Team I’ve Enjoyed Watching: Turkey
Turkey has been one of the most impressive teams in EuroBasket.
It starts with Alperen Sengun.
Sengun has averaged 21.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game. That includes a triple-double in the quarterfinals against Poland. Sengun has largely been a two-level front-of-the-rim scorer. He’s shooting 65.1% on two-pointers and 37.5% on a limited amount of attempts (2.3 attempts per game).
But it’s not just Sengun that makes Turkey go.
Shane Larkin keeps Turkey at the right pace of play and the right time. Not only has Larkin averaged just 1.3 turnovers per game but he hasn’t committed a turnover in the last three games (Serbia, Sweden, Poland). Larkin has played 39, 37, and 34 minutes in those games.
Cedi Osman and Ercan Osmani have been the perfect Robin to Sengun and Larkin’s Batman. Both have had their big moments.
Know This Player’s Name: Miikka Muurinen
In the US, Muurinen is most known for being a top prospect at Compass Prep. But for Finland, his energy and willingness to play a role on the largest stage he’s been on.
On the surface, Muurinen’s stats isn’t anything to write home about. He’s playing 10.1 minutes, six points, and two rebounds per game. What he has provided is strong defense, willingness to make hustle plays, and everything else to contribute to winning.
The role he’s playing for Finland can gives insight into what he can be in the NBA.
With him being a top-prospect, college is in his future and that’s my biggest worry. Muurinen’s skillset is on the right professional path and having a college coach trying to make his “collegiate” could slow that development.
What Happened to Serbia?
Before EuroBasket started, no one had Finland in the semifinal instead of Serbia. So what happened to Serbia?
Serbia ended EuroBasket on a two-game losing streak. Both teams beat them with the same goal? Attack Nikola Jokic when he goes into drop on defense. The most interesting thing about it was Turkey and Finland did it in different ways.
Turkey used Sengun’s ability to score on the perimeter to work against Jokic. Yes, Sengun was able to score in the lane but it was his ability to hit three-pointers (4-7) that made the difference. He was also 5-7 in the paint.
Finland went the opposite route. When Jokic went into drop, they largely attacked space or schemed the big man into a long closeout. It’s when the three biggest possessions at the end of the game, Finland went at Jokic.
Here’s how they did it.
Are We Underappreciating Giannis?
Luka Doncic has been getting the most ink during EuroBasket and that’s understandable. His numbers are eye-popping (34.7 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 7.1 apg) and he carried Slovenia to the Round of 8 but in all the slobbering over Doncic, what Giannis Antetokounmpo has done has gone largely unnoticed.
Antetokounmpo went for 29 points and six rebounds in the Round of 8 win over Lithuania.
Greece is 6-1 in EuroBasket with the only loss came when Antetokounmpo sat out against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Greece’s roster decision to surround Antetokounmpo with shooting (sans his brothers) has proven to be a good one. It has allowed Antetokounmpo to have room to operate and reduce his minutes. Antetokounmpo hasn’t played more than 32 minutes in the five games he’s played but that hasn’t hurt his numbers.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 29.8 ppg and 9 rpg.
The area where Antetokounmpo has been better than Doncic is making his teammates better without dominating every possession.
