International Hoops thread

[Kanyewest]

It's a good thing EJ won't be managing the minutes

Kobe probably manages his own minutes anyways.

[FAH1223]

[AFM]

LMAO they look like my frat boy friends from college

[Ruzious]

Grats to the US team. They represented the US really well. Good effort by Spain. The Gasols and Ibaka more than kept up with the US bigs. Ultimately, the combo of Lebron and Durant with 3 good players is too good for any team in the world to beat. The Kobe/Pau embrace after the game was a good Olympic moment.

[Higga]

@ anyone who thought USA wouldn't win gold. Come on son.

[Kanyewest]

Looking at this team now in retrospect, I like the 2012 Olympic team chances against the 1992 Dream team more than I did going into the Olympics, provided of course that it is an international game. Guys like Carmelo are much better 3 point shooters with a closer 3 point line, plus the international game would allow for more zone defense to mitigate the 1992 dream team's size. But I still think the 1992 Dream team would be favored because of Jordan.

[pancakes3]

The Gasol brothers went 17/27 for 43 points against that mighty zone. Imagine how much Malone/Robinson would have dropped.

[Kanyewest]

^^^ And I also wonder where Pau Gasol would rank among the bigs on that 1992 dream team on offense. Certainly in international basketball, where his passing was utilized more effectively. While he had 22 points and 8 rebounds in only 33 minutes, he also had 7 assists. I read a funny comment yesterday that "The Lakers should trade their Pau Gasol for the Spanish Pau Gasol".

[verbal8]

Apparently 3 on 3 basketball is being considered for the Olympics.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... ee_In_2016

I think it would be a good move for international basketball. I think it could allow countries that don't have as developed basketball program to compete internationally.

The Olympics ended up doing something similar with rugby. They did not include 15s rugby which is dominated by a handful of countries, but instead are having the 7s version of the game. The traditional rugby powers usually have pretty good sevens teams, but a number of smaller countries have very strong 7s teams. Also the 7s matches are only 7 minutes/half rather than 40 for 15s.

Also an interesting aspect of 3 on 3 would be how the American Team would be chosen. Would it be feeder team for the 5 on 5 team or would it be from a completely different pool?

[closg00]

Nice article on International arrivals for this season.
http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2012/08/20 ... kies-2012/

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Thanks for posting the link, closg.

Portland added Victor Claver and Joel Freeland, while they also drafted Meyers Leonard. Terry Stotts was named head coach. He played his pro career in Europe. It will be very interesting to see how these guys, Damian Lillard, and Will Barton are all introduced to the NBA game. Nicolas Batum signed a huge contract but he wanted to go to Minnesota as a restricted free agent. I wouldn't be surprised if LaMarcus Aldridge might want out of Portland if there is not a lot of early success.

Torneke Shengelia is one 6-9 PF the Nets brought in, and Mirza Teletovic the other. Sheneglia looked really good in summer league. Wonder how much either guy will play, particularly after NJ invested so much in both Brook Lopez and Kris Humpries. If they play someone established might get traded.

Pablo Prigioni is a 35-yr old rookie, but I won't be surprised if he plays as much as 38 yr-old, DUI recipient Jason Kidd.

Alexey Shved is teaming with Andrei Kirilenko and Ricky Rubio. The Timberwolves will have the most white an Euro players ever assembled on one team in the modern era. If they are as successful as I believe, the NBA needs to stop claiming superiority as a league. By virtue of the salary cap, I believe there are international teams that can beat NBA teams. Minnesota should be a playoff team, and possibly a tough out, too, in the playoffs if their defense can be decent.

It will be very interesting to see how far along Fournier is. He's a little older than Beal. Will Fournier start for Denver? is he better than someone like Justin Hamilton? How will the minutes shake out with Iguodala in Denver. Seems to me Fournier will have a benefit of being brought along slowly. Don't see that happening with Beal.

[closg00]

Thanks for posting the link, closg.

Portland added Victor Claver and Joel Freeland, while they also drafted Meyers Leonard. Terry Stotts was named head coach. He played his pro career in Europe. It will be very interesting to see how these guys, Damian Lillard, and Will Barton are all introduced to the NBA game. Nicolas Batum signed a huge contract but he wanted to go to Minnesota as a restricted free agent. I wouldn't be surprised if LaMarcus Aldridge might want out of Portland if there is not a lot of early success.

