GRE - Zouros is the positive thinker

ATHENS (EuroBasket 2011) - For a coach about to make his EuroBasket, Greece's Elias Zouros has had his share of setbacks.

First there was playmaker Dimitris Diamantidis, who decided not to backtrack on his decision after last year's FIBA World Championship and instead stayed retired, despite being only 31 and arguably the best player in Europe.

Then Loukas Mavrokefalidis announced after being named in the preliminary squad that he wouldn't be able to take part for the second summer in a row due to important family issues.

Another blow was suffered when point guard Nick Calathes hurt his ankle while playing in the United States to put his participation in Lithuania in doubt, and got worse when experienced guard Vassilis Spanoulis had to pull out of the squad with an abdominal injury.

Center Sofoklis Schortsanitis, a protagonist for the Greeks in their famous 101-95 upset of the United States at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, was perhaps the toughest blow of all to because he decided at the beginning of August he couldn't play due to personal reasons.

A quality that contributed to the appointment of Zouros as coach, his undying optimism, has allowed Greece to maintain hope.

Greece did not look undermanned in a warm-up tournament in Cyprus, winning the event after victories over Italy, Israel and Russia.

More friendly tournaments are coming up.

"We are not concerned about who won, but the positive is that we are fighting and we are focused," Zouros said.

"The game with Israel was very bad coaching. There were negatives, there were positive things.

"The good news is that young players are gaining confidence, (Konstantinos) Sloukas, (Evangelos) Mantzaris, (Michael) Bramos.

"Gradually, all of the players are beginning to find their roles."

Zouros is hoping that Nick Calathes will return to the court.

"We are going step by step because what matters is his health," Zouros said of the Panathinaikos playmaker.

"I would not rush him onto the court.

"Hopefully next week if tests are good and he feels good, he begin to go enter (the court).

"We're taking it slowly to be sure."

Greece have played at the last two Olympics and fell to Argentina in the Quarter-Finals each time.

At the EuroBasket (August 31 to September 18), if they reach the Final, the Greeks will book a spot at the London Games.

Should they come in third, fourth, fifth or sixth, Greece will book a trip to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

FIBA