Welcome to the NBA, Rudy and Nicolas!
October 9, 2008 by Christophe · 5 Comments
The NBA preseason has started. And while some NBA teams are heading to Europe and other European teams are playing in the United States, I had a particular look at the game of the Portland Trailblazers as they feature two of the most promising European talents making the big step to the United States this summer. I speak of Nicolas Batum and Rudy Fernandez.
Both were still very calm when it comes to scoring, but showed that Europeans have made a big step in terms of athleticism. For Rudy, this is also an opportunity to again play with Sergio Rodriguez, reforming a combo that has worked marvelously well for the Spanish national team in previous years. So now it may be surprising to Portland fans to see what they can do together and they immediately showed their knowledge of each other’s game right from the start.
If you watch the video through to the end, you also see Nicolas Batum’s only basket in the game, a pretty nice one as Blazer’s Edge also reports. But what I liked most in the website’s reportage about Batum’s play was this part:
I believe in a post-game interview he told our own Ben Golliver that in homage to the great Darrell Dawkins who named all of his slams, he’s christening that dunk “Sophia.”
I don’t know if Batum really made this statement, but I guess that neither his dunk would have made the Chocolate Thunder proud nor that Darryl would have ever named a dunk “Sophia” as the names he used were a bit sexier like The Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Teeth-Shaking, Glass-Breaking, Rump Roasting, Bun-Toasting, Wham-Bam-I-Am Jam.
Portland excited about Rudy Fernandez
September 23, 2008 by Tobias · Leave a Comment
The Blazers Blog at Oregon Live posted this video of Rudy Fernandez arriving at the airport in Portland. In some way to me it looks like Rudy is a perfect James Bond character, doesn’t he?
| Portland welcomes Rudy Fernandez |
Ricky Rubio will play in Olympics
July 19, 2008 by Christophe · 12 Comments
Today, Spanish national team coach Aito Garcia Reneses announced the twelve guys that will compete for the current World Champion in the Summer Olympics in Beijing. And super-talent Ricky Rubio is among the twelve that will travel to China.
It’s official: Rudy Fernandez to Portland
June 6, 2008 by Christophe · 7 Comments
Rudy Fernandez has announced today that he will move to Portland next season. In a press conference this afternoon in Badalona, the 23-year-old shooting guard declared that it was not an easy decision but that he will play for the NBA franchise from this fall.
Portland Trailblazers fans - be brave …
May 27, 2008 by Tobias · 7 Comments
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.
