Interbasket

The first Euroleague Basketball American Tour is set to commence with CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona, and Lietuvos Rytas coming to the United States to test their mettle against the Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State Warriors. All games of the 2008 Euroleague Basketball American Tour are played according to NBA rules and with NBA referees. Check out the the Euroleague American Tour Schedule:

October 10: CSKA Moscow vs. Orlando Magic
October 14: CSKA Moscow vs. Toronto Raptors
October 18: FC Barcelona vs. Los Angeles Lakers
October 19: FC Barcelona vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Toronto Raptors)
October 21: Lietuvos Rytas vs. Golden State Warriors

You may remember a couple seasons ago when CSKA mauled the Clippers during the 2006 NBA Europe Live Tour 94-75, a team that featured Elton Brand, Corey Magette, and Chris Kaman.  CSKA is arguably even more loaded this time around with Euroleague MVP Ramunas Siskauskas of Lithuania, EL Final Four MVP Trajan Langdon, J.R. Holden, Matjaz Smodis (Slovenia), Alexey Savrasenko (Russia), Nikos Zisis (Greece), Sasha Kaun of Kansas, Erazem Lorbek (Slovenia), Terrence Morris (Maryland), and former NBA player Zoran Planinic of Croatia.

2008 NBA Europe Live and 2008 NBA China Games:
For the third consecutive season, NBA teams will be traveling across the Atlantic to European cities Paris, London, Berlin, and Beijing, play some preseason exhibitions.

For the NBA Europe Live Tour, the New Jersey Nets and Miami Heat will travel to London and Paris to play exhibitions against one another, while New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards will play exhibitions in Barcelona, Spain and Berlin, Germany.

For the NBA China tour, an agreement between the NBA and CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) has the the Milwaukee Bucks (without Yi Jianlian) taking on Golden State in Guangzhou and Beijing, China . The games will feature the first sporting event at the Olympic Basketball Arena after the Beijing Olympics and the first ever NBA game played in Guangzhou.  Both NBA China games will be televised on ESPN.  Check out the schedule for both NBA Europe Live and NBA China below:

October 9: Miami v New Jersey, Paris
October 12: Miami v New Jersey, London
October 14: New Orleans v Washington, Berlin
October 15: Milwaukee v Golden State, Guangzhou (ESPN)
October 17: New Orleans v Washington, Barcelona
October 18: Milwaukee v Golden State, Beijing (ESPN)

Links and Resources: NBA Europe Live 2008 Official Website (NBA.com), CSKA makes American debut Friday (Euroleague.net), NBA China Games to Feature Bucks and Warriors (NBA.com), Euroleague Teams to travel to US for Preseason (NBA.com), CSKA defeats Clipper 94-75 (topbuzz.com)

Katie Smith clutch for the Detroit Shock, sweep San Antonio in WNBA Finals
WNBA Stars Katie Smith proved to be too much for the San Antonio Silver Stars.

The Detroit Shock swept the Silver Stars in the best of five series to win their second WNBA title in three years (2006), and their third title in six years (2003).

With shooting guard Deanna Nolan struggling to find her stroke, Katie Smith averaged 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists and was named MVP of the finals. Katie also was efficient from the field, shooting a 52.3% from the field, and 57% from three (8-14) in the three games.  “There’s no more deserving MVP; that was a no brainer,” said Shock pivot Taj McWilliams-Franklin. “If I look at all three games and had to choose a MVP, I would say Katie Smith, Katie Smith, Katie Smith. There was no contest.”

It’s been quite a year for Katie Smith, this is her fourth championship, two with the Shock and two with Columbus Quest of the defunct ABL, in addition to adding her third Olympic Gold Medal at this year’s 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.  Katie is the all time leading scorer in women’s professional basketball history, having scored over 6000 points in both her ABL and WNBA career.  She is currently the third all-time leading scorer in WNBA history with 5077 points, trailing Lisa Leslie (5909) and Tina Thompson (5424).

