ULEB Cup and Euroleague LIVE today
April 10, 2008
Yes, it is time again for some Live Blogging. Tonight we will cover not lest than three games as the ULEB has gratified us with this schedule. So be prepared to join us from 18h15 CET.
BallinEurope chats game 3 of the Euroleague Playoffs
April 8, 2008
If you work with a computer, I am sure skype or any other messenger is the software that you start first on a work day. Well, it isn’t any different for BallinEurope. We do meetings on skype or talk to our partners. I think 50% of the time I spend talking to people on skype.
Since people always want to know what goes on in these “meetings” we decided to publish a chat that I just had with Christophe. Here you go:
Christophe
what do you think about the whole Messina discussion? do you think this is a setup thing by the competitors of CSKA?
Tobias
I think it is just a frustrated GM of CSKA because he knows that Messina might want to leave - he himself said that a change might be good for both sides. Talking about the games - did you read Jiri Zidek’s words on Montepaschi? He really thought Fenerbahce would win - please …
Christophe
I did not read it so far but everybody thinking that Fenerbahce could beat the actual top team in Europe (in my opinion) must be really a big fan of them. I mean, Montepaschi is for me the best TEAM actually and they play great basketball. It was pure show what they celebrated in Istanbul.
Tobias
I think you really should read Jiri Zidek’s media blog - he only goes with easy picks like CSKA, Tau and Maccabi - I am not saying that I know better but you can take his words and add them to any game you want to - like the prediction of the NBA finals - but if I have to pick teams that will win on Wednesday and Thursday, for me any team can win - it is more likely though for me that at least one team will pull off a road win
Christophe
Maccabi and CSKA win at home in my opinion, despite all rumors and stories. But for me the game that could be a surprise is the match up between TAU and Partizan. Not because I like Partizan but TAU really struggles at the moment and they also won the first game at home only because of a short stretch where they gained the lead, without being very good at what they played.
Tobias
You do LIKE Partizan - and as we found out your predictions are always way off so I should go with TAU, FCB and Olympiakos to be sure
Christophe
you can do that, so you bet on a team that went for 28 turnovers this weekend in the ACB. That does not sound very convincing for me.
No but seriously, do you really think that Oly and FCB can advance?
Tobias
I dont think that Olympiakos will just because CSKA is warned and just are the better team - normally at least. For FCB I do think they can win in Maccabi for sure
at least let’s agree that the Tau-Partizan will probably the hardest to predict ok?
Christophe
there you are right
but still, how can Barcelona win in the Nokia Arena of Maccabi? Ok, Maccabi is probably playing not their best season in their home league, they even lost once again this weekend. But still, I think they will have huge support and win against a Barcelona team that you trashed when they came to Roma especially
Tobias
for me - FCB just stepped up starting the Top8 - when I saw them in Rome, I did not even think they make it to the Top16 …
Christophe
well, they just came up with these performances because of Basile’s shooting. I don’t think he will go for another game like that this week. But may, we will see
Tobias
if this no name coach finally would play alex acker and lakovic as they need to play they will win.
The Fan Experience: Pionir versus TAU
April 4, 2008
One of our readers has won two tickets for the Euroleague Top 8 game between Partizan and TAU Ceramica and he was so kind to send us his report of that incredible night for all the Partizan Belgrade fans.
Siena trip in pictures
April 4, 2008
Every basketball related trip we take, we shoot some pictures for you. We are not all about the players, Read more
My Euroleague Thursday
April 3, 2008
As we did not have a Live Blog tonight, I will give you my thoughts on the 4 games of the night as they happen. So the program started with the shock in Istanbul between Fenerbahce Ülker and Montepaschi Siena.
Euroleague Top8: History repeating in Piraeus?
April 3, 2008
13 years ago, at the same stage of competition, we had a duel between Olympiacos Piraeus and CSKA Moscow to gain a spot for the Final Four in Madrid Zaragoza. Yes, it was in Spain also 13 years ago. But in 1995, the story around the series was another one.
Euroleague Playoffs: Day 1
April 2, 2008
So the first night of the playoffs is played in the Euroleague. While CSKA lost its first home game of the season in the Euroleague, it was the only win on the road and opened up a possibility for Olympiacos to join the Final Four.
Euroleague Top8 LIVE: MPS Siena - Fenerbahce Ülker
April 1, 2008
Tonight, we will have again one of our famous Live Blogs. Tobias will be Live in the Palasports Mens Sana in Siena and cover the clash between Montepaschi Siena and Fenerbahce Ülker. We will also give you updates on the match-up between TAU Ceramica and Partizan Igokea “Live” from Euroleague TV.
