Thursday, 13.07.2006	posted by Ioannis Psarakis 7:10 pm
Category: FIBA World Championship

.................................................................................................................

"SOFOKLIS" ABOVE THE RIM

Initially, I would like to wellcome all the friends of blogers of the World Basketball site. Let's go now to the substance. You'll allow my first a comment to be reported in the European Champions which after 19 years is again my country Greece. A team that henceforth has been established in the estimate of sporting at the hole world and is considered no unfairly, one of the favorites for medal in Japan. My experience from the follow-up of many big tournaments with has taught that a team that is found in the top owes to aim at high. On the other hand however the success from the failure abstains so much little as long as the end of the rim from the central point of the dash. A lost shot as of Papaloukas removed Greece from the first eight teams of Turkey Eurobasket five years ago. Djamantidis' triple sent Greece in final flast September. A... non lost free throw by Sigalas in the World Basketball Tournament of 1994 at the game against in the Puerto Rico sent our team in the top-8 group together with Canada and China and from there to the top-4 while the... calculations wanted the shot to be lost.

This year's team of Greece primarily will not differ a lot from last year's onepers. I would forecast in deed that it will differ very very little. If all go well the 17 players that Yannakis has in his disposal remain healthy, then at least 10 from the 12 golden champions Europe will wear the uniform of Greek team at Hamamatsu. Essential difference concerning last year's team will be if all develop smoothly, the addition of "giant" Shortsianitis under the basket.

Bourousis (who accidentaly will be his teammate next season in Olympiacos) can be taller, however "baby Shaq" as baptized by the Americans can makes the difference. This year in Olympiacos Sofo worked very hardly. He made hundreds of personal trainings with the trainer of the club, a man that happens to by familirar to me as i know him personally and he informed me about his personal progress. He also talked to me about the devotion of Greek centre in the directives that were given to him, his determination which proves that it is not "burned paper" (as we say in Greece...) and his insistence to covers the lost soil. With Schortsianitis in the raquet Greece acquires additional power not only defensively (from the volume and the force of Sofo) but also aggressive arm at offence as Sofoklis is one of the few Greek players who make what i'm crazy on watching during a basketball game. Rebound the ball at the offence and then dunk the ball in the basket with all their power, finishing the action effectively but also at the same time... impressively. If Sofoklis who I believe that he will be included at the final 12 avoids the inexperience fouls then perhaps develops in player revelation. Of course the starter will be Lazaros Papadopoulos, perhaps the best European center that has remained at the condinent and don't play at the NBA, but Schortsianitis will be the best substitute.

From the rest of the players I intent to see what they did last years in Belgrade. To keep their focus separately at every game and in the end they make the fund. The three guards Papaloukas-Diamantidis and Zissis is the secret of the team and I wait for from the "veniamin" of company, Zissis to appear still more mature and effective. At forwards Fotsis henceforth has been reconciled with the team and hard work which defensively mainly was the concealed arm of team at Belgrade's Eurobasket. Captain Kakiouzis is in the most mature age for basketball and will add clean brain and his leading faculties while for my concealed... sympathy, Nickos Hatzivrettas, an exceptional character and "calm force" in the parquet, I believe that "ows" to himself a good tournament which also deserves him. He is a bold player who is not afraid to shot when the ball is heavy, has unlimited possibilities and athletic talents and i'll be glad to see him playing in an upper level.