According to Lauri Markkanen, Susijengi has not been on the same page in the World Cup. Suomalaistahtih admits that last summer was not ideal due to military service.
OKINAWA. Susijengi continues its games this week in the World Championships in the lower continuation series. The victory account has yet to be opened, as the medal favorites Australia and Germany crushed Finland and the host team Japan rose sensationally from 18 points behind to pass Susijeng.
Finland’s biggest star Lauri Markkanen states that the team has not been on the same map in attack and defense.
Markkanen also pointed out that it is difficult to win basketball games if you allow yourself 100 points. Germany and Australia scored 98 points against Finland, Japan 101.
Markkanen himself has not been able to get the balls in the same way in easy scoring situations as in last year’s European Championships. According to Jyväskyläinen, the implementation of attacking play in Finland could be better.
– Should get the balls in the right places. Throughout the summer, our problem has been losing the ball. We’re in the wrong places and we’re not hitting screens. It is quite difficult to win games if there are 20 turnovers (ed. note 16.3) per game. The guy can run easy baskets. It is of course a big problem, says Markkanen.
Markkanen reminds that no one else has played for the team in the World Championships before Sasu Salin.
– Now we have a new gang here. I don’t want to make excuses, but we’ve only been together in this summer’s group. These things take time. Yes, we train all the time and try to spend time together. We know each other better then on the field, Markkanen describes.
Throwing percentage is not a concern, int has its own effect
Markkanen went to the games as one of the biggest favorites to even win the basketball crown. However, the sieve has been lost from behind the three-point arc. Markkanen has hit 3/20 three-point shots in the World Cup tournament with an accuracy of 15 percent.
– Nothing more than that. I may not have gotten my feet together normally, but that’s nothing to worry about. I have taken repeats in exactly the same way. There have also been games in the NBA season where you don’t hit that well. I’ve always believed that the numbers even out when you do work. Three games have been played now, Markkanen commented.
For Lauri Markkanen, the summer has also been personally different compared to last year’s EC summer. He has completed his military service this summer.
– It hasn’t been the ideal training summer. I got a good workout, but of course I would have done things differently if I hadn’t been in the service, says Markkanen and repeats again that he doesn’t want to make excuses.
– I have been able to be with the team for a while. I try to give my best in the current condition every day. There is no other way to get in top shape. As a result, performance improves. The army has been something that has had to be taken care of. I have accepted it. Of course, a normal summer would have looked a little different.
International star guests
During the World Cup, Markkanen also had guests from his NBA club, the Utah Jazz. The head coach Will Hardy and GM Justin Zanik were spinning in Susijeng’s training on the eve of the Japan game and were watching the match themselves on the spot.
– It was nice for them to watch the game. We saw each other a little at the hotel. There was not so much talk about the upcoming NBA season, but more about things off the court. It had already been so long since they had seen each other, Markkanen described.
The Finn got to meet the German, who is often compared to him, during the World Cup Dirk Nowitzki. The basketball legend was watching Susijeng’s games against Japan and also against Germany.
After the Japan game, Markkanen also went to say hello to one of the greatest European players of all time.
– I was thinking of going to say hello to him after we’ve been in some contact and also played against each other. It was nice to see him, Markkanen described.
It was nice for Markkanes to see that a great man like Nowitzki was watching two of Susijeng’s games.
– After all, Dirk is such an icon. It’s always nice to see guys like that after the games, Markkanen formulated.