By Dionysis Aravantinos / info@eurohoops.net
There have been stellar performances, like Pau Gasol’s, Markkanen’s, Schröder’s and Dragic’s have kept the level of play at a high level.
Only three of those players, Israel’s Omri Casspi, Czech Republic’s Tomas Satoransky and Georgia’s Zaza Pachulia, couldn’t lead their team to the round of 16. However, this has more to do with the team abilities and not their individual performance.
So here’s what every NBA player has done so far, as Eurobasket is entering tomorrow in the stage of the knockout games.
(Photo credit: FIBA.basketball)
Goran Dragic (Slovenia / Miami Heat)
Team Record: 5-0 (No. 1 – Group A)
Stats: 24.4 PPG, 5.2 APG
Dragic has led Slovenia to an undefeated record, grabbing the No. 1 seed in Group A, while averaging 24.4 points per game (best in the tournament). He has shown true skills of a leader on both sides of the court, as well as helped young prospect/star Luka Doncic improve his game.
Lauri Markkanen (Finland / Chicago Bulls)
Team Record: 4-1 (No. 2 – Group A)
Stats: 22.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG
The 20-year old power forward has been phenomenal in his debut EuroBasket. In the five games, he has played so far, he has led Finland through to the second round while grabbing the No. 2 seed in a difficult group. His youth, scoring skills (3rd in the tournament), unique talent, athletic skills, three-point shot (50% from downtown (!)) and defensive tenacity has made him one of the biggest storylines of the tournament.
Evan Fournier (France / Orlando Magic)
Team Record: 3-2 (No. 3 – Group A)
Stats: 13.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG
Fournier, in these five Group Stage games, has been good for France but has also been immature in certain situations, like this ejection. Together with Nanto De Colo, he leads this team on the offensive side of the court with 13.6 points per game. He has also shown up in clutch situations for his national team and made some tough shots.
Boris Diaw (France / Utah Jazz)
Team Record: 3-2 (No. 3 – Group A)
Stats: 8.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG
Boris Diaw has become the locker room leader of the French team and also the veteran presence in crunch time. His experience and leadership skills on and off the court have helped this French team win some important games (Greece, Poland) and advance to the Top-16.
Joffrey Lauvergne (France / San Antonio Spurs)
Team Record: 3-2 (No. 3 – Group A)
Stats: 10.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG
The 6-11 power forward of the San Antonio Spurs has been a role player for the French squad, coming off the bench and having a good impact for coach Vincent Collet in the 20 minutes per game he plays.
Giorgos Papagiannis (Greece / Sacramento Kings)
Team Record: 2-3 (No. 4 – Group A)
Stats: 3.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG
The 20-year old Sacramento Kings’ center has had some flashes for Greece, and some mediocre games as well. In Greece’s last and most important game vs. Poland, Papagiannis scored 8 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots, in 16 minutes were Greece needed it the most. In other games, he did not play many minutes and could not help his national team.
Mindaugas Kuzminskas (Lithuania / New York Knicks)
Team Record: 4-1 (No. 1 – Group B)
Stats: 14.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG
The 27-year old New York Knicks’ small forward, together with Jonas Valanciunas has led this team to four wins in the group stage while advancing to the second round as a No. 1 seed. The way he scores the basketball on the offensive side of the court, with his unique skill set of jump-shooting, knocking down long three-pointers and posting up is something special about him. He has been really effective for Lithuania.
Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania / Toronto Raptors)
Team Record: 4-1 (No. 1 – Group B)
Stats: 16.4 PPG, 11.4 RPG
Jonas Valanciunas has been the best version of himself in this EuroBasket so far with Lithuania. He has become a true leader at 25-years old while leading his team in rebounding and scoring. The oppositions are facing problems with Valanciunas in the low post, as he can find multiple ways to score, by getting to the free-throw line, shooting mid-range jumpers and posting up defenders. If he continues to play like that, Lithuania can go far in this tournament.
