BELGRADE (Serbia) – The men's Olympic basketball tournament is brimming with talent, but it's hard not to see Serbia and Greece as top medal contenders with Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the charge.
Greece, after winning the OQT, has played only one preparation game, securing a win over Puerto Rico despite missing several key players. This game in Belgrade was supposed to provide a clearer picture of Greece's form heading into the Olympics. However, they were without Nick Calathes due to a minor injury, though he is expected to be ready by the end of the week.
On the other hand, Serbia received positive news ahead of their preparation game: Nikola Jovic has been cleared by medical staff to participate in the Olympics. The Miami Heat forward will bring additional size and athleticism to Svetislav Pesic's lineup.
Serbia handed Vassilis Spanoulis his first-ever loss as head coach of Greece's national team, securing a victory with a score of 94-72.
The story of the game
The teams faced off against each other from early on, despite the very friendly vibe before the game. Serbia wasn’t shy about implementing a triple team against Giannis, while offensively they looked fluid with their ball movement and open three-point shots.
Nikola Jokic took charge in the second quarter with a couple of his signature assists. His connection with Milutinov might surprise a few at the Olympics. Serbia carried a 9-point lead into the second half.
Greece managed to cut the gap in the third quarter, thanks to some three-pointers from Kostas Papanikolaou and Giannoulis Larentzakis. Giannis also appeared to be on a mission midway through the final quarter.
However, Jokic and his teammates didn’t allow the visitors to close the gap any further, finishing the game on a calm note.
The player of the game
It was only in the fourth quarter when many viewers of the game finally got what they wanted: Jokic vs. Giannis in the post. Let’s call their personal duel a draw, but since Serbia won the match, Nikola Jokic is easily the MVP of the game.
Things look so smooth when Nikola Jokic is on the court. We know that this summer he is determined to prove himself to Serbian fans in his final game before traveling to France. The NBA MVP finished this game with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in 24 minutes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
The stats of the game
The number of team assists—30—shows that the Serbian team is in great form. The 44% conversion rate of their three-point shots proves that Pesic's men had most of their long-distance shots open. Their captain, Bogdan Bogdanovic, was perfect from behind the arc, making all five of his shots for 19 points.
Spanoulis will be concerned with the lost battle on rebounds—22-37—and especially the 10 offensive boards conceded to Serbia.
The takeaways from the game
Well, if anyone had doubts, Serbia looks ready. Nikola Jokic is being his usual self, elevating everyone around him, including Nikola Milutinov. The chemistry, with Bogdanovic leading the way, is excellent, and the ball movement for the 2023 FIBA World Cup runners-up is as smooth as ever. One of the few concerns for Serbian fans might be Micic's form and his ability to create opportunities for his teammates in a highly competitive environment.
As for Greece, it’s really challenging to reach peak physical condition multiple times during the summer. Spanoulis' team seems to be out of shape for now, but they have some time before their first game in France. We’ve seen that they are capable of playing well and delivering high-energy basketball.
Greece will play Canada on Saturday in their first Olympic test, while Serbia will face the mighty USA on Sunday.
FIBA