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, […]
Top European Players in the NBA: Who Shines the Brightest?
The NBA has become a global stage, welcoming talents from every corner of the world. European players, with their unique styles and impressive skills, have steadily increased their impact on the league. Key Takeaways – European players have been pivotal in reshaping NBA styles and strategies. – Pioneering athletes like Hank Biasatti and Toni Kukoč […]
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 […]
Dario Saric and the search for The Homie
It hasn’t been a dream start for Dario Saric with the Denver Nuggets. Two irrelevant outings to start the NBA season don’t bode well. Emmet Ryan believes the Croat can get back to his best basketball. Saric just needs to find The Homie. This isn’t working. Whether that’s the present tense or habitual present tense […]
Gordie Herbert, FC Bayern’s Superman lover
Gordie Herbert is running some of his top guys hard in Euroleague but it’s paying off. After victory over Olympiacos, the German champions are at 3-2 and look like they can hang with anybody. There’s more than Superman ball going on here, writes Emmet Ryan. The veteran coach has created a basketball team with two […]
The many trials of Ettore Messina
The Olimpia Milano head coach is in the twilight of his career and things look miserable. Ettore Messina’s side are off to a dreadful start in Euroleague and look lost. Emmet Ryan on how this could be a sad end to a magnificent career in basketball. He’s one of the most decorated coaches in the […]