Group E, Day 6 France (NBA) vs Greece (Euroleague)

[g.g]

Quite a game for both teams.
I would vote for Greece. Despite their defeat from Russia, they remain on of the strongest teams in this tournament, yet they have to prove it on the that game.

[CG]

i think France is slighty the favorite.not because of today performance.This was just a day.Just because this year France looks like more mature and it seems the roles are well divined.Plus i have the feeling that greece has problem with athletic teams.
will see
60-40 for france

[Jon_Koncak]

You would think a basic winning tactic in football would be to kick the ball between the posts. Your opponent's posts, that is. The team that is best at this wins the match.

Most of the time that's true, but an infamous game between Barbados and Grenada in 1994 turned logic upside-down.

Going into the last group game in a Caribbean Cup tournament (the Shell Caribbean Cup), Barbados needed to beat Grenada by two goals in order to reach the final. A draw after 90 minutes would result in extra time whereas anything less than winning by two goals would see Grenada through to the final. The catch, however, was that the organisers had decided that in the case of extra time a golden goal would count as two goals.

Barbados took an early 2-0 lead, but Grenada made it 2-1 with seven minutes remaining. Barbados were heading out unless they scored a goal—any goal!

One Barbadian striker realised that his team were unlikely to score another goal against Grenada, with only a few minutes to go and Grenada playing an ultra-defensive tactic. Instead, he decided that their best chance of winning was to make the game go into extra time and score a golden goal, which would count as two goals.

So he promptly powered the ball past his own stunned goalkeeper to make it 2-2.

Now, Grenada needed to score a goal—at either end—to avoid extra time and to go through to the final. The Grenada players, initially stunned by the goal and suddenly realising what was going on, turned around and headed for their own net.

Now the comedy really starts as the Barbadians had anticipated this move and rushed to defend the Grenada goal—in addition to their own—until the whistle went for extra time. Now be honest, who could make up a story like this?

In the end, Barbadian ingenuity was rewarded as one of their strikers scored the winning goal four minutes into extra time, which sent Barbados to the final.

As was to be expected, the Grenadians were not amused. Grenada manager James Clarkson was furious. "I feel cheated, the person who came up with these rules must be a candidate for the madhouse.

"The game should never be played with so many players on the field confused. Our players did not even know which direction to attack; our goal or their goal. I have never seen this happen before. In football, you are supposed to score against your opponents in order to win, not for them."

Just in case you doubt this whole story and its authenticity, have a look at this videoclip.

[Jon_Koncak]

on a different note i don't think France=Nba is very accurate.Sure Parker is a superstar,and Diaw a solid starter but the likes of Jeaneu or Bokolo could undergo a special operation in Casablanca and still wouldn't be good enough to play at the WNBA..

[raph]

Just like against croatia, greece frontcourt is much better than ours. Logically after prkacin performance we can expect to see schortsanitis a lot on the field, we will see if we can manage to prevent him from touching the ball. Since if he gets the ball, he will either score or go to the line.

If calathes comes back, parker will have a hard time and we gonna need de colo and/or diot to work for us as play maker. I don't expect him to be that effective against greece, players and staff perfectly know how to stop him. Slow pace game, our forwards will have like today a major role in the outcome of the game i think. And they have to "strike" first as greek bench has the only weakness there imo

We might have couple surprise though, as france and/or greece could just decide de play their whole team and avoid pushing too hard before the 1er final (as they are sure to stay 1st and 2nd and have one more day "off")

[Dtown]

I don't expect the victor to win by more than five points.

Really the two teams have looked fairly equal, so I'm looking to Parker, imo the best player on the court, to be the slight difference.

[g.g]

You would think a basic winning tactic in football would be to kick the ball between the posts. Your opponent's posts, that is. The team that is best at this wins the match.

Most of the time that's true, but an infamous game between Barbados and Grenada in 1994 turned logic upside-down.

Going into the last group game in a Caribbean Cup tournament (the Shell Caribbean Cup), Barbados needed to beat Grenada by two goals in order to reach the final. A draw after 90 minutes would result in extra time whereas anything less than winning by two goals would see Grenada through to the final. The catch, however, was that the organisers had decided that in the case of extra time a golden goal would count as two goals.