Taj McWilliams Franklin gets her first Ring
Even with Katie’s exceptional play, the Shock couldn’t have done it without 12-year veteran (WNBA and ABL) Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who finally captured her first title after being obtained by Detroit midseason.  She came in to help shore up a frontline that saw the loss of Cheryl Ford and Plenette Pierson.  McWilliams-Franklin held down the middle and complimented Smith’s play by putting up 15.3 points, 7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks per game, and shooting 52.6% from the field.

Taj had played in two WNBA finals previously with Connecticut, but came up short both time. “Whatever is supposed to happen, happens,” said McWilliams-Franklin, “I don’t sweat about championships; I’m just playing. Just like I didn’t decide to get traded. You know, it just turned out great for me, a fabulous ending to this year. Being traded here and being part of this, it’s just amazing.”

Rollercoaster Year for the Shock
It was a up and down year for the Detroit Shock.  The year started out without Swin Cash, whom was traded because of constant fighting with coach Bill Laimbeer.  Still they started out the season 7-1.

Key player Cheryl Ford, and Karl Malone’s daughter, suffered a torn ACL trying to restrain teammate Plenette Pierson when a brawl broke out in a 84-81 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.  The brawl resulted in suspensions for Pierson (4 games) and Rick Mahorn (2). Then there was a three-week break for the Olympics, and finally forced to play out their season in Ypsilanti, Michigan after being displaced by Disney on Ice.  Thats right.

Breakthrough Year for San Antonio
The Silver Stars recorded the best record in the WNBA during the 2008 campaign with a 24-10 record, but were overwhelmed in their first WNBA Finals appearance. And San Antonio would not be where they are without Becky Hammon and Sophia Young, the Silver Stars’ In game two, with San Antonio down 0-1, Sophia Young hit a buzzer-beating, game-winning bankshot that gave her team a 67-66 win. That was followed by Becky Hammon scoring an amazing 35 points, including four straight free throws in the last 36 seconds, in the game three clincher of the Western Conference Finals. The 35 point performance was the second most in WNBA Playoff history..

With Becky Hammon shut down, and Sophia Young inconsistent, Ann Wauters of Belgium stepped up for the Silver Stars during their Finals run, leading the team in scoring, rebounds and blocked shots by putting up per game averages of 16 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks (and 1.3 steals).

After not playing in the WNBA the last couple seasons, the 6-4 center not only had her best season statitically, but enjoyed her time putting up career highs, “(San Antonio) has been the place where I’ve been enjoying (the WNBA) the most,” Wauters said. “Everything, of course, starts on the court. I’ve been able to adapt quickly with this team, and I have great teammates. And the whole coaching staff has been wonderful.”

Last Word on Detroit Shock’s run to Title No. 3
Detroit was able to withstand a subpar performance from 2006 Finals MVP Deanna Nolan, whom shot just 28.9% from the field (13-45), and just 11.4 points a game, well under her regular season average. Tweety was still able to find other ways to help her team, leading the team with 4.6 assists and 2.6 steals a game, and grabbing 5.3 rebounds. Detroit also had 6-6 third-year player Kara Braxton step up and put in solid minutes inside with 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds.

Links and Resources: Despite odds, injuries, Shock win third WNBA title (ESPN), Shock honored after third title in six years (USA Today), Detroit Shock is champs third time in 6 years (SI.com), Silver Stars stay alive on Young’s buzzer-beater (MySA.com), Sparks get Knocked out of Playoffs behind Hammon’s 35 points (LA Times), Season and San Antonio already a win-win for Wauters (ESPN), The Home Of Your New WNBA Champions: Ypsilanti! (Dead Spin)

Nicolas Batum is a stringy 6-8 small forward from Lisieux, France. The 215lb, 19-year old has impressed many with his long wingspan, his abilities to drive to the hole and consistently hit jumpshots. With his height, Batum is able to play power forward; with his speed and athleticism, he can also slide down into a shooting guard role.

Back in 2006, Batum led the French U18 National Team to the by averaging 19.0 Points, 5.7 Rebounds, 2.6 Assists, 2.3 Steals and shooting 60.0 % from the field, in being named the most valuable player of the 2006 U18 Albert Schweitzer Tournament. He continued to make a splash in the 2007 Nike Hoops Summit by scoring 23 points against the likes of OJ Mayo, Michael Beasley Kevin Love, and Derrick Rose.

