Giannis Antetokounmpo = Biggest Scrub In Greek NT FIBA History - NBA CLEARLY FAKE

[Euroleague]

4 summers playing with Greek national team the last 4 years....

Each time, Giannis Antetokounmpo played like total shit, and each time Greece lost because of the fact that he can't dribble without traveling, and he can't knock down even wide open jump shots.

4 years and counting, and he becomes a bigger and bigger scrub in FIBA every summer.


Against Croatia....

3 for 14 field goals

0 for 7 3 point field goals

6 turnovers


Box Score:

http://www.fiba.com/oqt/italy/2016/0807/Greece-Croatia#tab=boxscore_statistics


The fact that the NBA considers him "a max player", and "a franchise player" is absolutely the single biggest joke in the history of worldwide sports.

Without NBA rules, where he is allowed to travel and palm the ball every single time he touches it - under FIBA rules, he literally can't dribble the ball and when he tries to handle it, he either gets called for travels or throws it to the other team, after picking up his dribble too early.

He is left WIDE OPEN AND TOTALLY UNGUARDED BY THE OPPOSING TEAM IN EVERY SINGLE GAME and he still can't hit a freaking jump shot.

Against Mexico, a 6-7 amateur league level player rejected him so bad that it looked like Giannis literally started to cry...............he then proceeded to shoot an air ball on a wide open 3 against Mexico. An air ball that missed the backboard by about 3 feet.

Giannis' level in NBA = "franchise player", "max player"

Giannis' level in FIBA tournaments that are about HALF as good as the Euroleague level = MEGA SCRUB OF EPIC PROPORTIONS

The only bigger joke than Giannis, is the NBA, and how fake it is. This guy can literally go the length of the floor in the NBA and dunk without the defense trying to stop him, with 1-2 dribbles and no travel call.....

In FIBA he literally can't dribble for more than 2 feet against a set defense, and almost anytime he brings the ball up, it is a big surprise if he does not turn it over.

The NBA has got to be even more fake than the WWE is.

[Im Still Ballin]

His game is definitely suited for the Athleticism friendly movement loose rule enforcement NBA

[poido123]

euroleague, take your meds son

[GOBB]

Dario Saric > Giannis

[HurricaneKid]

4 summers playing with Greek national team the last 4 years....

Each time, Giannis Antetokounmpo played like total shit, and each time Greece lost because of the fact that he can't dribble without traveling, and he can't knock down even wide open jump shots.

4 years and counting, and he becomes a bigger and bigger scrub in FIBA every summer.


Against Croatia....

3 for 14 field goals

0 for 7 3 point field goals

6 turnovers


Box Score:

http://www.fiba.com/oqt/italy/2016/0807/Greece-Croatia#tab=boxscore_statistics


The fact that the NBA considers him "a max player", and "a franchise player" is absolutely the single biggest joke in the history of worldwide sports.

Without NBA rules, where he is allowed to travel and palm the ball every single time he touches it - under FIBA rules, he literally can't dribble the ball and when he tries to handle it, he either gets called for travels or throws it to the other team, after picking up his dribble too early.

He is left WIDE OPEN AND TOTALLY UNGUARDED BY THE OPPOSING TEAM IN EVERY SINGLE GAME and he still can't hit a freaking jump shot.

Against Mexico, a 6-7 amateur league level player rejected him so bad that it looked like Giannis literally started to cry...............he then proceeded to shoot an air ball on a wide open 3 against Mexico. An air ball that missed the backboard by about 3 feet.

Giannis' level in NBA = "franchise player", "max player"

Giannis' level in FIBA tournaments that are about HALF as good as the Euroleague level = MEGA SCRUB OF EPIC PROPORTIONS

The only bigger joke than Giannis, is the NBA, and how fake it is. This guy can literally go the length of the floor in the NBA and dunk without the defense trying to stop him, with 1-2 dribbles and no travel call.....

In FIBA he literally can't dribble for more than 2 feet against a set defense, and almost anytime he brings the ball up, it is a big surprise if he does not turn it over.

The NBA has got to be even more fake than the WWE is.

Dear GOD. In the first two games he shot 13/18 and was 5/8 from 3. With 6/6 FTs that is a TS% of .881.

Tell me again how awful he is in international play you idiot.

[Euroleague]

Dear GOD. In the first two games he shot 13/18 and was 5/8 from 3. With 6/6 FTs that is a TS% of .881.

Tell me again how awful he is in international play you idiot.

Dear GOD.

