By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
The first phase of the EuroBasket has been completed and 17 games were decided by a margin of less than 3 points! Check out the buzzer beaters, but also the high degree of competitiveness in the expanded tournament of 24 teams.
The first tournament with 24 teams was held in 2011 in Lithuania and the reactions were quite strong, with many questioning FIBAEurope’s decision to expand the event from 16 to 24 teams. The complaints referred to the reduced level of competitiveness that the eight new teams (theoretically, of a lower standard) would bring. And yet, this didn’t happen in any of the tournaments so far, culminating with this year’s EuroBasket.
There was no team that got humiliated, since even Iceland, the only team that was disqualified without a single win in the competition, forced Turkey into overtime and made things hard for Germany and Italy, and this, despite being in the toughest group of the tournament.
From the 64 games of the groups, 29 (a 45% figure) were decided with margins of less than 7 points, while in 17 of those (a 27% figure) the winner prevailed with a lead of 1-3 points!
The fans enjoyed many close games that were decided at the very end with a good defense, a missed shot or a missed free throw, but everyone will definitely remember the 5+1 buzzer beaters that were made.
They’re from 5 different games, although Kikanovic got two buzzer beaters in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s game against Israel as he made the shot at the end of regular time taking the game into overtime, but also at the end of overtime getting the win for his team. Enjoy them!
The winning shots
Nemanja Bjelica
Germany-Serbia 66-68
Nemanja Bjelica’s Game Winner v Germany! – EuroBasket 2015 by FIBA
Petteri Koponen
Finland-Russia 81-79
Matt Lojeski
Belgium-Lithuania 76-74
Elmentin Kikanovic
Bosnia-Israel 86-84
Jonas Maciulis
Lithuania-Estonia 64-62