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yeah! Throw it down (verbally) big man! Now...take that emotion, bottle it, and bring it home with you!
Rasho took defense for nba players not being great at the euro tournament (i am sure tony will appreciate)
Nesterovic Ready To Fire Slovenia To Greatness
By Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA Sport
23 September 2005
Slovenia captain Rasho Nesterovic has launched a spirited defence of the NBA players competing at EuroBasket 2005.
The San Antonio Spurs center has played a significant role for his national side in Serbia & Montenegro, helping the Slovenians go unbeaten in Group C to reach the quarter-final round for the first time in history.
They will take on Germany and their NBA sensation Dirk Nowitzki, who has played to rave reviews in Serbia & Montenegro.
Nesterovic, Bostjan Nachbar and Primoz Brezec all play in the NBA and have enjoyed a fine compe ion.
But there are some leading players from the NBA who have come under fire, particularly those in the Serbia & Montenegro side eliminated from the EuroBasket.
Nesterovic says people should not rush to judgement.
“The people who make those criticisms have never played in the NBA,” Nesterovic said to PA Sport.
“They don’t know what it means. It's difficult for NBA players. Two days after the EuroBasket finishes, you go to the USA and start a tough season for seven or eight months.
"Once you get there, no one asks you what you did in the summer, whether you played for the national team or if you are tired. And then if something happens during the season, no one from the national team is going to ask you if you are okay, or if you need anything.
"They take you when they need you, and use you. This is the same here as it is in America, so I don't see why there is so much criticism for NBA players."
Nesterovic is confident Slovenia can continue to make waves at the EuroBasket, although Germany will be a big hurdle to clear.
“I always knew that we could do well,” he said.
"I have confidence in my team and my team-mates. From the first day, we were a little bit nervous but then we just started to play our game and everything came out really good.
"This tournament has proved that the best teams can lose against the so-called 'not-so-good teams'. In the knockout stages, anything can happen.
The coach just wants us to play our game and I think we are going to be in good shape.
"For us, our priority is to beat Germany and qualifying for the World Championship and after that, you never know.
"It's going to be a great game against Germany, they are a great team, very strong but so are we."
Should Slovenia make it to the big show next summer in Japan, Nesterovic says he desperately wants to be in the side.
"I definitely want to play in the World Championship," he said. "For me to play with the national team means a lot."
Nesterovic knows that Slovenia wil have to raise their game if they are to make a big impact here in Belgrade, and in Japan.
"There is always space for improvement," he said.
"The important thing is that we keep up our form."
yeah! Throw it down (verbally) big man! Now...take that emotion, bottle it, and bring it home with you!
I've said it all along. Rasho's my... I mean, the Man
Slovenian Fans Descend On Belgrade
By Yarone Arbel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23 September 2005
With a capacity of 20,000, the Belgrade Arena is one of the largest and most modern basketball facilities in Europe. Every one of those seats was sold out months before the opening tip as fans in Serbia & Montenegro expected their side to contend for EuroBasket gold.
Fast forward to just before the quarter-final stage of the compe ion and with the home side crashing out against France, suddenly a full Belgrade Arena seemed a distant prospect.
In fact, attendance was excellent on the first day of the quarter-finals as 18,000 turned up to watch Greece vs. Russia and France vs. Lithuania.
However, with Slovenia due to take to the court on Friday against Germany for their first ever EuroBasket quarter-final, a full Belgrade Arena looks a certainty.
Slovenian have been celebrating with their fans throughout the tournament
1,500 Slovenian fans already have tickets to the quarter-finals and an extra 5,000 are expected to make the trip to Belgrade on Friday.
In Group C of the preliminary round there was no doubt which team had the upper hand in the stands. Thousands of Slovenians filled almost every seat in the Pionir Arena, and pushed their team to a 3-0 record, enough to win first place in the group and book a direct ticket to the quarter-finals.
The supporters also made their presence felt in downtown Belgrade, and there were reports of bars running out of alcohol as the Slovenians celebrated deep into the night following each of their team's victories.
