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Greek scouting report
Most American basketball fans know nothing about the Greek team, because none of them play in the NBA. With no NBA players, they aren't supposed to be very good, but came "out of nowhere" to beat Team USA in the 2006 World Championships. In all fairness to the Americans, the Greek squad played the game of their lives in beating Team USA. The game after they beat Team USA, they got crushed by the Spanish team, so they can be uneven in their performances. In the 2007 European Championships, they finished fourth, and were forced into the FIBA World Qualifying tournament, which they breezed through, crushing Brazil (by 20), Puerto Rico (by 25), New Zealand (by 27), and Lebanon (by 57).
The Greek team is considered a medal contender at Beijing, and could easily end up in the top four. They are in the same pool with Team USA, so they are guaranteed at least one rematch with the Americans.Who are they, and who should anti-caste basketball fans be looking for when they play Team USA again?
Dimitris Diamantidis, 6'6 guard, is a four-time Greek League Champion and MVP. A crafty triple-threat with the ball, he is the Greek's biggest threat from three-point range, shooting 60% beyond the arc in the qualifying tourney. He led his team in minutes in the FIBA qualifier, and shot an incredible 74% inside the arc, while also finishing second on the team in scoring, assists, and rebounds.
Vassilis Spanoulis, 6'4 guard, is a three-time Greek All-Star, also known as "Kill Bill" and "V-Span," and may be familiar to Americans because of his brief stint in the NBA with the Houston Rockets in 2006 after his 22 point outburst in the USA upset, when he torched Chris Paul and orchestrated the demolition of the American defense. Spanoulis is the primary point guard for the Greeks and relies on his quickness and athleticism to get into the lane and dish the ball out to his open teammates on the perimeter, and is known as a tenacious defender. During the FIBA qualifier last month, he led his team in scoring and steals, and was second in assists (tied with Diamantidis).
Theo PAPALOUKAS, 6'7 guard, is also a primary threat for the Greek squad. Shooting an incredible 77% inside the arc (where he takes most of his shots), Papaloukas also lead the team in assists and was second in steals.
Antonis FOTSIS, a 6'10 PF, anchors the Greek front line. While leading the team in rebounds, he also finished second in scoring (tied with Diamantidis), shooting 77% inside the arc. However, he is also a long range threat, and shot 33% on three-pointers, where he took almost half his shots. Highlighting his role as an outside-shooting big man, he did not earn many trips to the free throw line.
Panagiotis VASSILOPOULOS, 6'8 PF, was a major contributor to the easy Greek wins in the qualifiers. Shooting 50% from both inside and outside the arc, Vassilopoulos was also tied for second on the team in rebounds.
Kostas TSARTSARIS, a 6'10 PF/C, contributes to the Greek squad with solid shooting. While not afraid to occasionally shoot the three, his rugged game earned him the most trips to the free throw line, and he finished tied for fourth in scoring.
Ioannis BOUROUSSIS, 6'11 C, was a solid as backup center, shooting an incredible 78% inside the arc, and earning almost as many trips to the line as Tsartsaris. He led the team in blocks, and was tied for fourth in scoring.
Sofoklis Schortsanitis, 6'9 PF/C, is called "Baby Shaq" because of his fat physique (375 pounds) and black skin (his father was African). While credited with being a major factor in the American upset in 2006, he logs few minutes on the Greek squad because of his poor shooting (36% on free throws) and tendency to give up turnovers and pick up fouls. On the positive side, he plays tough and with energy, adding solid rebounding and shot blocking, and finishes strong near the basket.
Most American basketball fans know nothing about the Greek team, because none of them play in the NBA. With no NBA players, they aren't supposed to be very good, but came "out of nowhere" to beat Team USA in the 2006 World Championships. In all fairness to the Americans, the Greek squad played the game of their lives in beating Team USA. The game after they beat Team USA, they got crushed by the Spanish team, so they can be uneven in their performances. In the 2007 European Championships, they finished fourth, and were forced into the FIBA World Qualifying tournament, which they breezed through, crushing Brazil (by 20), Puerto Rico (by 25), New Zealand (by 27), and Lebanon (by 57).
The Greek team is considered a medal contender at Beijing, and could easily end up in the top four. They are in the same pool with Team USA, so they are guaranteed at least one rematch with the Americans.Who are they, and who should anti-caste basketball fans be looking for when they play Team USA again?
Dimitris Diamantidis, 6'6 guard, is a four-time Greek League Champion and MVP. A crafty triple-threat with the ball, he is the Greek's biggest threat from three-point range, shooting 60% beyond the arc in the qualifying tourney. He led his team in minutes in the FIBA qualifier, and shot an incredible 74% inside the arc, while also finishing second on the team in scoring, assists, and rebounds.
Vassilis Spanoulis, 6'4 guard, is a three-time Greek All-Star, also known as "Kill Bill" and "V-Span," and may be familiar to Americans because of his brief stint in the NBA with the Houston Rockets in 2006 after his 22 point outburst in the USA upset, when he torched Chris Paul and orchestrated the demolition of the American defense. Spanoulis is the primary point guard for the Greeks and relies on his quickness and athleticism to get into the lane and dish the ball out to his open teammates on the perimeter, and is known as a tenacious defender. During the FIBA qualifier last month, he led his team in scoring and steals, and was second in assists (tied with Diamantidis).
Theo PAPALOUKAS, 6'7 guard, is also a primary threat for the Greek squad. Shooting an incredible 77% inside the arc (where he takes most of his shots), Papaloukas also lead the team in assists and was second in steals.
Antonis FOTSIS, a 6'10 PF, anchors the Greek front line. While leading the team in rebounds, he also finished second in scoring (tied with Diamantidis), shooting 77% inside the arc. However, he is also a long range threat, and shot 33% on three-pointers, where he took almost half his shots. Highlighting his role as an outside-shooting big man, he did not earn many trips to the free throw line.
Panagiotis VASSILOPOULOS, 6'8 PF, was a major contributor to the easy Greek wins in the qualifiers. Shooting 50% from both inside and outside the arc, Vassilopoulos was also tied for second on the team in rebounds.
Kostas TSARTSARIS, a 6'10 PF/C, contributes to the Greek squad with solid shooting. While not afraid to occasionally shoot the three, his rugged game earned him the most trips to the free throw line, and he finished tied for fourth in scoring.
Ioannis BOUROUSSIS, 6'11 C, was a solid as backup center, shooting an incredible 78% inside the arc, and earning almost as many trips to the line as Tsartsaris. He led the team in blocks, and was tied for fourth in scoring.
Sofoklis Schortsanitis, 6'9 PF/C, is called "Baby Shaq" because of his fat physique (375 pounds) and black skin (his father was African). While credited with being a major factor in the American upset in 2006, he logs few minutes on the Greek squad because of his poor shooting (36% on free throws) and tendency to give up turnovers and pick up fouls. On the positive side, he plays tough and with energy, adding solid rebounding and shot blocking, and finishes strong near the basket.
