Before the start of the Basketball European Championship, Serbia was the title of the title as an absolute top favorite. But the team around megastar Nikola Jokic wobbles. Serbia no longer seems inviolable.
Does the big dream of the first gold burst again? The large top favorite Serbia shakes at the SEM basketball. The 90: 95 defeat against Turkey clearly showed that Serbia is not as overpowering as before the tournament.
The goal of the Serbs is very clear: there should be the first gold medal at a big tournament. So far, as a independent country, this has never been achieved despite the numerous top basketball players.
Nikola Jokic (right) is the top star of the Serbian team
And the chances have never seemed as big as before the tournament start. With Nikola Jokic, the best basketball player in the world is currently running at the European Championship for Serbia. In addition, coach Svetislav Pesic can fall back on three other NBA stars. With Vasilije Micic, a player also belongs to the squad who once became Euroleague-MVP and returned from the NBA as the best paid player in Europe.
At the Olympic Games last year, he showed how strong the Serbian squad is. There, the team, who plays with the same line -up at the European Championship, only had to give up the United States, which were at the start with all their stars. This is also why the Serbian squad is considered one of the best in EM history.
Basketball European Championship: Serbia struggles with injury bad luck
Accordingly, the picture was clear before the tournament start: the European Championship title only goes through Serbia. But this clear favorite status has now got the first cracks.
The star of the Los Angeles Clippers is one of the best players in the world in Fiba competitions. At the 2024 Olympic Games, he scored an average of 18.3 points. With Tristan Vukcevic, another NBA star was recently missing.
Turkey then jicked. With Aleksa Avramovic, the team’s leader injured himself on the heel. “If you play with so much energy, all players are important. But what causes us the most problems was Avramovic’s heel injury. It is very painful,” said coach Pesic after the game.
Serbia has a scoring problem behind Jokic
With its incredible energy, Avramovic is extremely important both on the defensive and on the offensive. He is also the team’s emotional leader. While Jokic is doing performance, but rather calm, Avramovic regularly piles up the fans and his own team.
If the point Guard is longer, this could tear an even larger hole into the already battered hierarchy in the Serbian team, because behind Jokic (20.2 points on average) there is currently nothing in the scoring.
This is also evident in Jokic’s statistics. The “Joker”, who actually always tries to use his teammates, has only come to four assists per game in the course of the tournament. In the NBA it was an average of 10.2 last season.
Jokic currently realizes that he has to wear his team alone on the offensive. This also shows its unusually high number of throws. He completed a whopping 26 times against Latvia and he also threw out of the field against Turkey 16 times.
Serbia on a hard way: “Dorns and landmines everywhere”
This scoring vacuum has to get Serbia under control as soon as possible if it is to work with the European Championship title. Because the defeat against Turkey is now waiting for the team a much more difficult way.
Already in the round of 16 against Finland, which is always dangerous with NBA star Lauri Markkanen. After that it is only against absolute cracks. In the quarter -finals, France would probably wait, Germany or Greece or Greece again in the semi -finals with the expected course of Germany and in the final.
This statistics still give Serbia hope
Nevertheless, the national team’s defeat against Turkey is not assessed negatively everywhere in Serbia.
Specifically, it is about that in the current mode of the EM (since 2007) only one team was able to win the European Championship title after it had won all five games in the group phase. This feat only succeeded in Slovenia in 2019.
In Serbia, on the other hand, there are bad memories of a flawless group phase. After five wins in five games at the EM 2022, the team then failed in the round of 16.
With great optimism, the chances of a Serbian EM title are still very good. However, the team is definitely not so superior how many expected.
Before the Start of the Basketball European Championship, Serbia was Considered the Absolute Top Favorite for the Title. But the Team Around Megastar Nikola Jokic is folding. Serbia no Longer Seems Untouchable.
