Petteri! (1 Viewer)

[roydezlaw]

After watching Chacho give Kobe about ten feet of space on a last second shot a couple of weeks ago I literally laughed out loud as Kobe stuck the wing trey for the win. I'm not at all surprised he's getting DNPs now that Martin is back, he's just not good enough to take time away from Udrich and Evans.

That's laughable? I'm sure you could have recovered in time after being plowed into by Kobe. [video=youtube;-P19EJXZlGk]

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I think that is very laughable..

 

[roydezlaw]

I think that is very laughable..

Yeah, but you're a fucking gorilla. Sergio's a lot smaller than Kobe.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

If he's a player, awesome. But again, where does he fit? and maybe more importantly, when?

In the space left by Blake's departure.

 

[BBert]

That's laughable? I'm sure you could have recovered in time after being plowed into by Kobe.

Wow. That was a pretty good shot. Well, the announcer just got through saying the refs wouldn't blow the whistle in the last seconds (on Kome).

 

[BBert]

If he's a player, awesome. But again, where does he fit? and maybe more importantly, when?

As others have said, he'll fit in the hole left by Blake and Miller. When...as early as next season. My only concern with Petteri is whether he can stay in front of quicker NBA point guards. Only one way to find out.

 

[hasoos]

Just look at Sergio's fellow countryman Calderon; brilliant shooter, high assist rate, low turnover rate, but some of the most "make your eyes bleed" horrific defense you'll ever see an NBA player. The result? Comes off the bench behind Jarret Jack now.

After watching Chacho give Kobe about ten feet of space on a last second shot a couple of weeks ago I literally laughed out loud as Kobe stuck the wing trey for the win. I'm not at all surprised he's getting DNPs now that Martin is back, he's just not good enough to take time away from Udrich and Evans.

Ha ha ha ha you are so right on the money. I was watching Cleveland/Toronto last night, and his defense is so absolutely horrible. He got back doored like 3 times in a row at one point.

 

[BlazerWookee]

That's laughable? I'm sure you could have recovered in time after being plowed into by Kobe.

I want to see that from another angle or two. K*be should have been called for the offensive foul, plus it looks like he stepped on the sideline.

Must be nice to know that the rules don't apply to you.

 

[Nikolokolus]

That's laughable? I'm sure you could have recovered in time after being plowed into by Kobe.

Sergio flopped trying to draw the foul ... that's the real comedy in that clip.

 

[BBert]

I don't know, from the live angle it looked like Kobe hit him pretty hard, and just knocked the little guy for a loop.

 

[roydezlaw]

Sergio flopped trying to draw the foul ... that's the real comedy in that clip.

I disagree. Kobe hit him hard enough he didn't have to flop. I think if he was flopping he'd have hit the floor.

I know Sergio isn't much of a defender, but I still don't think that was a good example.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Despite his getting absolutely killed in his last game (against the best team in Italy), supposedly the Mavs are interested in Koponen:

Mihailo Pavicevic, who coached Petteri Koponen for the Honka Espoo Playboys, attended Monday’s game.
The Blazers hold the rights to Koponen, who was originally selected by Philadelphia with the 30th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Koponen currently plays for Virtus Bologna, an Italian professional team.
Pavicevic was primarily in attendance because he was scheduled to meet with Blazer executives to discuss Koponen’s progress. The coach was also seen talking with two Portland Assistants during pregame warmups.
Pavicevic said Koponen has made excellent progress during the last two seasons. He praised the guard’s overall talent, while specifically pointing out improvements on the defensive end of the floor.
“He’s been great this year,” Pavicevic said.
Koponen is ready to play in the NBA now, Pavicevic said.
But the Blazers’ depth in the backcourt — specifically at the 1-guard — is preventing Koponen from making the jump.
“I understand the Blazers’ position,” Pavicevic said.
However, Pavicevic said Koponen’s agent is pushing hard for the Finnish guard to enter the NBA, and added that teams such as the Dallas Mavericks are highly interested in the 21-year-old phenom.
Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said Portland definitely appreciates Koponen’s value, but wants to see more development before making any moves.
“Here’s the thing we know about Petteri: He’s a phenomenal worker, and from that perspective, he’ll fit right in,” Pritchard said.
But the earliest Portland would likely add Koponen to its roster is next season, Pritchard said.
He added: “At some point in time, we’ve got to bring him over.”

There'll be room when we don't re-sign Blake...

 

[Nikolokolus]

Despite his getting absolutely killed in his last game (against the best team in Italy), supposedly the Mavs are interested in Koponen:

There'll be room when we don't re-sign Blake...

Makes me wonder if he'll do summer league again this year?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Dallas' roster is as appealing as a popped boil.

