EURO BASKETBALL 2007 (Qualifying Round) - Update 10 Sept 2007

GROUP E (Madrid, ESP)

Portugal - 65 - 78 - Russia (13-16, 17-28, 19-24, 16-10)

Israel - 80 - 75 - Croatia (14-17, 19-18, 20-16, 27-24)

Spain - 76 - 58 - Greece (23-15, 22-9, 11-15, 20-19)

Portugal - 94 - 85 - Israel (28-14, 18-20, 19-14, 29-37)

Greece - 81 - 78 - Croatia (20-19, 13-21, 25-14, 23-24)

Russia - 69 - 81 - Spain (23-20, 12-20, 16-23, 18-18)

GROUP F (Madrid, ESP)

France - 78 - 66 - Germany (26-20, 21-19, 15-10, 16-17)

Italy - 74 - 79 - Lithuania (13-21, 26-19, 22-22, 13-17)

Turkey - 51 - 66 - Slovenia (15-20, 14-11, 11-15, 11-20)

source : eurobasket2007.org

Italy And Turkey Feel The Pressure

Italy and Turkey go into their EuroBasket clash today knowing a win is the only result that will stave off elimination for both sides.

The Italians have been reeling ever since they lost to Slovenia on a last-second three-pointer from Slovenia.

They also slipped up against France and then bounced back to beat Poland but crashed to defeat in a thriller against Rimantas Kaukenas and Lithuania in their qualifying round game on Saturday.

Turkey have been hammered in their three defeats, though, most notably against the Slovenians two days ago.

Last game: Italy lost 79-74 to Lithuania and Turkey fell against Slovenia 66-51.

Statistics: Italy were out-rebounded 44-29 against Lithuania while free-throws continues to be a problem for Turkey. They are shooting just 57.7% (60-of-104) at the foul line over their four games.

Key match-up: Mehmet Okur v Angelo Gigli. Okur has much to prove after struggling to make a big impact on the tournament, while Gigli has arguably been Italy's best big man in this EuroBasket.

X-Factor: Marco Belinelli has been coming off the bench and, in the fourth quarter against Lithuania, almost single-handedly kept the Azzuri in the game with his ability to knife into lane and score. If he plays like that for the entire game, it would be a huge plus for his team.

Speaking out: "We are disappointed regarding our defeat to Lithuania because we could have won. In any case, we are improving and we must win our next two games in order to progress to the next round. Turkey is a very strong squad that has a very good coach and two NBA players (Okur and Hedo Turkoglu). Turkoglu can shoot from long range and can penetrate while the second is dangerous underneath the basket." – Belinelli.

source : eurobasket2007.org

Lithuania Bid To Stay Unbeaten

France will bid to end Lithuania's undefeated run so far in EuroBasket 2007 when the teams meet today in a rematch of a 2005 EuroBasket quarter-final.

Two years ago, Claude Bergeaud's men scored a big upset when they knocked out the then defending champions with a 63-47 win behind Boris Diaw's 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Lithuania currently tops Group F with a 3-0 record and, along with Slovenia, are the only two remaining undefeated teams left and have both already qualified for the quarter-finals.

France go into today's game knowing that a win will secure their place in the last eight.

Last Time Out: Tony Parker scored 23 points and got a lot of help from Florent Pietrus and Tariq Kirksay as France beat Germany 78-66 in their first game of the qualifying round. Meanwhile, Rimantas Kaukenas tallied 22 points as Lithuania overcame a groin injury to Sarunas Jasikevicius to hold off Italy 79-74 as Ramunas Butautas's side became the first to secure its passage to the last eight round.

Key Match-up: Parker vs. Jasikevicius. If the Lithuania point guard is healthy - in addition to the groin injury he picked up against Italy, he also has had a right knee injury since the team's second game of the group stages and has had to wear a big brace - he will make things very tough on his French counterpart. If Jasikevicius is healthy enough, then this will make for a great battle. After a relatively slow start in his team's win against Poland, Parker has been in fine form in the last three games.

