Feature: International players bring soccer’s creativity, flair to Spurs and the NBA

[MarkTravis]

Hey guys,

I just wrote a piece that will be appearing in the Christmas Day edition of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times that I think you guys would enjoy.

The premise of my story was to ask players around the league about how soccer influences the way the Spurs play collectively and individually.

I got some really good stuff on Manu Ginobili and the Spurs offense in general (Marc Gasol compared the way San Antonio plays to tiki-taka).

Please take a look and let me know what you think. http://www.caller.com/sports/professional/nba/international-players-bring-soccers-creativity-flair-to-spurs-and-the-nba-2747bc3c-f055-05ce-e053-01-363502321.html

[rexrobinson]

Link is not working but I found a working one: http://www.caller.com/sports/profess...363502321.html

Going to go read it now, I am sure it is great.

[rexrobinson]

Really good piece, I enjoyed it and agree. I think what surprises me the most about the Euro players is how well most of them can shoot relative to their American peers, even some of the big men.

[MarkTravis]

Link is not working but I found a working one:

http://www.caller.com/sports/profess...363502321.html

Going to go read it now, I am sure it is great.

Thanks for pointing out the link was dead. I fixed it.

[MarkTravis]

Really good piece, I enjoyed it and agree. I think what surprises me the most about the Euro players is how well most of them can shoot relative to their American peers, even some of the big men.

Thanks for your feedback on the piece. There is definitely a bigger emphasis on skill development, and especially shooting, in Europe relative to the American system, which often puts biggest kids in the post and asks all good athletes to succeed off of their physical tools.