In the first two games he played against Iran, that has zero players that play in real pro leagues.

In the second game he played against Mexico, that has 3 players that play in real pro leagues (keep in mind though some of the very worst leagues in Europe). Mexico did not even have Ayon (their only Euroleague level player on their whole team).

He was playing against teams that would lose every single game at EuroBasket, every single time they played there.

He played one game against ACTUAL pro basketball players - in the game against Croatia. And he was by leaps and bounds, by far and away, the worst player of both teams.

He played the worst game that any Greek player has played in the national team that I have ever seen. I've never seen a player on Greece's national team play even HALF as bad as he did.

Antetokounmpo is seriously not even a top 30 Greek player currently. And in the NBA he can post triple doubles regularly and NBA marketing claims he is not just the best Greek player currently, but the best of all time...

So therefore, ergo, the NBA has to be fake. Unless you want to believe that Antetokounmpo has a clone that is pretending to be him, and playing in Greece's national team so he does not have to.

I think I will personally go with the very obvious explanation - the NBA is fake.

https://media2.giphy.com/media/l0G18lMKSLQ4wXToI/200.gif

[ISHGoat]

OP has autism!

Haha!!

[Smoke117]

meltdown.

[Ray22]

Well, I would lie if I said that I didn

[Ray22]

Dario Saric > Giannis



http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/mjl.gif




















:yaohappy:




















:facepalm

[Nilocon165]

OP has autism!

Haha!!
:coleman:

[Hey Yo]

Isn't there a Euro board to post on? Why post here about the Euroleague when nobody gives 2 flying fukcs about it?

[Euroleague]

Well, I would lie if I said that I didn’t expect this thread. :lol

Come on now Euroleague. Exaggerating and completely unfair criticism to a 21 year old, with zero Euroball experience, who got appointed leader in a team, with not even one specific play drawn for him, and with many injured players missing (not counting the retirements of fundamental players, like V-Span and Zisis).

Also, let’s not forget the responsibilities of Katsikaris too (from the weird roster selection, to the inadequate team management).

Giannis had a bad game, just like everyone on the team had. Greece is in rebuilding mode, and things can only get better from here onwards.


But I will stop here, since I know that you appreciate him as a player and that you could ‘defend’ him better than me if you wanted to.


Giannis has now played 4 summers in a row with Greece. That's 4 YEARS of experience in FIBA.

It is simply IMPOSSIBLE that -


he can play point guard in the NBA, get numerous triple doubles in the NBA, go the whole court on 2 dribbles and then dunk on everyone in the NBA, average 16 points a game in the NBA (playing EVERY game against NBA teams, no games against Iran and Mexico to colossally inflate his stats)....

and then,

in FIBA, he can't dribble without traveling, he can't make passing plays for anyone, he can't hit a shot even when the other team leaves him so wide open that he has time to think for 2-3 seconds about shooting, then can STILL shoot it and be open.....


It is IMPOSSIBLE that the above two things can happen in,

1. The so-called "best league in the world"

and

2. The so-called "minor league full of scrubs that could never make an NBA roster"


Croatia isn't even a good European team. I mean seriously, Croatia is a mid level European team, and they were missing like 4-5 of their best players on top of it.

It is IMPOSSIBLE for these scenarios to be true, if the NBA is real.

For this to be the case, as it IS the case, the NBA must be, HAS TO BE TOTALLY FAKE.

[Nick Young]

Giannis only played badly in Greece because of racist teammates and racist refs.

Giannis is the GOAT greek but his fellow countrymen, Euroleague being just one example, treat him like garbage due to his heritage and the color of his skin.


If you Greeks can't appreciate the greatness of your national GOAT and get over your racism, f*ck you.

[Euroleague]

Isn't there a Euro board to post on? Why post here about the Euroleague when nobody gives 2 flying fukcs about it?

The topics being discussed in this thread are:

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (NBA player)

2. The NBA

3. Greek NT

4. Croatian NT

5. FIBA

The Euroleague literally has NOTHING to do with a single thing being talked about here.

[HylianNightmare]

Go get laid dude

[Euroleague]

Giannis only played badly in Greece because of racist teammates and racist refs.

Giannis is the GOAT greek but his fellow countrymen, Euroleague being just one example, treat him like garbage due to his heritage and the color of his skin.


If you Greeks can't appreciate the greatness of your national GOAT and get over your racism, f*ck you.