Statistics: With Boris Diaw having a quiet game offensively against Germany, Pietrus and Kirksay stepped up their play and combined for 24 points. More importantly, they were the ones who helped France turn the game in their favour when they accounted for 10 of the points in a 15-2 run to turn a 28-28 tie into a 43-30 lead in the second quarter.

X-Factor: Jasikevicius' status. If his injuries get the better of him, look for Lithuania to turn to Kaukenas once again.

Sounding Off: "Since Jasikevicius left the Lithuanian national team, they haven't won much of anything and I don't think that's a coincidence. Now that he has returned, they've benefited from his leadership, his scoring and his good set of skills. They've built the team around him. But stopping him alone won't be enough to beat Lithuania. They have six scorers on that team and we must try to stop them too." - France coach Claude Bergeaud.

source : eurobasket2007.org

Desperate Germany Look For Big Win

Dirk Nowitzki's chances of making the 2008 Olympics - or at least reaching the pre-Olympic qualifiers - are slowly fading as Germany face unbeaten Slovenia desperately looking for a victory to move back on course for the quarter-finals.

The 2005 silver medalists have dropped two straight games in falling to 1-2 in Group F.

The Germans remain in fourth place (which means a spot in the quarters), but with a loss they will be even with the winner of the Italy-Turkey match.

Slovenia meanwhile have already qualified for the quarter-finals.

Last time out: Slovenia stuffed Turkey 66-51 for their fourth straight win in Spain, while Germany lost to France 78-66.

Key Match-up: Nowitzki vs. the entire Slovenia team. The reigning NBA MVP has said for years that his goal is to reach the 2008 Olympics. Don't be surprised if the Dallas Mavericks star tries to carry even a larger bulk of Germany's load than he's done so far.

X-Factor: Slovenia have beaten France and Turkey despite getting just five total points from Jaka Lakovic. The Barcelona star has struggled from the three-point stripe and his ability to score - especially from the outside - could free up others to get baskets.

Stats: Three - the total number of double-digit scoring games by Germans not named Nowitzki or Ademola Okulaja - the others being Mithat Demirel (18 points against Czech Republic), Demond Greene (10 vs. Turkey) and Robert Garrett (10 against Lithuania).

Sounding off: "It's going to be tough for us. In the German national team. everyone looks up to Dirk Nowitzki. He will score his 30 or 40 points but our chances are in limiting the other guys.

Dirk is such a dominant player that if you base your game on him the likelyhood is you will fail.

We cannot hope that Dirk has a bad game, you cannot count on luck, because it will kill you, it will destroy you." -Slovenia big man Uros Slokar

source : eurobasket2007.org

Spanoulis Beats Croatia At Buzzer

Vasileios Spanoulis sank a buzzer-beating three-pointer to beat Croatia 81-78, earning Greece their first win of the qualifying round to hugely improve their chances of advancing to the quarter-finals of EuroBasket 2007.

The defending champions entered this game having lost their last two against Russia and hosts Spain and in desperate need of a win to stand a chance of making it through to the last eight.

Croatia’s Marko Popovic sank a pair of free-throws to tie the game at 78-78 with seven seconds left in the game but Spanoulis knew he had won the game once the ball left his hands.
"It was in, I was sure that that was it - it was a good shot,” he said of his game-winner afterwards. “It was a very nice game, this is a big win for us.

“We shot well in the second half and we moved the ball well, which is what we needed in order to get back in the game. We did the right things to clinch the win in the end."

As for Popovich, he was only too aware that his team – who led by as many as 13 points at one point in the third quarter - had let a great opportunity slip away.

“We should have won this game. It was in our hands, but we didn't take it all the way,” he admitted.

“We didn't lose it in that last shot by Spanoulis. We lost it when we were up by 13 points and allowed Greece to come back. We played well, and we must keep this against Russia as well and hope to be in the quarter-finals.”

