FIBA World Championship 2006

[angel_luv]

Tonight's exhibition game against Puerto Rico, to be shown live on ESPN2 at 8,

Is this another time change?

[Kori Ellis]

Is this another time change?

No. They are Pacific time.

[angel_luv]

No. They are Pacific time.

Oh duh!

[Kori Ellis]

Actually Arizona is Mountain time, but doesn't do Daylight Savings time, so they are equal to Pacific time right now. But you get what I mean.

[angel_luv]

Actually Arizona is Mountain time, but doesn't do Daylight Savings time, so they are equal to Pacific time right now. But you get what I mean.

Well I did, but now I am lost hehehe

[Rick Von Braun]

First of all Nocioni plays SF in the NBA and is about a billion times more athletic than Scola.

True, I think Nocioni is much more athletic than Scola... having said that, Nocioni played as many if not more minutes as PF than SF in the last part of the season and during the playoffs. I can tell you haven't seen many Bulls' games.

Scola's game will not translate well to the NBA especially with the more athletic PFs the NBA can throw at him. Just look at what Peitrus did to him in the Spanish League Finals. I mean Malik Rose would own this guy in the paint. I understand that he's your boy and all but please stop saying that he is somehow better than Elson, Butler, and Bonner when he has never played in the NBA and probably never will.

Well, the jury is out there. I think Scola is already better than Elson and Bonner will ever be. Butler has more upside because he is young... but you never know.

I've watched Scola play a lot when I lived in Spain over the past 2 summers, and he's a nice player but I dont see him being a 5-7 million dollar a year player here. For about 2-3 million I would say give him a shot but nothing more than that.

I think your numbers are off... Someone suggested 12M/3years or about 4M/year, which is closer to 2M than 7M. Scola is already a poor man version of Elton Brand, and still has room for improvement. He has been continuosly and steadily improving his game in the last couple of years. Don't be naive about the FO version that he is not ready... that is all FO/agent negotiation talk.

[waly.mg]

Nocioni played a lot of minutes as PF

He was the Max Scorer and Max Rebounder of the Bulls in the PO
11º in the NBA in Points and 11º in Rebounds in the Playoffs

And Scola get in the Tau more Rebounds and More Points when both played in Spain

So if Nocioni can play so good in the NBA Scola Too

[spurschick]

Record Media registration for FIBA World Championship

GENEVA, Switzerland (FIBA World Championship) - A record number of over 1.900 media from more than 60 countries has been accredited for the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. This number does not include the Host Broadcast staff and the total number of accredited media is expected to reach 2.500 for the coverage of the most prestigious basketball le in the world.

This number represents a new record for FIBA compe ion and demonstrates the huge interest not only from media of the 24 participating countries, but also from countries and regions from all over the world.

“The growth of media interest reflects the increased attention in international basketball across the world,” said FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann.

The biggest media contingents outside Japan come from Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Nigeria, USA, Turkey, Serbia & Montenegro, Spain, and Venezuela.

[spurschick]

ITA - Losing skid ends as Italy upset France in Berlin

BERLIN (FIBA World Championship) - Italy snapped their five-game losing streak with a 79-65 victory over France on Friday at the Supercup in Germany as both sides resumed their preparations for the FIBA World Championship in Japan.

France led at half-time, but the Azzurri pulled away after the break when Gianluca Basile, who finished with 15 points, and Marco Belinelli (14) fuelled a 22-5 run for a decisive 57-44 lead.

The French never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.

"We did not play well in the last couple of games so this was an important win against a strong team," Basile said. "It will give us a lot of confidence."

The first half was evenly balanced. A three-pointer from Belinelli gave Italy a 16-12 lead before Tony Parker, who had eight points in the first 10 minutes, cut that to 16-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Joseph Gomis then hit a nice jumper off the dribble to make it 28-22 for Les Bleus but the Azzurri restored parity on a three-pointer from Andrea Pecile at 35-35.

France, beaten in their previous game by Greece in the Acropolis Tournament, took a 37-35 lead into the break following Boris Diaw´s nice low post move.

But Italy took over early in the third as Belinelli and Basile got hot from the arc and a three-ball from the latter capped the decisive 22-5 run.

A 7-0 burst from the French kept them close, but Basile´s long three-pointer saw Italy take a 60-51 at the end of the third period.

After France pulled to within seven at 62-55, Angelo Gigli beat the clock with a long three-pointer and Carlo Recalcati's team never looked back.

Parker led all French scorers with 14 points, while Florent Pietrus added 10.

Denis Marconato and Fabio De Bella each had 10 points for Italy, who will meet the winner of Germany's game against Turkey on Saturday.

France had defeated China, Senegal and Lithuania in the Strasbourg event and Italy and Croatia in Athens, but the loss to Greece and now to the Italians have set alarm bells ringing.

"At the moment I am more worried about us than other teams," French coach Claude Bergeaud said.

"But today we were very tired and could not focus on the game plan. We have to rebuild from zero."

Pietrus also expressed concern.

It scares me that we´re not in rhythm yet," he said. "We have to improve, otherwise we're not going very far. We need to improve as a team."

[spurschick]

SLO - Lebanese lose to Slovenians

MARIBOR (FIBA World Championship) - Slovenia routed Lebanon on Friday in a pre-FIBA World Championship friendly.

Beno Udrih had 17 points and Bostjan Nachbar and Uros Slokar scored 12 apiece as the Slovenians romped to a 114-53 triumph in Maribor.

Jaka Lakovic of Slovenia said: "It seems we will have to wait until the tournament in Singapore to know how much we are worth. It was evident we are a lot better then Lebanon.