The games took place in ITALY you moron.

https://media4.giphy.com/media/tLKM6pUo1h040/200.gif

[zeerghit]

i actually agree, giannis is scrub under fiba rules

[Old Man River]

He can't shoot but yeah you can dribble like that in the NBA and he probably won't really play pg for most of his career. Jason Kidd will be fired soon enough.

[K.dot ShowTime]

OP is an idiot

[feyki]

Giannis isn't capable to put margin on the NBA court . Teams just give him chances for his potential .

[HurricaneKid]

Dear GOD.

In the first two games he played against Iran, that has zero players that play in real pro leagues.

In the second game he played against Mexico, that has 3 players that play in real pro leagues (keep in mind though some of the very worst leagues in Europe). Mexico did not even have Ayon (their only Euroleague level player on their whole team).

He was playing against teams that would lose every single game at EuroBasket, every single time they played there.

He played one game against ACTUAL pro basketball players - in the game against Croatia. And he was by leaps and bounds, by far and away, the worst player of both teams.

He played the worst game that any Greek player has played in the national team that I have ever seen. I've never seen a player on Greece's national team play even HALF as bad as he did.

Antetokounmpo is seriously not even a top 30 Greek player currently. And in the NBA he can post triple doubles regularly and NBA marketing claims he is not just the best Greek player currently, but the best of all time...

So therefore, ergo, the NBA has to be fake. Unless you want to believe that Antetokounmpo has a clone that is pretending to be him, and playing in Greece's national team so he does not have to.

I think I will personally go with the very obvious explanation - the NBA is fake.

https://media2.giphy.com/media/l0G18lMKSLQ4wXToI/200.gif

The difference is you THINK I'm an idiot and I KNOW YOU ARE.

If he cannot shoot at all how in the **** was he shooting .880TS% the first two games? Why does it matter what nationality a defender is if they are leaving him as open as you suggest? Are you racist or stupid?

The 21 year old struggled in one game. Not a biggie. To suggest that the entire NBA is rigged because a kid that became legal to drink a few months ago and should be a soph in college had a bad day is willfully ignorant and just one more example of why you are a laughingstock here.

[Crystallas]

Jeff can just go to the vBulletin control panel and restrict access to the NBA forum for a certain member that only talks International ball and trash about the NBA. :confusedshrug:

[FireMcFailPlease]

Nemanja Bjelcia was the 2014-2015 Euroleague MVP, and hes a second string PF on a 29 win NBA team.

Bjelcia also is never mentioned when it comes to talking about the upstart Timberwolves.

The only thing he can do is chuck 3's, and shoot them at an average clip.

If he was cut this afternoon by Minnesota, I would feel fine replacing him with a player of Brandon Bass's caliber.

Remember Vassilis Spanoulis? Mr. Euro, but could only average 2.7 PPG in his one year with Houston 10 years ago?

OP is a fatty from Arkansas.

[Hey Yo]

Nemanja Bjelcia was the 2014-2015 Euroleague MVP, and hes a second string PF on a 29 win NBA team.

Bjelcia also is never mentioned when it comes to talking about the upstart Timberwolves.

The only thing he can do is chuck 3's, and shoot them at an average clip.

If he was cut this afternoon by Minnesota, I would feel fine replacing him with a player of Brandon Bass's caliber.

Remember Vassilis Spanoulis? Mr. Euro, but could only average 2.7 PPG in his one year with Houston 10 years ago?

OP is a fatty from Arkansas.
"but eventually, there was a falling out between him and Rockets coach Van Gundy, after Van Gundy benched Spanoulis, after the coach claimed that he had played poorly, citing that rookie players are dangerous for coaches that are in contract years, and that Spanoulis was too turnover prone and lacking in outside shooting touch to be a good fit in Van Gundy's offensive system design.

Said Van Gundy about the situation: "(Spanoulis) says, 'I was [Tracy] McGrady back home.' Great. McGrady is McGrady here," .. "I feel badly for him. He feels he was misled. Frankly, he's been his own worst enemy in many ways. Some of it is excuses. His turnovers have been high; his fouls have been high; his shooting percentage has been low. I would rather anybody start out with self-evaluation

[Ray22]

Giannis has now played 4 summers in a row with Greece. That's 4 YEARS of experience in FIBA.



By 'zero Euroball experience' I meant taking part in a European team/European championship.

Participating in a limited number of international games (very limited if you count only the really challenging ones), is simply not enough.


Giannis in the Bucks works the entire year with his coaching staff, and his teammates. Everyone knows exactly what he can do and what to expect from him, just as he knows what to expect from his teammates. They are a team and they work as one.