No thanks.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Makes me wonder if he'll do summer league again this year?

I think it depends if Finland is in any particular competition. I have a feeling it is.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Apparently, the Blazers are on the lookout for a PG. Well, apparently they've got a star waiting in the wings:

About a year ago, Petteri Koponen was pretty much a curiosity in the Italian Cup final.

Sure, he had three good stints with Virtus Bologna, finishing with five points, one rebound and one steal in 15 minutes of play. But, like rookies usually do, Koponen had to spend the crunch minutes on the bench waving towels and sipping Gatorade when Virtus core players Earl Boykins, Keith Langford and Sharrod Ford tried to upset the mighty Montepaschi Siena. Despite a valiant fight, Virtus lost the nailbiter 69-70.

The score wasn't much different this past weekend: lead by Shaun Stonerook and Romain Sato, Montepaschi Siena took home the Coppa D'Italia crown, 83-75. Siena's power forward Stonerook was named the MVP of the game after finishing with 19 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. But what really surprised the capacity crowd in Avellino was the improvement of Petteri Koponen.

Koponen shared the cup final leading scorer's crown with Stonerook. In the first three quarters, Koponen concentrated on playmaking and had only 6 points to go with one assist. In the last six minutes, Koponen went buckwild and dragged Virtus from down 15 (55-70) to down 5 (72-77), scoring 13 points and snatching two steals in that short period. It wasn't enough for Virtus to win the game, but Koponen's 19-point performance in the biggest game of the season so far was indeed impressive. (Box score.)

Koponen has improved and gathered self confidence so much in these last months, that he can already memorize team owner Claudio Sabatini's November outburst with a laugh. Koponen has also silenced Italian legend Dino Meneghin, who stated last spring that "there are dozens of young Italian guards better than this Finnish boy." Our good friend and language genius Mr. Google Translate also allows us to know that Italian fans are extremely convinced that Koponen has the potential to become something special (although it might be too daring to state that 2010 will be Koponen's decade, not Ricky Rubio's, like someone has already said.)

(I don't really think he's a star. But I do think he's a better defender and PG than Bayless, and that he's the obvious Blake replacement. I'm hoping he's the Finnish Alvin Williams.)

 

[BBert]

(I don't really think he's a star. But I do think he's a better defender and PG than Bayless, and that he's the obvious Blake replacement. I'm hoping he's the Finnish Alvin Williams.)

Thanks for the update, Mate.

I hope we bring him over next year, in time to learn a few tricks from Andre.

 

[Luther]

Bayless has had 30 against NBA teams this year. He would absolutely dominate a game overseas...Cmon.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Bayless has had 30 against NBA teams this year. He would absolutely dominate a game overseas...Cmon.

And in a couple of years, he'll have a chance to prove it!

(And Brandon Jennings has had 55 against an NBA team - think what he could do in the Italian League!)

 

[jlprk]

Bayless has had 30 against NBA teams this year. He would absolutely dominate a game overseas...Cmon.

I don't think he would, once the European opponents knew that he always drives.

Petteri is an oversized PG who thinks pass, with ordinary scoring ability. Bayless is an undersized SG who can't pass, with ordinary scoring ability, once the defense knows he will always drive.

 

[roydezlaw]

And in a couple of years, he'll have a chance to prove it!

(And Brandon Jennings has had 55 against an NBA team - think what he could do in the Italian League!)

Good one

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Petteri MVP of Serie A this week (at least according to these people).

 

[jlprk]

It took a year or two, but he has now successfully made the transition from Iceland to Europe. Is he in the highest European league, or how high is his league? Can he move up in Europe, or is he already in the top league?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

It took a year or two, but he has now successfully made the transition from Iceland to Europe. Is he in the highest European league, or how high is his league? Can he move up in Europe, or is he already in the top league?

1. Iceland? (Try another cold Land)
2. Even if it was, it's in Europe.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The latest on our Point Guard of the Future (or maybe not, if KayP is fired):

Koponen played 31 minutes and finished with NBA-boxscore worthy 21 points (2pt 4/5, 3pt 2/3, Ft 7/7), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 2 turnover and 1 personal foul in an ultra-physical 74-67 victory.

And even after silencing the notorious Caserta crowd, Koponen calmly reminded the press: "This was once again a proof of our defensive style of play. We got things going early on with our team defense and kept Caserta behind our back all night long. Tonight I made a couple of shots but tomorrow it could once again be someone else. We have so many good offensive players that a guy who scores 20 points one might have two in next week's game and that wouldn't alter the result."

There's much more - check out the link.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Having not seen him in a live game since Summer league two years ago, I find it hard to get too excited about Petteri's exploits in the Italian League, but if his calling card really is defense (NBA caliber defense that is) and being able to run an offense and actually hit an outside shot then I'm all for it.

