It's been five days since EuroBasket 2007 ended in Spain, but the tournament is worth revisiting. Sixteen teams squared off in the two-week long competition creating thousands of basketball memories in the process. Since your brain is too crammed with ATM pin numbers, email passwords and phone numbers as it is, I've taken the liberty to shrink everything that went down into a succinct top 10 list to cram into your hippocampus.
1. Approximately five percent of the NBA played in it.
With the NBA season still nearly six weeks away, 24 of the 450 or so players in the league congregated for EuroBasket. Basically, that's the equivalent of a really good summer barbeque party. Only it lasted for two weeks, which is even better. Here's a nice picture guide as to who was there. The 24 players were spread out over 10 countries: France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey.
2. Russia won it.
As basketball history will show you, a lot of times what decides who wins and who loses is pretty simple. Whichever team has the best player out of the 10 men out on the court has a decided advantage for the most part. Well, the best player at EuroBasket was Utah's Andrei Kirilenko. In the semifinals, Russia was tied with Lithuania in the third quarter after surrending a 19-point lead, but AK-7, (No. 47 isn't eligible in Europe), scored six straight and then had a block on defense to give teammate J.R. Holden an open look, pushing Russia's lead to eight. His line against Lithuania read 29 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks and his team won 86-74.
The championship was an even better game as Holden hit a jumper with 2.1 seconds left to secure the 60-59 win for Russia over Spain. Kirilenko scored a game-high 17 points to go with five rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. Fellow Russian Victor Khryapa, of the Chicago Bulls, chipped in seven points, 12 rebounds and three steals in the title game.
"It is the best achievement in my professional career," Kirilenko told NBA.com's John Hareas. "We played as a team. We really deserved that win."
3. Spain didn’t.
When you add up the facts that Spain was coming off the 2006 FIBA World Championship, playing in its home country and boasting five NBA players on its roster, its no surprise that they were the prohibitive favorites to win EuroBasket. Only, they didn't. The tournament didn't start well for them when they were shocked by Croatia, 85-84 in the preliminary round. Pau Gasol, Jose Calderon, Jorge Garbajosa, Sergio Rodriguez, Juan Carlos Navarro and Co. righted the Santa Maria, if you will, and tore through the qualifying round -- including a dismantling of Russia, who were undefeated at the time. In the quarterfinals Spain really took it to Dirk Nowitzki and Germany, holding Dirk to just 11 points and won easily, 83-55. Next Spain knocked off the defending EuroBasket Champions, Greece, in the semifinals, but in the championship, Holden's shot dashed their title dreams.
4. The “International Triple Crown” competed in it.
Last season an unprecedented string of events occurred in the NBA. It started in June of 2006 when the Raptors selected Italy-native Andrea Bargnani with the No. 1 pick. The next step was Germany-born Dirk Nowitzki winning the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the league's MVP. The finale was Frenchman Tony Parker being named MVP of The Finals. Here at the league we refer to the troika of events as the "International Triple Crown." All three jewels in the crown competed in EuroBasket. Bargnani paired with Golden State rookie Marco Belinelli to take Italy to the qualifying round before bowing out to Nowitzki and Germany. Nowitzki and Germany finished fourth, losing in the Bronze medal game. Parker joined the Suns' Boris Diaw, the Lakers' Ronny Turiaf and the Nuggets' Yakhouba Diawara on France and made it to the qualifying round.
5. Greece had a comeback for the ages.
You know how you never forget a great game? Remember last season's D-II NCAA National Championship Game in basketball or Boise St. pulling off that bowl game miracle? That was Greece against Slovenia in the quarterfinals. The same team that upset the U.S. in the 2006 FIBA Worlds came back from 12 points down with less than three minutes remaning against Rasho Nesterovic's squad. "Slovenia played more intelligent than we did and better than us for 39 minutes," said Greece's Theo Papaloukas whose layup with 6.7 seconds remaining capped his team's rally and secured the 63-62 victory. "But we played better in the last minute. We had no chioce."
click for more details
source: NBA.com
Friday, September 21, 2007
10 Things You Need to Know About EuroBasket 2007
KNICKS ROOKIES GO TO HEAD OF THE CLASS
September 21, 2007 -- Not every Knick spent yesterday in court.