Croatia’s 50-37 lead with just under six minutes left in the third period turned into a four-point deficit, 61-57, early in the final frame as Greece used a 24-7 spurt to regain a lead they lost early in the second quarter.

“You're always upset when you lose a game like this. But I'm also very satisfied that we were able to play with Greece. In the end of the third quarter, we lost our concentration and allowed them back into the game. It's important to stay cool, quiet and concentrated,” said Croatia coach Jasmin Repeta.

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source : eurobasket2007.org

Portugal Surprise Israel

Portugal recorded their first win in the qualifying round by beating Israel 94-85 this afternoon.
Both teams now have a 1-3 record in Group E and still hold a chance of qualifying to the quarter-finals.


After huge wins against Serbia and Croatia, some may have thought Israel would have an easier game against the team from Portugal - but that clearly wasn't the case.



"This victory is the confirmation of the work we have done in our preparation and of the attitude we have, which is to go out and win every game," said Portugal's Joao Santos.

"This is our second triumph at the EuroBasket and if our first was special, this is one is even more."

Valentyn Melnychuk's men, who have beaten Israel twice in the last qualifying campaign, were in control from the very first minute and never trailed thanks to a great preperation job by the veteran coach.

"All the things I was afraid about happened today. we started the game very bad, and didnt succeed in doing the things we like to do," said Israel's coach, Zvika Sherf.

"Portugal dominated the boards as they do in every game against us." he refered to the 45-25 difference under the boards.

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source : eurobasket2007.org

Spain Offer Russia Test

Spain take on unbeaten Russia looking to climb to the top of Group E.

The world champions bounced back from their defeat to Croatia with an emphatic triumph against Greece.

Pepu Hernandez's men face another challenge on Sunday's against a team that is showing no signs of slowing down.

Spain last met Russia two years ago in the group stages at the EuroBasket in Belgrade and won 89-77 although the Russians were without Andrei Kirilenko.

Last result: Spain beat Greece 76-58 while Russia defeated Portugal, 78-65.

Key match-up: Andrei Kirilenko v Pau Gasol.

Portugal got steamrolled by Andrei Kirilenko last time out and then raved about his ability to dominate on the boards but also get out on the fastbreak. Kirilenko will not find it so easy against a big, strong frontline that is led by Pau Gasol.

Russia went unbeaten in the group stage, which included an impressive win over EuroBasket 2005 winners Greece, but the game against the world champions is the one that will let everyone know if David Blatt’s team is for real.

Gasol knows Spain will make a mistake if they focus only on Kirilenko and fail to close down the vastly underrated Victor Kryapa and JR Holden.

"Russia is not Kirilenko and 11 more," said Gasol.

"But he does help out in every stage of the game. He contributes on defense, blocks shots, rebounds, assists and knows how to play. You need to get him out of the game."

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source : eurobasket2007.org

Hsinchu Kids Impressed By NBA Star Yao Ming

Basketball fans who attended Yao Ming's public benefit event for aboriginal children yesterday marveled at the 2.29-meter player's size and said Yao possesses the skills to lead the Houston Rockets to an NBA Championship.

"He's tall," said Tyler Willis, who attends Hsinchu International School, "He's pretty good at basketball for his size."

Willis said that if Yao's teammate Tracy McGrady stays healthy this season, the Rockets have a solid chance to win the championship.
Aled Lines, who also attends Hsinchu International School, said that Yao is a good player and has improved a lot.

"Yao Ming is one of the best centers in the league," said Lines.

Chen Po-yu, a student at Shih Chieh High School in Hsinchu, also marveled at Yao's size.

"He is very tall," said Chen, a member of his school's bicycle racing team. "I wish I were that tall."

Chen approved of Yao's basketball skills.

"Yao is good for a center in the NBA," Chen said. "I think the Rockets have a good chance of winning the championship."

