Greece, Spanoulis crushed France, Parker in Strasbourg

[Solid D]

Here is the write-up on this game from FIBA.

http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq,v3.teamID_291.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9l e2.season_2007.roundID_5169.coid_TaicZgnwHjsqx6MYk 0xYt3.articleMode_on.html

Greece Crush France, Parker In Strasbourg
11.08.2007
Fit-again Tony Parker made a losing return to international action as France fell 74-55 to Greece on Saturday in a EuroBasket warm-up tournament in Strasbourg.

Parker missed Les Bleus' first three friendlies of their preparation period, all of which they won, because of an ankle injury suffered in training two-and-a-half weeks ago.

But on the San Antonio Spurs guard's return to the team, France's fortunes dipped and they were heavily beaten by EuroBasket defending champions Greece, a team tipped, like Les Bleus, to go far in Spain next month.

As a precaution, Parker only played 16 minutes but still ended the contest as his team's leading scorer with nine points. He had little help from his team-mates, however.

The Greeks sped into an early lead and by half-time, they were 19 points ahead (38-19). They maintained that gap until the final hooter ( :bang ).

It was Vassilis Spanoulis, a future team-mate of Parker at the Suns (they mean Spurs, of course), who stole the show with 16 points. Lazaros Papadopoulos added a further 12.

Yakhouba Diawara was France's second leading scorer with seven points.

The hosts were without Florent Pietrus for Saturday night's game.

The Unicaja Malaga center, the vice-captain of Les Bleus, has been ruled out for up to a week after injuring his left thigh on Friday.

Pietrus joins Tariq Kirksay (knee) on the sidelines, while Boris Diaw is still awaiting clearance to play after his insurance ordeal with the Phoenix Suns.

France's final game of the Strasbourg tournament is against Slovenia on Sunday, with EuroBasket beginning on September 3.

[Solid D]

Spanoulis had no trouble scoring 22 on Team USA, defeating them in the World Championships last year. He must have a comfort zone in Europe.

[Beno = Puto]

What are the odds Vassilis plays for the Spurs?

[Solid D]

http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/files/{04E6E66D-F027-4172-97D6-C6ACBFC90168}big_h.jpg

Little wonder why Parker was alleged to have spoken with Spanoulis after getting punked like that.

[Bruno]

Greek NT owns French NT as much as Spurs owns Suns.

[papaspurf]

Greek NT owns French NT as much as Spurs owns Suns.

Nobody owns anybody as much as the Spurs own the Suns. :nope

[stéphane]

Greek NT owns French NT as much as Spurs owns Suns.
LoL..
So true.
The worst is that Papaloukas barely wanted to play :bang

[TDMVPDPOY]

we all know how all euros end up in the nba....

[Kamnik]

we all know how all euros end up in the nba....

MVP?

[Fast Dunk]

OUCH!! PEPE LEPEU IS TRASH ...

The greek (VSpan) is staying in Europe...

[hater]

Greece rules basketball. they would have spanked USA too

[hater]

parker should just retire from the national team :lol

[urunobili]

V-Spunk>Vaughn, Beno... in the Spurs system... maybe = Parker...

[Phenomanul]

You think maybe Parker talked Spannoulis into reconsidering his future in the NBA, especially one with the Spurs????

[velik_m]

Spanoulis had no trouble scoring 22 on Team USA, defeating them in the World Championships last year. He must have a comfort zone in Europe.

World championship was in Japan.

[Darkwaters]

You think maybe Parker talked Spannoulis into reconsidering his future in the NBA, especially one with the Spurs????

I wouldn't be against it. I've always thought that Spanoulis was misused in Houston and could have been a great asset. Besides, hes definitely better than Beno.

[Solid D]

World championship was in Japan.

Good point. On European courts, Japanese courts and courts with trapezoid lanes. :)

[JPB]

Grece lost 93-62 the next day vs Serbia and France won 80-60 vs Slovenia who won vs Serbia the day before, Serbia who lost vs France 2 days before :dizzy

That's just preparation and France played with 3 key players (Diaw, Florient Pietrus (Michael's brother), and Kirsay) out and half a Parker. It was much better vs Slovenia with a more agressive TP.

Tomorrow begins the Paris Tournament : France will play Portugal, Tcheck republic and Russia.

Off topic, the more I watch Ronny Turiaf, the more I like this guy : energy, rebound, defense, hard-nosed and only 2 years as a pro in NBA. I'd like him in a spurs jersey in a close future.