Three Knicks rookies spent the day on a basketball court, schooling some local youngsters on the game's fundamentals at P.S. 83 in Manhattan.
Demetris Nichols, Randolph Morris and Wilson Chandler were among a group of NBA rookies who spent the morning with students at Luis Munoz Rivera Elementary School in Harlem, teaching them about the game of basketball - and the game of life.
"It's about seeing their expressions," said Morris, a 6-foot-11, 260-pound center who signed as a free agent in the spring after being declared ineligible for the draft. "Seeing what your presence means to them [is priceless]."
Morris and his fellow rookies hope to make Knicks fans as happy to have them on the team as the children were to have them at their school.
click for mroe details
sourc e: nypost.com
NBA Steals Exec Who Knows How To Play Ball In China
HONG KONG - Like many Chinese, Timothy Chen, Microsoft's top man in China, is captivated by NBA basketball. Now he’s making it his livelihood.
Chen on Wednesday resigned from Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) to become CEO of the U.S. basketball league's new subsidiary in China, NBA China, a year after the NBA first dispatched a head hunter to approach him. He leaves behind a career built around the tech industry and a four-year tenure as the most successful leader in Microsoft's 15-year history in China.
The 44-year-old Chen will oversee the NBA’s largest overseas market with an estimated 300 million basketball fans, one that has contributed as much as 20% of the traffic on its Web site, NBA.com. The NBA is seeking to sell a 5% stake in its new China subsidiary to Chinese investors with an eye toward an initial public offering, and another 5% stake to an as yet unnamed U.S. media company.
At first glance, it might be hard to see why NBA would need such a seasoned techie as its China head. While Chen has no credentials in sports business, he has abundant experience dealing with officials at different layers of the Communist bureaucracy through his time at the helm of Microsoft and before that, as head of Motorola (nyse: MOT - news - peoples) in China from 2001 to 2003, during which time he made it a market leader in the Chinese cellular equipment market.
click for more details
source : forbes.com
NBA Star Hopes To Score With Event
Mourning already has built a youth center in Miami, where he currently lives and plays for the Miami Heat.
This weekend, the Chesapeake native will bring his "Zo's End of Summer Groove" charity event to town after a two-year sabbatical. This year's Groove will feature a golf outing at the Beach, a youth summit at his former high school, Indian River, and a family day at Mount Trashmore Park.
Proceeds from the event will go to several local organizations.
Mourning, 37, said giving back is important because the community and the people in it saved him from a fractured childhood.
"I was fortunate to have good people around me like coaches and teachers," he said during a phone call from Miami. "They contributed to my environment."
At age 10, Mourning decided he didn't want to deal with his parents' rocky marriage, which ended in divorce. He went to live with Fannie Threet, who later became his foster mom.
Athletics carried Mourning a long way.
He shined at Indian River High School, taking the team to the state championships, and went on to play for Georgetown University.
NETS LOOK AT HOUSTON
September 20, 2007 -- There were some minor drills, some pickup play and apparent interest on both sides. Otherwise, all remains the same with the Nets and Allan Houston.
The former Knicks sharp shooter who retired after the 2004-05 season because of an arthritic knee worked out with 2-on-2 drills and a few pick-up games as Nets brass, including GM Ed Stefanski and coach Lawrence Frank, watched from the sidelines at the team's practice site. Houston moved well, by all reports, but he has been away for two seasons.
The Nets definitely are interested in having Houston come to camp on a "make-good" contract and are not inclined to offer any guarantees. Houston's camp, obviously, wants a guaranteed deal in place. Other teams have shown interest, and the overriding feeling is the Knicks would get first shot at Houston, a career 17.3 scorer including 18.5 in his nine seasons in New York.
"I think he's trying to determine what he'd like to do," said Nets president Rod Thorn. "That's where we are. He hasn't said anything about coming on [a non-guaranteed] basis."
source : nypost.com
Trade Finally Hit Home For Green
CANTON - It didn't hit Gerald Green that his Celtics days were over until Kevin Garnett held up his old No. 5.
On July 31, Green was among five Celtics dealt to Minnesota for Garnett. And when the Celtics introduced Garnett days later, Green watched on television as the 10-time All-Star held up jersey No. 5.
"After I saw KG hold up my old jersey, it sunk in," said the 21-year-old Green. "That's when I knew I was gone, I was out of here. But it's a business.
