Hi there.
After resting from the SF in Brazil last night, this is the report from
the first day of the FIBA U20 European championship in Rethymno.
First game – Bulgaria vs Poland
The first game of the day didn’t show neither size nor high level plays
from both teams.
It was decided, at the end, by the more mature and team oriented play of
the Polish team, as well as the very poor boxout by the Bulgarians.
The whole game was played below the rim, as the only decent rim
protector on both side, the Bulgarian Velislav Galbalov, was limited to
only 9 points due to foul trouble.
Jan Grzelinsky was without no doubt the best player on the floor
for Poland, very undersized at 1.80 but with very strong legs, he had no
problems playing against the super undersized Bulgarian PGs, going wherever he
wanted on the court, making the from PnR situation where he could either pull
up for the midrange jumpshot or sting the paint for the kick or the finish. He has a tendency to leave his feet on the
drives looking for the pass in midair, and due to his size problem won't be
able play high level basketball, but he is, with no doubt, the engine of the
Polish team.
Mikolaj Witlinsky is the main prospect in POL, standing at about
2.08 with long wingspan, he is a fluid stretch 4 who due to size problem in the
Polish team is forced to play C. he
does most of his damage from the top of the key, where he can either shot the
ball or take it all the way to his preferable left hand (he is right handed). His long feet creates a high center of
gravity that does not allow him to play on the block on both ends. He took 4 3pt shots, and usually floats
around the 3pt line, not making him a target for dishes, but allowing him to
spark for the offensive rebound. At 6"10
with long wingspan but very limited explosiveness he is not at all a treat for
protecting the rim.
Alexander Vezenkov was not at his best yesterday, mostly playing
off the ball and taking lots of bad shots, he was not forcing until the final quarter
and playing for his teammates, but he had tough time finishing yesterday. His high basketball IQ and instincts helped
him get 20 points at the end, but the Bulgarian squad need a much more
aggressive Vezenkov if they want to stay in the A Division.
The second game was another opera from the warm up, as a much bigger and
talented France and Russia where on the court.
France talent and athleticism is better, and any team will have a tough
time scoring against their aggressive (but smart!) defense, but their banal
offensive system and poor decision making helped the dynamic Russian team to
steal the win.
It was an even match with a thriller in the end.
The Russian Mikhail Kulagin was the best player on the court,
showing great maturity and playing under control, he was not forcing the issue,
making some exceptional passes and scoring every time his team needed a
bucket. He played off the ball a lot, sometimes
floats on the court, and even if he is considered a SG to me he has to play the
PG position full time, as his size is ideal for a PG, and of course, his skills
will be at full display running a team.
Mam Jaiteh had a tough time against the long and athletic Russian
frontcourt, he finished with 14 and 10
but had a tough shooting night. He isn’t
consistent enough finished around the rim, but showed he can finish on the low
post with either hand. On the defensive
side he is a load on the paint, not protecting the rim a lot due to his limited
explosiveness but his presence on the paint is well felt.
The surprising player on the court for all the 4 teams played yesterday
was French man Guerschon Yabusele, the French Kyle Hines. Listed at 2.00 but seems to be a 1.95,
he is a physical specimen with long wingspan and great timing, crushing the
boards on both ends and doing only the things he is capable of. I really like his passing from the high post
after the PnR, and he even scored one 3pt shot.
That’s it for yesterday, today starts for me with Israel first game
facing off Poland, and then the two losers from yesterday France and Bulgaria
will matched up for a critical game for both side.
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