Here is the game LIVE from Rome – You might want to see what Barcelona does with Roma.

7:54 Hey! I have been thinking the whole ride to Rome how to start this LIVE blog – I still have no idea to be honest. I just hope it will work out. THis is the first real test of this brand new software. So you comments to this thing are more than welcome.

7:59 So first off – the guys got on the court to warm up – I had a little chat with Mario Kasun (thanks Ibi) who seems to be a nice guy. If he has a good game tonight – it’s all cause of me “good game wishes” – I also put Mario in my Fantasy team.

8:16 Wow – so as I told you this is the first use of Cover it live – this awesome tool! No I did really not expect that I would also get help from the Cover it live crew – If you ever need a good live blogging tool – you will love this

8:17 So Barcelona got on the court again – I guess Italians don’t like them here – It got loud and people went like ” BUUUHHH” – this should be exciting!

8:23 OK – we got 8 minutes left until the game starts – I will take a short walk to take some pictures – If these people around me let me out – pretty tight here in the press section …

8:24 [Be Right Back Countdown] 5 minutes

8:28 If anybody wants to know what the rest of the BallinEurope crew is doing – here you go …

8:28 [Comment From Christophe]
Greets from Malaga to Roma man

8:29 Well enjoy the game guys – I got some work to do here! So I guess when you hear the Devotion song it means game time right?! So let’s go!

8:31 So the Palalottomatica is .. kind of empty compared to what I saw during the NBA Europe LIVE tour – I will take a guess: 4000 people here

8:32 Who do we got here: Barca: Acker, Trias, Kasun, Basile and Lakovic – Roma: Hawkins, Lorbek, Stefansson, Ukic and Gabini

8:34 Lakovic with his first shot – a miss – and his first foul also – no points for the first two minutes – It will also be interesting to see Lakovic playing Ukic tonight

8:35 Mario Kasun with his and the games first points with a nice alley hoop – I guess it was cause of my hand shake right? :)

8:38 Since Lakovic is out now it is Pepe Sanchez on Ukic – looks like Ukic is too fast for him now

8:42 Did anyone notice that the two coaches, Represa and Ivanovic are probably the two tallest Euroleague coaches? But Represa looks more like he likes what he sees ( a lot of offensive rebounds by his team) while Ivanovic is getting loud and the photographers are getting ready to point their cameras at him

8:44 Barcelona tries to play a lot over Kasun since he is stronger than Lorbek – he tries to post up and does a “quick spin around Lorbek” for a alley hoop

8:44 Interesting question from a frequent BallinEurope reader: Elaj

8:44 [Comment From elaj]
How’s Slovenian reff doing so far? :)

8:45 Do you really want to know what I think or what it looks like Ivanovic thinks of him so far? ;)

8:46 7:13 Barcelona Even my Euroleague man Lorbak doesn’t make his shots – The Italian people around me will start hating me for shaking Kasun’s hand – Did you see this throw down by Mario?!

8:48 OK one more note about the referee: Ivanovic really knows that ref # 32 is Solvanian – since he is talking Solvanian to him – I understand that much :)

8:49 end of first quarter: 9:22 Barcelona!

8:50 [Poll popup] Who will will the game? 
Who will will the game?
 Roma ( 29% )
 Barcelona ( 71% )

‘, ’102′, ’463′);”>View Results

8:52 Lakovic still on the bench – he only played 2:21 minutes so far!

8:53 [Comment From elaj]
Kasun having a great game… yeah ofcourse, I just had to sell him on Euroleague Fantasy Challange… ffs.

8:55 Everytime Mario Kasun gets the ball he takes Fucka or Lorbek to the basket – update on Lakovic – he is just fine – Ivanovic just does not play him

8:57 Basile is also HOT – he had some nice shots and just drove to the basket as if there is nobody at all – and Mario Kasun with his second throw down – he got LOUD on that one :)

8:57 [Comment From elaj]
What’s up with Roma’s Ray? As I remember he signed a massive contract in the summer, but clearly he isn’t playing up to his contract… though, I didn’t see Roma this season yet.

8:58 Lakovic is back – and Erik Daniels – who was hurt so far and tries to get back into the game – get blocked all the time – Welcome back Erik!

9:01 Anybody still got Lorbek on the Euroleague fantasy team? You might have wished you have Mario instead of him today .. He doesn’t make his shots today

9:03 Wow – you should have seen the look Ivanovic gave Lakovic when he subed him out again .. He is really not happy with Jaka – he will take a time out now

9:05 Roma is playing much better – Lorbek made his shot – the fans get loud – We finally got a game ..

9:08 Next chance for Jaka Lakovic – while Mario Kasun shoots his free throws 29-37

9:17 Halftime in Roma – 31-37 thanks to a nice comeback from Roma which made the crowd happy. Here are some interesting stats:
- 14 points by Gianluca Basile – 80% from the floor and 67% from the three point line
- Mario Kasun with 10 points and a ranking of 13

- David Hawkins got the  best ranking for Roma so far – a 9 – thanks to 4! steals
- Lorbek is only shooting 33% so far but still managed to have 7 points
- I will leave Jaka’s stats to Elaj – but it has to be said he only played 6 minutes so far ..