You can

[Cleverness]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/br-cdn/temp_images/2013/09/25/vcdunk3.gif

[bdonovan]

I read an article recently on Giannis that talked about his shooting %; that unless he's right next to the hoop (5 feet), he shoots under 40% from everywhere else on the court. He definitely has talent but this is a league where opposing teams can adapt; they can lay off you and make you shoot, they can clog the paint. The way the league is going, everyone is improving their shot, even big men; if he doesn't, he may find his efficacy tailing off.

[duskovujosevic]

blaming giannis while whole greek NT is garbage.

pure EUROLEAGUE...

[zeerghit]

blaming giannis while whole greek NT is garbage.

pure EUROLEAGUE...

wut?

[SamuraiSWISH]

Wait, isn't the best Greek National player of all time ... Actually an American?!

:oldlol:

[zeerghit]

Wait, isn't the best Greek National player of all time ... Actually an American?!

:oldlol:

if u talking about gallis, so yes hes half american and half greek, hes born in nj and if im correct he was playing for seton hall

[SamuraiSWISH]

if u talking about gallis, so yes hes half american and half greek, hes born in nj and if im correct he was playing for seton hall
If he was born and raised here ... Cut his teeth developing his game, HERE, I think he's 100 percent American.

His ethnicity is Greek, but he wouldn't be one of their nationals. Thus, the best Greek national player is actually American.

:oldlol:

[iamgine]

Croatia must be better than all NBA teams :lol

[Ray22]

Wait, isn't the best Greek National player of all time ... Actually an American?!

:oldlol:



:oldlol:


Well, you could always consider someone whose both parents were Greeks, his native language is Greek, has lived 2/3 of his life (and still lives) in Greece, and has refused offers from the NBA because he preferred to play for his national team (which accidentally happens to be Greece), an American.

I just happen to know though that the same Galis has a different opinion on the matter.

[Nick Young]

Nick Gallis is A) American and B) not better than Giannis.

Let's not get sidetracked. We are talking about Giannis here. Even if Nick Gallis was an actual Greek, and not a nationalized foreigner, he is not better than Giannis so this discussion is pointless.

Last time I checked, Gallis was drafted in the 4th round and never played a single minute in the NBA. He's essentially a summer league journeyman level player who went over to Europe to dominate weak competition. Think Morris Almond with less athleticism-that's Nick Gallis for you.

[Ray22]

Nick Gallis is A) American and B) not better than Giannis.



:oldlol:


Both statements are wrong.


Here, let me help you out a little bit: Nikos Galis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikos_Galis). :cheers:

[Nick Young]

:oldlol:


Both statements are wrong.


Here, let me help you out a little bit: Nikos Galis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikos_Galis). :cheers:
Both statements are factually correct.

Nicky G. (as he was known in his Seton Hall days) was drafted in the 4 round. Giannis was drafted in the first.

Nick never played a single NBA minute. Giannis is one of the best young NBA players.

Nick just couldn't cut it against the best competition so he fled to Europe to dominate vs the best.

Giannis is dominating against the best ballers in the world on a nightly basis. 1v1, Giannis would murder Nicky G.

On top of this all, Nicky G is an American citizen born and raised in Union City, New Jersey. He learned to play basketball in America. He is an American basketball player who decided to nationalize as Greek in order to play international ball because he had no chance of making Team USA.

This is the same situation with Kris Kaman playing for the German national team even though he only has German ancestry.

[Ray22]

I thought I gave you a link. Why didn't you click on it? :confusedshrug:




Both statements are factually correct.

Nicky G. (as he was known in his Seton Hall days) was drafted in the 4 round. Giannis was drafted in the first.


Galis - draft 1979 / 68 pick

D. Petrovic - 1986 / 60 pick

Sabonis - 1986 / 24 pick


These are considered 3 of the best European players of all time. In recent years, dozens of European players have been drafted higher than them.

League expansion, international scouting, NBA teams starting to trust more Europeans are some of the reasons. If you consider these things you realise that draft position is completely meaningless without context.


Edit: Moreover, his agent did not have him work out with any NBA team before the draft. IIRC the reason is because he was injured at the time.



Nick never played a single NBA minute. Giannis is one of the best young NBA players.


Again, click on the link to read about Galis' achievements.

I love Giannis, and if he manages to become half the player Galis was, I will be extremely happy for him, and the Bucks will have an all-star.