Torneke Shengelia is one 6-9 PF the Nets brought in, and Mirza Teletovic the other. Sheneglia looked really good in summer league. Wonder how much either guy will play, particularly after NJ invested so much in both Brook Lopez and Kris Humpries. If they play someone established might get traded.

Pablo Prigioni is a 35-yr old rookie, but I won't be surprised if he plays as much as 38 yr-old, DUI recipient Jason Kidd.

Alexey Shved is teaming with Andrei Kirilenko and Ricky Rubio. The Timberwolves will have the most white an Euro players ever assembled on one team in the modern era. If they are as successful as I believe, the NBA needs to stop claiming superiority as a league. By virtue of the salary cap, I believe there are international teams that can beat NBA teams. Minnesota should be a playoff team, and possibly a tough out, too, in the playoffs if their defense can be decent.

It will be very interesting to see how far along Fournier is. He's a little older than Beal. Will Fournier start for Denver? is he better than someone like Justin Hamilton? How will the minutes shake out with Iguodala in Denver. Seems to me Fournier will have a benefit of being brought along slowly. Don't see that happening with Beal.

The Alexey Shved signing is one of the best and best bargain signings of FA, Alexey can ball.

[closg00]

Euro Champ Qualifiers including Top-25 Euros with NBA ties.(Tomas is rated 16th) Sheridan Hoops has great hoops coverage.
http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2012/09/01 ... ng-update/

[fishercob]

Coach K makes it official and is stepping down as Team USA coach. Thoughts on who should and will be his replacement?

I would love to see Pop get the job, but imagine they will go with someone younger who can put in more time. I have a hard time seeing any of K's assistants (McMillan, Boheim, D'antoni) getting the head job.

[Nivek]

Coach K makes it official and is stepping down as Team USA coach. Thoughts on who should and will be his replacement?

I would love to see Pop get the job, but imagine they will go with someone younger who can put in more time. I have a hard time seeing any of K's assistants (McMillan, Boheim, D'antoni) getting the head job.

Rick Adelman comes immediately to mind, although he's not young.

Randy Wittman?

[DCZards]

Coach K makes it official and is stepping down as Team USA coach. Thoughts on who should and will be his replacement?

Doc Rivers

[dobrojim]

Doc R - I think he's somewhat overrated

Pop- He's underrated.

[pancakes3]

It'll be a manager rather than a tactician. That said, how eye-rolling would it be if Cal or Spoelstra got the gig? How cool would it be if that 30-something at Butler got the job?

Also good call on Shved, Closg00!

[fishercob]

Bump for the world championships -- now called the Basketball World Cup -- in Spain next month. This thread is a nice stroll down memory lane, as is this one from the 2010 WC's: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1042328

I love FIBA ball and am looking forward to seeing how this US team comes together. It would be great if John and Brad make the team, but my hopes aren't up.

[fishercob]

Trying to figure out roster size for FIBA -- i think it's 12, right?

Here's the player pool competing for those spots:

Wall, Beal, Cousins, Curry, A. Davis, Derozan, Durant, Drummond, Faried, George, Harden, Hayward, Kyrie, Korver, Lillard, Love, Parsons, Rose, Klay.

To me, the obvious locks are Davis, Durant, George, and Love. Probably Harden and Cousins too. That's 6.

I think you can eliminate Faried. As good of a prospect as Drummond is, I wonder if they bring him. His game isn't suited to FIBA and the free throw thing is big. I dunno. He's so fricking big though.

So they need to pick six guys our of:

Gigantic big guy: Drummond
Big wings, possible FIBA 4's: Parsons, Hayward, Derozan
Shooters: Korver, Klay, Beal
Pure points: Lillard, Wall, Rose, Kyrie,

Given how Team USA plays under coach K, I think they're going to want guys who can defend 94 feet. I would think (hope) it favors Wall. Lillard is known as a poor defender. I figure if Rose looks completely healthy, they bring him. Kyrie is a disinterested and unimpressive defender (can you imagine him with Harden?), but I worry about him being one of K's favorite sons.

OK, give me Wall, Rose, Beal, Korver, Derozan and Drummond

Rose/Wall
George/Harden/Beal
Durant/Korver/Derozan
Love
Cousins/Davis/Drummond

Harden is your 3rd PG/playmaker. KD and Davis can easily swing to the 4. I want Drummond in case Cousins gets in foul trouble against Gasol and Spain.

Imagine John playing with Brad, Durant, Love and Davis! I'd lose my mind.

EDIT: I left out Curry! He's a surefire lock to make the team and probably start. So I keep him over one of Drummond, Derozan or Korver.