Due to the significant absences (Antetokounmpo, Kalathis, Larentzakis) and the lack of competitive rhythm after the end of the Pre-Olympic tournament, the friendly against Puerto Rico at the PAOK Sports Arena was the main opportunity for Vassilis Spanoulis to test situations against opponents . that the basketball he plays does not suit the National Team very well.
Greece did not score compared to the Pre-Olympics due to poor formation and perimeter accuracy, but made excellent defensive adjustments in the fourth quarter and prevailed 67-65 in the final indoor test before the Olympic games opener with Canada (27/ 7, 22:00).
Glomex Player(eexbs1jkdkewvzn,v-d2r4y6ca3gqx)
The game
The absence of Nick Calathes from Walkap’s side was evident in the way the national team worked in defense and attack. Puerto Rico had a much better pace than the Greek team who went out without two of their main players and were out…waters.
Glomex Player(eexbs1jkdkewvzn,v-d2r4nsgteq1d)
The image of Greece in the first period (15-20) was not good, the partnerships were not desired in defense and attack and the Puerto Ricans seemed to be in gear. If something was missing from the National Team in the first 15 minutes, it was the tension in the defense and the areas with good spread in the attack, certainly due to the absence of Giannis, Kalathis and Larentzakis.
So Puerto Rico went to the locker room with a 32-36 advantage, shooting 12/16 2-pointers and forcing Greece into seven errors. However, the duo of Papagiannis and Mitoglou carried the National team aggressively, scoring 10 points each in this period.
Glomex Player(eexbs1jkdkewvzn,v-d2r503dqop8p)
Midway through the third period, Vassilis Toliopoulos went to the bench with a right shoulder problem for the Greek team that was facing some difficulties on offense against the organized defense of the Puerto Ricans. The Nationals pulled off their first successful upset of the second half early in the fourth quarter, but each time they got close, Puerto Rico found solutions and kept the lead.
Romero finished the stage with an impressive nailing for 59-65 with 3:30 to go, and Lountzis and Mitoglou reduced the difference to a point (64-65, 38′). Papanikolaou gave the first final to the National team at 30.3″ with a difficult effort for 66-65, Alvarado lost in front of Papagiannis who made the final 67-65 with 1/2 shots.
Fourth quarter: 15-20, 32-36, 48-58, 67-65.
HERE’S WHY: The national team was down by 10 points at the end of the third period, but made a great comeback in the last period and got the positive result against Puerto Rico.
BEST OF ALL: Dinos Mitoglou led the Nationals offensively, filling his stat line with 18 points (9/15 2.0), eight rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 27:01.
COMPETITION IN THE FOUNDATION: Giorgos Papagiannis had 13 points and seven rebounds, Panagiotis Kalaitzakis added seven points and nine rebounds and Kostas Papanikolaou had 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.
HIS TURNOUT PERFORMANCE: Ismael Romero scored 10 points with six rebounds.
COUNCIL STATISTICS: The difference in rebounds (41-27) and won by the National Team despite making 18 mistakes.
Source: www.gazzetta.gr
News today:
Real Madrid put on a great show for Kylian Mbappe – Watch video
The Turkish archaeologist who cornered the British in the Danikas: “I personally took back the Parthenon Statues”
It was a misunderstanding, we solved it ourselves, said Fai Zafirakou about the incident with Andreas Komposis in Karystos