Because of these performances, the 6-8 Batum, along with Danilo Gallinari, were considered by many the two top European prospects coming into the 2008 NBA Draft. The Frenchmen was eventually selected in the first round, 25th overall by the Houston Rockets as the fourth international player chosen (after Gallinari, Alexis Ajinça, and Serge Ibaka).

The Rockets traded Batum’s rights to the Portland Trailblazers for fellow 2008 draftees Darrell Arthur and Joey Dorsey.

Batum will join a Blazer’s roster of up-and-coming talents with high expectations in Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Travis Outlaw, and Martell Webster; fellow rookies Jerryd Bayless, Rudy Fernandez of Spain, and last year’s #1 overall pick Greg Oden.

Check out the following write-up in SLAM Magazine:

Say What? | SLAM Magazine | issue 118 (June 2008)
The French have a saying — je ne sais quoi — that translates, literally, into, “I don’t know what.” It’s used to refer to something when all other words fail, a phrase that encompass both insouciance and intangibles.

That phrase has been personified of late by Nicolas Batum.  I was on hand for his debut in the French Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB) All Star Game in Paris in December 2007, and while Batum played well, finishing with 12 points and 5 boards, and made a few creative plays, mostly he seemed tentative, like Boris Diaw was somehow trapped inside Rudy Gay’s  body.  Batum was nice, oui, but there was something, well… Je ne sais qoui.

Talented 6-8 ballers who are 19 years old, can play multiple positions, possess an avian wingspan and can sour out of the gym usually send NBA scouts scrambling for their Blackberries so they can alert GMs to the next big thing.  And coming up, Batum was no exception.  In ‘06, Batum led the French U-18 team to a Euro title while pulling the MVP award.

Batum validated the hype during the ‘07 Nike Hoops Summit, playing against guys with names like Mayo and Beasley, finishing with 23 points and a dunk on Patrick Patterson.

He played his way into the upper reaches of the ‘07 Draft Lottery… until he decided not to enter the Draft.

Batum returned to France for another year of seasoning, and he’s had a nice year for LeMans, avergaing 11.6 points and 5 boards per game.  But now that all eyes are on him, Batumm has lost a little bit of the buzz of the unknown that he once had.  He’ll still be a first round pick this summer but likely not as high as he would have been last year.

Perhaps he cost himself Draft postion, but will sticking around France for this past season make Nicolas Batum a better play in the long run?  Je ne sais quoi

Source and links: Slam Magazine, issue 118 (June 2008),

I came across Olek Czyz, an international prospect from Poland while going through one of my old Slam Magazines from this past year.  With the NCAA basketball season coming up, I thought I would profile a couple international college players coming in.

Originally from Gdynia, Czyz is an incoming freshman at Duke this season (2008-09) and will reminds NCAA fans a little of Tyler Hansborough with a lot more athleticism. Olek, like Hansborough, has a questionable jupmshot, is physical in and around the paint, works hard, and puts down some ferocious dunks (see video below).

In fact, Czyz’s nasty dunks have some nicknaming him “Olek the Barbarian.”

The 6-8, 235lb Olek committed to Duke last fall after trimming down his options to Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Florida and Arizona State, telling the Louisville Courier Journal, “I am looking for a great coach, and I would like to play some minutes when I get there,”

Since his commitment to Duke, Czyz led his team to the 4A State Title in Reno, NV, was also named the MVP of the Capitol Classic, a gathering of national high school all-stars taking on. Czyz scored 23 points on 9-14 shooting from the field and pulled down 9 rebounds in a 123-85 win.  Check out the following write-up in SLAM Magazine:

Czyz the Season | SLAM Magazine | issue 118 (June 2008)
Even though he was raised overseas, it didn’t take long for Olek Czyz’s name to ring out once he started school in the States. Fresh from his native Poland, Czyz (pronounced Chizz) used a PE class during the first few days of his freshman year at Reno (NV) High as his platform.

“He wasn’t even in the PE class that most of the basketball players take,” recalls Reno coach Kyle Schellin. “But there he was, throwing down windmill dunks. It didn’t take long for the news to spread.”

