Scola @ 2010 FIBA World Championship

[x-]

vs.

Argentina is in group A with Angola, Australia, Germany, Jordan and Serbia.

Group Schedule:
08/28/2010 vs GER W 78-74, Scola with 20 points (4/12FG 12/14FT), 4 rebounds and 0 assists
08/29/2010 vs AUS W 74-72, Scola with 31 points (11/18FG 9/10FT), 9 rebounds and 1 assist
08/30/2010 vs ANG W 91-70, Scola with 32 points (13/21FG 6/6FT), 8 rebounds and 0 assists
09/02/2010 vs JOR W 88-79, Scola with 30 points (13/18FG 4/5FT), 12 rebounds and 2 assists
09/02/2010 vs SRB L 82-84, Scola with 32 points (12/19FG 8/11FT), 7 rebounds and 2 assists

Argentina finishes second in their group and advances as to the eight-finals.

Eighth Final:
09/07/2010 vs BRA W 93-89, Scola with 37 points (14/20FG 8/9FT), 9 rebounds and 3 assists
Quarter Final:
09/09/2010 vs LTH L 85-104, Scola with 13 points (5/16FG 3/4FT), 4 rebounds and 1 assists
Classification [5-8] Game 1:
09/10/2010 vs RUS W 73-61, Scola with 27 points (11/19FG 5/8FT), 6 rebounds and 0 assists
Classification [5-6] Game 2:
09/12/2010 vs ESP W 73-61, Scola with 22 points (7/15FG 8/12FT), 11 rebounds and 2 assists

Highlights: Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

Sergio Llull, drafted by the Rockets in the second round last year, is playing for Spain, while Brad Newley, whose draft rights are hold by the Rockets, is also playing for Australia.

Israel and Lior Eliyahu, whose draft rights are also hold by the Rockets, just qualified for the EuroBasket 2011.

[x-]

Argentina just beat Germany 78-74.

Scola finished with 20 points (4/12FG 12/14FT - TS% .550), 4 rebounds, 0 assists and 6 turnovers.

I only watched parts of the game.

Scola played like ...well ... Scola. Not flashy, but he did his thing, although it certainly wasn't one of his better games.
He missed a lot of rather easy shots/shots he normally makes and even though the Germans did a good job defending him (both on post-ups and in pick&rolls) Scola should dominate scrubs like Jan-Hendrik Jagla and Tim Olbrecht. No worries though, it's one game .. that won't matter come May and June.

[kam_soluusar]

Andersen Shot 22pts 9 Boards for Australia in their win over Jordan.

I told everyone he could ball.

[kam_soluusar]

Just Watched USA Vs Croatia. My notes from the game.

If any team can make the USA play a halfcourt game, and reduce them to Jump shooting, they can lose. (Gordon appeared to be the only consistent spot up shooter, Billups threw bricks most of the game.)

Chandler was a Monster. I was impressed by his tenacity at persuing what could have been an easy, basket in the dying seconds of the game, which was instead a monster block!!!!

Send the US to the line, their FT shooting was average.

The US needs to be more aware of backdoor slashes, and the switch needed to counter this defensively.

The US needs to rebound better, they really do. Croatia made this blindingly obvious. in saying this, what good is second chance attempts if you don't convert.

Finally, the 2nd Q really killed Croatia, if that didn't happen, it could have been a really close game. In saying this, Props to the US for keeping them to a piss poor 6pts in the 2nd.

[x-]

Argentina just beat Australia 74-72.

I only got to watch parts of the first quarter. Scola looked better today on offense, but that had to be expected with him being matched up against David Andersen. On defense he seemed to struggle a little bit against all those strech 4's/5's (same against the Germans), but that's no news either, really.

He finished the game with 31 points (11/18FG 9/10FT - TS% .692), 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 turnovers.

[Aaron Brooks]

What was Andersen's stat line?

[x-]

7 points (3/8FG 1/1FT), 8 rebounds, 1 assist, DRtg 190.

[moofs]

Since this is on Scola, a quick link about his effectiveness in transition:

http://www.thedreamshake.com/2010/8/29/ ... s-scola-in

[Ribalding]

Scola...effectiveness in transition:

Thanks for the link. I've been talking up Scola in transition since I 1st saw him play in Europe, but didn't have the numbers to back up my yapping. (A common occurence.)

Summary of today's USA vs. Slovenia game:

- Boki's put on some 15-25 pounds since he left the Nets. Obviously Slovenia's best player, he's comfortable playing against NBA guys. Shot wasn't falling in the 1st half, but he created a lot of opportunities for his teammates. Still wish he was a Rocket, if only b/c he punked Karl Malone...who raped a 13 year old girl when he was a student at Louisiana Tech.

- Aside from Durant, who's simply a freak, Kevin Love was the best player on the court. Between his passing, rebounding, solid picks, and smart defensive rotations, he kept the trains running on time. The guy is tailor made for FIBA basketball.

- Curry was a liability. Has been in both games. He's a shooting specialist who can't shoot in a tournament built for multi-tool players. His 1on1 D is gruesome. He should send his meal money and his medal to Rajon Rondo. And maybe some flowers. As a thank you gift.

- Granger and Rudy Gay wouldn't know a defensive rotation if one bit them on the ass. While Gay can create his own shot at will, they are both horrible liabilities defending motion offenses. They looked lost at times. Literally. At some point, my wife looked at me and said, "is that Granger guy high, or what?". I nodded.