Hundreds of people gathered at a recreation center in the Hsinchu Science Park to attend Yao Ming's public benefit event for aboriginal children in which several hundred aboriginal elementary students participated.

source : chinapost.com.tw

Powe Lets Gratitude Show

Leon Powe certainly has his share of fans, but two of his biggest supporters go by the names of Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge.

Beyond their appreciation of his interior toughness, they are rooting for Leon Powe, the guy -- a feeling enhanced when Powe gave out handwritten thank-you notes to team personnel at the end of last season.

“I just gave them out to the coaches and the staff, thanking them for helping me out through the season,” said Powe. “Johnny Joe (equipment and travel man John Connor), Annemarie (Loflin, Rivers’ assistant), Lynchie (Phil Lynch, director of team security) -- all the people around the organization. I just wanted to show the team my gratitude for giving me the opportunity. They took a chance on me. It’s my obligation to work as hard as I can.”


Powe has lived up to that aim this summer, starting workouts at the Celtics [team stats] facility Thursday after a month spent back at Cal with strength and conditioning coaches.

He’s yet to talk to Kevin Garnett, but is looking forward to that conversation.

“Oh, that’s going to be great,” Powe said. “I love that trade. I love the situation we have right now. He’s one of the best players in the league, and I get the feeling we could be on the floor together some of the time. I’m just trying to bring something to the table every time I step on the floor, because you know what Garnett’s going to bring every night.”

Don’t necessarily look for any changes in Powe’s game.

“I just want to be quicker and play better inside,” he said. “I know I’m out there to rebound and play defense. Any offense I get is going to just be through hard work.”
And if he does his job well, maybe Powe will get a thank-you note from his coach.

source : bostonherald.com

Bartow's Presence Paying Off For Grizzlies

Long before he became a Grizzlies limited partner, Fred Jones Jr. founded and grew the Southern Heritage Classic -- a regional and often the best-attended event annually held at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

Yet the Grizzlies, at team president of business operation Andy Dolich's direction, didn't associate with this Memphis tradition and its potential customers until now.

No wonder team owner Michael Heisley is dismayed by poor ticket sales.

No wonder new general manager Chris Wallace and head coach Marc Iavaroni met with Jones to inquire about the lack of Grizzly involvement in his event.

No wonder Gene Bartow, recently appointed president of Hoops LP, went over Dolich's head and forged a Grizzlies partnership with the SHC.

Bartow called one of his first acts a "no brainer."

The Grizzlies recently picked up a late (reportedly $10,000) sponsorship to have a presence at the SHC.

That's why Bartow is in place.

It is small-minded to mock Bartow's appointment.

He knows better than to ignore essential components of this market.

It's about time Heisley got the message, too.

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source : commercialappeal.com

Payton Ponders NBA Ffuture

Oakland native Gary Payton, unsigned for 2007-08 after playing last season with the Miami Heat, will make a decision about his future within the next week, his agent said Friday.

And one option he might consider would be to try to play an 18th and final NBA season with the hometown Golden State Warriors.

Aaron Goodwin said Payton is training to stay in shape, but he has not settled on which direction to take his career.

"He's deciding if he's going to take another crack at playing one more season, or maybe go to Seattle and work in some sort of management position, or go into TV color commentary," Goodwin said.

Payton, who turned 39 this summer, was not available for comment.

Goodwin said there have been no talks yet with potential teams, including the Warriors.
"He definitely has thoughts of going backfrom Sports 1 and giving it one more shot in Miami," Goodwin said. "If that didn't work, he'd like to play for a West Coast team, the Warriors being one of them. It'd be great to retire in Oakland."

The Warriors currently have no roster room, with the maximum 15 players signed to guaranteed contracts headed into training camp next month.

Payton, a nine-time NBA All-Star point guard and one of the league's greatest defensive players during his prime, grew up in Oakland and starred at Skyline High.

Payton played the past two seasons with the Heat, winning his first NBA championship in 2006. But his playing time dwindled last season, when he averaged just 5.3 points and 3.0 assists, both career-low numbers.

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source : insidebayarea.com