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.
Euroleague transfer analysis: Group C
July 24, 2008
The next group in BallinEurope’s continuing analysis is Group C, as A and B have already been discussed. While A will be called the Childress Group, in C we’ll have the Jennings Group then. But let’s see what the teams have done so far in terms of transfers.
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.
New York Post no Gallinari fan
July 22, 2008
Marc Berman recently published an article at NYPost.com saying that “Knicks have Gallinari doubts.” Give the [New York] people what the people want! We [bloggers and journalists] all know that a good headline is everything! - at least Berman’s right about this.
If you keep reading his article, you will find out that the Knicks in fact don’t have any doubt about Gallinari’s impact on the team.
“The thing I really liked what I saw from Danilo, he looked to make other players better,” the Knicks president said during a guest stint on the MSG Network telecast yesterday. “When he’s out on the floor, he has a sense of the game already to make his team better. I would’ve liked to seen him play for the entire length but I saw enough to feel good about.”
Oh right, I get it - the Knicks have doubts that Gallinari will play one-on-five like their “old” superstars of the past. They fear that he’ll actually play team basketball.
Since Marc himself did not find a real basketball reason for the Knicks to have Gallinari doubts, he talks about Gallinari’s physical condition.
Gallinari’s summer league raises questions on whether he’ll be durable enough to withstand the NBA’s physical pounding, at 6′10″, 227, as a rookie.
I really wonder if Marc thinks basketball just comes as a god-given gift in Europe, and that you don’t need to practice at all overseas. Yes, the NBA season is something like 80+ games. Now in Europe, Gallinari and every other player plays once a week for their domestic league, once a week for Euroleague games and once a week for domestic cup games. On top of that, each team practices twice a day for eight months. Add up the games and you end up with at least 8 or 9 games a month, times eight months equals … just abut 70 games a season.
Do you think Mr. Gallinari knows what physical pounding means…?
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.
Brandon Jennings signs with European club Virtus Roma
July 16, 2008
Here we go: Brandon Jennings makes history for officially signing with a Euroleague team straight out of high school. His team: Virtus Roma. Since I spent the last year in Rome, I’m not sure this city is a good environment for Brandon; basketball-wise, it could be a good fit, though. From Roma’s official statement, it seems Brandon is bringing over his entire family!
Roma will play against Spanish top club Tau Ceramica, Fenerbahce Ulker from Turkey, Olympia Ljubljana (Slovenia), DKV Joventut (Spain), and Alba Berlin (Germany) during the group stage of the Euroleague season.
Why is Roma interested in Jennings? Well, they just lost Roko Ukic to the NBA, but still has Ibrahim Jaaber at the point guard. It is more than obvious that Brandon wants to prove himself in Europe and then leave the club for the NBA.
Personally, I am excited … well, curious. I know that most Americans don’t think the Euroleague is competition for ANY American player, but this year’s Euroleague will be on a whole other level. What if Brandon doesn’t succeed - don’t forget this guy is still “only” a high school star - as Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Kevin Garnett have…?
(Thanks to “name” who provided us with the link within our comments.)
Thank god Gallinari didn’t get 37
July 15, 2008
If you’re into basketball, you know where this is going. Last year, Italian player Marco Belinelli scored 36 points in his first NBA summer league game. Great, isn’t it?
I’m pretty sure that every single Knicks fan and every Italian basketball fan is glad that Danilo Gallinari did not score 37 points this afternoon.
Why? Remember Marco Belinelli’s performance after his summer league games? Well, Marco’s first year ended up to be a nightmare.
Danilo scored 14 points and even came back from a horrible start, when the first Knicks fans probably already had signs to hold up at the first New York Knicks home game - with messages like “Told you so!” - written.
What does this summer league play in Las Vegas actually mean? NOTHING - It is so meaningless that it is not broadcast on TV (just some local stations show their home team’s games) and not one important player besides the rookies will be on the floor. We’ll have to wait for the regular season to start to see what Gallinari will be able to do, but we Europeans already know that he will have an impact in New York, right?
Official: Brandon Jennings will play in Europe
July 9, 2008
Today, Brandon Jennings and entourage announced that the former high school star will drop his college career and play in Europe next season in order to prepare for the NBA draft.
Roko-Leni Ukic to sign in Toronto
July 5, 2008
It has been talked about for days that Roko Ukic will leave the Euroleague to sign his first NBA contract with the Toronto Raptors in the immediate future. The Croatian PG will be the back up on the playmaker spot of the Spanish Jose Manuel Calderon.
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…
