SAITAMA, Japan - Greek center Sofoklis Schortsanitis, better known as "Baby
Shaq", sees a great opportunity in his team's semi-final showdown Friday with
the United States at the World Basketball Championship.
Schortsanitis, a 2.08m center, has the same sort of wide body and inside
power near the hoop that helped make Shaquille O'Neal a National Basketball
Association superstar.
This mighty Greek colossus was effective on defense against NBA giant Yao
Ming in a playoff win over China. Now the 21-year-old Euroleague standout with
Olympiakos will see how he performs against a team of NBA stars.
"It will mean a lot to me. It will be a great test," Schortsanitis said. "I
already had one against Yao Ming. He was really great."
Schortsanitis dropped 35 pounds to improve the speed needed to make effective
use of his bulk.
That has allowed him to contribute more when coming off the bench as part of
Greece's team approach, a Charles Barkley-esque body banger who can muscle his
way over, around or through most opponents but has stamina issues.
"This team is like a puzzle. If you take a piece out, it's all going to
collapse," Greece star Theodoros Papaloukas said. "With all the years we've had
together, it all comes down to the experience."
Strongman Schortsanitis was a second-round selection of the NBA
Los
Angeles Clippers in the 2003 NBA Draft at age 18 and knows NBA scouts are
watching here to see if he has developed into a player ready for the game's
richest stage.
"We have played great. We were determined to reach our goal of getting to the
final four," he said. "We must keep doing the good work in the semi-final."
"Baby Shaq" averaged 10.7 points and 4.9 rebounds a game in the European
league season, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting, and during Greece's
7-0 run at the worlds has averaged 7.8 points in nine minutes a game.
European champion Greece can avenge a loss to the US team in the 2004 Athens
Olympic bronze medal game and ensure their first medal in global competition.
"We will do our best to bring home a medal for the people of Greece. A medal
here would be great," Schortsanitis said.
"But we have a semi-final against one of the best teams in the world. The US
team is not like the other teams that are in this tournament."
So how does "Baby Shaq" expect Greece to conquer the American juggernaut.
"We just need to bring down the light," he said.
Expect that to mean bringing down a few US players and slamming down a few
dunks as well.
