<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>LAS VEGAS, Feb. 17, 2007 ? The NBA will return for its second year of NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS? this Fall when the Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors will conduct training camps and play exhibition games in six European cites in four countries, it was announced today by NBA Commissioner David Stern. The 2007 NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS? will mark a series of firsts in the NBA?s 19-year history of conducting games in Europe. The Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves will play in the first basketball game in the O2, London?s new state of the art NBA style arena. In addition, the NBA will conduct its first game played in Turkey. The event will also feature the first time two NBA teams have competed against one another in Rome. After the 2007 NBA Europe Live, NBA teams will have played 41 games in 15 cities throughout Europe over the past two decades. The inaugural NBA Europe Live drew more than 36 million viewers, 115,000 spectators, and 18 marketing partners in October 2006. ?Following the success of last year?s event, fans throughout Europe will have the opportunity to see four NBA teams embark on this special European tour,? said NBA Commissioner David Stern. ?This collaborative effort between the NBA, Euroleague Basketball and EA SPORTS? is committed to grow the sport of basketball across Europe and to embrace fans in each city through our NBA Cares community outreach.? ?Last year, we witnessed outstanding games proving that the game of basketball is growing in popularity and intensity. Euroleague Basketball is excited to be participating in the second edition of NBA Europe Live with teams such as Efes Pilsen Istanbul, Unicaja Malaga, Real Madrid and Lottomatica Roma,? said Euroleague Basketball CEO Jordi Bertomeu. ?We look forward to seeing some great games.? ?We share a passion with our partners at the NBA to bring the world?s best basketball to Europe,? said Jan Bolz, Vice President, International Sales and Marketing at EA. ?After the great success of last year?s event, we?re excited to continue to be ambassadors for NBA basketball and for the opportunity to showcase NBA LIVE on the largest of stages. NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS? creates an authentic platform for fans of all ages to enjoy real life and virtual basketball experiences across the continent.? As part of NBA Cares, the NBA and adidas will conduct a series of court refurbishment and community enhancement activities in the cities where its teams will visit. During the 2006 NBA Europe Live, the NBA and Euroleague teams hosted more than 15 community events, highlighted by four basketball court refurbishments with global partner adidas in Barcelona, Rome, Lyon and Cologne. ?The NBA?s popularity in Europe has never been higher and we look forward to building upon the success of last year?s event with new ways of reaching the NBA fans in Europe,? said Lawrence Norman, adidas Vice President and Head of Global Basketball. "We are delighted that the NBA has recognized the growing popularity of basketball, especially in markets like Turkey," said Scott McCune, Vice President, Worldwide Sports, Entertainment and Licensing, The Coca-Cola Company, a partner of NBA Europe Live for the second year. Following is the schedule for the 2007 NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS: Training CampTeam Date City Boston Celtics Oct. 1-5 Rome Memphis Grizzlies Oct. 5-8 Malaga Minnesota Timberwolves Oct. 1-5 Instanbul Toronto Raptors Oct. 1-5 Treviso Games Teams Date City Arena Boston Celtics vs. Toronto Raptors Oct. 6 Rome PalaLottomatica Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Efes Pilsen Istanbul Oct. 6 Istanbul Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall Toronto Raptors vs. Lottomatica Roma Oct. 7 Rome PalaLottomatica Memphis Grizzlies vs. Unicaja Oct. 9 Malaga Palacio de Deportes Jose Manuel Martin Carpena Boston Celtics vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Oct. 10 London The O2 Toronto Raptors vs. Real Madrid Oct. 11 Madrid Palacio de Deportes de la Communidad Memphis Grizzlies vs. MMT Estudiantes OR Alta Gestion Fuenlabrad Oct. 11 Madrid Palacio de Deportes de la Communidad EA SPORTS, adidas, Champion, The Coca-Cola Company and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will return as pan-European marketing partners for the 2007 event. They will conduct a variety of NBA-themed promotional activities to reach NBA fans across Europe. The 2007 NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS? will mark a special homecoming for some of the players involved including Toronto Raptors rookie Andrea Bargnani, a native of Italy. Toronto?s Jose Calderon and Jorge Garbajosa, both natives of Spain, will play in Madrid for the first time wearing a Raptors uniform. Spain?s most celebrated basketball player Pau Gasol will make his second appearance in the country with the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis last played in Barcelona in 2003. In addition, Toronto?s Vice President and Assistant General Manager, Maurizio Gheradini will be returning home to Italy where he served as Benetton Treviso?s Executive Director and General Manager for 14 years. An NBA licensee since 1991, EA expanded its relationship with the league to become an official global marketing partner of the NBA to develop interactive basketball programs around the world, including NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS?. The award-winning NBA LIVE video game franchise, recognized worldwide for delivering the most authentic interactive basketball experience for more than a decade, will be featured in promotion of the events throughout Europe and the U.S. The newest iteration in the series, NBA LIVE 07, is currently available in more than 100 countries on six continents. EA Sports will partner with the NBA and Euroleague Basketball to conduct a series of promotional activities leading up to the start of the event.</div>http://www.nba.com/news/europelive_070217.htmlThis should help expand the game to a more worldwide level :rock:
Cool...I want to see the Raptors play European teams. They should get some media too. Should be interesting.
