TUR - Winless Turks looking for answers

KOPER (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Turkey came into EuroBasket 2013 with high aspirations of possibly grabbing a medal but at least securing a spot at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

But after two games, the Turks are shaking their heads looking for answers to explain two straight losses to start the tournament.

"I wish I had an answer man. I swear to God," said Turkey's veteran leader Hedo Turkoglu, who is playing in his eighth EuroBasket.

Turkoglu and his teammates have dug themselves an 0-2 hole in Group D in Koper with losses to Finland (61-55) and Italy (90-75). Already 2-0 in the group are both of those teams as well as Greece - Turkey's opponents on Saturday after a day off on Friday.

"We have to figure it out somehow. We have one day off now and then three important games Saturday, Sunday (against Sweden) and Monday (against Russia). Now these are must-win games, otherwise we are going back home," he warned.

"Hopefully we will rest and play better games on the weekend."

Turkoglu mentioned a lack of concentration and even underestimating opponents as possible answers as to why the team is where it is.

Turkey have struggled to play a full 40 minutes in both games.

Bogdan Tanjevic's team fell behind by 19 points midway through the third quarter against Finland before going on a 19-3 run and eventually cutting the gap to three points. Turkoglu missed a jumper with 16 seconds left which could have made it a one-point game.

Against Italy, Turkey hit some long-range shots early on but struggled to defend the Italian perimeter shooting and were never really close in the second half.

Turkoglu knows the areas of concern to address.

"We have to do a better job starting the game and trying to control the game, us controlling it and not them. We need to have more energy," said the team's leading scorer at 10 points per game on 26 per cent shooting.

The NBA veteran hopes his team fully realizes the situation they are in and steps up their game - especially against the group favorites Greece on Saturday.

"These two games have put us in a tough situation. Greece and Russia are tougher games. But we need to come out harder," said Turkoglu.

If not, Turkoglu and the Turks cannot only forget about a medal, they also will watch an automatic spot for Spain 2014 fly right out the window.

FIBA