Itoudis comments on Giannis medical status, details Agravanis exit / News - Basketnews.com

Itoudis said that more information about Giannis' availability would be known either on Friday or Saturday. He did not go into details about Agravanis' departure but said that the player was supposed to be left out of the roster against Italy either way.

Credit: Milos Vujinovic/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire - Scanpix Credit Milos Vujinovic/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire - Scanpix

Greece finished the Acropolis Tournament in Athens in last place, losing both games to Serbia and later to Italy. After the match, head coach Dimitris Itoudis opened up about the recent scoring struggles.

Greece averaged 67.5 points per game in the Acropolis Tournament after scoring 64 against Serbia and 70 against Italy. When Itoudis was asked whether it was the lack of creativity that caused the point drought, he did not seem to agree.

"We lack efficiency, it's not that we lack creativity. We held the opponent to a low score of 74 points, while we had 23 assists," he said after the game. "In the defensive area, we did not do badly, it's a combination [of things], and we made some shots to be able to turn the match around."

"There are still 16 days before the first official [game in the World Cup], we have time to untie the hands of the players. We have to get the shots. The problem is not the players, it is mine that I keep the player in," he said. "We have to give players the confidence to shoot. Let me repeat that today we had 23 assists."

Later on, Itoudis emphasized that the team has to do with what it has, as some players have to play different positions than they are probably used to due to the circumstances.

"We cannot make players in the national [into what they are not]. We cannot make [Dinos] Mitoglou or [Lefteris] Bohoridis into iso players in 40 or 50 days. We need a different structure, we have to find other ways, with other formations, with an inside game. I think that [Ioannis] Papapetrou and Mitoglou can help there," Itoudis explained.

Earlier in the day, it was announced that Dimitris Agravanis left the training camp for personal reasons. After speculations about a possible conflict between the players and the head coach, Itoudis responded.

"The departure of Agravanis did not change the facts. Athletes come voluntarily here, they don't have a pistol put to their heads. After all, it was in the training plan that Agravanis and Kalaitzakis were to stay out tonight," Itoudis said. "He put himself out of the national team. I will not disclose the details. I have contacted 22 athletes by phone or in person. Someone says, "I'm coming", and someone says, "I can't". Simple."

The Greek national team is still waiting for news regarding the availability of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The player is currently in the USA undergoing final tests.

"I believe that soon, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, we will be a little better informed as a federation on the matter of Giannis Antetokounmpo," Itoudis said.

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