- Can somebody please tell Russell Westbrook to stop dribbling into traffic against a zone defense? Pretty please? While I applaud his aggression, my 6th grade basketball coach would have shot Russell smooth in the face today. Probably twice. The guy needs to show a bit of patience and see what the defense is giving him. Otherwise, he looks like Napolean with a basketball.

"Oh lookit! Russia's open! I'll just haul ass up in there.......uhhhhh....."

- I stopped counting travelling calls after #5. No kidding. The refs, in a fit of irony, finally called ONE on Slovenia. Coach K just started laughing.

- Gasper Vidmar is a straight thug. He's now #2 behind Scola on the list of Euros Who Will Cut You And Grin.

[x-]

Argentina just beat Angola 91-70.

I was unable to watch the game, but Scola was on fire in the first quarter, scoring 17 of Argentina's 23 points.

He finished with 32 points (13/21FG 6/6FT - TS% .677), 8 rebounds and 3 steals.

In other news, Lior Eliyahu and Israel qualified for the Eurobasket 2011, even though they lost against Montenegro yesterday.

I haven't watched him play a ton, but he plays like a european Shawn Marion, with a little bit of Scola and Jamison mixed in. Tweener, that can't really shot, runs the floor, athletic, high energy, got all kinds flip shots, hook shots and floaters in his repertoire, scrappy defender, seems to have big hands.

[Guy986]

Eliyahooooo has talent but he is one of those guys that i can't ever see making an NBA roster. We've seen him a couple times on the summerleague team. He's too slow to guard NBA 3s and too weak to guard PF. If you want to make the NBA you gotta be able to defend something.... some of the times. NBA teams don't play enough zone to hide their defensive deficiency.

[Aaron Brooks]

I always get Eliyahu confused with the guy on the Bucks, Ilyasova

Am I the only one?

[moofs]

I always get Eliyahu confused with the guy on the Bucks, Ilyasova

Am I the only one?

I always get Ilyasova confused with Kournikova.

Eliyahu sounds too much like "El Yahoo" to confuse with anything Russian.

[kam_soluusar]

Australia handed Germany their Arses today. I haven't seen Germans go down like that since Berlin in 1944.

Narrow win for the US over Brazil today. I bet a few of you Americans were about to crap your pants.

Back to the US vs Slovenia game, did anyone like Bokis left handed leaner in traffic. Man that was a sweet dunk. Iguodala is an in game dunking freak though. The NBA dunk comp should be judged by in game dunks, so that way little freaks like Nate Robinson can't have 20 attempts!

[Ribalding]

Back to the US vs Slovenia game, did anyone like Bokis left handed leaner in traffic. Man that was a sweet dunk. Iguodala is an in game dunking freak though. The NBA dunk comp should be judged by in game dunks, so that way little freaks like Nate Robinson can't have 20 attempts!

- The Face Hall of Fame should include one for the face black players make when a white player executes an impressive in-game dunk. Boki has caused quite a few. It's a priceless combo of fleeting fear mixed with feigned apathy. Like "Uhhh, I knew he could do that. I did. ....but damn."

- As to the Brazilians, I wasn't even a little bit shocked they kept it close. Granted, I didn't expect it to be that close. But Brazil has always given U.S. teams a hard time. Even the original Dream Team. Brazil was their only competetive opponent. It's a rhythm thing. Brazilians play basketball like they dance. (Upside down, with their hips wiggling, leading with the wrong foot.) It looks funny to us. And it's real hard for Americans to predict. They just move funny. It makes you hesitant, as a defender. American players expect certain things. Brazilians don't do a lot of those things. Or they do them "a little off".

I'm doing a terrible job explaining myself.

Screw it.

[x-]

I always get Eliyahu confused with the guy on the Bucks, Ilyasova

Am I the only one?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc9wpTuwaY8[/youtube]

Liii E-li-AA-UUUU!!

In 2007, the Rockets thought he needed at least two more season in Europe. It's been 3 years now and he just signed a 4 year contract last year. So unless he has a buyout clause, the earliest he could join a NBA team is 2013. He'll be 28 by then.

And yeah, although I agree that it's rather unlikely he'll get to play in the NBA, it only takes one team to like you:

Eliyahu also discovered that he was very close to the NBA :

"Two NBA teams wanted to sign me and there were some talks, they wanted me for now with a contract and a place in the roster, but Huston didn't agree to let me go."

http://www.talkbasket.net/news/lior-eli ... -1424.html

[x-]

Argentina just beat Jordan 88-79.

I only watched the first half, but the game was quite enjoyable. Good passing, not many turnovers, good game flow. Jordan played hard and as well as the the score indicates, at least on offense. Their defensive rotations were a little of a times, but then Argentina played just excellent basketball. Executing their stuff, moving the ball, finding the open man. If they play like that, there's a decent chance they'll bet the US.
Scola did his thing, running the floor hard, moving well without the ball, making smart cuts, putting himself in position to score, directing the offense. He had 17/7 at the half already, finishing with 30 points (13/18FG 4/5FT - TS% .743), 12 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.

[Guy986]

Scola dominating this FIBA game. Good to see. But against a bunch of David Andersenesque defender, its what i expect him to do.

[fabio]

Scola was 30-13-2 (+1 steal) with 72.2% FG. Right now top scorer in worlds and 5th in rebounds, although that will probably change in next rounds since other than Ilyasova, all other top rebounders will be out of world cup coming 8ths

[hayden]

Scola was 30-13-2 (+1 steal) with 72.2% FG. Right now top scorer in worlds and 5th in rebounds, although that will probably change in next rounds since other than Ilyasova, all other top rebounders will be out of world cup coming 8ths

Scola taking home another MVP in international ball.