More on Eurobasket
Bogdan Bogdanovic: TEAM WIN! 🔐🇷🇸🤛🏼
Anthony Randolph, a blink in the past of Knicks basketball (he spent most of his NBA career in Denver and Minnesota), plays for Slovenia, the team that eliminated Latvia from the European Championships on Wednesday. The Knicks past and future got into a little scrape at the end of a physical game Wednesday at EuroBasket, which started with a cheap shot from Randolph, and Tommy Beer of Basketball Insiders has the video. After the game, Porzingis said Randolph had played dirty all game. Via Eurohoops.net. “He was playing dirty from the beginning. He was trash talking. What happened in the end was natural,” the New York Knicks big guy said.
Pau Gasol: To the semifinals!!! Great game by our team tonight, especially by @Marc Gasol who was unstoppable!! #AlwaysTogether #Family #Eurobasket2017 pic.twitter.com/cRn5OdRPWf
Pau Gasol: Getting ready for tomorrow's quarterfinals! Good defense @Willy Hernangomez 😜 #SlowMotion #Istanbul #Eurobasket2017
Boris Diaw: It was a tough competition, a lot of disappointment in the way we played, WE as a team take full responsibility for it. now its time to take pride in bouncing back and redeem ourselves in the near future. #lookingahead
However, Ufuk Sarica decided to begin his comments during the post-game press conference by applauding Pau’s presence with the national team in yet another summer tournament. “First and foremost I want to express my respect for the Spanish Team. Especially Pau Gasol. He’s 37 years old and he goes through an intense summer camp. And after a very long season he fights with the whole until the very end. You see the whole team is together with him in this effort. I think he sets a good example for future generations that want to play basketball. I’d like to point out that. That I really respect Pau Gasol and the Spanish team in particular,” Sarica said.
Jonas Valanciunas spoke to Eurohoops post game and sounded reassuring that Lithuania will bounce back from this loss. “It’s just one year”, the big man said.
Nikola Vucevic: Tough way to end the #Eurobasket17 ... still proud of our team for getting through the first round for the first time ever @FIBA pic.twitter.com/l7ffRiolGD
Lauri Markkanen: Always an honor to play for my country 🇫🇮 #EuroBasket2017 didn't end the way we wanted but I'm proud of everyone who was part of the journey pic.twitter.com/W64CrqwyV2
Mindaugas Kuzminskas will be a game-decision for the Lithuanian NT in the knock-out game against Greece. As Donatas Urbonas reports, the player has back spasms and has not been able to participate to practice since the one before Lithuania’s clash with Germany.
Kobe Bryant: Congrats hermano #grandepau
"Today is certainly a difficult day," Abrines tweeted out in a statement that has been translated from its original Spanish. "Today I have to leave Eurobasket, something that those who know me know it hurts especially, because being part of this TEAM is an honor and a privilege. Even these days, unable to help on the court, although difficult, have been important to me. I can only thank others for worrying so much about me. Finally, this is the time and place to give all the strength in the world to my teammates, to 'The Family,' who will certainly fight until the last day to achieve our goal, winning Eurobasket."
The Spanish national team has called the Abrines injury "minor." The Thunder do not begin training camp until the last week of September. Preseason begins Oct. 3.
Following a mutual decision between the Spanish Basketball Federation and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Alex Abrines will stay out of the remainder of the EuroBasket. As reported by Spanish Marca, the knee injury that the 24-year-old swingman suffered in Game 1 of the tournament vs Montenegro is enough to cause an alarm. “There is no veto in this kind of situation. The only thing that matters is the condition of the player,” is the Federation’s position.
The playoffs are about to start for Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic -- in September. Dragic and the Slovenian national team finished pool play undefeated at EuroBasket with a dominant 95-78 victory Wednesday over a France roster loaded with NBA talent. Dragic, who has led Slovenia in scoring in all but one game during its 5-0 march through pool play in Helsinki, Finland, this time closed with 22 points and eight assists in 28 minutes.
