Serbia healthy, clicking just at right time

MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Shortly before the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup was to tip off, both Milos Teodosic and Nenad Krstic were dealing with injuries.

In fact, Serbia struggled through the Group Phase with Krstic still at less than 100 percent and Teodosic not yet in full sync again with the team.

All that has changed since the Final Phase in Madrid and the Serbs are healthy, clicking and ready to take on the United States for the title at the first World Cup.

Serbia coach Sasha Djrodjevic said the first half of his team's 90-85 Semi-Final victory over France was a continuation of the previous two games in Madrid - blow-out wins over Greece and Brazil.

"These guys created chemistry between themselves. They created a team spirit that I was preaching from day one that is going to bring us something like this. It’s all about them, their credit,” Djordjevic said after Friday night's game.

"We just had a great tournament. I'm so happy for them, so honoured to have them as my players and coach and try to teach them something. And I'm learning from them from day one of the start of practice."

And the leader of the Serbians has been Teodosic, who Djordjevic said is clearly the MVP of the tournament.

Teodosic is the leader of this team - Djordjevic

"With no doubt, he brought us here with his knowledge, he led us here."

Djordjevic isn't the only one to think so.

"He's a great player. He's the best point guard in Europe, maybe in the world," guard Nikola Kalinic said of Teodosic.

Djordjevic recalled being mad at Teodosic for suffering a sprained ankle two weeks before Spain 2014 tipped off because the CSKA Moscow playmaker had been practicing so hard.

"He wanted this so bad. He was even our best defensive player. He was so into creating this group together with all of us and I'm really finding out a great person behind a great player. And I'm very happy with the relationship that we have," said the former point guard Djordjevic, himself a world champion in 1998, a 1996 Olympic silver medalist and three-time European champion with Yugoslavia.

With Krstic, Djordjevic had to convince him that he should take more time to rest his aching knee.

The Anadolu Efes center wanted to come back and play more as Serbia opened their campaign in Granada's Group A, but Djordjevic said he needed him for later in the tournament.

Krstic is giving us his best in those minutes - Djordjevic

"Now we have Krstic. We're winning games because he's a great player," said the coach of the 31-year-old, who has scored at least 10 points in all three knockout stage games after totalling just 14 points in the group stage.

"I think something clicked… I don't have an explanation," said Krstic. "We play as a team."

A team that is healthy and finally clicking.

FIBA