I think the choice of teams going were good but I'd also like to see teams like the Suns/Mavs (up tempto exicting teams)I think with the teams chosen like Toronto/Boston/Minnesota will show other countries casual fans of basketball that it is an exciting sport with the team's youthsI think guys like Gerald Green/Rajon Rondo/Chris Bosh/Rudy Gay/KG/Ricky Davis/TJ Ford will make people in Europe love the excitement of the game
Yeah im liking this. nbaTv does alotve specials on the Europe Live Tour teams...but I heard that its veyr tiring....so I hope the griz will be okay with at the start of the season.
This is a good idea. But Memphis, Boston, and Minnesota? Are they trying to pick the worst teams or what? Hopefully those three teams will have Oden, Durant, and Wright but still, I'm not sure how many people in Europe care about those teams. Maybe David Stern thought Garnett and Gasol would be a good choice for the fans to see. But it's kind of strange he would send those teams over. Hmmm, kind of weird, but the international thing is a good idea.
Minny and Torotno arent bad teams...and Memphis will probbaly be pretty good next season, so there solid picks. Boston is exciting..I guess...
^^ Are you dumb?It's because they're young, youthful teams who can make games excitingAnd I think it's rigth he makes it up to the fans for having such sh*tty seasons..maybe this will give some fans who were waiting for a Europe expansion excited...it's not exactly exciting me but it would be unfair to send teams that are already getting the privelidge of making the playoffs and having a chance at a championship..at least give thse teams something for what sh*tty seasons they've been having in pity (Raptors are playing well but in the past they've been in awful situations)@ Pacers Fan
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Feb 17 2007, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>^^ Are you dumb?It's because they're young, youthful teams who can make games excitingAnd I think it's rigth he makes it up to the fans for having such sh*tty seasons..maybe this will give some fans who were waiting for a Europe expansion excited...it's not exactly exciting me but it would be unfair to send teams that are already getting the privelidge of making the playoffs and having a chance at a championship..at least give thse teams something for what sh*tty seasons they've been having in pity (Raptors are playing well but in the past they've been in awful situations)@ Pacers Fan</div>hmmm...I see. Good points there. I didn't really think of it that way. But if I were in Europe I'd much rather see a team that has a chance at a title. I'd rather see Dallas or San Antonio or Washington or Miami. Just my personal opinion.
So do I but I mean they're European teams..they at least want a good gamelets face itit isn't fun or exciting to watch Phoenix or Dallas blowout a no name European team
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Feb 17 2007, 04:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So do I but I mean they're European teams..they at least want a good gamelets face itit isn't fun or exciting to watch Phoenix or Dallas blowout a no name European team</div>Yeah, I see. I agree with you now.
I have one rule. You keep the game HERE. David Stern is blurring that line and I fear it will eventually lead to regular season games being played in Europe, I think it's completely wrong. Training camps and exhibition games? In my opinion thats fine, but moving regular season games is wrong. Period.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Memphis Fan @ Feb 17 2007, 04:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>wait, is that what this is? I hope not....</div>no. this is part of the preseason. there has been talk about the possibility of a franchise in Europe but it's highly unlikely, and even if it does happen, it will most likely be 6-7 years from now at least.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Feb 17 2007, 05:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>no. this is part of the preseason. there has been talk about the possibility of a franchise in Europe but it's highly unlikely, and even if it does happen, it will most likely be 6-7 years from now at least.</div> Like I've said 1,000 times, an NBA franchise in Europe would not work. It would be unfair for a team over there. The extra travel, FA's not wanting to move family overseas...etc...It's not logical to me at all.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BrewCityBuck @ Feb 17 2007, 05:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Like I've said 1,000 times, an NBA franchise in Europe would not work. It would be unfair for a team over there. The extra travel, FA's not wanting to move family overseas...etc...It's not logical to me at all.</div>I'm not arguing with you. I agree. I think the preseason is fine but not the regular season. And I agree that a franchise in Europe would not work. I'm simply stating that IF it did happen it would be at least 6-7 years from now.
a team formed in europe for the league would just be horrible. I agree with BCB, I mean home games in germany, next night in dallas?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (12HRockets @ Feb 17 2007, 05:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>a team formed in europe for the league would just be horrible. I agree with BCB, I mean home games in germany, next night in dallas?</div>IF there was a franchise in Europe there would be no way they'd play back-to-back games in Europe and then in the United States. That's not a possibility so it wouldn't be a problem.
I know it wouldn't be great games if PHX/SA/Dallas played over there. But c'mon...Having TD and Tony P over there, Dirk, and Nash/Amare/Barbosa/Diaw wouldn't draw some crowds...regardless of how bad these teams blew out Euro teams?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Feb 17 2007, 05:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>hmmm...I see. Good points there. I didn't really think of it that way. But if I were in Europe I'd much rather see a team that has a chance at a title. I'd rather see Dallas or San Antonio or Washington or Miami. Just my personal opinion.</div>I agree with you. Not alot of foreign people are going to know names of some of the players that they see, and IMO, they are going to want to watch the foreign players, and big named NBA players. There would be alot more money made if the NBA brought over the best of the best. Teams like Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, and maybe Memphis because they have Pau Gasol. Just my personal opinion...