Four years later, the legend of Olek continues to grow. The 6-8, 230-pounder — once considereed a mid-major prospect — blew up the AAU circuit last summer and transformed into an elite recruit. “I’m an explosive player with a high motor who runs the floor well,” says Czyz, who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior, leading Reno to the 4A State Title.

“I like to go strong to the rim and finish with a dunk — I don’t care who tries to block it.”

Coach Schellin cites the Polish sensation’s work ethic as one of his best traits. “He wanted to be a big-time player from day one, so he was in the gym every day,” Schellin says. “He’s still a little raw offensively but each time he plays, he gets better.”

Czyz will attend Duke next season (actually this coming season), choosing the Blue Devils over fellow top programs Florida and Louisville. “Duke is the best program in the country,” he says. “I can become the best player I can under Coach K.” - Nima Zarrabi

Source and links: Slam Magazine, issue 118 (June 2008), Czyz courts new life as U.S. All-Star (Washington Post), Poland Basketball Forum (IBN), Olek Czyz Video (YouTube), Olek Czyz: Polish Freshman at Duke (NCAA) (Interbasket), ESPN Olek Czyz Profile (ESPN)

Even if you aren’t an expert in international basketball, one can recognize names like Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, Manu Ginobili, Pau Gasol, Sarunas Jasikevicius, and Luis Scola. And to know that these players are going to play a huge role in their team’s success and most likely will be leaders in several statistical categories.

If you are familiar with names such as Berni Rodriguez, Roko Leni-Ukic, Carlos Delfino, Liu Wei, and Olimpio Cipriano, congratulations, that means you’re well-versed about hoops around the world.

However, international tournaments always have a handful of little-known players that come in with much less fanfare and reputation, only to use that tournament as a springboard into national and international headlines.

About a month after the Olympics have officially ended, Interbasket will be profiling several of these players, over the next month.  Players that made names for themselves during the 2008 Olympics or furthered their reputation with their play.

The Monkey King Cometh
Sun Yue didn’t exactly tear it up in any one category at the Olympics, but the self-proclaimed Monkey King made a lasting impression with his ability to do a little of everything on the floor.  His final statistics, 6.8 points, 2.5 assists, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1 block, didn’t sum up his contributions.  Sun Yue’s effort, energy, and athleticism on the floor gave Team China another dimension.

In six Olympic games, Sun Yue played 28 minutes a game, and shot an efficient 46.7% from the field, 35.3% from three, and 87.5% from the free throw.

The 22-year old Sun has spent the majority of his professional career with the Chinese club Beijing Aoshen Olympian and while with the team, Sun was in the subject of a power struggle between the Chinese National Team and his club in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

In 2005, when the Aosehn teammates, the then 19-year old Sun and teammate Zhang Songtao were called upon for the under-20 national team duty, the Beijing club refused to release either player. In response to Beijing’s dissension, the CBA would place a two-year suspension on Aoshen, which would disallow the team from participating in their league.  Sun Yue and Aoshen would eventually end up in the ABA, the American Basketball Association.

In Aoshen’s first season in the ABA, Sun would display his all-around abilities by putting up 9.5 points, 7 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.9 steals, 2.5 blocks and 4.3 turnovers per game.  Q-Tip, as he was known around the league was second in Rookie of the Year voting, was named to the 2005-06 ABA All-Star team as well as All-ABA second team.

The next season would be Sun’s last in the ABA, but he would significantly improve over his rookie campaign.  Sun improved his overall floor game and averaged a double-double in the 2006-07 season.  Sun averaged 13.5 points and 10.5 assists as well as 6 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 2 blocks and decreasing his turnovers to 3.8 per game.  Sun was named All-ABA First Team along.

“In American basketball, everyone has confidence, basketball is much better here.” Sun would say about his experience in the ABA.

After bring drafted by the Lakers in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft, Yue wouldn’t sign with the Los Angeles Lakers until after the 2008 Olympics and will join the team for the 2008-09 season, making Sun the fifth Chinese player ever to play in the NBA after Wang Zhizhi, Yao Ming, Mengke Bateer, and Yi Jianlian.

