style, and ball circulation speed picks up.

So why judge players based on their performance in the NBA if there are two styles of basketball?

While Giannis has certainly shown a lot of physical ability in the NBA, he has obvious problems playing within the flow of the game in Milwaukee as well. He gets beaten constantly away from the ball, his outside shot still hasn't developed and he too often holds the ball when he doesn't have an obvious advantage.

It is not about Giannis being great in the NBA and bad in Europe because of a difference in style. His maturity issues are obvious anywhere.

[CoachZ]

While Giannis has certainly shown a lot of physical ability in the NBA, he has obvious problems playing within the flow of the game in Milwaukee as well. He gets beaten constantly away from the ball, his outside shot still hasn't developed and he too often holds the ball when he doesn't have an obvious advantage.

It is not about Giannis being great in the NBA and bad in Europe because of a difference in style. His maturity issues are obvious anywhere.

With Giannis there are issues with Basketball IQ and maturity + He is just not a natural shooter to be a complete package. He can work his but off and become a very good shooter, but he will never be a natural shooter. It's just not there...

[Beez]

While Giannis has certainly shown a lot of physical ability in the NBA, he has obvious problems playing within the flow of the game in Milwaukee as well. He gets beaten constantly away from the ball, his outside shot still hasn't developed and he too often holds the ball when he doesn't have an obvious advantage.

It is not about Giannis being great in the NBA and bad in Europe because of a difference in style. His maturity issues are obvious anywhere.

Exactly. My favorite "Greek Freak" bonehead moment:

https://usatthebiglead.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/giannis-antetokounmpo-ejected-for-shoulder-checking-mike-dunleavy-4-30-15.gif

[Bad Boys 2882]

With Giannis there are issues with Basketball IQ and maturity + He is just not a natural shooter to be a complete package. He can work his but off and become a very good shooter, but he will never be a natural shooter. It's just not there...

The shot was obvious when he was drafted. It's shocking how bad he is on defense for a man that tall and agile with the wingspan of a condor... He was projected to be a game changing defensive disruptor and he isn't even good yet. The game hasn't slowed down for him yet but I think he's improving.

[Jazz]

It is interesting though that Pablo Prigioni is surviving at all in the NBA (even as a backup) in his late 30s.

[Beez]

It is interesting though that Pablo Prigioni is surviving at all in the NBA (even as a backup) in his late 30s.

He played a big part in the Rocket's playoff run a couple of years ago, and they only have to play him the veteran's minimum this season. Plus, Mike D'Antoni is Houston's new coach, so since they don't plan to play defense...why not give Prigioni a try?

[Big Lebowski]

Greece adapted its game to Giannis. He will become more dominant as he matures, but then Greece will rely too much on the skills of individual players. In international tournaments, where there are a lot of KO games, this is a big risk. One bad day can knock you out of the tournament. One has to emphasize on defense and teamwork.

Isn't it the same that happened with Spanoulis in the last years?
With the awkward results that Greece achieved...

[Victorious]

Isn't it the same that happened with Spanoulis in the last years?
With the awkward results that Greece achieved...

Well, Spanoulis wasn't there in 2014 and it seemed Greece missed him dearly. In 2015 the result was not awkward. They were knocked out in the QF against Spain by one basket.

[Oly_fan]

While Giannis has certainly shown a lot of physical ability in the NBA, he has obvious problems playing within the flow of the game in Milwaukee as well. He gets beaten constantly away from the ball, his outside shot still hasn't developed and he too often holds the ball when he doesn't have an obvious advantage.

It is not about Giannis being great in the NBA and bad in Europe because of a difference in style. His maturity issues are obvious anywhere.

Antetokounmpo had an amazing post ASG season. A thousand steps above and beyond anything Michael Carter Williams could even imagine doing with the same team.
And he is not even that good according to you? Imagine what these other players are like.

[Bad Boys 2882]

Antetokounmpo had an amazing post ASG season. A thousand steps above and beyond anything Michael Carter Williams could even imagine doing with the same team.
And he is not even that good according to you? Imagine what these other players are like.

He put up a lot of big numbers for a team that was no longer trying to win games. His weaknesses remained, he just covered them up with massive statistics from dominating the ball during games where the focus was to develop him instead of win. The Bucks were not any better for it.

MCW sucks, by the way. Giannis has talent without proper direction. MCW has neither direction nor talent.

When I see Giannis properly apply himself on defense or develop a consistent offensive go-to move, I'll admit he's taken the next step. I know he can put up triple doubles during games where his team is behind by twenty points.

[usagre]

I know he can put up triple doubles during games where his team is behind by twenty points.

That's actually incorrect. His 5 triple doubles translated into 4-1 record in those games. And overall 5-2 when you add two games that he just missed the triple double by one.