So Beno is the best Slovenian point guard?
Nah, lakovič is by far better point guard with bečirovič coming second. Its just the fact that both lakovič and bečirovič are pure shooters, so they aren't effective as they can be when both on the floor at the same time and beno being pass first guard, he can control our offense.
Beno is the best point guard we have. He has the best feel for the game and his only problem is the physicality of the game in NBA. Beno is a guy who takes the responsibility only if everyone else is not doing their job. Most of all he is the only PG we have who can dish out more than 7 AssPerGame on a tournament.
Jaka Lakovic is the most responsible PG, he rarely lets his team down, so he is more important to his teams. Sani Becirovic is pure talent, who could make triple doubles in NBA-like game, but is sometimes reckless, hoping the game will come to him if he just attempts enough shots.
Basketball-wise Jaka (pronounce Yakha) and Sani are more Combo guards with all sorts of tasks on the floor. Beno is the best PG more or less just becouse he is the only pure one we have (perhaps Capin).
I really liked the Slovenian squad. I am excited about seeing them all play again.
I hope media zone has the same coverage they did last summer. That was too awesome.
Some news from the FIBA Website
Shaq could play for Team USA???
http://fiba.com/pages/en/events/bloc...=11350&r_cat=8
20/02/2006
USA - Shaq considers Team USA invitation
Standings
HOUSTON (NBA) - Don’t look now, but Shaq and Kobe could be team-mates again on the grandest basketball stage of all, the FIBA World Championship.
With Kobe Bryant having volunteered for national team duty in Japan, his former Los Angeles Lakers team-mate Shaquille O’Neal, now of the Miami Heat, is mulling over an invitation.
The two had a feud before O’Neal left the Lakers, but recently made a very public show of putting their differences aside.
Jerry Colangelo, the managing director of USA Basketball’s men’s senior national team program, was at the NBA All-Star weekend in Houston.
According to a report in the Arizona Republic, Colangelo has 28 commitments for 22 spots and he is waiting on a decision from the 7ft 1in O'Neal.
"Shaq saw me in the elevator and said, I'll call you in a week or two," Colangelo said.
I said, "Shaq, there's always a spot for you."
The report also said the only non-NBA players who have a chance of travelling to Japan are Duke's JJ Re , Gonzaga's Adam Morrison and Ohio State-bound high school star Greg Oden.
USA Basketball has not yet confirmed the precise date for the announcement of the team roster.
The draw for the FIBA World Championship was very kind to Team USA as they are in Group D along with Puerto Rico and Italy, who needed wild cards for the event, as well as China, Senegal and Slovenia.
The United States bowed out of the FIBA World Championship 2002 in Indianapolis at the quarter-final stage and two years later lost three times at the Olympics before settling for bronze.
Last year, a team which consisted largely of journey professionals from leagues overseas finished fourth at the FIBA Americas Championship to qualify for the FIBA World Championship.
http://fiba.com/pages/en/events/bloc...=11365&r_cat=8
21/02/2006
GER - Schultze eager to wear Germany jersey again
FORLI (FIBA World Championship) - The FIBA World Championship in Japan can't come soon enough for German international Sven Schultze.
A 2.08m power forward renowned for his work ethic at clubs like Bamberg, Alba Berlin and Bayer Giants Leverkusen in Germany, and now Armani Jeans Milano in Italy, Schultze is at the peak of his career.
He was a valuable reserve in the Germany side that captured silver at the EuroBasket last year in Belgrade and he is counting the days when he can represent his country again.
"I am really looking forward to going to Japan," Schultze said to PA Sport in Forli, Italy, where he played for Milano in the 2006 Coppa Italia at the weekend. "It will be my first World Championship and I am really excited. I didn't make it into the team in Indianapolis four years ago so for me, this compe ion will be even more special."
Germany won the bronze medal in Indiana in 2002. After a disappointing ninth place at EuroBasket 2003 in Sweden, good times returned for Germany in Belgrade last year. Schultze played in all of the games.
"We had a very successful tournament," he said. "We will have to wait (for Japan), but I will always remember it (Belgrade)."
As Germany discovered in Sweden, highs can be followed by lows. Expectations had soared for the country after Indianapolis but Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki was injured at the end of the NBA 2002-03 NBA campaign and did not arrive in Sweden fully fit.
As a result, the German team never found its rhythm, losing in the elimination round to an Italy side which was at the start of magical run to EuroBasket bronze, and then Olympic silver in 2004. Italy also beat Germany last year in Serbia & Montenegro in the opening game, but Schultze & Co were able to recover and did not lose again until the championship game against Greece.
