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
US national team announced - are you scared?
June 24, 2008
I followed a lot of ESPN Sportscenter, Around the Horn and other stuff like that today. The US National team was announced:
Named to the 2008 USA Basketball Senior National Team were: Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Kidd; Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets); Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons); Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz). Duke University Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski is head coach of the USA Senior Team program. Serving as assistant coaches are Syracuse University and Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, New York Knicks head mentor Mike D’Antoni and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan.
Don’t get me wrong, these names are the top performers of worldwide basketball entertainment and any team would love to have just one of these guys on their roster, but do teams like Spain, Lithuania and Russia have to be scared? No, not at all.
You still need to have a team and really take pride in representing your nation. I do know guys like Dirk Nowitzki are busting their a** off right now, with three or four training sessions a day, just to qualify for the Olympics. Do you really think one of the guys above does care that much?
Following the NBA Finals taught me one thing about US Basketball: You might be the best guy in the world, but if somebody wants it more than you do - you will lose, right Kobe?
Another thing you might have seen during the NBA finals: It is still a TEAM that wins championships - you can’t do much,when they isolate your top star with a box-and-one defense, right, Kobe?
So am I scared, or do I feel like “these other countries caught up with US Basketball” (as said on every single TV show on ESPN today)? No and yes. I’m not scared, and European basketball does not have to catch up - we are right there, guys!
As excited as I am about the start of the Euroleague season, I’m excited about this year’s Olympics, right, Kobe?
And you thought the Navarro deal was big…
June 22, 2008
How about David Andersen joining Juan Carlos Navarro on FC Barcelona, while CSKA signs Terrence Morris? No, this isn’t the daily rumors section: It’s official, as you can see here and here.
Where does this leave Barcelona and CSKA Moscow? Right: As number one contenders for next year’s Euroleague Final Four. I am already excited to read our expert’s opinions on this year’s final four winner.
While the Andersen deal is not all that unexpected, Terrence Morris signing with CSKA is. Everybody expected Morris to sign with Panathinaikos or even Olympiakos, but the CSKA budget must have convinced him; I’m Terrence is throwing a party right now over that deal.
Tererence Morris played college ball at the University of Maryland, was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, went to the Houston Rockets, was waived by the L.A. Clippers and ended up with the Orlando Magic.
Though most know him only as an Australian, David Andersen also holds a Danish passport.
Everyone expected Andersen to follow Ettore Messina to Barcelona; now he is still going there with Messina staying in Moscow. I am sure they’ll meet at one point during this upcoming season; how about in the Final Four?
Maccabi hires Effi Birenboim as head coach
June 6, 2008
As Euroleague.net reports, Maccabi Tel Aviv named Effi Birenboim as the new head coach of the club on Thursday. Birenboim, 54, is a veteran Israeli who has made a name for himself by coaching 23 straight seasons in the top league in Israel.
This marks the first time Birenboim will coach Maccabi, although he does have experience at the top European level, having coached Hapoel Jerusalem in the 1997-98 Euroleague. Birenboim replaces Zvika Sherf, who led Maccabi to the Euroleague Final Four last season in Madrid. Sherf is still in talks with management regarding his role with the club.
It wasn’t a big secret that the Maccabi organization and the Maccabi fans weren’t happy with coach Sherf, who is also still coaching the Israeli national team. It just sounds a little bit funny that a head coach would remain in the organization for “some job,” doesn’t it? What does he want to be? Head of scouting? Telling the new coach who to get? I am pretty sure, that Zvika will not have a management role at the club unless no club at all wants him to be the head coach.
Portland Trailblazers fans - be brave …
May 27, 2008
I know: What else can happen besides a season without your number one overall draft pick? Well, Greg Oden will be playing for you next season but another guy might not: Rudy Fernandez.
ACB.com reports that Rudy was injured during the semifinals against FC Barcelona. He hurt his right elbow and a MRI should tell us more how bad it really is; in 15 days, says the web site.
I know Blazers fans, as soon as you hear the term “MRI” you turn away - I am sorry.
