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By Giorgos Orfanakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Eurobasket is coming to its end and apart from the team achievements, the excellent co-operations between some players were impressive as well.
The point-guard and the center are the beginning and the end of every team and the right co-operation between those two players guarantees many times that the squad will be successful. An old basketball proverb says: “Tell me your point guard and center to tell you how good your team is.” Eurohoops presents the best duos which appeared in this year’s Eurobasket and decimated the defence of their opponents.
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[lptitle title=”6. Spanoulis- Koufos“]
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Greece
Spanoulis (11.4 p, 5.3 ass.)
Kostas Koufos (10 p., 56.3% FG)
The leader of Greece and the Greek center were one of the best offensive duos of this year’s competition. Athough they played together for the first time ever, the two players had a very effective co-operation on the court and created good combinations and as a result, they decimated their opponents’ defence. The national team failed to achieve their targets, but this duo was impressive offensively. A special reference should also made on the duo of Nick Calathes (9.9 p, 5.3 ass.) and Yiannis Bourousis (11.1 p, 56.1% FG), which created many problems and scored many baskets. The basic attacking way was the pick’n’roll, with the Greek players scoring field goals both near the basket and form distance.
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[lptitle title=”5. Dixon- Erden “]
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Turkey
Bobby Dixon (15 p, 4.8 ass.)
Semih Erden (13.2 p, 74.4 % FG)
Turkey was very competitive in this year’s Eurobasket, but they were unlucky as they faced France in the top 16 and were eliminated. The duo of Dixon and Erden, though, was impressive. The naturalised American was chosen by Ergin Ataman to help by both scoring and creating opportunities for his team-mates and did a great job. Despite the fact that he was very productive offensively, he was equally contributing by passing the ball well. Most of his assists were to the reborn Erden who scored many field goals near the basket with the impressive 74.4%. This achievement of the Turkish center is even bigger concerning the very strong centers (Pleis, Raduljica, Bargnani, Gasol, Gobert) that he faced. Both of them made a great performance in the tournament and their co-operation helped both of them a lot.
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[lptitle title=”4. Teodosic- Raduljica“]
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Serbia
Milos Teodosic (12.9 p., 7.6 ass.)
Miroslav Raduljica (13.9 p., 61.6% FG)
The elimination of Serbia from the final of the Eurobasket was a big surprise, as Sasa Djordjevic’s squad had played great basketball until now. One of the reasons for that was the excellent co-operation between Teodosic and Raduljica. The Serbian guard was very creative on the court, proving he is a player who could pass the ball well and offer a great spectacle. When this wasn’t possible, Teodosic (12.9 p., 7.6 ass.) scored either from distance or with a drive. On the court, Teodosic had Raduljica on his side for most of the game. From his 61.6% in field goals, it is obvious that the dynamic center had no problem against his opponents. His 13.9 points came as a result of his scoring ability in the paint and the excellent co-operation with the Serbian guard.
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[lptitle title=”3. Rodriguez- Gasol“]
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Spain
Sergio Rodriguez (10.6 p, 4.1 ass.)
Pau Gasol (25.6 p., 57.8% FG)
Spain is heading to another gold medal in the Eurobasket and that’s mainly because of the excellent duo of Sergi and Gasol. The Spanish star is making the best tournament of his career, being the undisputed MVP of the competition. He is 35 years old, but there is no defence that can stop the Chicago Bulls center, who averages 25.6 (!) points. He can score by any way he wants (shooting from near the basket or from distance, post-up play). At the same time, Sergi Rodriguez is in charge of the creative part of his team. Real Madrid guard dishes out 4.1 assists in every game, with most of them heading into the team’s leader, Pau Gasol. At the same time, he contributes very much offensively with 10.6 points. What remains to be seen is whether they will lead Spain to the end of the road.
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[lptitle title=”2. Kalnietis- Valanciunas“]
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Lithuania
Mantas Kalnietis (10.3 p., 8 ass.)
Jonas Valanciunas (16.9 p., 60.3% FG)
Lithuania travelled to the 2015 Eurobasket having many problems and little expectations for finishing high on the tournament. But, they did it! Part of this great success and the presence to the Final of the tournament is due to the duo of Kalnietis and Valanciunas. The Lithuanian guard has been impressive, despite having faced many injuries. Kalnietis is the best passer of the tournament, averaging eight, while scoring also 10.3 points. His other half, in Jonas Kazlauskas squad, is Jonas Valanciunas. Both players perfectly execute the pick’n’roll, co-operate effectively and have the ability of decimating any defence. The Toronto Raptors center averages 16.9 points per game and hits the most shots in the paint, with a very high 60.3%. No matter what the result will be in Sunday’s final, the two of them created one of the best duos of the tournament.
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[lptitle title=”1. Satoransky- Vesely“]
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Czech Republic
Tomas Satoransky (14.1 p., 7.3 ass.)
Jan Vesely (19.3 p., 64.1% FG)
Tomas Satoransky and Jan Vesely were without a doubt a team of their own in the Eurobasket. They were both effective and impressive and were the leaders of the Czech Republic’s very successful route. Barcelona’s point-guard made everything on the court, executing very well and creating opportunities for his team-mates. Averaging 7.3 assists, most of them were heading into the impressive Jan Vesely. The Czech center was averaging 19.3 points with 64.1% in field goals and he will probably be within the best starting squad of the tournament. One way or another, the ideal co-operation was very promising for the immediate future.
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