Nick just couldn't cut it against the best competition so he fled to Europe to dominate vs the best.


If only you had clicked that link:


...Later, while playing in Greece, he would be offered NBA contracts by the Celtics and the New Jersey Nets. However, he turned the offers down, because at the time, and until 1989, FIBA did not have professional status, and consequently did not allow NBA players to compete at the national team level. Since playing for the Greek national team meant so much to him, he stayed in Greece...



Giannis is dominating against the best ballers in the world on a nightly basis. 1v1, Giannis would murder Nicky G.


:lol


Let's just say that you have absolutely no clue what you are talking about, and leave it at that.


(:oldlol: :facepalm )





On top of this all, Nicky G is an American citizen born and raised in Union City, New Jersey. He learned to play basketball in America. He is an American basketball player who decided to nationalize as Greek in order to play international ball because he had no chance of making Team USA.

This is the same situation with Kris Kaman playing for the German national team even though he only has German ancestry.


From that same link:


...Later, while playing in Greece, he would be offered NBA contracts by the Celtics and the New Jersey Nets. However, he turned the offers down, because at the time, and until 1989, FIBA did not have professional status, and consequently did not allow NBA players to compete at the national team level. Since playing for the Greek national team meant so much to him, he stayed in Greece...



- Both parents are Greeks.
- Native language: Greek.
- Spent 2/3 of his life and still lives in Greece.
- Refused NBA contracts just so he could continue playing for his national team (= Greece).
- Considers himself Greek.


But, maybe if you speak to him though, you could change his mind. You can never know :oldlol:

[MiseryCityTexas]

Giannis never had a jumpshot to begin with.

[GOATbrook]

Giannis is dominating against the best ballers in the world on a nightly basis. 1v1, Giannis would murder Nicky G.
He is not dominating against the best ballers in the world. At least in Europe he is not.
And to say he would murder him, you really have no clue about bball. He would be Superstar in NBA if he played there.

[Milbuck]

Giannis was 4th in scoring in the entire tournament, on 64% TS. And only guys ahead of him are guys who averaged like 10 more minutes a game. What am I missing here?

http://www.fiba.com/oqt/italy/2016/playerstats

[Achilleas]

Giannis was 4th in scoring in the entire tournament, on 64% TS. And only guys ahead of him are guys who averaged like 10 more minutes a game. What am I missing here?

http://www.fiba.com/oqt/italy/2016/playerstats
he played against iran and mexico :confusedshrug:
against croatia they let him shoot
he had 3/14 fg and 0/7 3s with 6turnovers

until giannis learn to shoot i prefer spanoulis,galis,diamantidis and many more than him in fiba competition

[gabepizza]

I think what is being overshadowed here is how much of a joke Greek basketball has become. Couldn't even make the finals of an Olympic qualifying tournament. Talk about scrubs of scrubs: Bourousis with 8 points on 3 of 8 shooting in the elimination game.

[Spurs5Rings2014]

he played against iran and mexico :confusedshrug:
against croatia they let him shoot
he had 3/14 fg and 0/7 3s with 6turnovers

until giannis learn to shoot i prefer spanoulis,galis,diamantidis and many more than him in fiba competition

:biggums:

Nikka jumpshot is broke as **** this mother****er has the nerve to say he'll be better than Leonard in a few years? Puh leez. Leonard is an ATG shooter up there with Jordan, Bird, etc. This guy can't be serious.

:oldlol:

[Achilleas]

I think what is being overshadowed here is how much of a joke Greek basketball has become. Couldn't even make the finals of an Olympic qualifying tournament. Talk about scrubs of scrubs: Bourousis with 8 points on 3 of 8 shooting in the elimination game.
the problem we have is that greece don't have shooters,from young age the learn the kids only to play defence and the basics on offence,nobody works on shooting

[madmax]

Giannis only played badly in Greece because of racist teammates and racist refs.

Giannis is the GOAT greek but his fellow countrymen, Euroleague being just one example, treat him like garbage due to his heritage and the color of his skin.


If you Greeks can't appreciate the greatness of your national GOAT and get over your racism, f*ck you.

:lol :cheers:

[G-train]

i actually agree, giannis is scrub under fiba rules

Many NBA players are.

It's a different game.

Random role players in NBA can be better suited.

The NBA is completely designed to make money, and nothing else.

