FIBA World Championship 2006

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Hot damn... ask and you shall receive...

NBA TV schedule

funny how that doesn't work down here. Over here its more like "ask and you... just don't ask"

[spurschick]

FRA - France ready for tougher compe ion in Greece

ATHENS (FIBA World Championship) - France coach Claude Bergeaud is expecting a step up in class when his side face Italy, Croatia and Greece in the Acropolis Tournament - their second preparation event for the FIBA World Championship in Japan.

Les Bleus, now down to 14 players after the axing of Vincent Masingue, Michel Morandais and Stephen Brun a week ago, outclassed Senegal, Lithuania and China in Strasbourg two weekends ago. But Bergeaud insists his men will face a tougher challenge as from Monday night.

“Those three teams [Italy, Croatia and Greece] are going to be far more difficult and solid,” Bergeaud said. “We are about to clash with players who are used to playing in hard matches and who never panic even if they are led towards at end of their games.

“Unfortunately, we did not have that in Strasbourg, that`s why we are waiting for those matches with great impatience in order to work on our ability to close in on tight games.”

France will also face Greece, who defeated them in the semi-final of last year’s EuroBasket before winning the le. The Greeks had prevented Les Bleus from reaching the final in the final seconds of the clash.

“If we replay Greece and we are seven points ahead one minute to the end, I promise that we will not lose the game this time, because everyone in the team still remembers what happened last September,” added Bergeaud.

The French boss is expected to unveil his final 12-man World Championship squad on August 2 where he will have to chose between centres Ronny Turiaf and Yohan Petro and between shooting guards, Yannick Bokolo and Joseph Gomis.

France will then travel to Berlin to face Italy again as well as Germany or Turkey on August 4-5 before playing a final friendly tournament in China from August 12 to 15.

Les Bleus, who will have played a total of 12 warm-up games before the start of the FIBA World Championship on August 19, have been drawn in Group A along with Argentina, Lebanon, Nigeria, Serbia & Montenegro and Venezuela.

They will kick-start the compe ion on the opening day with a clash against Olympic champions Argentina.

[kolko]

End of game: Argentina 103 - Brazil 97

Scola 14 pts 11 rbds
Delfino 16 pts

Nocioni 16 pts

[kolko]

Manu 19 pts in 18 minutes (5-11 FT )

[spurschick]

Manu 19 pts in 18 minutes (5-11 FT )

It's the Spurs Curse

[kolko]

[spurschick]

FRA - Parker power as France defeat Italy in Athens

ATHENS (World Championship) - Tony Parker poured in 23 points as France beat Italy 66-59 on the opening night of the Acropolis Tournament.

Fresh off their triumphs in Strasbourg over Senegal, China and Lithuania, the French kept the winning momentum after establishing a 22-16 lead. They extended that to 36-25 at half-time and kept their noses in front.

Italy tried to claw their way back and after baskets late in the fourth quarter by Angelo Gigli, they trailed 61-55 but France were able to hold on.

Gigli, who recently signed for Benetton Treviso, had 11 points and six rebounds to lead Italy.

[ATX Spur]

when did raja bell play for brasil?

[kolko]

It's Leandrinho Barbosa.

[ATX Spur]

I know, I always used to confuse the two on the suns. Joke at myself.

[spurschick]

I didn't even notice the other guy in that picture.

[picnroll]

Stats

Argentina
Ginobili 19pts 3asts 4boards
Scola 14pts 10boards 2asts
Nocioni 16pts 6boards
Delfino 18pts 5boards 2steals 2asts
Oberto 10pts 6boards
Pepe Sanchez 5pts 5asts 5boards 2blocks

Brazil
Barbosa 12pts 3boards
Marcelinho Machado 13pts 4asts 3rebs
A.Varejão 15pts 13boards
Tiago Splitter 17pts 7boards 1steals
Alex Garcia 16pts 3boards 1steal
Guilherme Giovanonni 13pts 5boards

[spurschick]

ARG - Hernandez axes Quinteros, Jasen and Gutiérrez from squad

BUENOS AIRES (FIBA World Championship) - Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez has wielded the axe for the last time ahead of the FIBA World Championship with Hernan Jasen, Paolo Quinteros and Juan Gutiérrez told they will not play in Japan.

Leonardo Gutiérrez, who like the aforementioned trio played for Argentina's bronze-medal winning side in this summer's South American Championship, has been named in Hernandez's final 12.

Pablo Prigioni of Tau Ceramica and Daniel Farabello of Varese - he is coached by former Argentina boss Ruben Magnano - are the only two players who did not take part in the Athens Olympics.

"It´s a difficult decision but especially a painful one," said Hernandez on the Argentina federation's official website. "I based my choice on those players that have more experience in the national teams and at top levels like a World Championship.

"I opted for those who know their roles within the team and who have assumed it, moreover, those who have proved to have the character in the crucial times that the team has experienced in the past."