Will the Big Dream of the First Gold Burst Again? The Big Top Favorite Serbia is folding at the basketball European Championship. The 90:95 Defeat Against Turkey Clearly Showed that Serbia is not as overpowering as thought before the tournament.
The Goal of the Serbs is very clear: They to win the first gold medal at a major tournament. As an independent country, they have never achieved this despite the numerous top basketball players.
Nikola Jokic (right) is the top star of the Serbian team
And never before the Chanances Seem So Great as Before the Start of the Tournament. With Nikola Jokic, The Currently Best Basketball Player in the World is Playing for Serbia at the European Championship. In addition, coach Svetislav Pesic Can Call on Three More NBA Stars. With vasilije micic, there is a player in the squad who was once Euroleague mvp and returned from the nba as the Highest-Paid Player in Europe.
The Strength of the Serbian Squad was demonstrated at the Olympic Games Last Year. There, the team, which is playing with the same squad at the European Championship, what only Narrowly defeated by the USA, who was here with all their stars. That is why the Serbian Squad is Considered One of the Best in the History of the European Championship.
Basketball European Championship: Serbia Struggles With Injury Woes
Accordingly, The Picture was Clear Before the Start of the Tournament: The European Championship Title Can Only Be Won Via Serbia. But this Clear Favorite Status Has Now Started to Crack.
The Star of the Los Angeles Clipper is one of the best players in the World, Especialy in Fiba Competitions. At the 2024 Olympic Games, He Scored A Wopoping 18.3 Points on Average. With Tristan Vukcevic, Another NBA Star was Recently Injured.
Then Things Got Really Tough Against Turkey. Because Aleksa Avramovic, The Leader of the Team, Injured his Heel. “When you play with so much energy, all players are important. But what caused us the most problem what avramovic’s heel injury. It’s very painful,” Said coach pesic after the game.
Behind Jokic, Serbia has a scoring problem
Avramovic is extremely important with his incredible energy Both defensive and offensive. So he is the emotional leader of the team. While Jokic Leads the Way with Performance, but Rather Calmly, Avramovic Regularly Incites the fans and his own team.
Should the Point Guard Be Out for Longer, This Could Tear an Even Bigger Hole In The Already Battered Hierarchy In The Serbian Team, Because Behind Jokic (20.2 Points on Average) There is a Long Time in Scoring.
This is reflected in Jokic’s statistics. The “Joker”, Who Actually Always Tries to use his teamates, has only managed four assists per game so far in the tournament. In the NBA, it was on Average of 10.2 Last Season.
Jokic Himelf is a Currently noticing that he has to carry his team alone on offense. This is so shown by his unusually high number of shots. Against Latvia, He Concluded a Wopping 26 Times and Against Turkey He So Shot 16 Times From The Field.
Serbia on a hard road: “Thorns and Landmines Everywhere”
Serbia must get this scoring vacuum under control as quickly as possible if it wants to win the European Championship Title. Because the Defeat Against Turkey Means That Team Now Has A Much More Difficult Road Ahead.
Already in the round of 16 they will face finland, which is always dangerous with nba star Lauri Markkanen. After that, it’s only absolute crackers. In the Quarter-Finals, France Wood Prowlable Be Waiting, in the Semi Finals, If Things Go as Expected, Germany, and in the Final, Turkey Or Greece Again.
This statistics Still Gives Serbia Hope
Nevertheless, The National Teams Defeat Against Turkey is not viewed negativeely Everything in Serbia.
Specifically, it is about the fact that in the current fashion of the European Championship (Since 2007) Only one team has been to win the European Championship Title After Winning All Five Games in the Group Stage. This feat was only Ochieved by Slovenia in 2019.
In Serbia, on the other hand, there are Bad Memories of a Flawless Group Stage. After five Wins in Five Games at the 2022 European Championship, The Team Then Crashed Out in the Round of 16.
With great optimism, The Chanances of a Serbian European Championship Title are still very good. But the team is definitely not as superior as many had expected.