Euroleague transfer analysis: Group D
July 25, 2008
The last of the four groups in the 2008-2009 edition of the Euroleague features some high-quality teams, including defending champion CSKA Moscow and Spain’s biggest name in Real Madrid.
Josh Childress update: Signs with Olympiacos!
July 23, 2008
According to Lithuanian basketball web site krepsinis.net (thanks to Zaidaw), Josh Childress has signed with Olympiacos. To make it less a rumor, but a more reliable note: See here (for a picture of Josh actually signing), here and here are also reports and “photo evidence” of his signature in Greece with Olympiakos.
If you are an expert in the European lifestyle - I repeat, lifestyle - and not a basketball expert, you can be almost certain that Panathinaikos needs a signing like that, too (BIG rivalry between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos). Too bad Panathiniakos needs a shooting forward. What was that guy’s name from Chicago again? The guy who was looking for a deal? Wasn’t that Luol Deng…?
Don’t be surprised, if that’s the next thing reported on US web sites…
Side note: To make your day even worse (as a US basketball fan) or even better (as a European basketball fan), Pat Riley would rather spend his time in EUROPE in France watching the Tour de France..
Euroleague transfer analysis: Group B
July 23, 2008
After explaining the first transfers of Group A, I will take a closer look at group B today to see who did what and give you my opinion on these moves.
Euroleague transfer analysis: Group A
July 22, 2008
After the first transfer mania on the European market, I want to take a look at the current roster situation of the Euroleague teams. Of course, right now, you cannot tell how the teams will perform this season as the squads have not been fixed, but let’s take a first look at who did what in the market.
Josh Childress considering Europe
July 21, 2008
Atlanta Hawks free agent Josh Childress is considering his debut in Europe with Euroleague team Olympiakos of Greece: So reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports today.
Josh is taking advantage of his free agency either to either get a better offer from another NBA club, while many think that he is actually considering joining Olympiakos who made him a nice offer to re-enter a more promising free agent market of the NBA in a few years.
Olympiakos is known for bringing in NBA players, as they did with Lynn Greer last season. Now, Josh is not exactly what we would call a NBA superstar, but he can make any team in the NBA better. Why? He actually shares the ball and works for his team.
Should the NBA and NBA fans be scared now that Europe is taking advantage of the weak dollar to lure away their NBA players? With European stars such as Juan Carlos Navarro, internationals like Carlos Delfino, high school standouts such as Brandon Jennings and solid NBA players like Josh Childress, many different players have considered and even joined teams in Europe and the Euroleague.
To me, this is a logic consequence of European basketball getting better. Just take a look at the teams that will participate in the Olympics: Host country China, Americas Champions and runner up USA and Argentina, Asia Champion Iran, African Champion Angola and Oceania Champion Australia. This makes the remainder — six teams out of 12 — European: Spain, as the 2006 FIBA World Champion; European Champion Russia; and European runnerup Lithuania; as well as the just-qualified Germany, Croatia and Greece. A total of six European teams made it to the Olympics.
Of course, for Team USA, anything but THE GOLD is unacceptable as every TEAM USA athlete, man or woman, keeps repeating on TV; this will be a very hard battle, though, especially with Americans joining European teams to make everybody around them better.
Side note: It is said that Olympiakos will go after New Jersey Nets free agent Bostijan Nachbar if the Childress deal doesn’t come through.
Great rivalries in European basketball: Panathinaikos vs. Olympiakos (Part 2)
July 17, 2008
In the second part of our article about one of the biggest rivalries in European basketball, I’ll take a closer look at more recent games between both teams and speak about the post-2002 era.
Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2008: Day 1
July 13, 2008
With about 24 hours until the Olympic Qualifying Tournament starts, let’s have a look at the teams and the chances for each team to make it to the big goal: the Olympics in Beijing. Read more
Great rivalries in European basketball: Panathinaikos vs. Olympiakos
July 11, 2008
During these summer weeks in which club team action is slowing down a bit despite a hot transfer market, BallinEurope will give you a little history lesson with the presentation of the biggest rivalries in European basketball. And we’ll start in Greece.
Monday’s cigarettes
July 7, 2008
A new week is starting and still no official competition going on. So the cigarettes are pretty short this Monday, too.
Monday’s cigarettes
June 30, 2008
The European Leagues have finished play and the transfer season is in full effect. I will give you few interesting reads that have nothing to do with players changing teams. Well, at least I’ll try…
