Greek NT for WC 2019

[Victorious]

If you want Giannis playing for Greece, you have to accept Thanasis too. He wont play without his brother, but my roster would be like this:

Calathes, Koniaris
Sloukas (Dorsey, Larentzakis)
Papanikolaou, Papapetrou
(Giannis), Printezis, Mitoglou
Bourousis, Koufos, Papagiannis

Greece neglected to raise some prospects and the ones who were promising couldnt develop well like Charalampopolous (god, i hate his surname) and also Papagiannis. It was a mistake to go to the states at young age.

Now Greece has no Center except a never playing Koufos and a 36 old Bourousis, there is also no substitution for Printezis who had a very bad Euroleaugue season. Without giannis this team will sink into oblivion.

Lets wait for Kalaitzakis, Rogvapolous and Arsenopolous

If I remember correctly Greece without Giannis and Koufos was in the QF during last Eurobasket. Bourousis and Printezis are somewhat on the decline, but players like Papagiannis, Papapetrou, Sloukas, Papanikolaou, Dorsey and perhaps Thanassis have made progress for the better. Even without Giannis I believe that Greece has the potential to be Semi-Finalist in Europe, provided that they have a good coach, good chemistry and avoid teams like Serbia, France, Spain in the process. Aside from these teams, perhaps Lithuania or a tournament Cinderella team could potentially beat this Greek team.

In the near future, after the Olympic cycle, I see Bourousis and Printezis retiring. While Papagiannis and Mitoglou will get better and replace them. Granted, Greece will still be somewhat thin in the center position.

I am not a firm believer in the youth teams, rather I would rather bet on players who start developing at age 20 to 24. And it's better to develop one star player, like Diamantidis or Spanoulis than 5-6 decent/good players.

[Toruko]

If I remember correctly Greece without Giannis and Koufos was in the QF during last Eurobasket.

Yeah with 4 losses and 3 wins in a very cheap tournament and with 1 loss (Giannis).

Papagiannis, Papapetrou, Sloukas, Papanikolaou, Dorsey and perhaps Thanassis have made progress for the better.

I agree with Sloukas and Papapetrou but you cant be serious about Thanassis, Dorsey especially.

Even without Giannis I believe that Greece has the potential to be Semi-Finalist in Europe, provided that they have a good coach, good chemistry and avoid teams like Serbia, France, Spain in the process. Aside from these teams, perhaps Lithuania or a tournament Cinderella team could potentially beat this Greek team.

Every team except USA is beatable. On the other hand i consider even teams like Italy, Germany etc clear better. Especially Germany will be very strong in the future.

This Tournament is quarter finals the last possible station at best. Next Tournaments will be tougher especially without Giannis.

[Victorious]

Yeah with 4 losses and 3 wins in a very cheap tournament and with 1 loss (Giannis).

I don't take the losses very seriously. How many times did we witness Spain or Serbia loose games in regular phase and start steamrolling during K.O. phase. The team had very bad chemistry and showed some of the potential during the K.O. phase. With a good coach they could have actually made the semi finals.

[fasoulaki]

Does sombody know who will be the opponent in the first friendly which will take place midth of August in Heraklion/Crete?
I found it myself: https://www.sport24.gr/Basket/Ellada...h.5526441.html
Iran and Hungary!

[EverGreen]

The premiminary squad for the WC2019 is:

Giannis Athineou, Giannis Adetokounmpo, Thanasis Adetokounmpo, Kostas Adetokounmpo, Panagiotis Vasilopoulos, Nick Calathes, Antonis Koniaris, Giannoulis Larentzakis, Vaggelis Mantzaris, Dinos Mitoglou, Giannis Bourousis, Tyler Dorsey, Giorgos Papagiannis, Kostas Papanikolaou, Ioannis Papapetrou, Giorgos Printzezis, Christos Saloustros and Kostas Sloukas.

No invites for Zach Auguste, Kostas Koufos or Zach Mitrou-Long.

