The German basketball players will meet Greece and thus Giannis Antetokounmpo in the quarter-finals of the European Championship. The Greek towers over all the remaining stars of the European Championship.
It really needs no introduction. Because in the quarterfinals of the European Basketball Championship, not just anyone is waiting for the Germans. Dennis Schröder, Daniel Theis and Co. is Giannis Antetokounmpo – short “Giannis” or “The Greek Freak” opposite. And with it the 2.11 meter tall, concentrated muscle mass with an athleticism that is unparalleled even in the American NBA.
The 27-year-old Forward der Milwaukee Bucks has twice been named Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the top league in the world, and in 2020 he also snagged the trophy for Best Defender. A year later, Antetokounmpo was then for the first time NBA champion and Finals Series MVP.
Terrifying range
The trophy collection already shows what the Greek has done to the other superstars like Luka Doncic or Rudy Gobert advantage: It’s dominance on both sides of the court that sets him apart. While Doncic regularly drives his defenders to despair and Gobert Known for his hard-hitting defense, delivers “The Greek Freak” off both ends in every game.
The 110-pound superstar is unstoppable for any defense in the world and at the same time one of the best defenders in the world. With his wingspan of 2.21 meters, the Athenian’s appearance alone inspires respect. “He’s one of the best players in the world. The qualities he has, his body, his size, his skill, that’s what sets him apart.”says German captain Dennis Schröder.
A giant on both sides of the court: Giannis Antetokounmpo
At the latest after the elimination of Serbia and Nikola Jokic, the “Hellas” slipped to the post of the top favorites. The reason for this is Antetokounmpo alone – the 2.11 meter tall kicks too dominantly Forward on. His versatility of dynamics, bounce and speed makes the Greek a Herculean task for the German defense.
DBB stars rely on collective defense
One thing is clear: Giannis definitely cannot be slowed down by a single player in the German team. The team therefore does not place the responsibility on the shoulders of a single actor. “Stopping Giannis is actually almost impossible”Schroeder also knows.
Much more one relies on the combined forces: “It’s not one person’s thing, you do it as a team. We have to do a good job and be disciplined. All five players have to be committed.”explained the 28-year-old Point Guard in an interview with “NBA Overtime”.
The statistics: Giannis towers over Doncic and Co.
A look at the statistics also speaks a clear language. Antetokounmpo is the top scorer of the current tournament with 29 points per game. He also leads his own team in rebounds to (9.2) and distributes four on average assists.
So far, the opponents of the Greeks have mostly acted with a defensive strategy specially designed for Giannis. The so-called zone defense is intended to give the Greeks the drives make the basket as heavy as possible. However, it is not a guarantee of success to take the double MVP out of the game as a scorer.
Superior passing skills
Because the 27-year-old Greek is not only difficult to defend as a dominant supplier of points. Due to the high basketball IQ and the outstanding playmaking and passing qualities, Antetokounmpo also knows how to put his teammates in the limelight. “He’s the best player in the world. And it’s good to have him on our side.”comrade-in-arms Nick Calathes raved before the round of 16 against the Czech Republic.
So how can the German team “The Greek Freak” to stop? Probably not at all. The only effort can be to make it as difficult as possible for him. The focus is probably more on the team around Giannis: “Ultimately, you have to try to scale the others down from the points rebounds, assists“explains Schroeder.
The leader of the German team sees it as “horny challenges“: “If you want to achieve something, of course you have to win against the best.” Giannis Antetokounmpo is undoubtedly one of them.