"I feel honored to be traded for a guy like Kevin Garnett. And then he's wearing my jersey? So, I'm honored."
Green, Denver's Allen Iverson, Golden State's Baron Davis, Atlanta's Marvin Williams, and the Clippers' Shaun Livingston attended the inaugural Reebok Basketball Family Reunion yesterday.
Green said he has stayed in touch with ex-teammates Paul Pierce, Kendrick Perkins, and Tony Allen. Although Green hasn't visited with any Celtic players or officials during his trip to the area, he has no animosity toward his old club. The 18th overall pick of the 2005 draft averaged 10.4 points for Boston last season.
"[The Celtics] were the first team that gave me a shot after I dropped in the draft," Green said. "I thank them for everything. But now it's time to go to a new team."
Green will play against the Celtics for the first time Oct. 10 in London in an exhibition game. Although it will only be preseason, the 6-foot-8-inch, 206-pounder expects regular-season intensity.
"It's going to be a little weird, but a little fun, though," Green said. "It's going to almost be like a family reunion.
Green said he and the players traded with him to the Timberwolves are helping each other adjust to Minneapolis. While Garnett was a legend in Minnesota, Green said Timberwolves fans have embraced the ex-Celtics.
"[Garnett] was a big part of their franchise," Green said. "A lot of fans were sad to see him go . . . But one thing I've been seeing that is great about the fans in Minnesota is they're not mad. They have welcomed us with open arms."
click for more details
source : boston.com
Yao to Be Late to Camp, Attend Olympic Ceremony
HOUSTON, Sept. 20 -- Houston Rockets five-time All-Star center Yao Ming will miss the first two practices of the team’s training camp in order to participate in the opening ceremonies of the 2007 Special Olympics World Games in his home town of Shanghai, China on Tuesday, October 2. As per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), Yao will receive a fine for missing media day and team practices. Yao will join the team for the remainder of training camp immediately following the ceremony.
“This is a difficult situation for both our organization and Yao given the importance of these initial practices,” said Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey. “Yao understands the value of being with his team at the start of training camp but considers this a vital obligation. Yao is an extraordinary player who is often asked for extraordinary service to his nation and home city.”
Based on the possibility that Yao may have to play this extremely important role, he has been working extra sessions with the coaching staff in both Houston and China since the season ended to mitigate some of the impact.
“As a Global Ambassador of Special Olympics, I was requested to participate and play a role in the opening ceremony of 2007 Special Olympics World Games in my hometown of Shanghai. I feel it is an obligation that I must meet,” said Yao. “I realize that missing the first few days of camp will put me behind my teammates in learning our new coach’s system, but I will work very hard to make sure that I do not hurt our team’s progress as we prepare for the start of the new season.”
sourc e: NBA.com
PISTON - Power Position
It wasn’t so long ago that power forward in the Eastern Conference was a wasteland, especially compared to the Western Conference, where the likes of Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, Chris Webber, Karl Malone, Elton Brand and Zach Randolph punished opponents nightly.
But the East has closed the gap with a summer that saw Garnett and Randolph arrive via trade to augment a group that includes Chris Bosh, Jermaine O’Neal and Antawn Jamison.
The Pistons are well-equipped to combat the talent upgrade with a deep and versatile stable of power forwards that includes veterans Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess to go with two young players the front office has said will get opportunities for increased responsibility this season. In fact, the glut of four players at one position who are expected to factor into the rotation strongly suggests that at least one of them will gather the bulk of his minutes at another position – perhaps Antonio McDyess at center or Amir Johnson there or even at small forward in some lineups.
Rasheed Wallace – Though the Pistons are committed to giving young power forwards Jason Maxiell and Johnson the chance to crack the rotation this season, the burden on Wallace might not be any less because they no longer have the same supply of big veteran bodies they’ve had in the past – players like Elden Campbell, Dale Davis and Chris Webber.
The Pistons would like to cut Wallace’s minutes from the 32-plus he averaged last season, though it probably won’t be a dramatic reduction – closer to 30, most likely.
Wallace, both Detroit’s best low-post scoring threat and best post defender, might be asked to spend more time playing inside this season to accommodate the kind of lineup flexibility that would present itself to Flip Saunders if Johnson, especially, proves productive.
