The closing game of Group A in Poznan between the group's winner Greece (2-0) and the team to go home Israel (0-2), will have no influence on the final standings in the group.
Both team's destiny is set in stone already, so for both teams it will be a good chance to think about the future.
Coach Jonas Kazlauskas will get a chance to rest some of his top players and give minutes and experience to some of the youngsters who didn't play so far, as well as oiling some parts in the Greek machine towards the Qualifying Round.
Israel never finished a EuroBasket without wining a single game, and wouldn't like to write 2009 in the history books.
After failing to pass the Preliminary Round only for the second time in the team's history, and first time since 1993, a lot of pride is on the line for the Israelis who drowned in sorrow after yesterday's loss, but must recover in less than 24 hours, even if only for the sake of pride.
Head-to-head: The total record between Greece and Israel stand on 10-5 in favor of the Greeks, but this record divides into two periods. In the first six games between the teams Israel wrote all their five wins, which means Greece stand on a nine game win streak. Oddly enough the last time Israel knocked down Greece was in 1993, and it was also the first and last time Israel didn't advance from the Preliminary Round group stage and finished at the bottom of the standings, just like will happen now.
Last time out: Greece set an example and released a loud statement with a 76-68 triumph over Croatia in a game that was one-sided much more than the final score tells. Israel fought for their lives and chased the entire second half after the F.Y.R of Macedonia but eventually lost 82-79.
Stats: Yaniv Green's injury in the second quarter yesterday forced him to sit out most of the second half, and this could be carried into today's game as well. Israel allowed 14 and 17 offensive rebounds in the first two days, will probably have great difficulties against the immense front line of Ioannis Bourousis, Kostas Koufos, Sofoklis Schortsanitis and the gang even if Green is 100%. Without him it could be an even less pleasant night on the boards for the Israeli side.
Key Match-Up: Yotam Halperin and Vasilis Spanoulis are big rivals during the season as well. The first is playing for Olympiacos while the other for archrivals Panathinaikos. Spanoulis has been the main force of the Greek back court system while Halperin was cold on Day One but reached 20 points yesterday. In order to look the Greek giant in the eyes, Israel must need another big night by Halperin, and if Spanoulis wouldn't be a factor at the other end things could get more interesting than expected.
X-Factor: Lior Eliyahu exploded with 31 points in the first night against Croatia but dropped to only 12 in the tough loss the following day. With Green's injury playing a role, Israel must get another big game from Eliyahu in hope to have a chance against the erupting Greek team.
Sounding-Off: "The fact the game has no meaning makes no difference for us. We want to finish the group with a perfect record in a Greek way." - Ioannis Bourousis of Greece plans no mercy for Israel.