The final 12 baring injuries should be:

PG Nick Calathes, Kostas Sloukas.
SG Giannoulis Larentzakis, Tyler Dorsey
SF Thanasis Adetokounmpo, Kostas Papanikolaou, Ioannis Papapetrou,
PF Giannis Adetokounmpo, Dinos Mitoglou, Giorgos Printzezis
C Giannis Bourousis, Giorgos Papagiannis

We are quite limited in guard positions as well as at C

[Toruko]

Γιάννης Αθηναίου, Γιάννης Αντετοκούνμπο, Θανάσης Αντετοκούνμπο, Κώστας Αντετοκούνμπο, Παναγιώτης Βασιλόπουλος, Νικ Καλάθης, Αντώνης Κόνιαρης, Γιαννούλης Λαρεντζάκης, Βαγγέλης Μάντζαρης, Ντίνος Μήτογλου, Γιάννης Μπουρούσης, Τάιλερ Ντόρσεϊ, Γιώργος Παπαγιάννης, Κώστας Παπανικολάου, Ιωάννης Παπαπέτρου, Γιώργος Πρίντεζης, Χρήστος Σαλούστρος, Κώστας Σλούκας.

The premiminary squad for the WC2019 is:

Giannis Athineou, Giannis Adetokounmpo, Thanasis Adetokounmpo, Kostas Adetokounmpo, Panagiotis Vasilopoulos, Nick Calathes, Antonis Koniaris, Giannoulis Larentzakis, Vaggelis Mantzaris, Dinos Mitoglou, Giannis Bourousis, Tyler Dorsey, Giorgos Papagiannis, Kostas Papanikolaou, Ioannis Papapetrou, Giorgos Printzezis, Christos Saloustros and Kostas Sloukas.

No Koufos?

[EverGreen]

No Koufos?

No. No Zach Auguste either as we could only choose 1 naturalised player and Dorsey was the one chosen.

[Toruko]

No. No Zach Auguste either as we could only choose 1 naturalised player and Dorsey was the one chosen.

Thanks, this was a big question mark for me if Dorsey, zack and Koufos are naturalized. This explains it.

[EverGreen]

Thanks, this was a big question mark for me if Dorsey, zack and Koufos are naturalized. This explains it.

I think Koufos is not naturalised as both parents were both Greek citizens before immigrating to Australia originally and then moving to the US.

[Toruko]

I think Koufos is not naturalised as both parents were both Greek citizens before immigrating to Australia originally and then moving to the US.

Then its weird to take Papagiannis over Koufos but he hardly played but you have also Giannis so it wont be that much of a problem.

[EverGreen]

Then its weird to take Papagiannis over Koufos but he hardly played but you have also Giannis so it wont be that much of a problem.

Koufos rejected to play for Greece many times coming up with excuses every tournament pretty much. I think he's only played in 4 competitions in like 10 years.

Greek fans are over him because of this rejection.

He's played in Eurobasket (2009,2011, 2015) and one Pre-Olympic Tournament (2016)

[fasoulaki]

If I am not mistaken Koufos is a free agent in the moment. I remember that in the past he always refused to play for the NT during his free agency.

[EverGreen]

Our teams seriously lacks shooters which is what is best having with Giannis in the middle. Vasiliadis wouldn't have been a bad call up considering we are weak on the 3p line.

[fasoulaki]

Our teams seriously lacks shooters which is what is best having with Giannis in the middle. Vasiliadis wouldn't have been a bad call up considering we are weak on the 3p line.

Vasiliadis never delivered in the national team and he also did not play during the qualification tournament if I am not mistaken.
The team lacks everything apart from the NBA MVP and plethora of Antetokoumpos.

[Toruko]

I think the real weakness is actually near the rim. Bourou, Printezis and Papagiannis is either old or too tempered. The strength is the triangle Calathes Giannis Sloukas. Of course the best way to use Giannis is having 4 shooter around him.