The Live Blogging will start around 20h15.
Euroleague Top8: Fenerbahce Istanbul
April 1, 2008
If you are a regular reader of BallinEurope you might have come across Kerem. Kerem has been with us since we started and provides us with alot of interesting news from Turkey. So what is easier than to ask a Turkish basketball expert about Fenerbahce? This is what Kerem thinks about their performance in the Top8:
The quarter final match-up between Siena and Fenerbahce will be very interesting from many points of view. It will be a clash of old college buddies as the fiery leader of Fenerbahce, the king himself Willie Solomon battles it out with his old college buddy, sharpshooting Terrell McIntyre.
The Clemson Alumni members will have to battle it out in what seems to be a clash of styles for Siena and Fenerbahce. With the addition of Tarrence Kinsey and Omer Asık during the mid-season, both two promising talented youngsters, Fenerbahce have raised their game and have beaten big European household names, recently Tau Ceremica of Spain. The Slovenian duo of Przeldic and Vidmar has been criticized by fans and experts ever since the beginning of the season, also coach Tanjevic for relying on them during critical games; but right now they have seemed to have adjusted to the Turkish fans and basketball, both contributing well to the team’s major late success. One other name who has to be mentioned for the Turkish side is Omer Asık. The 21 year-old, 7-footer block monster, who has BROKEN THE TOP 16 BLOCK RECORD IN HIS ROOKIE SEASON, has been phenomenal for Fenerbahce from the first day of his arrival. He will be a key match-up problem for Siena, especially getting Stonerook and Lavrinovic in foul trouble, who both are integral in Siena’s ‘small ball’ system. Tarrence Kinsey and Solomon will have the advantage the guard department, in my opinion, as both need no intro on the European stage.
The Turkish towers Oguz Savas and Semih Erden are a big presence in the paint and when you add Omer Asık to that equation, it’s a nightmare for opponents to step into the painted area. I would recommend that they pack their aspirin with them if they choose to step over to that designated area. Remember that Damir Mrsic, the 37 year old 3 point specialist, never gets tired of shooting from behind the arc, so look out for quick but painful daggers from him during a fast paced game in Italy. My biggest disappointment so far this season has been James White. I expect him to explode against Siena both on the offensive and the defensive ends, and help Fenerbahce reach the Semis.
Omer Onan, who tends to get in foul trouble early during Euroleague games is also an important perimeter defender for the team, he has to be ready locking up either Thornton or Ilievski. I believe this team is ready for the Semis, but in order for that to happen, Coach Bogdan Tanjevic has to distribute the playing time amongst the youngsters very wisely, keeping them motivated throughout the series; as his experience will be relied on many times during the games.
Prediction: 2-1 Fenerbahce!
Euroleague Top8: Partizan Belgrade
April 1, 2008
David Hein has been covering the Euroleague for years. When I asked him in the beginning of the year, if he would want to take over covering Partizan Belgrade a little bit he just said:”Puh, Belgrade, huh?” Well I am sure he did not expect that they would go all the way to the Top8, right David? Here is what David Hein has to say about the Cinderella story of this years’ Euroleague:
So, Dusko Vujosevic’s Partizan shocked the European basketball circuit by knocking off mighty Panathinaikos to bounce the reigning champions from the Euroleague Quarter-finals.
Well, the next giants are waiting in the shape of Tau Ceramica, a team which has gone 9-1 at home this season (the only loss coming at the hands of a red-hot CSKA Moscow who buried 14 three-pointers and won the rebound battle on the road).
Partizan has lost seven games on the road this season even though those included one point losses at Panathinaikos and Lottomatica Roma during the regular season and a two-point defeat at Panathinaikos in the Top 16.
For the Serbs to have any chance, young big man star Nikola Pekovic will have to get out of his funk in games against the big teams. He has scored in single digits in five games - 6 points at Real Madrid, 8 points at Barcelona, 6 points at home against Real Madrid (all three regular season) as well as 7 points at Panathaikos and 9 points in the decisive Last 16 win at home vs Panathaikos - the only time Partizan picked up a win without Pekovic scoring in double digits.
Point guard Milt Palacio will have to pick up his game regardless. But I don’t see Partizan winning this series.
Prediction: Tau wins 2-1. Should Partizan pull the upset in the first game in Spain, they will lose in Game Two at home and then the series. If Tau wins Game One, Belgrade will win Game Two at home.
But Tau will move on to the Final Four in Madrid.
