At last year's European Championship, the Serbian national team was seventh. The majority of basketball experts admitted for the first time that we did not even deserve more and that this is the real state of our basketball. After the championship, Dušan Ivković resigned from the position of national team coach, and Aleksandar Đorđević was appointed to that position after him. What was disputed from the beginning was Đorđević's coaching knowledge. Although as a player he won medals in all the competitions in which he participated, in the coaching business he led only Armani Jeans (2006–2007) and Benetton of Treviso (2011–2012). On the other hand, expectations from our team, lower than ever, make it easier for Đorđević to introduce changes in the way of the game, which in the past was based on playing qualities in attack and solid defense.
Defense is the basis in modern basketball. If the team does not have big player names that would compensate for mistakes in the defense, it is not able to compete with serious basketball teams. After the withdrawal of the biggest player names such as Bodiroga, Stojaković, Jarić, Rakočević, Rebrača, individual qualities are no longer counted on to decide the game. In the one-on-one game, as well as in shooting abilities, we are far from the leading national teams in Europe and the world. That is why the way in which Đorđević is trying to solve this big problem of today's Serbian national team is worthy of praise. The fast flow of the ball in the attack, without unnecessary soloing, with an emphasis on the free player who would receive the ball and thus facilitate the realization, is the way to success.
ABOUT US: The much-needed novelty in this championship is an excellent playmaker and a very good back shooter. This year, Miloš Teodosić and Bogdan Bogdanović came to those two places. The biggest reinforcement is the return of Miloš Teodosić, who is the leader of this team and thanks to whom we achieved great success at the last world championship by winning fourth place. The injury that caused him to miss the last European championship left a big mark, and after it he did not regain the form that led him to the position of the best playmaker in Europe. Bogdan Bogdanović (22) is presented as the best young player in Europe. He was the main player in Partizan in the last two seasons, and this year he moved from Partizan to Fenerbahçe. Everything he did in Partizan will not be enough if he does not show what and how much he can do in this championship. You become a great player on the big stage. The selector could tell him what makes the difference between average and great players, what is the "player's rudeness" that decides games and how to do it.
Apart from Teodosić and Bogdanović, there are also Nenad Krstić, Nemanja Bjelica, Stefan Marković, and this five should be the main player of the game. Krstić has been the main strength of the national team for several years. In the last European Championship, he played almost by himself against most teams, and when he got tired and everyone started doubling him, the team's attacking strength was cut in half. This was shown after the first stage of the competition. We hope that now the back tandem of Teodosić-Bogdanović, as well as the solo action of Bjelica, would be able to relieve him, who would have to stand out more with his qualities.
In addition to the mentioned players, the national team will also have Stefan Jović as a fullback, Stefan Birčević as a wing center, Nikola Kalinić and Marko Simonović in the wing position, and the centers will be Miroslav Raduljica, Vladimir Štimac and Raško Katić.
ABOUT OTHERS: The biggest favorites to win the gold medal are the host, the Spanish national team, and the United States of America. This championship is probably the last joint action of the Spanish team that has dominated European basketball for the last ten years. The Gasol brothers in center positions, along with Serge Ibaka, are the strongest trio under hoops in the championship, while in the back positions they have names like Ricky Rubio, Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro and Rudy Fernandez. According to their names, they have the best team in the championship, and apart from the USA national team, no one can even come close to them.
As for the USA national team, after the resignation of Kevin Durant and the injury of Paul George, the biggest stars of the team, winning the gold medal is in question. In terms of names, this is currently the second USA line-up and it wouldn't be too surprising if there was a surprise and elimination before the finals. Argentina and France come to the championship without their most important players Parker and Ginobili, who each time made the much-needed difference. We easily beat both national teams in the preparatory period. Lithuania stands out for its quality and could enter the fight for a medal.
The Serbian national team is in Group A with teams from Spain, France, Brazil, Egypt and Iran. This group intersects with Group B, which includes the teams of Senegal, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Greece and Croatia. The first four teams in the group go directly to the round of 16 and, by all accounts, with Spain, France and Brazil, that should not be a problem for our national team. The round of 16 is the goal of this team and whoever comes to us from group B is not invincible. It is one game and the current form and inspiration is enough to enter the quarterfinals, and that would certainly be a great success.
