RUS - Kirilenko: “We are playing better and better.”

VILNIUS (Eurobasket) – While a number of fans are attempting to understand why their teams are underperforming in Lithuania, there have been no such qualms for Russian supporters as their team continues to go from strength to strength.

After going through pool play undefeated before seeing off Finland with ease in their first second round match, Russia were supposedly about to meet their first so-called challenge when they took on Greece on Saturday.

But it was a challenge that they brushed side, knocking over the Greeks 83-67.

After the game Greek media were searching for answers as to why their team had come up short, suggesting to Russian Andrei Kirilenko that their team were struggling following the loss of a number of key veterans.

But it was not an excuse Kirilenko was about to accept.

“It is sad that teams lose players but that is basketball. Sooner or later Russia will play without Kirilenko and without [Victor] Khryapa. You know when it’s time. Young players come and old players retire. That is life.”

Another excuse was that the Greeks had played their worst game of the tournament – not the first time the excuse has been heard by the Russians – but it fails to give due credit to just how well the Russians are playing here at Eurobasket.

Kirilenko believes that his team’s defensive efforts are a bit part in why so many opponents are struggling against his team, offering up the example of how in the fourth quarter against Greece his team denied their opponents the chance to pass the ball and get a look at the basket on five or six occasions.

“It’s something we work a lot on in practice and finally it’s paying off”, Kirilenko told FIBA, adding that, “game by game we are playing better and better.”

Despite their unbeaten run, Kirilenko and his team mates are not about to get ahead of themselves with Kirilenko believing that the tournament is still very much open. “We understand that there are a lot of great teams in European basketball.

I would say that there are probably eight or nine teams who on their day can beat anyone and be champions. All six teams in the other group [Group E] can win this and it does not matter who we meet in the quarterfinals – it’s going to be a tough game.”

So while Greek fans continue to rue the loss of some of their leading veterans, Kirilenko and his team mates will continue to enjoy their winning run. And if Kirilenko has his way it may be a winning run that extends past this tournament with the 30 year old admitting to no plans of international retirement quite yet.

“I think I can play at this higher level for three or four more years then I will think about when I am going to retire.”


FIBA