That said, Wallace’s 3-point ability is a valuable component of Detroit’s offense. He didn’t take as many last season – down to 296 from the 434 of the previous season – but he made between 35 and 36 percent each year.
Antonio McDyess – Like Wallace, McDyess turned 33 in September. And while McDyess isn’t as consistently explosive as he was before a series of knee injuries robbed him of roughly 2½ seasons, he’s still an above-average athlete for his position.
When McDyess is stroking the 15- to 18-foot pet jumper he gets from the wings and the baseline, he’s proven as valuable a sixth man as there is this side of Manu Ginobili. But McDyess joining the starting lineup – which appears a distinct possibility as camp approaches – might ease the pressure on him to produce immediately when entering the game. McDyess often took bench production upon himself and would press if his first few shots didn’t go down.
Slow starts have plagued McDyess the past few seasons. He says it’s because he limits his conditioning work in the off-season, a concession to the ravaging knee injuries. If the Pistons can get him going before January this season, so much the better. Toward that end, McDyess began off-season workouts about a month ahead of schedule this summer.
In addition to his shot-making ability, McDyess is an asset both as a rebounder and defender, often providing momentum-changing shot blocks or tip dunks with spectacular play.
Jason Maxiell – Like last summer, Maxiell lost a lot of weight in a hurry once the season ended. This time, Pistons management is urging him to keep it off, believing it makes him a half-step quicker to the basketball.
And that’s intriguing – because Maxiell already has an incredible nose for the ball.
The keys to Maxiell’s development, in no particular order, are knocking down the open 12- to 15-footers in the lane and alone the baseline, making his free throws, and coming up with one or two trademark moves in the post.
Maxiell was roughly a 70 percent foul shooter during his college days at Cincinnati and the Pistons want to see him get back there – at least – after making just 53 percent last season. It’s an especially important consideration for Maxiell given his uncanny ability to draw fouls. When he was playing about half a game during the 2006 preseason, Maxiell got the line more than anyone in the NBA, nearly 10 times a game.
Amir Johnson – Along with gauging No. 1 pick Rodney Stuckey’s readiness, Johnson’s ability to demand minutes will be the most closely watched element of training camp.
His dominance of the Development League over two separate stints last winter created a stir among NBA personnel gurus, fueling some hope he could be pried away as an unrestricted free agent over the summer.
The Pistons never let it get to the point of having to match another team’s offer, locking up Johnson for three years with a deal that’s been widely reported as being worth $12 million – a pretty remarkable deal for a player with so little NBA experience, but one in line with the market for an athletic big man with shot-making ability.
Johnson runs like a gazelle and has a natural flair for offensive rebounding and shot blocking. He gets off the floor far quicker than most big men. Those who saw him play over the summer say he appeared a much more confident player, showing signs of developing perimeter skills. He needs to add strength, which should help him avoid the quick foul trouble that’s plagued him in the past. Beyond Johnson’s physical abilities, his desire to improve and his willingness to take instruction convinced the Pistons that his future is limitless.
Bucks Match Offer Sheet To Retain Charlie Bell
MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks have signed guard Charlie Bell to a multi-year contract, General Manager Larry Harris announced today. Bell originally signed an offer sheet with Miami on September 17, and because of his restricted free agent status, the Bucks had one week to determine whether to match the Heat offer.
"From a basketball standpoint, signing Charlie was an easy decision. He is a terrific player and a very important part of what we are doing both this season and in the future,” said Harris. “We’ve said all along that we wanted to have him remain on our team. Charlie is a high-character individual first and foremost, and he gives it his all in practice, in games and in the community.
"Once again, this decision continues to show Senator Kohl’s commitment to winning and to the community by keeping Charlie on our team," Harris added.
Bell, 28, enjoyed a breakout season for the Bucks last year, posting career-high averages of 13.5 points, 3.0 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 34.7 minutes per game. He scored double-digits in 60 games, including 20 games of 20 points or more. He ranked 5th in the NBA in steal-to-turnover ratio (0.92:1) and T-32nd in steals per game (1.18). Bell (6-3, 200) scored a season-high 28 points on three separate occasions and was also the only Buck to appear in all 82 games (64 starts).