For all European fans - there is much more news and rumors going on in Spain and at Joventut. We’ve heard through the grapevine that head coach Aito will leave the club soon.
Even more interesting is that Pepu Hernandez, head coach of the Spanish national team, will also stop coaching the team.
We will keep you updated as to what’s going on with Rudy Fernandez.
Real Madrid turns it up a notch: Massey and Gasol to Madrid?
May 22, 2008
Of course, we’re talking about Pau Gasol’s younger brother who played for Akasvayu Girona this past season in the ULEB Cup. Eurobasket reports today that Real Madrid will make Marc Gasol an offer he cannot refuse this summer and will break the bank to get him to Madrid although this might be more complicated than merely the matter of the Euros they’re willing to hand him.
Our opinion: Marc Gasol could play a big role for the Grizzlies in terms of trades this season. I am sure that Real would be interested in signing Gasol for a long-term contract which NBA teams, especially the Grizzlies, would not like to see. Chances for this trade to happen: 35%
After probably one of the most disappointing seasons that Real Madrid fans have ever seen (not making it to the Final Four which took place in Madrid and losing early in the Spanish playoffs), many are blaming head coach [tag]Joan Plaza[/tag] as well as Greek center Lazaros Papadopoulos.
Guys, please leave Lazaros “The Caveman” Papadopoulos alone! If you need to be convinced, just watch this video. I promise, you will like him afterward.
Have you ever seen a guy that smiles so much during a normal interview? I am almost in love with him now - really.
Besides that Madrid landed Jeremiah Massey, Euroleague reports that Madrid has announced the commitment of Massey (2.02, 25) to play for the team from the Spanish capital through 2011. Massey arrives from Greek side Aris TT Bank, where he has been one of the most dominant players in the Euroleague over the past two seasons. Last year, he led the competition in index ranking (21) and rebounding (8.4 rpg) and finished second in scoring (17 ppg).
A big day for Real: It looks like they don’t want to deal with the past season at all and move on right away.
New Knicks coach: Mike D’Antoni - Gallinari to New York?
May 12, 2008
One of the 50 greatest contributors to European club Basketball is the new head coach of the New York Knicks. No, not Dan “Coach” Peterson, who is a humourous commentator also on this list, but just not the new New York Knicks coach.
Euroleague.net describes Mike D’Antoni as “a charismatic playmaker with great court vision and leadership” - sounds like what people said about former Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, doesn’t it? All the best Mike, we just hope you don’t end up like this one day.
Oh well, we’ll see and we’re pretty sure that the Knicks will be a better team with Olimpia Milano star Mike D’Antoni.
One more interesting thing about the Euroleague-NBA-Milano connection, if any: On May 20th, we will officially know the 2008 NBA draft order. So maybe Danilo Gallinari of Olimipa Milano who declared himself to the NBA draft and is predicted to be a Top 10 draft pick, could be heading to New York…?
Zeljko Obradovic stays in Athens for two more years
May 6, 2008
Messina will stay in Moscow and Obradovic will stay in Athens. Read more
Ettore Messina says “no” to Barcelona, NBA
May 4, 2008
But “yes” to another year in Moscow. Great news at least for European basketball:
Today PBC CSKA and the head coach of the club Ettore Messina reached the agreement to sign the new ‘1+1’ contract. The current agreement with the coach expires after the 2007/08 season.
Andrei Vatutin, PBC CSKA CEO:
- I am glad we made the agreement with the best coach of Europe. We did not miss a single Euroleague Final in three years. I think there is no sense to look for any other reasons to continue our relationship. It was very important to agree the contract during the Final Four.
With the Euroleague Final Four Final just coming up, this announcement from CSKA and Messina at 7.30pm, 1-1/2 hours before the Euroleague final, may be huge.
Great news!
Why the Euroleague needs to give access to team locker rooms
April 20, 2008
It is plain and easy - just because we want to see what NBA fans now got to see from Denver Nuggets staff + head coach George Karl.
See yourself and just imagine you would see Messina doing this his his staff before tha game against Tau Vitoria on May 2nd in Madrid at the Final Four.
Thanks to SportingNews for the tip.
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Euroleague 2008/09
