Greece vs New Zealand. Prediction, Betting and Odds│August 30, 2023

Basketball. Basketball World Cup

Greece vs New Zealand

SM Mall of Asia (Manila)

If we consider the entire history of clashes between Greece and New Zealand, the Greeks scored an average of 99 points per game, which adds up to 297 points in three games.

In the previous round, as expected, the US crushed the Greeks 81-109. Now they need to beat New Zealand or they will follow in the footsteps of the French.

At the World Championship, under Itoudis, the Greek team scored an average of 86 points and allowed 90 per game. If they advance to the next round, they will face Montenegro and Lithuania. The latter has a +76 difference between marks and points allowed, while the Greeks have -7. In case of any surprises in the second stage, it is better for the Greek team to score as many points as possible, and of course, to concede as few points as possible.

The bookmakers believe that the Greeks are capable of exceeding 85.5 points with 1.6-1.7 points. Let’s see what his rival will be up against for the Greek team.

In two games, the New Zealanders allowed 184 points in regulation, an average of 92 points per 40 minutes of playing time. From the Americans they received 10 points less than the Greeks, totaling “only” 99. However, the Jordanian team managed to get 85 points in New Zealand. Does this mean that Greeks will score higher?

Well, even the Americans couldn’t beat New Zealand on the perimeter. They marked them well in the paint, thanks to quick counterattacks. Jordan also outscored Cameron’s charges by two-pointers. Additionally, New Zealand failed to get rebounds.

The Greeks will have opportunities to make quick transitions from defense to attack and will also get second chances. If Papagiannis and Rocavopoulos play as well as they did against the US and Papapetrou doesn’t sleep throughout the first half, the Greeks’ superiority is very possible.

Greece have always scored a lot of points against New Zealand, especially in the last World Cup, but then they had Giannis.

Greece: Walkup, Laurentzakis, Papapetrov, Papanikolaou, Papayannis, Rocavopoulos, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Lunzis, Pochoridis.

New Zealand: Delaney, Wetzel, Fotu, Cameron, Smith-Milner, Britt, Brown, Harris.

If the Americans can’t beat New Zealand in three-point shots, that doesn’t mean the Greeks can’t either. The Americans played a different kind of basketball, and it wasn’t necessarily for them.

So, it can be confidently said that defense is not New Zealand’s forte. I think the bookmakers are right and Greece can play effectively. But it is not certain that they will be able to win easily.

My first forecast: Greece total 86.5 and coefficient 1.82;

My second prediction: Total 162.5 with coefficient 1.80,

My third prediction: coefficient 1.95 with New Zealand handicap +9.5.