It's certainly not about basketball quality, we just watched a 'great' NBA finals where people were just dribbling down and shooting it themselves most the time :lol

[Euroleague]

the problem we have is that greece don't have shooters,from young age the learn the kids only to play defence and the basics on offence,nobody works on shooting

Greece has a lot of shooters. The idiot coach of the team selected only one of them (Athinaiou) and then he benched him the whole time.

Shooting isn't the problem, considering the coach just does not like shooters.

[Euroleague]

i actually agree, giannis is scrub under fiba rules

Exactly. Anyone that says otherwise is just lying.

[atljonesbro]

Giannis is the GOAT Greek basketball player. It's not even close.

[Euroleague]

The difference is you THINK I'm an idiot and I KNOW YOU ARE.

If he cannot shoot at all how in the **** was he shooting .880TS% the first two games? Why does it matter what nationality a defender is if they are leaving him as open as you suggest? Are you racist or stupid?

The 21 year old struggled in one game. Not a biggie. To suggest that the entire NBA is rigged because a kid that became legal to drink a few months ago and should be a soph in college had a bad day is willfully ignorant and just one more example of why you are a laughingstock here.

Iran and Mexico are amateur level teams idiot. Their best players play in Asia, Latin America, or the absolute worst of the worst leagues in Europe.

And every team left him wide open in every single game.

Shooting wide open jumpers against amateur level teams, that your team is blowing out easily (therefore there is ZERO real game situation or pressure) is the same as shooting jumpers at practice. In fact, it's even easier, because you can get into a game flow.

The mere fact that you are even talking about what an NBA franchise player did against teams like Mexico and Iran is an absolute joke. Gutierrez is Mexico's best player and he has been a 10 day minimum contract NBA cut / d-league player / Latin America player / guy getting cut from Eurocup (league below Euroleague level) training camps type player his whole career.

Iran is even a worse team than Mexico.

Good GOD, why the hell is an NBA FRANCHISE PLAYER BEING LEFT WIDE OPEN AND UNGUARDED THE WHOLE GAME AGAINST AMATEUR LEVEL TEAMS LIKE MEXICO AND IRAN?

[Euroleague]

By 'zero Euroball experience' I meant taking part in a European team/European championship.

Participating in a limited number of international games (very limited if you count only the really challenging ones), is simply not enough.


Giannis in the Bucks works the entire year with his coaching staff, and his teammates. Everyone knows exactly what he can do and what to expect from him, just as he knows what to expect from his teammates. They are a team and they work as one.

You can’t have that in a national team, and things are even more difficult if you are not part of a Euroball team. And much more so if you are considered the leader of said team.


Also, I will say it again. He is only 21 years old. Think about it for a moment. Think about what other great Greek players were doing at that age (from Galis and Yiannakis to Papaloukas, 3D, Span), or the role that they had in their teams. Nobody was expecting anything from them at the time, other than proving that they deserved the limited playing time they were getting.

You simply can’t load a 21 year old player with so many responsibilities. He doesn’t have the necessary maturity, no matter how skilled or talented he is.


Or, you could still do it, hoping that this will help with his development and the rebuilding of a team for the future, but then you shouldn’t expect immediate results.



Yes, European BB is different, no open lanes, D closing better, etc..

But what exactly has Katsikaris done about that? How many shooters did he have in his team? How has he helped the integration of Giannis’ game into the team? Where are the plays drawn for him? He surely must have known that Giannis also has a post game, that could be taken advantage of, instead of abusing mindlessly the 3 point line.

I acknowledge that with all the injuries and retirements he didn’t have many options, but he simply didn’t do the best with what he had in his hands.

At age 21, Spanoulis was arguably the best player in the Greek league and the old FIBA Eurocup (that league does not exist now, but it was like a combo of current Eurocup and Champions League).

At age 21, Giannakis was the best player in the Greek League.

At age 21, Fotsis was miles a better and more advanced player than Giannis is now.

At age 21, Sofo made a major contribution to Greek senior national team.

Zisis at 21, was already one of the best guards in all of European basketball.

Granted, some examples might be true. Galis was a good, not great, NCAA player at 21. But NCAA was also way better then that it is now.

Papaloukas at 21, was a huge talent, but he did not do much until age 22.

Diamantidis was basically a complete nobody at 21, but everyone in Europe knows he was a late bloomer.

All of those players, however, were much further along in their development, and much more skilled at 21 than Giannis is. Diamantidis was by far the worst of them at that age, and while he could not shoot at that age, he already had some post skills, he could already dribble under FIBA rules, and he already had good team defense, good basketball IQ, good court awareness and good decision making. And he was the by far LEAST advanced player of the ones mentioned at that age.

