Men's basketball: Three takeaways from Australia vs. Greece

Greece secured their first Olympics win with a 77-71 victory over Australia on Friday. Both teams are now 1-2 in their opening three games. The loss was a major blow to Australia, which had looked like a potential candidate to win a medal. 

Here are three takeaways from the Greece's win. 

1. Greece's offense finally got going

After two disjointed games, Greece's offense finally found top gear. Their drive-and-dish-based offense clicked throughout the game, allowing them to carve open Australia's defense at will. Nick Calathes ended the game with eight dimes to his name, while Giannis Antetokounmpo had six. Five other players chipped in with at least one assist. 

The more success Greece found on the offense, the more empowered its roster became. Australia's perimeter defense struggled to deal with Greece's dribble-drive penetration, allowing for multiple catch-and-shoot opportunities, secondary cuts and off-ball slot drives. 

2. Bench scoring made a difference

Greece's bench unit outscored Australia's bench by three points. That might not sound like a lot on paper, but when a team loses by six points, 50% of the deficit is a significant margin. Greece's bench had underwhelmed in its opening two games. However, it would appear the players on the second unit fed off the success of their teammates. 

When Greece plays like this, with both its first and second units thriving, they're a fun team to watch. 

3. Active hands hurt the flow for Australia

Greece had 11 steals during their win and while they only generated nine fast-break points, those steals undoubtedly hindered Australia from generating an offensive rhythm. The Greek team is built around size and length, with a heavy focus on performing the fundamentals at an elite level.

By limiting Australia's ability to get into a flow, Greece took the sting out of their offensive punch and kept them on the back foot. It was an interesting development for an Australian team that has impressed on offense during the tournament.