In the last part of our scouting series for the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila, Philippines, we take a deeper look at team Turkey.
TURKEY
FIBA Ranking: 8
Head Coach: Ergin Ataman
Journey to Manila
Turkey finished only 14th overall in the 2015 FIBA EuroBasket Championship. The team made the Round of 16, but fell to eventual bronze medalist France.
Turkey is coming in as an invitee, but that shouldn’t be a reason for people to count the team out. Turkey will parade a formidable roster capable of winning one of three spots at stake in the Rio Olympics.
The 12 Tall Men are trying to end a 64-year Olympic drought and make only its third appearance at the Olympic Games.
How They Play
Turkey is a good passing, floor-spacing, three-point shooting team. They were the fifth best offense during the 2015 EuroBasket. They averaged 23.7 three-point attempts per contest, the ninth highest in the tournament.
A simple pick and roll or pick and pop play gets Turkey going. With an aggressive point guard in Ali Muhammed, who led the team with 15 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 4.8 APG in the EuroBasket, Turkey is able to create many options on offense. Muhammad is a reliable pull-up option and also a finisher, making it difficult for opposing defenses to react to Turkey’s play.
Ersan Ilyasova (15.2 PPG) and Semih Erden (13.2 PPG) were the main players involved in the simple play. Ilyasova has a reliable touch from long range, while Erden rolls to the basket with ease and is also a reliable post option. Ilyasova won’t be around for the Manila OQT, but Turkey loaded up on forwards and wing men who can all stretch the floor and knock down threes.
Additions/Returnees, Losses, Projected Rotation
Turkey’s naturalized player Ali Muhammed (FIBA.com)
Expect Muhammed, Sinan Guler, Omer Asik, Cedi Osman, and Furkan Korkmaz getting starting spots. If Turkey decides to go a bit bigger, they can start Erden in the place of either Korkmaz, Osman, or Guler.
Ataman gives his bench good opportunities as well, so expect a deep rotation. Melih Mamutoglu, Ender Arslan, Oguz Savas, Baris Hersek, and Samet Geyik should all get meaningful minutes.
Outlook
Turkey is a darkhorse contender in the Manila OQT. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t make the second round. If they sweep the group phase, they will have a relatively easier match-up in the semi-finals. Though the task remains difficult, don’t get surprised if Turkey ends up taking one of the three spots to Rio after the end of the Manila OQT.
