<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The 76ers put on a woeful shooting performance at the line as they lost to FC Barcelona, 104-99, in the "NBA Europe Live" preseason contest. With commissioner David Stern in attendance, the Sixers sank just 26-of-48 free throws (54 percent) en route to becoming the first NBA team to fall to a European squad in Europe since the American franchises started visiting the continent in 1987. By contrast, the hosts connected on 26-of-29 free throws (90 percent). Juan Carlos Navarro scored 18 points and Gianluca Basile added 17 for Barcelona, which lost to CSKA Moscow in the Euroleague Final Four last season. Samuel Dalembert collected 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Sixers, pulling them within 91-90 on a layup with just over two minutes remaining. But Jaka Lakovic countered with a layup and the hosts pulled away, opening a 100-91 advantage on a four-point play by Basile with just over a minute to go. Barcelona connected on 10-of-24 3-pointers, while the Sixers were just 3-of-8 from the arc. </div> Link
another example that shows that european basketball (spanish over all, we are worldchamps and has one of the best, if not the best european league.) is as good and competitive or even better, than nba... Years ago was almost unthinkeable to see a european team winning a nba team or National team to win the American "dream team", but now thats not like that anymore...
If you watch the highlights of the game, practically every shot that Spain made was completely uncontested. So many wide open 3s its not even funny. Doesnt look like the new defensive training camp has done anything.
<div class="quote_poster">bronbron23 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah but sixers are wack</div> Um, Isn't that baiting? But anyway..it's not like it was a season game, not a big deal really.
They only lost by five...its not like the got blown out. What happened to their free throw percent? I think they should definately work on free throws now. It can win or lose games for them.
<div class="quote_poster">bronbron23 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah but sixers are wack</div> What a dumb and useless comment. Anyways, there's no need to get worked up over a pre-season game. The only people who are actually trying their hardest are those who are trying to earn a spot on the team.
Maybe the Sixers will actually draw fans to the games in Europe? Who knows. I'm not a big fan of this "team bonding" stuff in Europe, when it's all said and done we'll be one of the worst teams in the league, bottom line.
It's just a preseason game, so it's nothing alarming. Like Iggy said, most of the guys on the roster probably weren't even trying their hardest. Guys like AI and Webber were probably just taking it slow to avoid injury. Mo was also probably experimenting with the lineup and plays and etc. If this were a meaningful game, I'm sure AI wouldn't have let this game slip away. Either way, although it is preseason, the free throw percent is a bit alarming. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting C.K.:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not a big fan of this "team bonding" stuff in Europe, when it's all said and done we'll be one of the worst teams in the league, bottom line.</div> They're probably there partying........
If anyone on of you guys missed the highlights or the game, here is a 2 minute video: http://broadband.nba.com/cc/playa.php?cont...nk&nbasite=nba#
I remember when the Raptors lost to one of the Euro teams last year (I believe it was the team Anthony Parker was on), it was the biggest deal ever and the Raptors were "disgracing" the NBA by losing to a non-NBA team and how much it proved that they "sucked" and had no future etc etc. Yet, when the Sixers lost, it's just pre-season, it doesn't mean anything? I agree that it doesn't mean anything and it is preseason but what irks me is the fact that when the Raptors lost last year, people were all over them saying that losing to a Euro team means the Raptors aren't good enough to make the NBA and stupidness like that. It's a pre-season game people, chill the hell out. You're not gonna see AI going for 60 with lineups full of people just trying to MAKE the roster.
how is this even surprising that a European team beat Sixers? Did Greece beating USA not happen or something? Of course the talent level in Europe has virtually caught up. this is not a shocker.
lol, this was like one big "in your face" to the NBA. Barcelona's roster has Roko Ukic and Fran Vasquez, two players that snubbed their teams for money in Europe. That said, NBA teams can't expect to come in against a Euro team and cruise there way to victory. Toronto learned that the hard way last season, when Anthony Parker torched them up. Barcelona's got a pretty quality squad and the Sixers... btw. C.K.'s making a case to become JBB's resident xenophobe, lol.
<div class="quote_poster">Answer_AI03 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If you watch the highlights of the game, practically every shot that Spain made was completely uncontested. So many wide open 3s its not even funny. Doesnt look like the new defensive training camp has done anything.</div> You should watch the highlights of todays game ... Clippers @ Moscow ... Going down by 20 ... even in a pre-season game ... that must hurt ! Let's quote Coach Dunleavy "Their team played extremely well, and they should be proud of the way they handled us. We know it was going to be a very tough game, and in no way did we take them lightly. For us, coming in with four days to get ready, we had a lot of respect for them. We knew what they could do. And unfortunately, we couldn't stop it. I think they have a lot of talent. They play really well together. I love how hard they play, how hard they cut. Based on today's performance, I think they'd win a lot of games [in the NBA]."
Don't worry about it. Just a preseason game guys. From what I saw Barcelona played that game as if it was Game 7 of the Finals. The Sixers on the other hand played, well they did take it more seriously than a preseason game, but it looked like they had a regular season game intensity. This was def. not the Sixers.
Yeah guys ... don't worry about it ... it's only pre-season ... but even then, we prefer to win by 20 ! )) By the way, you should see Barcelona playing their play-off series ... yesterday was nothing compared to that !
