Comments on: Eurobasket preview

By: Rainmaker

Rainmaker — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:34:57 +0000

After a slow start, Spain is finally clicking. They completed a spectacular trashing of the previously unbeaten France guided by a huge Pau Gasol and based in a fierce press defense. Ricky Rubio harassed Tony Parker all night and Navarro and Rudy F. were asesome from long distance.

But Pau had one of those nights were you can see how good he is. He used his vast array of movements to humilliate the willing France defenders (Rony Turiaf to begin with, by the way), and looked like there was no way to stop him.

This reminds me of when Tim Duncan, who often guarded Pau very well in the NBA, had to deal with him with FIBA rules: he was out with two fouls in just one minute, and barely played due to two more fouls Pau drew on him. I mean, Pau is hard to guard in the NBA, but with international rules he’s probably unstoppable, unless you throw two or three defenders at him all the time, something really costly in international basketball due to the three point line being closer.

Let’s see who gets to play Spain in the semifinals (it’s going to be Greece or Turkey) and what they do to try to stop Gasol…

By: Mario

Mario — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:34:46 +0000

Not to be a smartass, but the name of the country is not Macedonia. It is FYROM.
Other than that, very nice article. Good analysis. I have a feeling that Turkey will be very competitive this year though.

Along with Serbia, they could join Spain and Greece/Slovenia at the semi-finals.

By: Maes

Maes — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:11:10 +0000

I have to agree with Aaron on this one, individually Wade and Lebron are better than Kobe, not better than he was in his prime, but better than him now, but Kobe has learnt to play with his team, and it has got him his fourth title, and that’s all that really matters isn’t it?

By: inwit

inwit — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:40:48 +0000

Kobe can’t carry the team’s load day in day out like the younger Lebron ot Wade can, but as far as being on top of everything the team is doing like an assistant coach, (as well as putting up huge numbers), and setting the example for hard work on both ends of the court, and doing what the team needs him to do to win, he is far beyond Lebron or Wade.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:20:23 +0000

Hollinger doesn’t just rely on stats guys. And he does think the Lakers are the best team in the NBA. The question he was responding to was about the west.

And at one time for about 7 years straight Kobe was the best player in the NBA. But right now Lebron is the best player in the NBA and Wade might be #2… but I think they are pretty much even. Kevin Garnett wasn’t the best player in the league just because he won a ring last year. Kobe was by far the best player on by far the best team last season… but he wasn’t the best player in the entire league.

By: P. Ami

P. Ami — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:20:10 +0000

Guys, just from watching the two players, I agree that Wade is the better player. Now, there may be plenty about the game I don’t understand but from my view, behind these eyes, I can see what Hollinger’s figures may well be telling us (I haven’t read his article yet). I’ve seen Wade finish games better then Kobe (how many times have we seen some version of Kobe getting blocked by Hedo in the finals but during the season?). He makes more defensive plays then Kobe. The weight of the performance is more on Wade’s shoulders then Kobe (much like Kobe from ‘05-07). Again, I am a Lakers fan through and through but I keep seeing Wade make the smarter play, time and again, at times when Kobe still will make the individual play.

Now, why anyone needs to care who is better is beyond me. They are both amazing and so long as the Lakers collect rings, let the upstarts be upstarts. We got the Champ.

By: Xavier

Xavier — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:12:03 +0000

91. Great to know it makes all of sense, thanks P. Ami

By: P. Ami

P. Ami — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:10:27 +0000

It’s because the Arab countries refused to compete against Israel, so Israel was placed in the European sphere.

By: mike

mike — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:29:02 +0000

being a stat geek u’d be partial to LLN as well.. so its not surprising to see hollinger’s views particularly contrarian.. he’s betting on the mean-reversion trades.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:28:27 +0000

New post up, a look at the 1979-80 Lakers