Stopping Giannis Antetokounmpo has been one of basketball’s toughest questions, and even rival coaches admit there might not be an answer. Israel’s national team coach, Ariel Beit-Halahmy, gave a blunt assessment when asked about the challenge of facing the Greek star before EuroBasket.
“You’d need to bring an M-16, I think,” Beit-Halahmy said on Saturday, per Haaretz’ Arie Livnat. “That would be (the) easiest way.”
Funny as it is, it just goes to show that simply going head-to-head with Giannis Antetokounmpo is a big ask for anyone. You have to be more than creative, forceful, or both because, as Beit-Halahmy said, he is “One of the top three players in the world, his game is very strong and unique, and there’s not much you can do.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t just a player who overwhelms opponents with size. His mix of speed, strength, and relentless drive has made him a nightmare to prepare for. Coaches know that even the best defensive schemes often collapse against him, leaving teams scrambling for answers.
Stopping tall, physically demanding players is always a challenge as the advantage in keeping control of key areas has plenty of value. And the size and reach of Giannis Antetokounmpo is a bit of a stretch, to say the least.
The EuroBasket journey has begun. And Giannis Antetokounmpo will be on everyone’s radar. Greece is now in a position to really threaten rivals, and their goal might not be to stop him outright. Simply to slow him down enough to give themselves a chance.
Jonas Valančiūnas Details Lithuania’s Game Plan For Giannis Antetokounmpo Matchup
Lithuania’s captain Jonas Valančiūnas knows what it means to prepare for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece. With a EuroBasket quarterfinal spot on the line, the center described how his team has been setting up for the matchup.
“We spent two days, actually one full day, preparing for the Greek national team,” Valančiūnas said. “They’re a good team with weapons, especially as a shooting team. They have Giannis, who’s very strong individually, so we have to do a good job. We prepared, we have a game plan, and tomorrow we’ll show it.”
Sharpening their tools specifically for you is a compliment and acknowledgement of your ability to change the shape of the game. That’s the kind of respect they’re giving Giannis Antetokounmpo, knowing that teams always rely on their own heavy hitters to do the job required. Lithuania definitely has its work cut out for it.
Containment and separation may have to be the focal point for Lithuania as Giannis Antetokounmpo will be wreaking havoc on the court. It’s up to their preparation if they can bring it on.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