9:17 [Comment From elaj]
Jaka with 3TO + 2F so far… -7 ranking. Terrible.

9:18 [Be Right Back Countdown] 5 minutes

9:26 I have never seen that an award waws given during half time – It also looks like the players really don’t like it – Roko Ukic keeps shooting while at least the Barcelona guys hold the balls. I whish I would understand some Italian…

9:31 Well this was really weird – let me see some basketball again! It looks like Elaj agrees – since he ordered something for me …

9:31 [Comment From elaj]
una birra per favore

9:32 Is there anybody watching this game on SKY? (Italian TV station) The commentator here really looks he does too much taning – I am sorry but this is too much!

9:33 Ok – you know what’s coming! MARIO! SUper Mario with a nice follow up and a tip dunk The basket is still shaking …

9:37 There you go – Jaka Lakovic with a three pointer which gets answered by Roko Ukic right away

9:38 Much need time out by Roma – Mario and Alex Acker with 4 quick points that puts Barcelona up 39-50.

9:41 I guess the press doesn’t agree with the decisions the players take – I understand that much Italian that they are not sayig anything nice right now ..

9:42 Nice steal and dunk by David Hawkins – Roma is down only 8 points – Basile out for Roger Gruimau

9:44 Once again I would wish more languages – It looks like Mario Kasun gets some talk going on with Erazem Lorbek – It wasn’t something nice as far as I know

9:45 What play by Barcelona – I estimate about 10 offensive rebounds and a tip in the end by Jordi Trias

9:47 Nice ball movement by Barcelona with Vazquez making the jumper from the free throw line

9:48 I can’t wait to get the stats of this quarter – Barca killing the boards in offense – while Ray is killing himself and Roma with a foul 13 seconds before the end of the game – Grimau with two free throws

9:50 50-60 end of third quarter – Roko Ukic with a nice pass to Lorbek who makes the easy lay up

9:51 It is only 10 points but it looks to me that there is not a real chance for Roma to get closer or even pass Barcelona – Just for you Elaj – I still did not get the stats sheet from the press person :)

9:52 Wth the start of the 4th I finally got the stats – ok – maybe not he just walked by :D

9:53 Going into the 4th quarter we got Mario on the bench – with 16 points – leading scorer so far – He got the same ranking as Trias (18) with 8 rebounds

9:55 THis is not Jaka Lakovic’s night – Air ball – to me it already looks impossible to make these unmakeable three pointers he takes but normally he does!

9:58 Allen Ray: two turnovers in one minutes – coach Repesa is just shaking his head

10:01 steal Roko Ukic – and an easy lay up miss by Ray – he really is forcing it now and the fans have enough of him – so does Repesa who will bring in Giachetti – For Barca Mario Kasun is back for the last 5 minutes

10:02 Sanchez, Lakovic and Basile with Kasun and Trias on the court for Barcelona

10:03 time out Barcelona – who is still leading 57-64

10:05 Kasun with another important tip in 57-66 Lorbek can’t but his body between him and the basket …

10:06 Barcelona is in a man to man defense while Roma tries to force some fouls and doesn’t get the calls – I agree with the referees

10:07 Roko Ukic got hurt on his last lay up but stays on the court – he speed is really needed – well he leaves the court now – and guess who is back Allen Ray … Don’t mess it up Allen they will kill you here in Roma

10:07 2:04 to play – foul Sanchez – Jacopo Giachetti with two free throws – makes the first

10:08 .. and the second … 61 – 69

10:08 Allen Ray the only American on the floor for Roma.

10:09 FUcka with a jumper 63-69 and 1:20 to play

10:09 8 second violation by Barcelona! Roma with a full court press and another chane to score – but they don’t

10:10 Allen Ray  and Jon Stefansson stopping the clock with a foul – 48:39 to play

10:10 Basile shooting two – misses the first one

10:11 made the seconed one – time out Roma – it looks like Repesa brings in David Hawkins – I am curious for which player – since I thought he should have done this earlier!

10:13 turnover Fucka – but a steal by Hawkins (second dunk)  – 65-70

10:13 Roko Ukic coming back with 24 seconds to play and Trias shooting two

10:14 1st one made

10:14 .. also the second one 65-72 – time out Roma

10:16 both teams with just one big guy on the floor – FUcka for Roma and Trias for Barcelona – Roger with two more free throws makes both – that’s it 65 – 74

10:17 game over – Roger got hit on the nose and is still down

10:18 I got to run and chat with Mario – after the sun burned guy from SKY is done of course  – thanks for everybody following this first live chat 65-74 Barcelona!
10:18

This Live Blog has now ended.