I recorded this on NBATV live. Did some of you not catch it? Sent from HCPs Baller-Ass iPhone 5...FAMS!
why play an elite pass first pg if youre going to spot him up in the corner every possession. Same thing that happened to him at ACB.
At Barcelona, yes, but not at Juventut. And they could've given him Sergio's role, but I guess they liked Sergio better.
Game on! It's Kleiza vs. Batum for best player right now - but France are up 9. Nic DEFINITELY making up for last game.
Nic doing everything! Steals, blocks, three pointers... France up 12. Jorge Sierra @hoopshype 1 minute ago Nicolas Batum has taken over. Emiliano Carchia @SportandoBasket about 5 minutes ago Showtime Nicolas Batum!!
Lithuania turns it over with .9 seconds to the half and France hits a three. 50-34 at the half, after it being neck and neck at least into the second quarter. Batum played every minute (20), is 6/7 for 17 points, +16 (duh) 2 steals, 1 block, 1 assist, 3 rbs. Meanwhile Tony Parker has 4 points.
Meanwhile, Claver had a solid game in the bronze medal game. [video=youtube;Zv2CHeSF7a0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zv2CHeSF7a0&feature=c4-overview&list=UUhsN13M_uLLQQ8lFewoXxzA[/video]
France win! First Eurobasket title in French history. Nic didn't score another point after half time, but the lead didn't drop below about 13, so it's not like he needed to.
Kinda surprised France actually won. They're clearly the best team in the tournament on paper, but have underachieved every year. Nic's 2nd Q was huge.
I don't think they ARE the best team on paper. They're not that deep at all. They had the best player in Parker (just named MVP), but Gasol wasn't far behind, and Spain was way deep. It's a shame that France v. Spain couldn't've featured Pau Gasol, Navarro and Joakim Noah, Ronny Turiaf and Kevin Seraphim.
Emiliano Carchia @SportandoBasket about 7 minutes ago All-Tournament Team: Goran Dragic Tony Parker Bojan Bogdanovic Linas Kleiza Marc Gasol I think the Nets have the rights to Bogdanovic (who was no doubt named because they had to put someone from Croatia on the team, since they made the final 4). I think Rudy probably deserved to be there, too.
Players not in the NBA who impressed me (not counting Rudy and Sergio): Zoran "Not Goran" Dragic Alexis Ajinca Petteri Luigi Datome (will play for the Pistons this year) The point guard for Germany (if Schroeder is their Rondo, this guy is their Nash) Yiannis Borousis (the Spurs had his rights and probably still do)
I am not a fan of our international players playing every year for their national team, but...... I think that there's an argument that Batum and Claver did receive some valuable experience playing in some big games. (Big games for them and their country) No it was not NBA playoff experience, but none-the-less it was better than just playing in pickup games in LA or Atlanta all summer. It has to help at least a little. Claver will not have to worry about dead legs during the season because he will not log enough minutes. So for him I think it was very helpful. I wonder what the strategy will be for Nic over the next few weeks. He needs to practice, but I would be reluctant to make him run any sprints.
I work with a guy from Lithuania who moved to the US shortly after the Soviet Union fell apart. He was 19 and left his parents and everyone behind. I've learned a lot out Lithuania from him, and how the people there never considered themselves a "Russian" or "Soviet" even under communistic rule. The most amazing thing to me about that country is that it has only 3.5 million people total, yet can compete on a world stage with countries that have millions of more people to choose from for their teams. It would be like the Seattle metro area putting together a team of players who can compete on a world stage. I pull for Lithuania every time I see them playing ... their recent population knows what it's like to live under a regime that crushes your culture, and cuts off the power when people rebel, yet the spirit my friend has and his love of the USA, along with Lithuania, is quite remarkable.
