Re: Greece's "Baby Shaq" eager to face US NBA stars <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>SAITAMA, Japan (AFP) - Greek center Sofoklis Schortsanitis, better known as "Baby Shaq", sees a great opportunity in his team's semi-final showdown Friday with the United States at the World Basketball Championship. ADVERTISEMENT Schortsanitis, a 2.08m center, has the same sort of wide body and inside power near the hoop that helped make Shaquille O'Neal a National Basketball Association superstar.This mighty Greek colossus was effective on defense against NBA giant Yao Ming in a playoff win over China. Now the 21-year-old Euroleague standout with Olympiakos will see how he performs against a team of NBA stars."It will mean a lot to me. It will be a great test," Schortsanitis said. "I already had one against Yao Ming. He was really great."Schortsanitis dropped 35 pounds to improve the speed needed to make effective use of his bulk.That has allowed him to contribute more when coming off the bench as part of Greece's team approach, a Charles Barkley-esque body banger who can muscle his way over, around or through most opponents but has stamina issues."This team is like a puzzle. If you take a piece out, it's all going to collapse," Greece star Theodoros Papaloukas said. "With all the years we've had together, it all comes down to the experience."Strongman Schortsanitis was a second-round selection of the NBA Los Angeles Clippers in the 2003 NBA Draft at age 18 and knows NBA scouts are watching here to see if he has developed into a player ready for the game's richest stage."We have played great. We were determined to reach our goal of getting to the final four," he said. "We must keep doing the good work in the semi-final.""Baby Shaq" averaged 10.7 points and 4.9 rebounds a game in the European league season, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting, and during Greece's 7-0 run at the worlds has averaged 7.8 points in nine minutes a game.European champion Greece can avenge a loss to the US team in the 2004 Athens Olympic bronze medal game and ensure their first medal in global competition."We will do our best to bring home a medal for the people of Greece. A medal here would be great," Schortsanitis said."But we have a semi-final against one of the best teams in the world. The US team is not like the other teams that are in this tournament."So how does "Baby Shaq" expect Greece to conquer the American juggernaut."We just need to bring down the light," he said.Expect that to mean bringing down a few US players and slamming down a few dunks as well</div>http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060831/sp_afp/basketworldgre
Re: Greece's "Baby Shaq" eager to face US NBA stars Let's hope he doesn't turn into Robert Traylor. He's young and talented and needs to keep getting better, and not rely on his size.
Re: Greece's "Baby Shaq" eager to face US NBA stars MOTHERF*UCKER HOW THE F*UCK IS THIS F*UCKING FATA$$ TOTALLY OUTRUNNING AND OUTPLAYING THE WORLD'S BEST ATHLETES!!!!!Ugh. We blew a 12 point lead. Bron needs to be in for rest of game and him and Wade need to go to the hole all day. They have been getting the looks, but trying to pass around too much (see: Hinrich up and down).
Re: Greece's "Baby Shaq" eager to face US NBA stars <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Sep 1 2006, 03:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>MOTHERF*UCKER HOW THE F*UCK IS THIS F*UCKING FATA$$ TOTALLY OUTRUNNING AND OUTPLAYING THE WORLD'S BEST ATHLETES!!!!!Ugh. We blew a 12 point lead. Bron needs to be in for rest of game and him and Wade need to go to the hole all day. They have been getting the looks, but trying to pass around too much (see: Hinrich up and down).</div>My thoughts exactly.
Re: Greece's "Baby Shaq" eager to face US NBA stars 3:42 4th yes ive been watching and his performance was wacked!Come on guys lets get some stops here!!usa 81-greece 89Now down five..........almost two miutes left...come on a win and some wicked confidence if we play right.
Re: Greece's "Baby Shaq" eager to face US NBA stars not to flood but after 'up and down' Hinrichs three, four point game 36.7 left.....greece two free throws...made....lebron in close.....5 second for greecemelo misses three, foul on Chris Paul....two more free throws for the future houston rocket....madelebron again....15.3 left usa 93-greece 99This is just sad, but you gotta admit the foreign players are catching up.even though we finished sixth in indy for years ago, I expected more. Now we gotta qualify......pathetic..Although now we know that the rest of the world is catching up, no excuses now..
Re: Greece's "Baby Shaq" eager to face US NBA stars I know we lost the game, and that sucks and that is pathetic, but what was "Baby Shaq's" stat line anyway? I didn't get a chance to see the game.
Re: Greece's "Baby Shaq" eager to face US NBA stars <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Let's hope he doesn't turn into Robert Traylor.</div> My sentiments exactly watching him today. I wonder why Clippers haven't brought him over yet. He looks like he can contribute to a NBA team despite his weight.
Re: Greece's "Baby Shaq" eager to face US NBA stars <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Sep 1 2006, 03:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>My sentiments exactly watching him today. I wonder why Clippers haven't brought him over yet. He looks like he can contribute to a NBA team despite his weight.</div>he's chosin to play overseas cuz hes getting payed more over there than the Clippers would be payin him here
Re: Greece's "Baby Shaq" eager to face US NBA stars He looked great today, He is a tank! For a big guy he runs the floor very well and he hustles. Maybe this will give the Clippers more incentive to give him more money. He dropped 6 straight points on the US at the end of the 2nd quarter which gave Greece the lead and the momentum.He stopped the US big men also, I seen Dwight Howard get pushed around quite a bit down there, I heard that 'Baby Shaq' was the last person selected for the Greece team. On the negative side he only had 1 rebound, Somebody that big should not be getting 1 rebound.Good game by the big fella.
Re: Greece's "Baby Shaq" eager to face US NBA stars He looks like he is more NBA ready than Glen "Big Baby" Davis imo. Looks like he would have more of an impact than Davis. I think he could easily come over and play good minutes off the bench.