Dennis Schröder (Germany / Atlanta Hawks)
Team Record: 3-2 (No. 2 – Group B)
Stats: 23.6 PPG, 4.6 APG
Scrhöder has been the engine of this German team. He has been unstoppable on the offensive side of the court (2nd scorer in the tournament), as he has been facilitating the offense, making tough shots, finishing at the rim with either hand and adopting the role of a leader, coach Fleming has asked him to play. Atlanta Hawks’ coach, Mike Budenhozler has been impressed by Scrhöder as he stated on Wednesday that he keeps improving through this tournament. With that being said, the leader of Germany has more turnovers (4,8) than assists (4.6) per game, so there’s room for improvement.
Daniel Theis (Germany / Boston Celtics)
Team Record: 3-2 (No. 2 – Group B)
Stats: 7.8 PPG, 6.8 APG
The 25-year old power forward has been good for Germany in the first stage of the EuroBasket. He had a couple of great games that were crucial for his team. With Israel, he scored 15 points and grabbed 15 (!) rebounds. In the 21.4 minutes, he is playing Germany is getting the best out of him.
Marco Belinelli (Italy / Charlotte Hornets)
Team Record: 3-2 (No. 3 – Group B)
Stats: 17.0 PPG, 2.6 RPG
Belinelli’s experience and leadership skills have given Italy three wins in Group B, which was enough to advance to the second round. Together with Gigi Datome, they have made a spectacular offensive duo. Belinelli has made more three-point shots than anyone else in the tournament while shooting 48.6% (!) from deep.
Zaza Pachulia (Georgia / Golden State Warriors)
Team Record: 2-3 (No. 5 – Group B)
Stats: 13.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG
Unfortunately for Georgia, the EuroBasket ‘journey’ ends right here. They were not able to advance to the second round, even though Pachulia was effective for them in some games. Pachulia had some great games with a double-double but others that remained relatively quiet.
Omri Caspi (Israel / Golden State Warriors)
Team Record: 1-4 (No. 6 – Group B)
Stats: 14.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG
For Israel, Caspi was the only bright spot in this EuroBasket. With only one win, Israel could not advance to the second round, even though they were playing in their country, in front of their home fans. Caspi had some great games with 20-11, 18-9 but it wasn’t enough for the Israelis.
Alex Abrines (Spain / Oklahoma City Thunder)
Team Record: 5-0 (No. 1 – Group C)
Stats: 7.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG
Alex Abrines, sadly played in only one game (15 minutes in the EuroBasket for his national team as he picked up an ankle injury in the first game vs. Montenegro that has left him out of the tournament.
Ricky Rubio (Spain / Utah Jazz)
Team Record: 5-0 (No. 1 – Group C)
Stats: 10.2 PPG, 4.4 APG
Ricky Rubio has been effective so far, in these five group stage games for his national team. He has been facilitating the offense, executing perfectly the pick & roll with Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, Willy Hernangomez and also playing tough defense when needed.
Marc Gasol (Spain / Memphis Grizzlies)
Team Record: 5-0 (No.1 – Group C)
Stats: 9.4 PPG, 7.0 PPG
Marc Gasol has been relatively quiet in the first stage of the EuroBasket and that is because he was not needed so far. On both sides of the court, however, Gasol is effective in the PER ratings, and together with his brother Pau they can be the best front-court duo in this tournament.
Pau Gasol (Spain / San Antonio Spurs)
Team Record: 5-0 (No. 1 – Group C)
Stats: 16.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG
Pau Gasol has been exceptionally good in this Eurobasket. Leading his team, with his experience, his talent and ‘winning’ mentality to five straight wins in Group C. Spain can rely on him in the knock-out games. Gasol already made history in the game vs. Hungary by becoming the leading scorer in Eurobasket history.
Juancho Hernangomez (Spain / Denver Nuggets)
Team Record: 5-0 (No. 1 – Group C)
Stats: 11.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG
Juancho Hernangomez has been an exciting surprise for this Spanish team. Together with his brother Willy, when coming off the bench they are excellent, play well together and lead the bench unit’s tempo offensively and defensively.