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Bukefal, congrats for advancing to QF.
Slovenia vs. Greece Preview
08.09.2011
EUROBASKET 2011
Preview by Yarone Arbel
Group F - Thursday at 21:00 (20:00 CET)
The main game on the opening day in Group E features two powerhouses of European basketball, in Greece and Slovenia.
Slovenia missed the top spot in Group D to Russia and as a result arrived to Vilnius with a 1-1 record.
Greece was shocked by F.Y.R. of Macedonia by 14 points and carry that loss with them to stand on 1-1 as well.
This means the winner of the game will take not only have a one win advantage, with only two games to play, but also hold a better position in case of a tie-breaker will be needed.
With the intimidating teams arriving to the Quarter-Finals from the parallel group, this game can prove to be a "make or break" affair.
While nobody on the Greek team but Antonios Fotsis was born before 1983, in Slovenia we see no less than five players, all of them playing massive minutes, which are already 30 or older.
The two-day gap gave the older squad of Slovenia time to rest their bodies but in such an intense defensive battle fatigue could become a factor as well.
This is expected to be one of the most intense games in this round, mostly due to the close history these two teams share, as mentioned below.
With the pressure that comes with the importance of the game, the slow pace of both teams, the very hard defense on each side and the close history don't be surprised to see this game decided in the last seconds as well.
Head-to-Head: These two played each other five teams already with Slovenia winning the first three games; Greece were on top in the last two. Yet the most important games of the five were the last two in the previous two EuroBaskets. In 2007, Greece won the Quarter-Final battle 63-62 after one of the biggest comebacks in EuroBasket history from 49-61 with 2:40 to play. Two years ago the two sides played for the bronze medal and once again Greece won by a single point, 63-62 this time.
Last Time Out: Slovenia led for 39:59.8 minutes against Russia but lost right with the buzzer and missed the top spot in Group D. Greece eliminated Croatia with a 74-69 victory to finish second in Group C.
Key Match-Up: Greece's Antonios Fotsis and Slovenia's Erazem Lorbek are two major forces in today's European basketball. Their top performance in EuroBasket 2011 for their national teams is another proof for that, if anyone needed that. Lorbek averaged so far 12.6 points and 5.6 rebounds while Fotsis is almost identical with 13 points and 3.8 rebounds.
Key Stat: Both teams are ranked in the lower third of the 24 teams on offense, and are only second and third to Russia in the Points Allowed category. Defensive figures will decide this encounter.
X-Factor: Kostas Vasileiadis of Greece is one of the best three point shooters in Europe. He was just one out of 13 in the first three Preliminary Round games but in the last two hit three in each game with good accuracy. If he continues this way against Slovenia, Greece will earn nine or even more points from long distance and in a game that is expected to be so defense-oriented it can make a huge difference.
Sounding Off: "We can get a lot from the first game against Greece and we have to take it as one of the finals, however we cannot be obsessed with that. This is a long tournament, a lot of games are played and at the end the champion will be the team which will be physically and psychologically the best. Greece is a great squad, although they don't have the best players with them and they play great defense. They don't allow big number of points so I think they will play very controlled." -Slovenia's Jaka Lakovic.
Bukefal, congrats for advancing to QF.
Russia beat Finland 79:60.
Poor defense so far. Lorbek has been useless out there
We're pathetic.
We're getting schooled by the greeks.
I like how our coach just watched greeks build that lead without calling timeout, making a sub or call for a change in our defense. I'm sure it's all part of a master plan.
44-37 for Greece at this point - not over yet
Slovenia 46-44 after 3rd. Greeks confused by the zone D.
Slovenia leads 46-44 at the end of 3rd quarter.
Damn, it seems like Smodis is just a faint shadow of his former self.
Why? It's not a very good team.
Congrats Greece, you deserved this one.
So we now need to fight for that 4th spot in qf, the way we play it's going to be though even against Macedonia and Finland
BTW, did Boris just say that Goran ing Dragič is a great free throw shooter?
Also: Begič is our best player - which is just sad.
Greece not being the best they can be doesn't turn our team into a good one.
Guys couldn't beat the Greek-American team?
It's a great think that the Bosnian is the best Slovenian player. Z. Dragič also good, Lorbek solid... Others should never play basketball anymore. G. Dragič is a LMAO and Lakovič's one pathetic PG. Slokar should work on a farm and Edo Murič should give up on basketball. Jagodnik is too ing old, Samo Udrih HAHAHAHAHHAHAAHHAHA, Smodiš is finished, Ožbolt, oh man... I know that Rupnik is just 18 years old but that kid will never be our savior or something, you can see that he just isn't that special. our coach, you Beno and other quitters. Our basketball future looks like and that is just how we looked today. I know I said I don't expect great things with this roster, but Greece is even tier. I just hope no one will expect a medal from this team. I would be really happy if Finland and Macedonia crush us, cause we better not face Spain or France, those teams from the other group would ing rape us bad.
Good night.
Rubio sucksPERIOD
Congrats Manu_Forever. Our team is just not... a team. And how was I wrong about Maljkovič. It is really a sad day for me.
Goran Dragič looked like crap the whole tournament. His brother plays 100X times better.
Yes it is. Coach!
Perhaps it's true, but it also seems to me that people had/have unreasonably high expectations for this team. Everybody dreaming some nonsense about a medal, when top 8 is probably the most they can do. Anything more would be a pleasant surprise.
A lot of us just want to see them playing decent basketball, thats about it.
And there is little to be happy about, only to bright spots are Zoran and Begič. Everyone else seems to have either regressed or is over the hill.
Lakovič apperently cant pass the ball and he is a PG, and with his shooting beeing off the whole tournament, it just creates a great reliable feeling at start of each offensive possesion. G.Dragič is playing completely out of control and frantic and cant buy a midrange-longrange bucket to save his life. And Ožbolt got injured one to many times, thinks he is better then he is, shooting 3s everytime he gets the ball, running down the clock by dribbling and making bad passes and TO as time expires. Udrih is as bad as expected
This right here is our main issue, weak backcourt (at least judging from the play this last week). Lorbek, Begic, Smodis and Slokar are playing fine.
Hate to admit it, but the fake greek's got a point.
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