By then, the Germans has already accomplished the first goal of qualifying for Japan. Many believe the draw for this year's tournament appears to be favourable for Germany. They are in a pool with Angola, Japan, New Zealand, Panama and Spain. Looks can be deceiving.
Angola failed to win a game at the Olympics in Greece, but they are the African champions and have a good mix of veterans and youth. New Zealand can beat any team in any compe ion if they hit form at the right time. They reached the semi-finals four years ago.
Germany beat Spain in the EuroBasket semi-final, but they did not have Pau Gasol and he will be in Japan. Panama are clearly a dangerous team as they showed by qualifying for the 24-team tournament at the FIBA Americas Championship.
"The World Championship is not an easy compe ion," he insisted. "We know we have to earn respect in every game. I think we have a highly compe ive group and we will try to show the same determination and unity that we showed last summer."
The FIBA World Championship will grant the 27-year-old the opportunity to leave behind what has been a disappointing campaign so far with Milano, whom he joined at the end of the 2004-05 season. Milano, who are now guided by Serbo-Montenegrin great Aleksandar Ddjordjevic, have struggled to show the same form that saw them finish runners-up in the Lega A play-off finals last season to Climamio For udo Bologna.
Despite the arrivals of Italian internationals Massimo Bulleri and Giacomo Galanda in the summer as well as former Argentina star Alejandro Montecchia earlier this year, Milano have failed to make much of an impact. They went into their final Euroleague game only needing a win to qualify for the Top 16 but lost and finished bottom of their group with just five triumphs and nine defeats.
At the weekend, they were eliminated from the Coppa Italia by would-be champions Carpisa Napoli in the quarter-final stages.
"It has been a strange season for us," said Schultze, now in his second season with Milano. "We almost progressed in the Euroleague but fortune wasn't on our side.
"Now we got kicked out of the Coppa Italia and we must focus all our energy on the Lega A."
Milano are seventh in the Lega A standings with 12 wins taken and eight defeats conceded.
"I think right now we are on right path with (coach) Sasha Djordjevic," Schultze said. "If we keep going like this, I think we have a good shot at going far and maybe to going to the final again."
Who knows? Maybe Schultze and Germany will be headed for another final later this year, too.
From Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA Sport, Forli Exclusively for FIBA
http://fiba.com/pages/en/events/bloc...=11375&r_cat=8
VEN - Busy schedule for Venezuela
CARACAS (FIBA World Championship) - Venezuela will play in several tournaments in Europe and South America to get ready for the FIBA World Championship in Japan.
The Venezuelans are in a very difficult Group A with Olympic champions Argentina, EuroBasket bronze medalists France and two-time defending world champions Serbia & Montenegro.
But they will like their chances of advancing from the initial stage with Lebanon and Nigeria also in the pool.
Carmelo Cortez, the president of the Venezuelan Basketball Federation (FVB), said of the team's tour: "Our intention is to get to that championship in the best possible form, as we want to be in the top 10 in Japan."
The players are to gather for the first time in Caracas on June 1 and 15 days later they will fly to Italy to play in two mini-tournaments against the Czech Republic, Lithuania, China, France and hosts Italy (June 20-22 and 25-27).
On July 10, the Venezuelans will return to Caracas to host the South American Championship and they will then take part in the Super Four tournament in Argentina (July 28-30) with New Zealand, Brazil and the host nation.
Venezuela will return to Europe to play in another four-team mini-tournament in Slovenia. The teams for that event have yet to be named.
Cortez added that Venezuela "expect to arrange friendlies with Spain and Greece before the South American Championship."
PA Sport
http://fiba.com/pages/en/events/bloc...=11374&r_cat=8
ARG - Prigioni shines in front of Argentina coach
MADRID (FIBA World Championship) - Tau Ceramica point guard Pablo Prigioni could not have picked a better time for an MVP performance in a basketball tournament.
Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez watched from the stands as Prigioni led Tau to Copa del Rey glory with the Vitoria side beating Pamesa 85-80 in the final. Now a starter after Jose Manuel Calderon's departure to the NBA's Toronto Raptors last summer, Prigioni had 15 assists in Sunday's game.
"Pablo's development is outstanding," said Hernandez. "I was very happy to see him play and without a doubt, he is fighting for a place at the World Championship. I remember when I used to coach in Liga Nacional side Regatas and he used to play for our neighbouring club, Belgrano.