Barbados took an early 2-0 lead, but Grenada made it 2-1 with seven minutes remaining. Barbados were heading out unless they scored a goal—any goal!

One Barbadian striker realised that his team were unlikely to score another goal against Grenada, with only a few minutes to go and Grenada playing an ultra-defensive tactic. Instead, he decided that their best chance of winning was to make the game go into extra time and score a golden goal, which would count as two goals.

So he promptly powered the ball past his own stunned goalkeeper to make it 2-2.

Now, Grenada needed to score a goal—at either end—to avoid extra time and to go through to the final. The Grenada players, initially stunned by the goal and suddenly realising what was going on, turned around and headed for their own net.

Now the comedy really starts as the Barbadians had anticipated this move and rushed to defend the Grenada goal—in addition to their own—until the whistle went for extra time. Now be honest, who could make up a story like this?

In the end, Barbadian ingenuity was rewarded as one of their strikers scored the winning goal four minutes into extra time, which sent Barbados to the final.

As was to be expected, the Grenadians were not amused. Grenada manager James Clarkson was furious. "I feel cheated, the person who came up with these rules must be a candidate for the madhouse.

"The game should never be played with so many players on the field confused. Our players did not even know which direction to attack; our goal or their goal. I have never seen this happen before. In football, you are supposed to score against your opponents in order to win, not for them."

Just in case you doubt this whole story and its authenticity, have a look at this videoclip.

Amazing story!!! Do you believe we may see Spanoulis and Parker to contest who is making more points to their own basket?

Greek Loby Rulz

[ozziem]

I think the question shouldn't have been " Who will win" , The question must be "Who lose" . I think the team that Most want to lose this match, can succeed to lose.

[CG]

I think the question shouldn't have been " Who will win" , The question must be "Who lose" . I think the team that Most want to lose this match, can succeed to lose.

[ArkadiosV2]

I think the question shouldn't have been " Who will win" , The question must be "Who lose" . I think the team that Most want to lose this match, can succeed to lose.

ozziem you are the voice of truth and wisdom.

[Big Lebowski]

Greece - France part II:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zokUPp_nj_c

[wyopeq]

I think the question shouldn't have been " Who will win" , The question must be "Who lose" . I think the team that Most want to lose this match, can succeed to lose.

user3305_pic115_1252855327.jpg

Ozzıem ıs that you?

[Fedfan]

stop make fun of ozzie!!

I agree!!not who wins but who lose?If one wins,one loses also.So who lose???

I say France lose because Greece,as this forum wise conclusion was,has already tanked once.So now France's turn.

[Jon_Koncak]

Tony Parker "We don't feel any presure to finish 1st"

http://www.superbasket.gr/?c=379&a=116304

[ArkadiosV2]

Tony Parker "We don't feel any presure to finish 1st"

http://www.superbasket.gr/?c=379&a=116304

Here we go...

I hope both teams show some self-respect

[Visseira]

Greece finally showed weaknesses and France is unstoppable. If the Greeks can't guard (they should be claiming for Diamantidis) Parker, France will win...

[ozziem]

Meanwhile, I want to say I can admit bare KING but I can't admit Crowded KING

[Jon_Koncak]

i'm thinkin if anythin suspicious happens on tuesday fiba shuld think changin that ridiculous competition system.Imo only the 2 first teams of each group should qualify,then no team would think which opponent to avoid and which not,simply because a loss would propably mean elimination..

[ArkadiosV2]

I can admit bare KING but I can't admit Crowded KING

ozziem you are the Mustafa Topaloglu of IBN, we love and respect you so much.

May Allah cut years from Turkoglu and Ilyasova and add days to you

[ArkadiosV2]

i'm thinkin if anythin suspicious happens on tuesday fiba shuld think changin that ridiculous competition system.Imo only the 2 first teams of each group should qualify,then no team would think which opponent to avoid and which not,simply because a loss would propably mean elimination..

Don't think too much, you'll get a headache.