GRE - New-look Greece getting ready to run

ATHENS (EuroBasket 2009) - Greece swept Romania in a couple of friendlies this week as they stepped it up a notch in their EuroBasket preparations.
 
Playing without Dimitris Diamantidis (recovering from laparoscopic surgery), Theo Papaloukas, Kostas Tsartsaris (both resting) and Panagiotis Vasilopoulos (injured) this summer, and also under the leadership of new coach Jonas Kazlauskas, the Greeks beat Romania 88-46 behind closed doors on Tuesday.
 
They followed that up with a 102-57 drubbing the following day.
 
New boys Kostas Koufos and Nick Calathes are in the squad and logging a lot of minutes.
 
In the first game, Sofoklis Schortsanitis had 15 points while Calathes and Koufos contributed 13 apiece.
 
Koufos poured in 15 on Wednesday to lead the scoring.
 
“They (young players) are putting forth great effort and working well in practice,” veteran guard Vassilis Spanoulis said.
 
“They are receiving a lot of help by the coaches and by us (experienced players). I believe that when needed, they will be ready to help the team.”
 
One eye on 2010 Turkey
 
The first aim of Greece at the EuroBasket in Poland next month will be to secure a top-six finish (top seven if Turkey are in the first six) in order to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
 
The Greeks then want to reach the podium and even challenge for a gold medal.
 
Fans will see a different approach on the court with a new man at the helm.
 
If patience was the key word for his Panagiotis Yannakis when he was in charge the previous five years, “run” is likely to be the word most uttered by Kazlauskas.
 
A Lithuanian who coached his own country's national team for many years and also led China for three summers, concluding with last year's Olympics, Kazlauskas clearly wants to up the tempo.
 
"(We're) Trying to run to fill the gaps," said Georgios Printezis, who broke into the senior team last year and played at the Olympics.
 
"The coach is a fan of Lithuanian basketball, which all starts from the defense.
 
"We are a group with a desire to run, press, and we are very enthusiastic.”
 
FIBA