Skourtopoulos: “Our aim is to control the tempo”

Head coach of the Greek national team, Thanasis Skourtopoulos, spoke to the media ahead of playing Brazil in the second match of the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

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On Sunday, Greece eased to a comfortable 25-point victory against competition debutants Montenegro in China, but Brazil will offer a much sterner test in Group F. The Brazilians defeated New Zealand 102-94 in their tournament opener.

Thanasis Skourtopoulos is expecting a tough test:

Challenge of facing Brazil: “We played well against Montenegro, and we want to continue in the same way in this match with Brazil. In comparison to Montenegro, the Brazilians have a more dynamic, experienced team which likes to compete aggressively. They have plenty of players who can score a lot of points. The aim for us is to control the tempo and not allow Brazil to score easy baskets. Brazil will attempt more shots than Montenegro. We do have the advantage of having very tall players who can block shots.”

Tactical approach: “If we play solidly in defence, we will be able to take advantage of our chances at the other end. I believe that we have a better team, but we must prove this on the court. Their coach, who has a European philosophy, has adapted well to Brazilian basketball. They have some European elements in the way they play in defence. Our players are playing with a good level of concentration. We would like our three-point success rate to rise by 10%. The quicker we gain a better balance in our game, the easier things will be for us at the competition.”

Return of Kostas Sloukas: “Kostas has completely recovered from his injury. However, he missed 10 days, so he needs time to get back up to speed in training. There are no problems physically or psychologically, he has plenty of experience. We have been waiting for him to recover. Kostas can make great passes, score points and create opportunities for other players.”

Form of Giannis Antetokounmpo: “Giannis is a completely different player than in 2016. He has made huge progress while maturing at the same time. He knows how to deal with different situations and make the right decisions. Giannis didn’t have this level of maturity beforehand. It is extremely difficult to stop him, especially in 1-on-1 situations.”

Thanasis Antetokounmpo also shared his thoughts when speaking to the media:

Thoughts on the victory against Montenegro: “It was a very difficult game, but once we played at our speed, it became easier. We must now focus on the upcoming match against Brazil on Tuesday.”

Threat which Brazil pose: “Brazil have a very strong team, so we have to be careful. This is the World Cup, we are competing against the best players in the world. We must do our job. You have to play each game with a serious mentality. I was nervous in the first game against Montenegro, and the opening matches of all major competitions are always tricky. We believe in each other. Defence is key.”

by Shaun Nicolaides

Image Source: gazzetta.gr

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