Susigengi will face Israel in its opening European basketball championship. It’s like a repeat of last week’s World Cup qualifier, which Finland won.
Prague
Lauri Markkanen is one of the players that everyone is watching at the EC basketball tournament. Both fans and opponents.
In the stands, it means admiration, pushing on the field, poking, careful defending and even embers.
“It’s fun to play and I don’t take too much pressure from it. I’ve been playing under the brightest lights for a few years. I’m used to pressure situations, and that brings a lot of joy to playing basketball,” said Markkanen in front of the international press in Prague.
“When viewers expect something, it becomes an additional boost.”
Markkanes has five full seasons in the NBA. The first four were rookie seasons in Chicago and the Fifth in Cleveland, and finally there was some success. At least the team won more than they lost.
Finland defeated Israel in the World Cup qualifier in Tampere a week ago, and in a way a quick renewal is coming at the European Championship in Prague on Friday.
In the Nokia Arena, Susijengi won, but now different bets are placed on the table. Israel ran into difficulties in the World Cup qualification after losing to Sweden, and the difficulties will get an additional part at the European Championship level if Finland wins.
The Israelis played hard against Markkas, but he is used to that. That happens in every match on the European side and very often in the NBA.
“It’s a bit part of this nature,” Markkanen said of the tough game. “You have to try to play as well as you can. The biggest thing is to understand that you may get special treatment and not lose your temper and keep a cool head. Yes, those places [ratkaista] open from there.”
“Physically you have to be strong, both with the ball and mentally: that your head is involved in the game.”
Markkanen became one of Susijeng’s solvers at the European Championship in Helsinki 2017. Then he didn’t start matches, but played their deciding moments and got a lot of credit.
In five years, everything has changed. There are enough NBA players in the EC tournament, but Markkanen is the most interesting and watched of them all.
There is going to be some kind of struggle between Markkanen and the one representing the Washington Wizards Deni Avdijan between. Both play slightly different roles on the field, but have to face the pecks several times.
“He has made a good mark against us. A good thrower from a distance, surprisingly good to bounce long with both hands. Let’s go and take her out with our game,” said Markkanen about getting Avdija under control.
In any case, the opening match of the EC tournament is very important for Finland. The team is realistically fighting for the next place, and losing the first match would not fit that pattern.
The head coach Lassi Tuovi has drawn the team’s game patterns for a long time, but in Prague he will take Susijengi to a prestigious tournament for the first time, bearing the main responsibility.
“Pressure and expectations are part of sports. We have a pretty honest starting point, that the tournament is a pretty unique event and it’s worth living in the moment.”
“Getting your game started. It’s quite a cliché. Tactics can’t be hacked much anymore.”
Finland and Israel will meet at the opening of the EC tournament in Prague on Friday at 3 p.m. Yle TV2, V Sport and Viaplay will show all of Finland’s matches live.
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