He’ll join other international players Pau Gasol, Sasha Vujacic, Vladmir Radmanovic, and DJ Mbenga on the Lakers squad.

Slightly less slight than the slight Shaun Livingston of the Los Angeles Clippers, Sun Yue is a 6-9, 212lb point guard that has a long wingspan and gets off the ground quickly.  And like Livingston, a tall point guard in the greater Los Angeles area always brings up comparisons to another 6-9 point guard.

Though Sun Yue has made it clear he doesn’t want to be compared to Magic Johnson (some say he closer to Hedo Turkoglu), I am sure Sun hopes he can mirror at least half of the Magic man’s accomplishments in his time in Southern California.

Links and Resources: Lakers Sign Sun Yue (NBA.com),  China’s Sun next rising NBA star (China Daily), Sun Yue: Don’t Call me Magic, call me Monkey King (Ball Don’t Lie), 6-9 PG Sun Yue to be featured on ESPN magazine (Interbasket Forum), Beijing Aoshen Olympians 2006-07 ABA season (Interbasket)

Yesterday, Finnish hoops legend Hanno Möttölä retired from professional basketball.

Möttölä is without a doubt the best basketball player from Finland. Möttölä played for a lot of big time teams: Tau, Bologna, Zalgiris, Pesaro, Aris, Dynamo Moscow, and two seasons (155 games) with the Atlanta Hawks, making Mottola the first Finnish player to ever play in the NBA.

By Mottola’s senior season at the University of Utah, he was averaging more than 17 points per game. Americans will remember him most for his 15 point, 8 rebound clutch performance against future NBA All-Stars in the 1998 NCAA Championship Game, which ended in a loss to the University of Kentucky.  Many future NBA players were on both teams, including Nazr Mohammed, Scott Padgett, and Jamaal Magloirre for Kentucky, and Möttölä’s teammates Andre Miller, Britton Johnson, and Michael Doleac.

A lot of people viewed him as an underrated senior who could potentially be a game-changing NBA player.

Unfortunately for NBA fans, he only played a few minutes per game in his two years with the Atlanta Hawks.

He did not entertain other offers for NBA contracts. In 2002, he moved to Europe and established himself as one of the best big men in the game. In his best years in the EL and ULEB, he could average more than 15 points per game. He performed even better in domestic leagues.

After 12 years of professional basketball, and when Mottola was still performing well in the Euroleague, Möttölä’s retirement comes as somewhat of a surprise.  Even though his numbers were down, Möttölä could still compete at a high-level.

Mottola certainly had a few more years in him; he was injury-free, and had just turned 32 years old earlier this month.  The Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reported that Mottola wanted to retire while he could still play well and that family definitely influenced his decision.

Links and Resources: Hanno Möttölä Tribute Thread (Interbasket), Hanno Mottola deceided to retire from basketball (theHoop.blogSpot.com), Hanno Mottola NBA Stats (basketball-reference)

Goran Dragic (GO-ran DRAG-itch), a 22-year old Slovenian point guard, has signed a four-year deal with the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are trying to find a backup and eventual replacement for the 34-year old, two-time NBA MVP, Steve Nash.

“(Goran) has to come and has to compete for a backup spot behind Steve,” Phoenix’s General Manager Steve Kerr said. “Hopefully he’ll learn and develop behind Steve and potentially be our starter someday. We’ll see if that happens.”

“It’s difficult adding a guy who can fill the role of point guard and we feel he has an excellent chance at doing that and are thrilled to have gotten him.”

Right now, the 6-4 Dragic is one of Europe’s up-and-coming European guards. Left-handed, Goran is more a pass-first point guard with a fiery, competitive edge, and a shaky outside shot.  Dragic plays similarly to Manu Ginobili with a lot of herky jerky movements and slick, savvy moves around the basket.

Dragic was the 45th overall pick of 2008’s NBA draft, and required a buyout by Phoenix in order to come to the NBA. “When I was a kid, it was my dream to play in the NBA,” the left-handed point guard told the Arizona Republic after the draft “It was my wish that the Suns pick me.”