[Obstructed_View]

You think maybe Parker talked Spannoulis into reconsidering his future in the NBA, especially one with the Spurs????
That could have been planned for some time.

[barbacoataco]

If Spanoulis plays for the Spurs, would he be the #2 PG eventually, with Vaughn moving to #3?

[Obstructed_View]

I'd have to think the backup job would be his to lose.

[SenorSpur]

There is some word that since that game, Parker is lobbying the Spurs to bring Spanoulis aboard.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_23041.shtml

Spurs: Will Spanoulis Join the Spurs?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Bill Ingram
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Aug 16, 2007, 09:09


It seemed to be a foregone conclusion that the Spurs' trade of Jackie Butler and Luis Scola to the Houston Rockets for point guard Vassilis Spanoulis was done strictly to clear roster space. Butler was never going to crack the rotation and Scola wasn't about to join a team that didn't have a starting role for him. It made perfect sense, then, to deal both of them. The fact that they were able to deal them for a player who was unlikely to do anything but welcome a buyout was so much the better. It would leave the Spurs room to sign Ime Udoka and possibly one more free agent - like Troy Hudson, for example.

That was all before Spanoulis dropped 15 points and a load of assists against France in international play last week. Now rumors are flying that Tony Parker is lobbying the Spurs to push for Spanoulis to actually join the team. Spanoulis, for his part, is tired of riding an NBA bench when he could be living it up as Greece's biggest basketball star. He has made no secret of his intention to play for Panathinaikos next season. There's a pretty good chance that even if Parker could persuade the Spurs to reach out to Spanoulis they would find him unwilling to return to the NBA - even if it means playing for a championship.

Then again, the word was that San Antonio was going to release Spanoulis by August 7th, which they didn't do. Why not? Is something going on there?

The Spurs have only two roster spots open and one is most certainly going to Udoka, who is working out final details on a contract that has been in the works for several weeks. The rumor mill has either Marcus Williams or Tiago Splitter landing the last spot, though neither is particularly likely. Williams didn't have much of a showing in summer league and is far more likely to find himself with the Austin Toros than the Spurs. Splitter is also unlikely, as the Spurs have no intention of bringing him over from Europe this year.

San Antonio was among the first teams to reach out to Troy Hudson when it came out that the Timberwolves were going to look at scenarios to move out their veterans. They are said to be leading in the bid for Hudson's services, a move that would also rule out Spanoulis' return to the NBA.

In short, it's interesting that rumors have arisen regarding a new kinship between Spanoulis and Tony Parker. Perhaps this is Tony's way of ignoring his new wife's pandering in the media about her desire to have ten kids. It's strange how America fixates of the slightest little thing celebrities say. As for the Spurs, it doesn't seem that they're making room for Spanoulis any time soon.

[Alain]

And we finally know why TP had to fly back to SA.

[hater]

all Pop gotta do is pickup the phone and say "hey, Vasiislisj, whatever your name is... do you want an NBA ring or not?"

[Obstructed_View]

All I know is, the Spurs aren't entertaining any option with the word "buyout" in it unless the money comes from Span.

[BeerIsGood!]

So with Udoka all but reeled in is this the new hot button topic for the Spurs fans to get up in arms about? Vassilis or bust in 2008?

[Obstructed_View]

It's the next pile of proof that the Spurs care more about money than championships.

[timvp]

France would have won if not for Parker's plane ride.

:stirpot:

[smrattler]

The Greeks sped into an early lead and by half-time, they were 19 points ahead (38-19). They maintained that gap until the final hooter ( :bang ).


:lol

I don't know exactly what they use to signal the end of each half, but it sounds a lot more fun than what we do.

[ploto]

It was much better vs Slovenia with a more agressive TP.
And with Slovenia missing their starting point guard.

[ploto]

You think maybe Parker talked Spannoulis into reconsidering his future in the NBA, especially one with the Spurs????
Parker also supported the Spurs drafting Beno!! :lol

[ducks]

Parker also supported the Spurs drafting Beno!! :lol
and duncan supported getting kidd when they had tp :p:

[JPB]

:lol

I don't know exactly what they use to signal the end of each half, but it sounds a lot more fun than what we do.

That was my thought too (and I should be getting used to it).

WTF were those signals ! foghorn ? A rutting deer's call ?

Terrible.