Giannis possesses none of those qualities that even Diamantidis had at that age.

Giannis is a good man defender against power forwards, and a good off ball weak side shot blocker. He's a solid rebounder. Other than that, all he can do on a basketball court is run and jump. Literally, that is all he can do.

He can't even play competent team defense, and he can't even keep wings in front of him on defense either.

Bourousis has dealt with this for 3 years now, and I swear, he looked like he was ready to punch Giannis in the face. Even Calathes looked like he wanted to do the same. But Calathes has no excuse either, he's a god awful joke of a player, and he's 27, and getting worse each year. Hopefully, Calathes is finally kicked off the team permanently now. He has no age excuse like Giannis, and each year he is worse than the previous year.

But let's just keep it real here. This age thing is a big excuse for Giannis.

It was, "he's just 18, he will learn to shoot and dribble, give him time."

then it was, "he's just 19, he will learn to shoot and dribble, give him time."

then it was, "he's just 20, he will learn to shoot and dribble, give him time."

then it was, "he's just 21, he will learn to shoot and dribble, give him time."

Next year it will be, "he's just 22, he will learn to shoot and dribble, give him time."

And so on and so on. This age excuse is just like all the things people said about Rubio every year.

Now it's said with Rubio, "he's just 25, he will learn to shoot, give him time."

At least Rubio can dribble under FIBA rules though.

The age thing is an excuse. 3 years in the NBA, 4 years in Greek national teams, and he still can't shoot or dribble.

Saying previous players did not do whatever at that age is a cop out, especially since all of them mentioned were far and away better players at that age than Giannis is.

Zisis and Spanoulis for example, were already leading their teams in Europe at that age (Maroussi and AEK).

Fotsis was already one of the best European power forwards at that age, and seriously, straight out being honest, Fotsis was better at 18-19 than Giannis is now.

So I ask you this, how good did Fotsis turn out? Not that great to be honest. And Fotsis could shoot really well from day one. And he was better as a youngster than Giannis is. Fotsis at his peak was like Greece's 6th or 7th most important player.

To be the same player young Fotsis was, all Giannis has to do is instantly become a deadly 3 point shooter, with unlimited shooting range.

I'm sorry, but this age thing is a total excuse. At age 21, you need to be able to shoot when left wide open by the defense, and be able to or dribble under FIBA rules, or your career potential in FIBA national teams competitions is probably not going to be much.

I know FIBA is changing to NBA dribble rules starting next year (from 2 steps to 3 steps), but even with that, they are going to enforce the 3 dribble rule and the palming rule, not like in NBA, where you can take 5, 6, 7, 8 steps without a dribble, and no whistle is blown, and where you can palm the ball every time you touch it and get away with it.

So the new FIBA dribble rule will only help Giannis a little bit, since he still can't do much on 3 steps against a set defense with a clogged lane.

This is extremely obvious, and it's why now that international teams have seen Giannis in 2 previous major tournaments before this one, they all have a scouting report on him, and all the coaches and players know how to play him.

That's why all 3 of Greece's opponents in the qualifiers just left him wide open in half court, and whenever he brought the ball up, that's why they got up in his body, knowing the second he had to change directions, he would travel, or pick up his dribble.

Now that every team knows to play him that way, it's probably only going to get worse for him, unless he has some tremendous skill development.

[Euroleague]

I read an article recently on Giannis that talked about his shooting %; that unless he's right next to the hoop (5 feet), he shoots under 40% from everywhere else on the court. He definitely has talent but this is a league where opposing teams can adapt; they can lay off you and make you shoot, they can clog the paint. The way the league is going, everyone is improving their shot, even big men; if he doesn't, he may find his efficacy tailing off.

Sounds exactly right. If you watch Giannis play, he is pretty efficient from 5 feet in, probably about 60-65 percent in that range. From 6 feet out and further, he is a true brick layer.

Sort of the same weaknesses as Jan Vesely has in his game, only Giannis is a better free throw shooter (Vesely is one of the worst free throw shooters I ever saw).

[Euroleague]

blaming giannis while whole greek NT is garbage.

pure EUROLEAGUE...

Anyone that has seen this Greek NT play, knows that Giannis is easily in the least skilled player, and worst offensive player of Greece category, with his only competition for those distinctions being his brother, Thanasis.

However, Thanasis is even a better ball handler than Giannis, although, he's even a worst shooter than Giannis, which is almost impossible to imagine really, but he is.