"We are happy for the win. We are playing better then we were. I hope we will continue like this."

Team-mate Nachbar warned: "We are still making a lot of mistakes. In tougher games, we can not afford to lose as many balls as we did today."

Lebanon's players are not at their best and it is understandable why. The political conflict back home in the Middle East has disrupted their preparations as many of the players fear for the safety of relatives and friends.

[waly.mg]

i saw Scola playing this week vs Brazil

Scola was the Better player in the Tournament

The Tournament included players Like Manu, Nocioni, Barbosa and Varejao

Look at Barbosa, he signed a 5 years 32 millions contract, Manu 52 Millions, Nocioni is ggoing to sign a new contract next year, more than full MLE, probably not less than 30 millions and 5 years, Varejao probably 25-30 millions, or Full MLE

And everyone is saying That Scola´s not a 10 millions, 3 years player

Scola right now is a 15 millions - 3 years player

But Rc and Pop will never are going to offer a Full MLE to him, and in that way Scola never will play in the NBA

Scola is not a poor version of Elton Brand, his game is like Nowitzki without the threes

He have a very good shot from 15-18´, and a very good moves in the paint

[Rick Von Braun]

Scola is not a poor version of Elton Brand, his game is like Nowitzki without the threes

He have a very good shot from 15-18´, and a very good moves in the paint

I disagree here... Scola's game has very little in common with Nowitzki and much more in common with Brand.

Nowitzki is a finesse player, he plays from the perimeter, his game is away from the paint. He is very capable of dribbling the ball like a guard, and has a lot of range. Au contraire, Scola main strength is playing with his back to the basket and only recently he has added a 15' shot (18' is still a strech, he doesn't shoot so near the international 3pt line). Scola is a much tougher defender than Nowitzki will ever be --not saying much here--, and I think a better rebounder... the last point is IMHO and it is debatable.

Scola doesn't have the atheltic ability of Elton Brand, but he is faster than him in the open court and has more post moves than Brand in the paint. Scola is a worse rebounder and shot blocker than Brand, although he has steadlily improved his numbers, positioning and timing in the last 3 years. Like Brand he is undersized with long arms and stocky sturdy body... Nowitzki body type is completely different.

[Nikos]

I disagree here... Scola's game has very little in common with Nowitzki and much more in common with Brand.

Nowitzki is a finesse player, he plays from the perimeter, his game is away from the paint. He is very capable of dribbling the ball like a guard, and has a lot of range. Au contraire, Scola main strength is playing with his back to the basket and only recently he has added a 15' shot (18' is still a strech, he doesn't shoot so near the international 3pt line). Scola is a much tougher defender than Nowitzki will ever be --not saying much here--, and I think a better rebounder... the last point is IMHO and it is debatable.

Scola doesn't have the atheltic ability of Elton Brand, but he is faster than him in the open court and has more post moves than Brand in the paint. Scola is a worse rebounder and shot blocker than Brand, although he has steadlily improved his numbers, positioning and timing in the last 3 years. Like Brand he is undersized with long arms and stocky sturdy body... Nowitzki body type is completely different.

You must upset Scola is not coming? You make it sound like your almost certain he could be an excellent player in this league for the Spurs.

[Rick Von Braun]

You must upset Scola is not coming? You make it sound like your almost certain he could be an excellent player in this league for the Spurs.

I don't get easily upset by things like these... Whatever the owner/FO decide is fine with me, it is not my money.

I do believe he will be a good player if he ever joins the league. I'd rather have him for the money being paid to Elson+Bonner, but that is just my opinion.

[hendrix]

The match Argentina-Lithuania will be televised free open-air in a lot of cities of Argentina.
This have got to say something about the increasing interest on the NT.

[waly.mg]

LIKE WHEN IN THE FIRST SEASONS OF MANU we compared him with Kobe, T-Mac and others, it´s not justice

I can say that Scola is a very good player, who can play in good level in the NBA, and he can play better than others like Bonner, Elson, Butler, Songaila, Varejao and others

But he´s not a player like Brand or Nowitzki, but for the right money he can be excelent for the Spurs

So Many players Like Melo, IRK, Brand, Marion and other are better than Scola, but are too far more expensive, those players are over the 10 millions a year

So we can have a played with some things of this players, for the half of the money or less

With this team: TP-Manu-BB- Scola and TD, we can win a Championship for a 65 millions roster

If we have IRK, Brand or other Big names in the NBA, but probably we needs over than 5 millions more, and we must to pay Luxury Tax for the same money

So, we can have a better team with Scola without pay the luxury tax

[waly.mg]

Argentina - Lituania en Vivo Flash

http://competiciones.feb.es/netcasting/

[orhe]

is it going now? (arg-lithuania game)

[orhe]

tsk dmn slovenians beating the lebanese have some heart!!!

[Pero]

tsk dmn slovenians beating the lebanese have some heart!!!

We`re not the ones you should be telling to have some heart....
Besides, the difference in quality is too great, our third unit would still beat them.

[kolko]

End of game

Argentina 88 - Lithuania 87

Lithuania was leading most of the game but with 20 seconds left, Manu scored the game-winning layup!

[kolko]

Stats:

Ginobili 18 pts
Scola 16 pts 3 rebs
Nocioni 24 pts 8 rebs, 14-17 FT
Delfino 21 pts 5 rebs, 4-9 3pt


Macijauskas 19 pts
Javtokas 7 pts 5 rebs
Kleiza 13 pts
Songaila 10 pts 6 rebs

[waly.mg]

Nice game

The 23 millions Songaila Sucks

[kolko]

[Chicken Is Good]

Germany For the Win