"It’s been a long and emotional process for Charlie and his family throughout the summer," said Bell’s agent, Mark Bartelstein. “The Bucks, however, have demonstrated how important Charlie is to their team, both now and in the future.
"Senator Kohl, along with Larry Harris and the Bucks organization, continue to prove that they will do whatever they can to bring a winner to Milwaukee," Bartelstein added.
Not drafted out of Michigan State University, Bell originally signed with the Bucks on August 8, 2005 and averaged 8.4 points, 2.2 assists and 2.0 rebounds during the 2005-06 campaign.
"I look at Charlie as that final piece of the puzzle," said Head Coach Larry Krystkowiak. "Charlie is a consummate pro who gives us versatility at a number of positions. He is a tough, hard-nosed player who never takes the easy way out. I’m really excited about the make-up of our roster as we head into training camp next month."
source: NBA.com
Southwest remains NBA's Toughest Division After Rockets Retool Roster
HOUSTON -- The San Antonio Spurs won an NBA title last season and essentially have their entire roster back for another championship run. So why aren't the Spurs a sure-thing to at least finish first in their own division? That's life in the Southwest.
With four of the past five Western Conference champions coming straight out of the Southwest, the NBA's toughest division won't be any easier this season.Three teams -- the Rockets, Mavericks and Spurs -- are boasting hopes of competing for a Western Conference crown and the Hornets have enough talent to end their three-year playoff drought. On top of all that, the Grizzlies even got better this summer by adding a talented international star and a promising rookie point guard.
source : NBA.com
Warriors Request Waivers On Sarunas Jasikevicius
The Golden State Warriors have requested waivers on guard Sarunas Jasikevicius after reaching a contractual buyout agreement, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.
“We think this was in the best interest of both parties,” said Mullin. “As a competitor, Sarunas obviously would like to have an opportunity to play a significant role on a team. This could potentially open up other avenues that will allow him to pursue that opportunity.”
Jasikevicius, 31, was originally acquired by Golden State on January 17, 2007, as part of an eight-player trade with Indiana. Following the trade, Jasikevicius appeared in 26 regular-season games with Golden State, averaging 4.3 points and 2.3 assists in 12.0 minutes per contest. Overall last season, he appeared in 63 games combined between Indiana and Golden State, averaging 6.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Since joining the NBA prior to the 2005-06 season, the Lithuanian native has appeared in 138 regular-season games, averaging 6.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 18.3 minutes.
source: NBA.com
One Year Later, An Even Stronger Roster
With a little over a week to go before the Knicks head to Charleston, S.C., for their 2007 training camp, there's already no question that the roster looks a quite different than the team that opened training camp just one year ago.
The Knicks shipped out Channing Frye and Steve Francis, and brought in Zach Randolph, a big man with a rare combination of power and agility. Add in 2007 draft picks Wilson Chandler and Demetris Nichols, Randolph's former Portland teammates, Fred Jones and Dan Dickau, and late-season signee Randolph Morris, and it's clear that the Knicks are deeper at every position than at this time in 2006.
Randolph's addition for 2007-08 gives the Knicks an entirely new look offensively.
Last year, the starting five of Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson, Frye and Eddy Curry averaged a combined 76.0 points, 25.8 rebounds and 13.7 assists. In Randolph, the Knicks added a 6-foot-9, 260-pound force who averaged 23.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists during the 2006-07 season. Substitute Randoph for Frye, and the Knicks projected starters' combined averages jump to 90.1 points, 30.4 rebounds and 15.0 assists.
Another big man making his Knicks training camp debut is Morris, who appeared on the Knicks roster towards the end of last year. The Kentucky star became the only player to play in the NCAA tournament and a NBA game in the same week when he signed with the Knicks in March.
Following Morris are Chandler and Nichols, two rookies who aim to make an impression in their first full team action against NBA stars. The two draft choices were also impressive starters on the Summer League squad that ran the table and look to follow in the footsteps of Renaldo Balkman and Mardy Collins as first-year players who made an immediate impact during their rookie years.
Finally, Jones and Dickau will be participating in their first Knicks training camp when it all gets under way on Oct. 1. They will aim to not only secure a roster spot, but work their way into the rotation as well.
Next week, NYKnicks.com will provide a look at how each of the Knicks' Atlantic Division rivals remade itself during the off-season. The series begins on Sept. 24.