Even the mega scrub of scrubs, Calathes, that people in Europe laugh at because he is such a bad Euroleague player - even he's way more skilled on offense than Giannis, and Calathes is like the worst rotation point guard in Euroleague, as far as offense goes.

[Euroleague]

if u talking about gallis, so yes hes half american and half greek, hes born in nj and if im correct he was playing for seton hall

Actually, Galis was full Greek, as both his parents were Greeks, and he was born 2 weeks after they arrived in USA.

However, culturally, he was pure American, obviously, at the time he first came to Greece.

Like opposite example of Antetokounmpo brothers.

[Euroleague]

:oldlol:


Well, you could always consider someone whose both parents were Greeks, his native language is Greek, has lived 2/3 of his life (and still lives) in Greece, and has refused offers from the NBA because he preferred to play for his national team (which accidentally happens to be Greece), an American.

I just happen to know though that the same Galis has a different opinion on the matter.

He was born and raised in USA, and that's where he lived until age 22.

He's lived in Greece since he was 22 (he's now 59), so 37 years now, and he's long, long ago renounced his US citizenship.

Back in his playing days, he was probably more of an American culturally, but obviously now, he has almost nothing at all to do with being called an American.

It depends on how you look at it, but usually when you renounce American citizenship, that pretty much means you don't consider yourself American anymore.

[Euroleague]

Nick Gallis is A) American and B) not better than Giannis.

Let's not get sidetracked. We are talking about Giannis here. Even if Nick Gallis was an actual Greek, and not a nationalized foreigner, he is not better than Giannis so this discussion is pointless.

Last time I checked, Gallis was drafted in the 4th round and never played a single minute in the NBA. He's essentially a summer league journeyman level player who went over to Europe to dominate weak competition. Think Morris Almond with less athleticism-that's Nick Gallis for you.

If Galis was "naturalized", he would have been banned from Greek national team. No "naturalized" players can play in any Greek national sports team. It's against Greek sports law.

Also, Giannis is not in the top 50 Greek players.....hell, I don't think he's in the top 20 Greek players just out of currently active players.

[Euroleague]

Both statements are factually correct.

Nicky G. (as he was known in his Seton Hall days) was drafted in the 4 round. Giannis was drafted in the first.

Nick never played a single NBA minute. Giannis is one of the best young NBA players.

Nick just couldn't cut it against the best competition so he fled to Europe to dominate vs the best.

Giannis is dominating against the best ballers in the world on a nightly basis. 1v1, Giannis would murder Nicky G.

On top of this all, Nicky G is an American citizen born and raised in Union City, New Jersey. He learned to play basketball in America. He is an American basketball player who decided to nationalize as Greek in order to play international ball because he had no chance of making Team USA.

This is the same situation with Kris Kaman playing for the German national team even though he only has German ancestry.

You are one of the dumbest people alive.

[Euroleague]

I love Giannis, and if he manages to become half the player Galis was, I will be extremely happy for him, and the Bucks will have an all-star.

Let's be realistic here, if Giannis becomes even 1/4 as good as Papaloukas was, it will be a near miracle.

Giannis should never even be mentioned in the same discussion with Greek players like Galis, Spanoulis, Diamantidis.

Hell, it would be a small miracle if he became as good as Zisis is.

[Milbuck]

Giannis is better than Spanoulis ever was :oldlol:

Giannis is a rising star in the best basketball league in the world, Spanoulis is a washed up has been who couldn't hang with the big boys on his best day.

[Euroleague]

Giannis never had a jumpshot to begin with.

Correct. However, in the NBA he can dribble and play point guard. In FIBA rules, he can't dribble at all, can't create, and he has a handle that's not even adequate for SF position.

So clearly, the NBA is making him into an imaginary player and a fictional star, when in reality, he has almost no basketball skills at all. Something that is shown under FIBA rules.

[Milbuck]

Giannis is the GOAT Greek basketball player. It's not even close.
Finito.

[Euroleague]

Giannis was 4th in scoring in the entire tournament, on 64% TS. And only guys ahead of him are guys who averaged like 10 more minutes a game. What am I missing here?

http://www.fiba.com/oqt/italy/2016/playerstats

https://media4.giphy.com/media/bfEJneSL2MkLe/200.gif

[Euroleague]

Giannis is the GOAT Greek basketball player. It's not even close.

Goat as in the one that caused Greece to lose the game...yes.

The goat of the game indeed.