The Georgian national basketball team lost 3 games in a row at EuroBasket 2015. The Georgians held the worst first half against favorite Greece and lost 28 points. In the second half the Georgians managed to score more points than the Greeks – 68:79. Igor Kokoskov’s team failed to Slovenia by same score.
It was hard to think about success against Europe’s one of the best teams. However, quality of the Georgian basketball players which they showed against Greece has left a huge question mark.
At the beginning of the first half Georgia advanced 8:5. But Fotios Katsikaris, head coach of the Greece national team, took a timeout and raid of the Georgians began.
The offences of the Greeks became more dangerous by leadership of incredible Vassilis Spanoulis. The opponent won 5-minute period 18:2 (!). The Greeks were shooting ball almost without a mistake.
In the first half the team of Katsikaris had 61 per cent in field goals (20 from 33). The Georgians used 10 from 27 shots (37 per cent). Besides that, the Greeks played so well in defense that the Georgians did not earn even a single free throw (!). Georgia had 11 turnovers (Giorgi Tsintsadze made 5 mistakes), 12:18 in rebounds, 6:16 in assists, 1:5 in blocks and score 22:50 (!). In short, we were losing and there was no salvation…
What happened in the second half was completely unexpected. It is hard to believe but Igor Kokoskov’s team won the third quarter over Europe’s one of the best teams – 26:11.
We saw a different Georgian team in the second half. Zaza Pachulia (unfortunately, the captain used only 2 from 8 shots and had 5 turnovers) and Tornike Shengelia earned good offences and Viktor Sanikidze gained 8 points. Shermadini started playing perfectly (9 points). At the end of the quarter Manuchar Markoishvili and Beka Burjanadze scored 3-pointers – 48:61.
The Greek head coach took all timeouts. Spanoulis showed up again but he could do nothing. 40 seconds before the final siren Tornike Shengelia earned his 20th point and reduced difference to 9 points. Finally, Greece won 11 points.
The Georgian team played the third game at EuroBasket and all games were held identically. Georgia lost the first half to Netherlands 26:36 but won the second one 46:37. Here is the statistics against Slovenia: 26:41 in the first half, 42:38 in the second one. And Greece: 22:50 in the first and 46:29 in the second.
I think coaches must pay more attention to this statistics and other negative details before a decisive game which will be held on September 9. After 3 rounds Georgia is in the last place in Group C but has a chance of making through to playoff.
The chance of Georgia is in defeating Macedonia. It is likely that Georgia will fail to Croatia in the last game of the group stage, Macedonia will fell to Croatia and Slovenia and Netherlands will lose to Croatia and Greece. Georgia – Macedonia game will decide which team will overcome the group stage.
If Georgia wins, our team, Macedonia and Netherlands will have one win and number of points will be very important. By this time, Macedonia has +7, Netherlands -6 and Georgia -1. Georgia needs at least five-point victory in order to take the fourth place.
So, September 9 is a decisive day for the Georgian national team. Georgia – Macedonia will start at 20:00 Tbilisi time. Greece will play Slovenia at 17:00 and Croatia will host Netherlands at 23:00.
Georgia – Greece 68:79 (15:25, 7:25, 26:11, 20:18)
Georgia: Tsintsadze 5, Markoishvili 11, Sanikidze 10 pts, 6 reb, Shengelia 20 pts, 8 reb, Pachulia 4 pts, 5 ast; Pullen 4, Shermadini 9, Sanadze 2, Patsatsia Burjanadze 3.
Greece: Spanoulis 2, Calathes 19 pts, 8 ast, Printezis 3, Antetokounmpo 12, Koufos 12; Bourousis 4, Zisis 11, Sloukas 3, Kaimakoglou 8, Papanikolaou 5, Mantzaris
Dato Manjavidze, specially for worldsport.ge from Zagreb