The decision will be difficult to accept for the trio of players to be cut, and particularly Quinteros whom Hernandez had described as "a born shooter, not common in Argentinian basketball".

[1Parker1]

Damn, I thought the games were also being broadcasted on ESPN2??? I don't have NBATV

[1Parker1]

Paris (ANTARA News) - France coach Claude Bergeaud has warned his players to avoid relying on NBA All-Star Tony Parker if the side wants to enjoy a successful run at this month`s world championship in Japan.

His comments came after the San Antonio Spurs guard scored 23 points to lead France to a 66-59 win over Italy in a Berlin tournament contest on Monday.

"Tony is so strong, so dominant that the guys watch him play," Bergeaud told French sports daily L`Equipe on Tuesday.

"We need a good rout to realise we have to play all together."

Frederic Weis proved efficient support for Parker under the basket with eight points and eight rebounds, but Seattle`s Johan Petro and Cyril Julian could only manage four points and seven rebounds between them, Reuters reported.(*)

[spurschick]

Damn, I thought the games were also being broadcasted on ESPN2??? I don't have NBATV

They are

Preliminary Round Team USA TV Schedule on ESPN2

Saturday, August 19
12:00 am EST
USA vs. Puerto Rico

Sunday, August 20
5:30 am EST
USA vs. China

Tuesday, August 22
5:30 am EST
USA vs. Slovenia

Wednesday, August 23
5:30 am EST
USA vs. Italy

Thursday, August 24
5:30 am EST
USA vs. Senegal

[1Parker1]

Oh good...thanks for the info Spurschick!

[mabber]

Nowitzki names Team USA as World Championship favorite

July 31, 2006
NUREMBERG, Germany (Ticker) - German superstar Dirk Nowitzki has labeled the United States as "the team to beat" in next month's World Basketball Championships in Japan.

The versatile 7-foot forward of the Dallas Mavericks feels the depth of the Americans is their best asset and backs them to cope with the absence of superstar Kobe Bryant from their squad.

"The Americans are the favorites," Nowitzki said following Germany's 95-75 win over Canada in an exhibition game Sunday. "They are really stacked. The only guy they don't have is Kobe. But they still have Dwyane Wade and LeBron (James) and plenty of other guys.

"After them, everything is open. Spain and Pau Gasol will be really strong. But the field is very open and everybody can beat everybody. But I think the Americans are the team to beat."

Nowitzki praised Team USA's coaches for bringing in role players such as Shane Battier and Bruce Bowen to go with their superstars.

"They've found a really good mix," he said.

However, he believes Bryant, who is sidelined with a knee injury, will be a big loss.

"It would have been a great show for basketball if Kobe could have come along," he said. "But they (Americans) still have a lot of great and talented players for the world to watch."

Germany will face Spain, New Zealand, Angola, Panama and hosts Japan in Group B in Hiroshima.

Team USA will take on Italy, Slovenia, Senegal, China and Puerto Rico in Group D. The tournament begins August 19.

[1Parker1]

Never realized what a big Kobe Bryant fan Dirk was....

[mabber]

Never realized what a big Kobe Bryant fan Dirk was....

I'm guessing that when a player lights your team up for 60+ points in 3 quarters, you're going to think that player is pretty good

[1Parker1]

I'm guessing that when a player lights your team up for 60+ points in 3 quarters, you're going to think that player is pretty good

Damn, I forgot about that...

[Mr. Body]

Italy tried to claw their way back and after baskets late in the fourth quarter by Angelo Gigli, they trailed 61-55 but France were able to hold on.

This guy was earmarked for the Spurs in some mock drafts last year, but didn't even get drafted in the second round and was very disappointed. There were hopes he'd pick up SF skills but apparently hasn't yet. He may make it in the NBA at some point if he bulks up.

Here's draftexpress's profile.

[waly.mg]

Stats

Argentina
Ginobili 19pts 3asts 4boards
Scola 14pts 10boards 2asts
Nocioni 16pts 6boards
Delfino 18pts 5boards 2steals 2asts
Oberto 10pts 6boards
Pepe Sanchez 5pts 5asts 5boards 2blocks

Brazil
Barbosa 12pts 3boards
Marcelinho Machado 13pts 4asts 3rebs
A.Varejão 15pts 13boards
Tiago Splitter 17pts 7boards 1steals
Alex Garcia 16pts 3boards 1steal
Guilherme Giovanonni 13pts 5boards

Scola 14 Points - 10 Boards vs Varejao and Splitter

[waly.mg]

It's Leandrinho Barbosa.

The Suns Draft Steal vs Spurs

[picnroll]

Scola was named MVP of the tournament.

If Scola can have a really good game against the USA and Brand and Howard maybe the Spurs can get a sweet draft pick for his rights. Package his rights and their '07 pick to move up in the strong '07 draft.