Cheap train tickets and the short distance between Ljubljana and Belgrade will enable more Slovenians to join the party in case their team reaches the semi-finals, although domestic travel agencies are having problems finding enough buses to transport all the fans
Of course not everybody can make it to Belgrade, but there are plenty of people in Slovenia who are enjoying their team's success.
"Big euphoria" are the words Jaka Lopatic, of the Slovenian site "SiOL Sportal" (Sportal.siol.net), chose to describe the atmosphere in his home country. "It's like when our football team was playing in Euro. All the people now have high expectations because the team is playing very good and we have many fans to support them,” he said.
"Right now everything is about basketball in Slovenia" added Lopatic. "If the level of interest before the games started was 6, now there's no doubt it's a clear 10".
The support of the fans and the atmosphere back home is a comforting presence among the Slovenian team. After each game in the preliminary round coach Pipan and the players never missed a chance to thank the fans, and ask them for even more support in the next games.
Slovenia is only 3 wins short from the gold medal, and according to Lopatic, the fans could provide the team with the extra boos they need to reach the podium.
"All the team is saying they hope they'll have the same or even more support than in Pionir. They believe that with them they can go all the way
Rasho is very passionate. He's just not as outwardly expressive as some of you would like.yeah! Throw it down (verbally) big man! Now...take that emotion, bottle it, and bring it home with you!
Slovenian fans are awesome!
Well technically speaking all Rasho has to do in 2 months is show up and practice waiving the towel and passing out gatorade...
J/K luv....only kidding
I'm feeling it today, Slo. How about you? = )
I don't think he has to scream and yell but I think his game could use some more of that passion. He is 7ft tall and 270lbs....the only person who should be able to block his way to the basket is Shaq....no one else should. He obviously has talent, I just think that talent could be enhanced with that passion.Rasho is very passionate. He's just not as outwardly expressive as some of you would like.
rasho is showing great leadership as a team captain. and give the truth as it is.
He was a solid center for spurs last year, maybee a summer of responsability added to consistent trade rumor will push him to the top.
If you combinmed the fact rasho will be hot from euro to the fact Nazr will be down physically for religious personal reason. Rasho should enjoy a good season start. the problem is : will he keep it up?
Will it be Oberto or Nazr ot both emerging to replace him?
As far as i am concerned . rasho is under contract and nazr will not be next year. i would have no problem keeping rasho and letting nazr walk!!!!
I think Rasho's game oversees may be different than his play on the Spurs because our offense requires him to defer to Timmy.
ha ha ha ha ha ha okay seriously this is going too far....but to each his own i suppose
I am so nervous, i cant wait that game starts
Me too Slo 8!
This is going to be a great and historic day!
exactly.
With Batman you just have to smile and nod. Sometimes the eyes roll in the process.
With Batman you just have to smile and nod. Sometimes the eyes roll in the process.
no you dont angel baby you know that the things that are going on in Euro basketball have no say in what happens in the NBA, its not near the same talent at all they have in the NBA....I'm not dogging on Rasho im just saying for all the international players, i mean they could be hot as overseas, but come time for the NBA season, they will be third stringers with no playing time. The only player shining like a mofo is Dirk and he's the star over here for the Mavs too, no other player is avereging like 30 points a game in the Euro Tourney right?
I am afraid, I won´t be able to handle the pressure
I must take one shot of viliamovka!
oohhh that sounds good what is it?I am afraid, I won´t be able to handle the pressure
I must take one shot of viliamovka!
Pear brandy (very tasty I must say!!!)
I am afraid, I won´t be able to handle the pressure
I must take one shot of viliamovka!
If it taste like Slovenian Brandy, there is no need to share with me. = )
Sounds good ill have a shot, and by the way im rooting for Slovenia, i really dont like Dirk
ANGEL???? How could you???
I'm sorry! I love Slovenia and was really excited to try your special brew. But that stuff is intense.
Even the seasoned drinkers ( I'm not one) said so.
Be back in a few! = )
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