2017 EuroBasket 49
Individual battles will define collective glory
Ahead of Serbia’s re-match with Russia, Emmet Ryan has selected three key battles that will decide who makes the semi-final. The group game won’t matter when a place in the final is at stake but there were lessons from that clash which could prove telling on Friday night The group phase game was an upset. […]
Serbia show no mercy in disposal of Italy
Italy came to Istanbul with a plan and their goal was to essentially kill basketball. Sasa Djordjevic was having none of it and neither for that matter were his bigs. Emmet Ryan on how Serbia put Italy to the sword in a clinical display that was their most accomplished of the tournament to date And […]
Alexey is Shved-ly as Russia top Greece
There were two questions going into this one. Which was the real Greece? The one in the group phase or the one that tore Lithuania apart. Also, how would Greece match up with Timofey Mozgov? We got the answer to that from the off with Georgios Papagiannis put on him right away. The latter approach […]
Doncic faces his greatest test
Ahead of Thursday’s semi final clash between Spain and Slovenia, one man is dominating the headlines. He’s a prospective first overall NBA draft pick next summer but right now Luka Doncic only cares about carrying his homeland to unthinkable glory. Emmet Ryan on the challenge ahead for Europe’s wunderkind One sequence. That’s all it took. […]
Sluggish Spain eventually sweep aside Germany
Sergio Scariolo had plenty to be annoyed about through the first 27 minutes, with only Pau Gasol showing up for Spain before Chacho and Marc finally got it together. This was far from vintage Spain but it was enough to take dwon Germany. Emmet Ryan says they will need to be a lot better next […]
Messina needs one more miracle
Ahead of Italy’s quarter final clash with Serbia at EuroBasket 2017, Emmet Ryan looks at the challenge facing one of Europe’s greatest ever coaches. In what may prove to be his last ever game coaching Italy, Ettore Messina will need to pull out all the stops to keep the Azzuri alive in Istanbul and there’s […]
Andrey Vorontsevich, an appreciation
Russia take on Greece on Wednesday night with both sides looking to return to the medal rounds of EuroBasket for the first time in longer than either would normally consider acceptable. There will be stars on the court but one man, who might go unnoticed by the casual viewer, could play a big role according […]
Theis and Voigtmann must deliver for Germany
Germany got what they wanted but they may not like what they see. A first trip to the EuroBasket quarter finals since 2007 sees them go up against Spain. The reigning champions and overwhelming favourites to retain their crown on Sunday. Emmet Ryan on what Chris Fleming’s side must do in order to stand any […]
Croatia get Shved-ed as Russia advance
Just when it looked like Sergey Bazarevich had made a tactical blunder, Alexey Shved proved his coach more than right by utterly taking over the game in the third quarter. Emmet Ryan on how Russia put their foot down when they lightened the load to sweep past Croatia and into the quarter finals of EuroBasket […]
Spain forced to fight for their win over Turkey
Spain did not expect this battle. Nobody expected this battle. Another creative coaching effort from Ufuk Sarica backed up by a great display by Furkan Korkmaz saw Turkey give Spain a fright before the favourites eventually advanced in EuroBasket 2017. Emmet Ryan on a tight battle in the Sinan Erdem Dome The odds were against […]
Serbia win, Istanbul is warm, stuff happened
Serbia played Hungary in basketball. Serbia won. Other things happened. Emmet Ryan smoked and talked to people or sometimes he just listened. Rather than break down a result that everyone saw coming, BiE’s editor takes you through the experience instead He would like to live in Ireland. That’s what the Syrian doctor told me. He […]
Sloukas surge sends Greece past Lithuania
In a game that was often lethargic and occasionally downright dull, a single burst by Kostas Sloukas changed the pace of affairs for good from the mid-point of the third onwards, forcing Lithuania and Greece into a fierce battle. Despite a fightback by the favourites, Emmet Ryan writes that Greece more than deserved their win […]