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Upsets galore as underdogs steal home court advantage in Austrian playoffs
Wow, things in the Austrian playoffs started with a lotta oddity. David Hein fills us in on a troika of upsets in Bundesliga play… The first round of the Austrian Admiral Basketball Bundesliga playoffs tipped off in thrilling fashion with the lowest three seeds UBC Carefuel Güssing, BSC Raiffeisen Fürstenfeld Panthers and BC Vienna all […]
Highlights from Dennis Rodman’s Easter weekend in Bulgaria
Former Detroit Pistons/Chicago Bulls/Torpan Pojat power forward and Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman was in Bulgaria this weekend to help that nation’s league celebrate its all-star break and oh yes, he left his mark. Ireland-based The Score reported somewhat hyperbolically that the appearance was part of a full-on comeback to the game by […]
On the road to London: Describing Team France’s five-year plan
While much of the Continent enjoys Easter Monday and North America heads back to work, BallinEurope takes the occasion today to clear out a few items from the backburner. First up, here’s part four of the “On the Road to London” mini-documentary series on Team France’s leadup to the 2012 Olympic Games. This episode dedicated […]
Panathinaikos tops Maccabi Tel Aviv, 86-85 to advance; Greens to take on Red Army, history in Istanbul
The 2011-12 Euroleague Final Four field is now filled, as Panathinaikos’ cliffhanger of an 86-85 win against Maccabi Tel Aviv last night sets up a May date with the monsters of CSKA Moscow in Istanbul. (And now, a slight bit of horn-tooting. Note a few Official BallinEurope Fearless Predictions™ made good, i.e. Dimitris Diamantidis as […]
Look out, Bulgaria – Here comes Dennis Rodman (and maybe Arvydas Sabonis)!
How do you say “Here comes the Worm” in Bulgarian? Folks in Sofia may just be needing that expression as the Hall of Fame NBA rebound master Dennis Rodman touched down in Bulgaria’s capital last night. Bulgaria-based Novinite quoted Rodman as stating “I learned a bit about your country on the internet. Your women are […]
Panathinaikos vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv: Official BallinEurope (and other) Fearless Predictions™
With the last 2011-12 Euroleague Final Four spot to be decided in tonight’s climactic game five between Panathanikos and Maccabi Tel Aviv, BallinEurope takes a look at some recent prognostications by experts and observers – plus a modicum of analysis as to how well some have done. O, and of course, the official BallinEurope Fearless […]
A “classic Italian mess”: National basketball federation suspends 15 referees for wearing the wrong uniform
A bit of a weird one from Italy for you this morning … BallinEurope contributing writer Enrico Cellini reports on a symbolic protest within his country’s national basketball league which subsequently saw nearly half the Serie A referees – including the well-esteemed Fabio Facchini, one of two Italians who will be calling games at the […]
Marco Bellinelli: “Chris Paul is the best PG”, “I want to stay in the NBA”
The Italian-language version of MSN news is today running an exclusive interview with Marco Belinelli, the New Orleans Hornet whom the outlet calls “the most American-style” of all three of Italy’s NBAers. Belinelli weighs in on all things NBA; some choice quotes include the following. “Obviously, [Chris Paul] is the best [point guard] in the […]
Swans Gmunden top seed for Austrian playoffs, All-Star participants announced
In Austria today will be held what is certainly Europe’s latest all-star festivities; indeed, the Bundesliga playoffs begin on Sunday. BallinEurope contributing writer David Hein updates us on the playoff picture and well as a rundown on all-star event participants. The 2011 finalists Allianz Swans Gmunden have secured home-court advantage over the course of the […]
News from Lebanon: Mohammad El Akkari goes for 113 points in a single game
No, the European Union nor FIBA Europe are ready to incorporate Lebanon into their ranks, but damn if the performance by Mohammad El Akkari yesterday doesn’t deserve mention on every single basketball-related website on planet Earth. El Akkari went for a mind-boggling 113 (that’s right) points in a Lebanon Division A final eight tournament game […]
Assessment chronicles the rise and rise of German professional basketball
Speaking of German basketball, BallinEurope pushes forth a plug for Euro-Step.net’s piece of today entitled “The Rise of the Germans.” Writer Julios (hey, that’s what it says) takes a look at Bundesliga CEO Jan Pommer’s once seeming pipe dream of making the BBL the top league on The Continent by 2020. Julios gives a generally […]
Bundesliga wrapup: Yassin Idbihi, Alba Berlin pick-and-roll Bayern, overtake Ulm; Björn Harmsen gets new Giessen contract
From the land of Dirk – Nowitzki and Bauermann, that is – David Hein reports on a few happenings in Germany’s top division of basketball. Read on to find out all about Alba Berlin and Yassin Idbihi pick-and-rolling Bayern Munich to death and overtaking ratiopharm Ulm for second place; s.Oliver Baskets Würzburg moving past Bayern […]