 

[jlprk]

Greenland is in Europe?

 

[THE HCP]

Greenland is in Europe?

Ya, that was part of the Geneva Convention......... duh?

 

[jlprk]

"THE," you look Italian with that long curly hair, so you must know that you translate "it" as "he."
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Clauses, Nba and cups: here as the Virtus risks losing Petteri
The escape expires on June 15. But it is not the single knot
CORRELATED NEWS
Koponen: "If we are in Euroleague, rest»

There are no doubts that in this moment Petteri Koponen is the best player of the Virtus. In field, pound for pound as the Americans say, it is the element that moves the balances because it is the most physical, more exact outside to the pulling, able to do basket with the practicing with a ball and to attach the iron determined in defence. And above all he is a boy who always pushes over his limit. It is like that that, packed the trust of Lino Lardo in September, it has opened guiding his ascent. Now the Virtus has for the hands at the same time the perfect player and a problem what eight months ago not even in the best dreams he was thinking to have: Petteri is so strong that road might go.

The situation has not still been faced in society, but it is obvious that it is scalando positions in the diary of Claudio Sabatini and Massimo Faraoni. Koponen this year has done a huge jump in the yield and in the continuity, but it needs to complete an other of them to have this impact also at superior levels: it is clear that if it continues so or the Virtus gives those "levels" to him, or it is licit to be waited which wish to find to them elsewhere. An immediate jump in the Nba would be harmful, even though Mihailo Pavicevic sponsors "his" boy to Trail Blazers and the agent Marc Cornstein is more cautious, waiting being arranged of the market Nba of the big shots. But the risk that Koponen leaves the Virtus is concrete, if here there will no be technical guarantees. Here then that soon will guide the works to themselves to understand how to solve this knot: Koponen on his pluriennial contract has an escape for the Nba with the buyout fixed to 500 thousand dollars, the maximum roof of expense assented to the American franchises, to exercise that is within June 15. If Portland wants it it pours the number, Petteri does not lose a coin and moves in the Oregon leaving the bianconeri much time to substitute it. He wanted to hold it, the Virtus might try to "buy" the clause, if it moved it in 2011 and if the engagement of the player increased.

And if the Blazers choose to make it ripen another year? Here the question changes. The Virtus has not fixed a buyout for the Europe, then he is Sabatini to do the price. And the precedents say: to the Virtus nobody is incedibile. In front of so many currency — more of how much must it pour Portland it — Koponen would be given. But the question is understood also by Petteri, which wants to play the cups (not discounted thing, according to the club) to test higher game levels. The ideal, he says it himself, it would be the Euroleague. The thankfulness and the affection that they tie to the Virtus would make telling of no other European clubs, provided that V Black ones should be in Europe. And to judge by the yield, it seems own that Petteri wants to bring it to us.
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Translated by PROMT™
http://www.promt.com

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Petteri Season Wrap:

Italian league season 2009/10 has been over for Trailblazers' draftee and Finnish national team point guard Petteri Koponen for over a month now. After showing significant improvement in his second year with Italian league powerhouse Virtus Bologna, Koponen was diagnosed with a stress fracture in mid-April.

Now, the 2009/10 season is officially over after Virtus Bologna lost their Italian league first round playoff matchup against NGC Cantu 2-3. Koponen returned to Bologna in the beginning of the playoffs after spending the first weeks of his rehab session in Helsinki, Finland.

It can be said that this season was Koponen's breakthrough party. After averaging 3,1 points in 15,0 minutes in his first season with Virtus, his averages skyrocketed to 11,3 points, 2,3 rebounds, 1,8 assists and 1,4 steals in 27,7 minutes a game while starting each and every one of Virtus' games. Koponen was also among league best in +/- stat category with average of +5,26 and his 2pt shooting (63,9%) and 3pt shooting (39,8%).

If the afore-mentioned numbers don't convince you of Koponen's importance to his team, it's also worth noticing that with Koponen running the point, Virtus won 15 out of 23 games, but after his injury, they only managed to win 2 out of 10. After Koponen went down (pause), Virtus lost five regular season and two playoff games in a row. Virtus managed to steal two next first round playoff games against Cantu, but lost the decisive fifth game 65-72.

Koponen still has three years of contract left with Virtus Bologna. If Portland Trailblazers is willing to bring Koponen over to their team, the contract includes a reasonable buyout clause. Because of his injury, Koponen won't be able to participate in the Las Vegas Summer League in July, but he should be back when Finnish national team begin their quest for Eurobasket tournament spot in August 2010.

One last nugget: did you know that former Blazer and current Joel Freeland teammate Omar Cook is a player on a national team? Betcha can't guess which nation...