Tonight in Crete, Greece, is the final basketball game  of world championship U19 FIBA.

Basketball players from both teams believe that the game has only one side. They aspire to play offense. But until the final we saw some great scorers:

Ivica ZUBAC

Diego FLACCADORI

Andres FELIZ

Justin JACKSON

During the games in Crete, we saw that all the teams had at least two great scorers. That is very good for coaches; because teams cannot get so far throw the tournament without great scorers.

But, if a young national basketball team wants to win the title, however, they need every player on the court to play “smart, hard and together” on defense.

Defense will help a team tonight to win the game. Team defense will deny opponents high-percentage shots, shots from the paint, and easy baskets from transition game.
Defense will increases the probability of more opportunities for many transitions from the backcourt to the frontcourt. This kind of play, with defensive rebounds, steals, loose balls, intercepted passes and other turnovers, maybe will give to teams tonight easy scoring.

At the end of these Mundobasket tonight we will see again that good defensive play can help a team through those bad times when its offense is not the only weapon.

Players tonight must be tenacious, aggressive, and persistent in their efforts to interfere with the play of their opponents. In every loose possession of the ball to the moment they regain it, must use their powers to take the ball not from their basket.
Someone will be responsible for the ball, someone else will protect the basket, or he will play opponent without ball.

Lets take a look at two players that are also great defenders U19:

Marko ARAPOVIC

10 rebounds per game

Harry GILES

9.7 rebounds per game

So we can see tonight two great teams on final game:

CROATIA

-v-

U S A

Two teams that are ready to play great basketball tonight.

Let’s enjoy the game!