Eurobasket 2022 (daily OP updates), day 11, all quarter finals teams known, Italy shocks Europe, eliminates Serbia

[Archx]

Did Tobey embarrass JV as much as the boxscore suggests?

It was more Doncic putting Sabonis and JV in constant PnR action and displaying superb playmaking skills. Tobey benefited a ton from that. But he did fight great in the post, that is also true. Luka and Tobey basically rendered useless Sabonis and JV on defense and offense. Was a great 2-man game entire time. Dragic also had some nice assists. I was actually surprised how Slovenia managed to stop these two guys.

Slovenia, because of Luka, likes to play against classical bigs. The same story was last year against Lithuania or against Zizic and Zubac this year. They have much bigger problems playing against teams with mobile big.

Yeah true. Muric and Z.Dragic have become almost completely useless. They were usually good at dealing with such players and it showed vs Germany because Slo had no one to step up and box out or fight with mobile wings.

[CharityStripe34]

Some really fun games day one. Was heartbroken for Sandro Mamukelashvili who had a monster game with some sweet highlights.

[Nuntius]

Much better showing by Israel in the second quarter. The score is tied at 40.

[UcanUwill]

Markkanen with an impressive follow-up jam to end the first quarter. Finland has gotten off to another good start, leading Israel 27-16 at the end of the first.

Avdija locked up Lauri after getting subbed back and completely changed the game, Israel came back all the way from double digit deficit. I really was Avdija skeptic at a draft, I thought he is sure bust, but seeing him transform himself into such a good NBA defender, I see next Draymond in him.

[Nuntius]

Markkanen with an impressive follow-up jam to end the first quarter. Finland has gotten off to another good start, leading Israel 27-16 at the end of the first.

Avdija locked up Lauri after getting subbed back and completely changed the game, Israel came back all the way from double digit deficit. I really was Avdija skeptic at a draft, I thought he is sure bust, but seeing him transform himself into such a good NBA defender, I see next Draymond in him.

I don't know about next Draymond but, yeah, Avdija was definitely pivotal in changing the flow of this game. I think that a big momentum shift happened when Finland missed 3 relatively easy shots in a row (one of them a blown dunk by Madsen, I think) and then Israel hit a 3. That looked like a significant momentum shift to me.

[Bob8]

Markkanen with an impressive follow-up jam to end the first quarter. Finland has gotten off to another good start, leading Israel 27-16 at the end of the first.

Avdija locked up Lauri after getting subbed back and completely changed the game, Israel came back all the way from double digit deficit. I really was Avdija skeptic at a draft, I thought he is sure bust, but seeing him transform himself into such a good NBA defender, I see next Draymond in him.

Avdija will be never be next Draymond, because he lacks the most important component for being something more than just defensive specialist, big balls. He's not the leader.

[Nuntius]

Mekel almost tumbled his way into a game-winning lay-up for Israel but it rimmed out. Overtime in the Israel-Finland game.

[UcanUwill]

Markkanen with an impressive follow-up jam to end the first quarter. Finland has gotten off to another good start, leading Israel 27-16 at the end of the first.

Avdija locked up Lauri after getting subbed back and completely changed the game, Israel came back all the way from double digit deficit. I really was Avdija skeptic at a draft, I thought he is sure bust, but seeing him transform himself into such a good NBA defender, I see next Draymond in him.

Avdija will be never be next Draymond, because he lacks the most important component for being something more than just defensive specialist, big balls. He's not the leader.

Lead his teams to gold medals, and you saw that 3 he made few minutes ago?

[UcanUwill]

what a crazy game this was between Israel and Finland.

[Nuntius]

Israel pulled out a very tough win here. Avdija was great but Blatt, Ginat and Pnini also played a crucial part.

Finland's lack of experience (outside of Koponen and Salin) cost them this game, imo. Jantunen struggled down the stretch.

[Bob8]

Avdija locked up Lauri after getting subbed back and completely changed the game, Israel came back all the way from double digit deficit. I really was Avdija skeptic at a draft, I thought he is sure bust, but seeing him transform himself into such a good NBA defender, I see next Draymond in him.

Avdija will be never be next Draymond, because he lacks the most important component for being something more than just defensive specialist, big balls. He's not the leader.

Lead his teams to gold medals, and you saw that 3 he made few minutes ago?

Now youth competitions are relevant?

He will be happy, if Beal and KP let him shoot few shots per game.

[UcanUwill]

Now youth competitions are relevant?

Well, leading is leading... I mean is Draymond even a golden standard for leading? He looks like one cause he happened to play with all time great teammates, but he is mostly a loudmouth, and I don't really think you need to be a chatterbox to be a leader. Arvydas Sabonis wasn't a crazy talker, and he was a leader. Draymond sure tampered weakminded KD into joining them, but he also loudmouthed weakminded KD into leaving them. All in all, not the hardest part to pull off when you have had prime KD, Steph and Klay on your team. Avdija took 2 years older israeli kids and lead them to championhips, sure level of basketball is not good, but is it relevant in judging the character?

Kid can play, and thats what matters, if he can guard like Dray and can playmake like Dray, which he has has potential of achieving, I don't care he is not a ''leader'' like Draymond. Kawhi is not a great leader and he still has 2 rings, if you can do it on the court, people will follow you.

[UcanUwill]

Greece is probably the first team that started the game without a real center.

[Nuntius]

Greece is probably the first team that started the game without a real center.

We didn't really have any other option. Both of our Centers (Papagiannis and Kostas) are currently injured.

[UcanUwill]

Greece is probably the first team that started the game without a real center.

We didn't really have any other option. Both of our Centers (Papagiannis and Kostas) are currently injured.

Yes, I am aware, not really surprising, just wanted to document this fact till I can, not a lot of traffic this thread has during games, I guess it is just working hours, next week I will not be that available either, had 2 weeks off, now feel like couldnt work at all, it would be great...

[Nuntius]

Tyler Dorsey is almost matching Croatia's scoring on his own. He has 18, Croatia has 21.

[Nuntius]

Greece is probably the first team that started the game without a real center.

We didn't really have any other option. Both of our Centers (Papagiannis and Kostas) are currently injured.

Yes, I am aware, not really surprising, just wanted to document this fact till I can, not a lot of traffic this thread has during games, I guess it is just working hours, next week I will not be that available either, had 2 weeks off, now feel like couldnt work at all, it would be great...

Yeah, I get it. You did well to document it

[Brit in Araby]

Dorsey is a one man wrecking crew rn.

[The Number 9]

Zubac is doing an wonderful game...

[Nuntius]

Dorsey is a one man wrecking crew rn.

Yep. 20 points in a bit less than 14 minutes (13:56, to be precise) in the first half. He has given us a huge boost. We really needed a player like him on our team.