Features 563
Marcelinho Huertas and why we love old basketball players
Ballers come and go. Those that hang about longer than most, tend to get looked on fondly. Marcelinho Huertas gave us another reason to do that for Tenerife on Thursday night. His roll back the clock display against FC Barcelona in Copa del Rey is why we love old dudes. This corner hasn’t exactly been […]
Europe is missing an obvious opportunity with women’s basketball
The surge in consumer interest and investment in women’s basketball in the US has made it a rising star among sponsors. Yet on this side of the Atlantic, women’s hoops as an entity is a cost sink. Emmet Ryan on the issues, opportunities, and challenges ahead. There’s money in women’s hoops Stateside at a level […]
Euroleague expansion could change everything
While the NBA continues to discuss an entry to Europe, rumours spread of Euroleague expanding. Now, with reports that it will involve a shift to conferences, the very future of European basketball is in play, according to Emmet Ryan It’s one report. There’s no need to go over the top. That being said, if the […]
Ireland lose to Latvia but future hope feels real – EuroBasket Women
It wasn’t Ireland’s day in their qualifier against Latvia in EuroBasket Women. A game fight from the hosts wasn’t enough to take the W. Still, the pieces are coming together and it points to a positive future for the women’s national basketball side. The hope never left the arena. Ireland however exited still seeking a […]
Seán Flood and the importance of timely minutes
Seán Flood returned to the floor for London Lions at the weekend and it came at a vital time for the men’s Ireland national basketball team. With injuries and other absences an issue, they’ll be leaning on Flood in this week’s FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers. Timing matters in sport. Timing is why Ireland doesn’t have […]
Panic stations for Partizan in Euroleague
We knew it would take time for Partizan to gel in Euroleague. The clock is not being kind to the Belgrade club. Zeljko Obradovic knows the challenge. To get back on track, Partizan may need to simplify its style of basketball. Back on 15 October I wrote that a 4-6 or 3-7 start in the […]
Lonnie Walker IV is figuring it out for Zalgiris Kaunas
It was a rough result for Zalgiris Kaunas but there was promise all the same. Lonnie Walker IV, who has endured a baptism of fire in Euroleague, appears to be figuring it out. Emmet Ryan on how Walker is finding how best to contribute on the basketball court There was a great start. Then a […]
Real Madrid are an unwatchable mess
Sometimes the headlines just have to get to the point. While their comeback against Anadolu Efes was spirited, the problems with Real Madrid right now are deep and substantial. Chus Mateo appears to have a whale of a task on his hands. Whatever you call their style of basketball right now, this is not the […]
Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, and the need to fight forever
Forget the NCAA Final Four. Ignore the NBA All Star game. The Olympic gold medal game is an afterthought. There’s one fixture that every basketball fan should try to see in person before they die. On Friday, Emmet Ryan went to the OAKA for the Euroleague battle between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos. Ντέρμπι των αιωνίων αντιπάλων, […]
Life, the universe, and Bryant Dunston
He wasn’t close to the star of the game yet he commanded the spotlight. Bryant Dunston showed why he still holds value in the basketball world on Wednesday night. The 38 year old didn’t roll back the clock for Zalgiris Kaunas, writes Emmet Ryan. Instead, he used old man guile to get his side past […]
Evan Fournier just needs to relax
Olympiacos got the win over Real Madrid but it was another mixed night for Evan Fournier. Emmet Ryan writes that the issue can be solved. I’s about adjusting his basketball to be lethal in Euroleague. Basketball, like any mass participation sport in the digital age, faces the risk of homogenisation. Evan Fournier’s issues adapting to […]
Just 5 minutes more
A double round weekend in Ireland was crammed for Emmet Ryan. Yet, oddly, it also led him to reflect and ponder things. The great river that is self-employment has floods and droughts. It’s best not to get too caught up in metaphors if you want to deal with it. Two games. That’s what this weekend […]