The Suns convinced Tauu Ceramica, the club that owned Dragic’s rights, to relent on his contract which disallowed a buyout until next season.  The Suns contributed the maximum $500,000 of the $2 million required buyout.  Though owned by TAU, the combo-guard was loaned to Union Olimpija last season where he averaged 9.7 points, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 13 games for the Adriatic club.

NBA.com comes up with this evaluation of Dragic:

Listed at 6-4. Dragic possesses a 6-7 wingspan to go along with his wiry frame that allows him to defend taller players. A southpaw, he’s crafty with the ball and can slice through the lane in. He looks a little like fellow countryman and Sacramento King guard Beno Udrih on the floor, but he is much more athletic.

Goran Dragic grew up idolizing Sasha Danilovic, dreamed of playing in the NBA, and was so excited about the prospect of playing in the NBA that he spent 42 hours on a plane roundtrip from Europe to Phoenix, so the Suns could get one last look at him before the draft.  All in all, Dragic spent less than 2 hours doing workout and drills before hopping back on a plane.

That experience hasn’t dampened his spirits at all, the young guard that played for Union Olimpija last season is ecstatic at the prospect of being in the NBA, “Amaré, Shaq, Steve Nash are some of the best players in the NBA. These were players I watched as a kid and it was my dream to play with them. I like to play fast-break basketball like they do here in Phoenix, play defense and pass the ball to my open teammates.” Dragic said.

Along with Sasha Vujacic, Rasho Nesterovic, and Beno Udrih, Dragic will be the fourth Slovenian in the NBA this season, he would have been the fifth had Bostjan Nachbar not decided to return to Europe and sign with Dynamo Moscow   Check out this highlight video the Phoenix Suns created for Dragic and watch how the Slovenian’s moves remind you of Manu Ginobili.

Links and Resources: Suns sign Young European point guard (Yahoo!), Coming to America (NBA.com), Suns sign Goran Dragic for 4 years (CBC), Suns Believe in Dragic (NBA.com)

This month’s SLAM Magazine report is featured in the “In your face” section and focuses on the Argentine, Euroleague superstar, and NBA rookie, whom really made a name for himself this season.

Luis Scola may have finished third in the NBA Rookie of the Year ballot, but there was nothing novice in his inaugural season in Houston, where he filled a perpetual hole at power forward with his soft hands, irascible physicality, and international experience.

The 6-9 native of Buenos Aires was the Spanish league Rookie of the Year in 2000 and was widely considered the best pro player not playing in the League after the San Antonio Spurs drafted him in 2002.  Due to contractual snags, Scola opted to remain with Tau Ceramica and led his squadto the Euroleague final in 2001, then three consecutive Euroleague Final Fours between 2005 and 2007.  His outstanding performances earned him an All-Euroleague Second Team selection in 2005, as wel as two all-Euroleague First Team selections (2006 and 2007).  

The Olympic gold medal he won in 2004 with Argentina and the MVP honors cap the 2007 FIBA Championships foreshadowed the huge role he played in the Rocket’s surge toward the top of the Southwest Division last season.

From late-December with T-Mac was sidelined with an injury, through the last two months of the season when Yao Ming caught his own injurt, Scola averaged nearly a double-double.  He played an even more prominent role in the Playoffs, averaging 14 points and 9 rebounds against the Utah Jazz.  Scola’s season may have ended prematurely, but his playing days were far from over.  In Beijing he was even more impresive, finishing third overall in scoring, averagin 19ppg and 6 rpg in leading his team to the bronze medal.  His best performance came after Manu Ginobili twisted his ankle in the first quarter if the semi-finals against Team USA, when Scola stepped up for 28 points and 11 rebounds to keep the underdogs in the game.

If the Rockets keep him in the starting lineup alongside Yao Ming and Ron Artest with Shane Battier coming off the bench, the 28-year old Scola’s contribution is certain to be even greater in ‘08-09, as the Rockets try to make it past the first round for the first time in a dozen years. –Sherman Johnson

Source and links: Slam Magazine, issue 122 (November 2008), Argentina Basketball Forum (IBN)