The national team, as competitive as it is, was naturally eliminated by Team USA with 12 NBA players

The first friendly match in Abu Dhabi was also the most difficult in the national team’s preparation for the 2023 World Cup. Greece was defeated by Team USA with 12 NBA players 108:86, they will keep their good times and it will be on Saturday evening (19.8.) try at 20:00) to demand something more against Germany. Of the four NBA players.

Dimitris Itoudis’ side didn’t start the game well, losing by double digits early on, but improved significantly in the second quarter as Panagiotis Kalaitzakis led the counterattack. The national team took advantage of the period while the Americans were struggling with long throw but had many different options available to them to get to the basket. And of course lots of different faces, two fives that look the same.

Greece conceded to the Americans for the first time in six games against Team USA and for the first time since 1996 more than 100 points in a game that left the Etihad Arena crowd, the Greek basketball fans who saw the stars of the NBA against our own, a lot Children brought joy, but also in a game that is quickly forgotten. Until August 28, when the two teams will face off again, this time in the 2nd round of MundoBasket.

The race

With Walkap, Lountzis, Papapetrou, Mitoglou, Papagianni and Itoudis opening the game, the Americans were just on a different level. athleticism and speed. They led 13:4 in the fourth minute. The Americans’ offense was… nuclear, Kerr opened the rotation very early and Walkup was by far Greece’s second and perhaps only standout player. The 32-17 of that period was normal, but not… catastrophic.

Still, with Kalaitzakis’ marvels at the top in scoring, design and defense, the national team fell to six (37-31 in the 14th minute with 5-14 on sides) and gave their opponents a hard time. In a way, Team USA wasn’t under direct threat. They finished the twenty minutes +11 (52-41) despite having 4/14 threes and generally showed they are a side that, when they feel the need, step on the gas and pull away.

Itoudis opened the third quarter with Larentzakis replacing Lountzis and Thanasis replacing Mitoglou. But Papagiannis was of no help and as Edwards started throwing shot after shot the difference jumped to 20 (69-49 in the 25th minute) and by the end of the period 85-67 left no room for a big throw wait.

Lountzis’ willingness to fight was an element that stood out in the fourth quarter as Itoudis operated with Kalaitzakis and Rogavopoulos on the wings and Thanasis-Papagianni on the stick. There, an unheralded Brunson scored a great strike and kept the lead at around 20 points, with the final minutes becoming routine. There were some smiles on the Greek bench, Ingram hitting a three for the 100 in the 37th minute and the celebrations were over.

THE DECADES: 32-17, 52-41, 85-67, 108-86

USA (Kerr): Bridges 10 (1), Ingram 7 (1), Jackson 11, Edwards 21 (3/7 3-pointers, 4 rebounds), Brunson 9 (7 assists), Kessler 7 (5 rebounds), Portis 10 ( 7 rebounds), Halliburton 6 (1/3 3s, 4 assists, 4 turnovers), Johnson 13 (4 assists, 3 steals), Reeves (11 (2), Hart 1 (9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals), Banquero 2

HELLAS (Itoudis): Papapetrou 9 (2/5 trebles), Mitoglou 4 (6 rebounds, 4 assists), Papagiannis 11 (2/3 trebles, 4 rebounds, 1 block), Lountzis 9 (1), Walkap 11 (3/4 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals), Antetokounmpo Th. 4 (4 rebounds), Larentzakis 10 (1/4 3 points), Rogavopoulos 12 (5 rebounds), Tsalbouris 2, Kalaitzakis P. 12 (3 steals), Bohorides 2, Moraitis

US team stats: 28/42 2-point throws, 26.11. 3-point shots, 19/24 shots, 49 rebounds, 26 assists, 11 steals, 5 blocks, 20 fouls

Greece team statistics: 19/42 2-pointers, 9/28 3-pointers, 21/29 shots, 35 rebounds, 13 assists, 11 steals, 1 block, 17 fouls

Sportish and Stoiximan attend our team’s friendship training session together a few days before we take part in the basketball world championship.