"Pablo was a point guard who played as a shooting guard, he loved to score and liked to show off his value. Now he doesn't mind taking a shot in order to help the others play.
He doesn't get angry, he has great self-control and guides the team with a lot of intelligence."
Argentinian compatriot Luis Scola is already one of the top players in the world and is certain to travel to Japan. Hernandez marvelled at his performance.
"Scola is not only the captain but the absolute leader of this team," he said. "His winning at ude in the key moments of a game is contagious. "He is Tau's leader."
By PA Sport, Exclusively for FIBAARG - Argentina boss meeting foreign legion
BUENOS AIRES (FIBA World Championship 2006) - Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez has met with European-based players ahead of the FIBA World Championship to be played in Japan in August.
The coach has travelled to overseas to discuss his plans for the tournament with members of the Olympic gold medal-winning team.
"Up to now everything has gone as planned," said Hernandez to the Argentinian Basketball Confederation's (CABB) website, www.cabb.com.ar
So far Hernandez has spoken with Federico Kammerichs of Girona, Gran Canaria's Victor Baldo and Unicaja Malaga duo Juan Ignacio Sanchez and Walter Hermmann.
When asked about the results of these discussions, he said: "They are enthusiastic about being a part of this project.
"The players demonstrated to me that they want to play for the national team," he continued.
Hernandez is also set to hold talks with Hernan Jasen of Estudiantes and Tau Ceramica's Luis Scola and Pablo Prigioni.
The Argentina coach confirmed he will attend the Copa del Rey final in Madrid and said: "It will be good to watch players in a high-level compe ion."
From the final, Hernandez will move to Italy to will meet with Daniel Farabello, Gabriel Fernandez and Antonio Porta.
CABB vice-president German Vaccaro has revealed that Argentina's warm-up calendar ahead of the World Championship is almost finalised.
The preparation for World Championship will start immediately after the team returns from the South American Championship in Venezuela.
The team will compete in the Super Four tournament with New Zealand, Brazil and Venezuela, while another friendly in Buenos Aires is expected to be arranged.
Two friendlies in Spain follow, before the team moves to Singapore to take part in the Merlion Cup.
The squad plans to arrive in Japan on August 17, but it could be earlier if Argentina's management accept an invitation from the organisers to take part in a pre-tournament friendly.
However, Hernadez has insisted that his team do not compete in too many warm-up games prior to the tournament.
"We'll respect Hernandez's demand to not play more than eight or nine matches before the championship," said Vaccaro.
PA Sport
There is a smart coach..."We'll respect Hernandez's demand to not play more than eight or nine matches before the championship," said Vaccaro.
Don't know if Sani will ever come. The other two guys were just drafted last summer.More NBA Slovenians- yea!
When do these guys come over?
hey hey hey howzit going?
Tonight at the commonwealth games the New Zealand Tall blacks, without Sean Marks or any of its european based players beat Nigeria, who I understand are going to the world champs, 90 - 66. They'll face Australia on Friday for the Gold Medal, best of luck to them.
heres a link
Tall Blacks face Australia for gold
Mar 22, 2006
New Zealand have beaten Nigeria 90-66 in the men's basketball semifinal, meaning they will face Australia for the gold medal.
The Tall Blacks were not bothered by their African opponents as they remained unbeaten at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Guard Aaron Olson contributed a game-high 25 points, while skipper Pero Cameron had 18 and Troy McLean nine.
Bump. Can't wait for this, need vendetta, I'm bloodthirsty!
Bring on Germany! Nocioni and Wolkowisky will teach Dirk* a lesson!
*=And maybe Tony too
Hopefully it will get Manu into rhythm and give him some confidence for next season. I know this past summer was the first summer he took off and it totally took him out of rhythm and he ended up having a bad year with the injury situation and had no confidence.
bump.
i saw this on FIBA website:
Every week FIBA World Basketball spectators and fiba.com users can participate in the FIBA World Basketball Compe ion Draw to have a chance to win fantastic FIBA prizes and to be included in the Grand Draw which will offer an all expenses paid trip for two to the Final days of the FIBA World Championship in Japan.
The Grand Draw will take place few weeks before the tip off of the FIBA World Championship. All participant will be informed by email.
more here
Peja & Sasha have declined to play in the WC.
Serbia and Montenegro
Predrag Stojakovic (Pacers)
Slovenia
Sasha Vujacic (Lakers)
Am I missing someone (obviously Team USA, but all their players are from the NBA)? Who should be there for your country? Who shouldn't? Who are your favourites?
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