The Eurobasket Thread

[THE HCP]

I recorded this on NBATV live. Did some of you not catch it?


Sent from HCPs Baller-Ass iPhone 5...FAMS!

 

[Sean is the Mannion]

Rubio was just benched all through crunchtime. Wow.

why play an elite pass first pg if youre going to spot him up in the corner every possession. Same thing that happened to him at ACB.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

why play an elite pass first pg if youre going to spot him up in the corner every possession. Same thing that happened to him at ACB.

At Barcelona, yes, but not at Juventut. And they could've given him Sergio's role, but I guess they liked Sergio better.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Final starts in 40 minutes...

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Game on!

It's Kleiza vs. Batum for best player right now - but France are up 9. Nic DEFINITELY making up for last game.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Nic doing everything! Steals, blocks, three pointers... France up 12.


Jorge Sierra @hoopshype 1 minute ago
Nicolas Batum has taken over.


Emiliano Carchia @SportandoBasket about 5 minutes ago
Showtime Nicolas Batum!!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Lithuania turns it over with .9 seconds to the half and France hits a three. 50-34 at the half, after it being neck and neck at least into the second quarter. Batum played every minute (20), is 6/7 for 17 points, +16 (duh) 2 steals, 1 block, 1 assist, 3 rbs. Meanwhile Tony Parker has 4 points.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Meanwhile, Claver had a solid game in the bronze medal game.

[video=youtube;Zv2CHeSF7a0]

 

[illmatic99]

Nic saving his best for last

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Nic swats Valanciunas, but they might not count it because Parker fouled him on the way up.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

France win! First Eurobasket title in French history.

Nic didn't score another point after half time, but the lead didn't drop below about 13, so it's not like he needed to.

 

[illmatic99]

Kinda surprised France actually won. They're clearly the best team in the tournament on paper, but have underachieved every year. Nic's 2nd Q was huge.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Kinda surprised France actually won. They're clearly the best team in the tournament on paper, but have underachieved every year. Nic's 2nd Q was huge.

I don't think they ARE the best team on paper. They're not that deep at all. They had the best player in Parker (just named MVP), but Gasol wasn't far behind, and Spain was way deep.

It's a shame that France v. Spain couldn't've featured Pau Gasol, Navarro and Joakim Noah, Ronny Turiaf and Kevin Seraphim.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Emiliano Carchia @SportandoBasket about 7 minutes ago
All-Tournament Team: Goran Dragic Tony Parker Bojan Bogdanovic Linas Kleiza Marc Gasol



I think the Nets have the rights to Bogdanovic (who was no doubt named because they had to put someone from Croatia on the team, since they made the final 4). I think Rudy probably deserved to be there, too.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Players not in the NBA who impressed me (not counting Rudy and Sergio):

Zoran "Not Goran" Dragic
Alexis Ajinca
Petteri
Luigi Datome (will play for the Pistons this year)
The point guard for Germany (if Schroeder is their Rondo, this guy is their Nash)
Yiannis Borousis (the Spurs had his rights and probably still do)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Finally we can raise a banner in the Moda center!

 

[Pinwheel1]

I am not a fan of our international players playing every year for their national team, but......
I think that there's an argument that Batum and Claver did receive some valuable experience playing in some big games. (Big games for them and their country) No it was not NBA playoff experience, but none-the-less it was better than just playing in pickup games in LA or Atlanta all summer. It has to help at least a little.

Claver will not have to worry about dead legs during the season because he will not log enough minutes. So for him I think it was very helpful.

I wonder what the strategy will be for Nic over the next few weeks. He needs to practice, but I would be reluctant to make him run any sprints.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Sabas gets a silver:

 

[PapaG]

Sabas gets a silver:

I work with a guy from Lithuania who moved to the US shortly after the Soviet Union fell apart. He was 19 and left his parents and everyone behind. I've learned a lot out Lithuania from him, and how the people there never considered themselves a "Russian" or "Soviet" even under communistic rule. The most amazing thing to me about that country is that it has only 3.5 million people total, yet can compete on a world stage with countries that have millions of more people to choose from for their teams. It would be like the Seattle metro area putting together a team of players who can compete on a world stage. I pull for Lithuania every time I see them playing ... their recent population knows what it's like to live under a regime that crushes your culture, and cuts off the power when people rebel, yet the spirit my friend has and his love of the USA, along with Lithuania, is quite remarkable.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I work with a guy from Lithuania who moved to the US shortly after the Soviet Union fell apart. He was 19 and left his parents and everyone behind. I've learned a lot out Lithuania from him, and how the people there never considered themselves a "Russian" or "Soviet" even under communistic rule. The most amazing thing to me about that country is that it has only 3.5 million people total, yet can compete on a world stage with countries that have millions of more people to choose from for their teams. It would be like the Seattle metro area putting together a team of players who can compete on a world stage. I pull for Lithuania every time I see them playing ... their recent population knows what it's like to live under a regime that crushes your culture, and cuts off the power when people rebel, yet the spirit my friend has and his love of the USA, along with Lithuania, is quite remarkable.

Seattle could field a team that would probably medal in World Cup play.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Seattle could field a team that would probably medal in World Cup play.

PG: Jason Terry / Avery Bradley / Nate Robinson
SG: Jamal Crawford / Rodney Stuckey
SF: Martell Webster / Marvin Williams
PF: John Brockman (?)
C: Spencer Hawes

 

[PapaG]

PG: Jason Terry / Avery Bradley / Nate Robinson
SG: Jamal Crawford / Rodney Stuckey
SF: Martell Webster / Marvin Williams
PF: John Brockman (?)
C: Spencer Hawes

That team would get shit-stomped at present, and Lithuania has been fielding competitive teams on the world stage since 1991. That Seattle squad may be the worst defensive team in history. No way they take 2nd place in the Euro Cup.

 

[PapaG]

Seattle could field a team that would probably medal in World Cup play.

What a stupid post, let alone Seattle for the last 22 years winning multiple medals with players that cross over generations.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

That team would get shit-stomped at present, and Lithuania has been fielding competitive teams on the world stage since 1991. That Seattle squad may be the worst defensive team in history. No way they take 2nd place in the Euro Cup.

What a stupid post, let alone Seattle for the last 22 years winning multiple medals with players that cross over generations.

I didn't say Seattle would beat Lithuania. You mentioned Seattle and it got me thinking. This year's Euro championship has been sloppy as hell. Very poor and inconsistent play. Up until today Batum has flat out sucked balls and he's the 2nd best player on France. This touneyment was dominated by the guard play of Parker and Sergio. I think a game between Seattle and Spain would be close.

Me thinking and saying that did not take away from what Lithuania accomplished this year or in years passed. Actually it supports your statement that a population of 3.5 million can successfully compete against and beat much larger countries.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

It's a shame that France v. Spain couldn't've featured Pau Gasol, Navarro and Joakim Noah, Ronny Turiaf and Kevin Seraphim.

Forgot Ibaka and Mirotic for Spain as well. Spain could've fielded another Spanish team that was just about as good.

 

[Pinwheel1]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9...ts-big-hand-teammates-france-eurobasket-title

(Props to Nic)

 

[Rastapopoulos]