Pre-Olympic tournament 2012

[TeoTheGreek13]

Who are these individuals of PR and Dominican Rep.? Not that I'm trying to underrate them, I have no reasons to do so.

Stratos Perperoglou, Kostas Papanikolaou, Vasilopoulos. All too weak in my account, except maybe Papanikolaou, but he probably will be lacking one or two years experience. Perperoglou is soft and inconsistent. Vasilopoulos comes, gets his fouls and sits down - that's basically his role for any team. Papanikolou probably will be a good player, but later in the future, IMO.

With all respect to you guys and your love to Fotsis, he's just a role player (strong one) and he is barely in competition with Kleiza. Sorry, different potential, different skills, completely different personalities. Greek fans underrate this strong player usually. I know he was a huge prospect, actually he even looked like that when he was younger, but couldn't live up to his potential, ended up as solid role player for top clubs. However, Fotsis is a solid card, but basically the only one, as Tsartsaris is too old and I'm not impressed with Kaimakoglou. However, my thesis here is that Greece can't match Mačiulis (3) and Kleiza (4). Actually, no other country except USA could match this in WC 2010 (one tournament though, hopefully we'll see them both in Olympics qualification). Bourousis can't play 4. Imagine him against Kleiza, the latter is too times faster. There probably also will be Motiejunas, also very fast 4.

As for personalities, off course we are lacking such guy as young Šaras. But who is Šaras in Greek NT? Well it was Pap and DD, but both are gone. As for future leaders ValančiÅ«nas will be the one. Great fighter/competitor and the natural born leader, in his own way.

Finally, players and not personalities playing on the court.

However, it's my picture. It's your choice how to rank the teams.

BTW, I don't want Šaras on the team. He had a good tournament till the very most important games. Unfortunately he totally f... up in these games and couldn't deal with leadership and even his nerves and pressure. He was very humble and very good role player till the clutch games, but when the ball got hot, he couldn't just play as a role player, he started to rule (including Kemzura). And that was one of the main reasons why we failed. Šaras is the legend and always will, but he can't play in NT team anymore because here he's the leader and he can't be the leader anymore. As simple as that. He will be brilliant for PAO as a role player and under Obradovic who won't let himself to involve with Saras stuff, Kemzura did unfortunately.

Lithuania 2012 should be young, fast, athletic and hungry. We have all tools for that, now it's up to Kemzura.

Probably you haven't seen a lot of Perperoglou and definitely you haven't seen a lot of Vasilopoulos. Vasilopoulos is not what you think he's for a team. He's a great defender and a capable shooter! The only thing you got a point at, is that Stratos is soft.

They are both very talented. You probably think that I consider them being super stars. No, I'm just saying that we don't have a problem in 3 position. You also talk about Maciulis like he's Siskauskas...

Maybe is not us who overrate Fotsis but you who underestimate him.

Fotsis a role player?!?!

Come on man. Fotsis may be more valuable for a team than Kleiza. Kleiza is just a great scorer. He's got NOTHING ELSE in his game.

Now, about Bourousis - Kleiza matchup at PF, if we want someone to play defense on Kleiza and Fotsis is on the bench, we can easily put Kaimakoglou on him!

"But who is Šaras in Greek NT?" Maybe you forget Spanoulis!!! By the way, don't be so sure about Diamantidis...!

*Our respective Valanciunas is Calathes by the way.

"Finally, players and not personalities playing on the court." You kidding?! When I'm talking about personality I mean his talent and his impact on the game.

**You overrate Maciulis. He's a great player but you are excessive!

Anyway, the answers will be given in the summer!

I hope Diamantidis will be there!