GRE – Zisis: `Athletically, Team USA are incredible … the best athletes in the world’

BEIJING (Olympics) - Nikos Zisis had to watch from the bench in street clothes when Greece pulled off their stunning 101-95 upset of Team USA at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

He had suffered broken bones in his face after a nasty hit by Brazil’s Anderson Varejao in their group game in Hamamatsu.

On Thursday in Beijing at the Olympics, Zisis was able to run onto the court and what he experienced was nothing like the victory in Saitama.

Instead, a determined and extremely concentrated United States took out their anger on the Greeks and won 92-69.

"They played a very good game,” Zisis said to FIBA.com.

“They had a big motivation after what happened two years ago and you could see that even in the warm-up. They overpowered us in athleticism, rebounds, in running the floor. We couldn't anticipate them.

“They played much better defense in the pick and roll than in the semi-final of the World Championship.

“They were much more aggressive and they knew what they needed to do to take us out of the game.”

Dwyane Wade, who had six of the Americans’ 15 steals, and LeBron James were frightening.

When you throw a lot of other NBA all-stars to the mix, the USA look unbeatable.

“Athletically they are incredible,” Zisis said. “They are the best athletes in the world.”

Zisis agrees with most everyone else that the Americans have the best chance to win the gold medal.

"I think the game two years ago was incredible for us,” he said.

“That game cannot happen every two years, maybe every 20. The United States are a great team, they are the favorites to win the gold medal and for us we have to continue.

“Our most important game will be in the knock-out round."

FIBA