Vovoras for National: “We will go out first in our group – we have great shooters and that will make the difference”

THE George Vovoras talked to the Eok web radioby conveying his experience from the Bahrain Nationalbut also his thoughts on the course of National Greece in view of Eurobasket.

The Greek technician stood the importance of psychology in the knockout games, the need for “short memory” within the courtbut also to the dynamics that gives the “official favorite” the presence of Giannis Antetokounbos.

At the same time, he underlined the importance of first position In the group, he referred to the players who can make a difference with their shot, while also talking about younger generation showing that there is a continuation of national teams.

In detail what he said:

On the subject of psychology in a Eurobasket: “A European Championship is always difficult because after the quarter -finals you have to make awesome performances and excellent odds to get to the next round. In previous years we were playing with high -level teams. It is purely a matter of day and concentration. When the race begins, there is no memory to think about the previous ones. The National, although we have some shortcomings that are not easy to cover, has the experience in this roster and, in my opinion, based on John’s dynamics, this can help us in the knockout. “

For the importance of 1st place in the group in view of the knockouts: “I think right now, with the current roster, we have to look at our own team. In defense, we are sure to be one of the best, tougher and strongest teams and we will lead many surprise situations. Italy may be a level above Spain, has played many knockout games in recent years. We have to be honest and believe in the national team. We create situations and have a player who is one of the top three NBA athletes from European players based on his performance. Italy is a hard team and has the same roster in recent years. But we determine the fate of these games and we are very likely to end in 1st place. “

For knockout games and the “short” memory you have to have there: “This is something that all coaches say. You have to have a “short” memory per possession, not per game. In the fight with Germany we had a series and we had … black-out and then it was difficult to come back. In a tournament where the knockout matches determine the paths of the teams, if you have no “short” memory, you may not have the room for the next race. This year I think we will get to the knockout having finished 1st in the group. National has very good spot-up shooters, although we had bad rates in the first friendly. Giannis will force the opponent to “pull” two players on him in his way of playing. We have 5-6 players who can shoot at 40% in the knockouts and this changes our way of playing. We always say we don’t have a shooter, but we have great. What about Slouka, Larentzakis, Papanikolaou, Dorsey, Mitoglou, but also Samondurov who has really impressed?

After the match against Latvia, Coach Spanoulis said that it is very important that we have three players from the young team of national teams. They will certainly not be all three in the final dozen, but this shows that there is a future. It’s a crucial summer for the national team. Some players may be their last event and their last opportunity to achieve something very big. There is a huge will, there is “yeast” and chemistry so that the team can return with a medal. When we see players like Sloukas who spent a lot last season and is in the national team, for the last time he said, and has the will, as Papanikolaou, they certainly want to claim something with Greece and come with a smile and pleasure. I too have the experience with the Bahrain National Team. The important thing is to create the culture of the players to wait for the summer to represent their country. This culture has even had the unsuccessful effects of Greece. “

For his term in the National Bahrain: “I was in China and I had a suggestion. It was a different experience to see Chinese basketball and the conditions there. When Bahrain’s proposal came, I didn’t know much to be honest. After the meetings we did, however, I saw people who have a real “thirst” to grow their basketball track in their national team. There is a man in Bahrain, who is one of the most powerful in the country, who wants to create from scratch and therefore get players from the surrounding countries. We have taken five players under the age of 16 from Sudan who have acquired citizenship and admire them. Their physical performance is NBA level. This will won me over. They want to “build” for the future, they do not seek immediate results. They want to change the culture. As I was discussing with them, I realized that the “pie” of basketball is starting to grow and we will see more teams from these countries participating in major leagues, and not only, and will have great potential. “

How is it to work in a national team: “It was something different and I liked it. We went to championships in Taiwan, China and Arabia. I was with U16 and we came out for the first time in their history in Arabia. It was something beautiful for the country. As I said before, I help in the part of the culture about how they approach summer and preparation. That is, all that I have learned from the Greek mentality, where players, despite winter games, have become a group of people and have “built” strong human relationships. This is what we are trying to do here too. We build things from an early age and we want to “build” small conditions. We got a medal for the first time. I find that small habits create larger. We are on the right path and I am happy to make this choice. It is a small country with great ambitions. We stayed in a hotel that has 45 degrees Celsius and I saw three children shoot at an open court at noon. They want to learn and “thirst”, have enormous physical performance and can have significant paths in the future. It is a great motivation for me. If they continue so, National Bahrain can have very good performance and significant results. “