"Being the next Gasols is impossible," Juancho added. "Just like being the next Juan Carlos Navarro is impossible. And [the Gasols] are the two best players at FIBA EuroBasket. Pau is 37-year-old and still one of the best players in Europe. He's like a big teacher or a big brother to all of us. It's impossible to be like Gasol."
Kristaps Porzingis: Latvian fan support in game against Russia 🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻 #EuroBasket2017 #TrisZvaigznes
Ekpe Udoh: Bogdan hoopin...
Ricky Rubio led Spain with 13 points and four assists, while Pau Gasol chipped in 11 points, 10 boards, and three assists.
Emiliano Carchia: Losing effort for Dario Saric 🇭🇷 vs Spain: 18 points (6/14), 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 27 efficiency #EuroBasket2017
Germany defeated Italy 61-55 and now is one step closer to making it to the next round, depending on the remaining results of Group B, having a 3-1 record. The star: Once again Dennis Schroder, who finished the game with 17 points. In a low scoring affair, his performance was more than enough.
Pacers forward Bojan Bogdanovic and Croatia suffered their first loss of EuroBasket 2017 on Tuesday, falling to defending European champions Spain, 79-73. Bogdanovic finished with 15 points, three rebounds, and one assist, going 6-for-16 from the field and 3-for-9 from 3-point range.
Against Romania, Pau Gasol was rested, but the bottom line for Spain was the same. The defending Eurobasket champs got an impressive win. Every player of Spain did his job when he was on the court, however, Juancho Hergnangomez was more than impressive with a double-double (20 p., 11 r.), proving that the next generation of the Spanish national team is ready to continue the team’s tradition of dominance.
Juan Hernangomez: BUMSHAKALAKA 🤷🏼♀️ #FFG!
Emiliano Carchia: Kristaps Porzingis drops 28 points over Great Britain.
Brian Seltzer: 3-0 in group play w 2 games to go. Dario Saric, Croatia positioned for spot in #EuroBasket2017 final 16. Saric came up big late, finished w 14 p, 2 r.
The final score was 76-72 and while Croatia never lost the lead, Montenegro almost stole the game at the final minute. Bojan Bogdanovic continues his streak and he is by far the most effective offensive weapon of Croatia. He proved it with 23 points and four out of seven threes. 12 points by Nikola Vucevic.
According to a report, the San Antonio Spurs have cleared forward Davis Bertans to continue to play for Team Latvia at EuroBasket 2017 after suffering a finger injury in a game versus Serbia. Bertans did not suit up for the team's game against Belgium and was held back as a precautionary move. After suffering the injury, he did say he was not in any pain and X-rays showed no break.
Comparisons between Lauri Markkanen and Dirk Nowitzki might seem way premature but are inevitable, considering the Finnish big guy’s feats in the EuroBasket tournament. And, of course, Henrik Dettman, who also coached Nowitzki back in his early days with the German NT, from 1997 to 2003, is quite possibly the ideal person to talk about the resemblance between the two players.
“I don’t need to say how special is. You all see it when he plays. There’s something I’ve been saying for some time: It’s unfair to compare human beings with each other. And we are talking about players from different areas. But there are many similar things in the game that Dirk and Lauri play,” Dettman said during the post-game press conference.
Henrik Dettman: “The only thing we don’t know is if Lauri has the same work ethic that Dirk has with the game. If Lauri has the same work ethic, and is healthy, he’ll definitely reach the same level that Dirk has. He has skills, speed, understanding for the game. It’s also natural.The new generation has to be better than the one of the past.”
Pau Gasol: Muchas gracias @baloncestofeb! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 #200partidos #SomosEquipo #LaFamilia. Thanks very much #baloncestofeb! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼#200games #Family
With their best defending effort since the start of the tournament, the Greeks were in the game until the last minute. That was Goran Dragic’ cue, who iced the 78-72 win for Slovenia with four straight points, while Klemen Prepelic also made two crucial free throws. Luka Doncic was spectacular in the first half with 14 points, 5/8 field goals, 2 assists, 2 rebounds and no turnovers in 15,5 minutes of action. He finished the game with 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Goran Dragic also did his part with 20 points.
Lithuania prevailed over Italy with 78-73 and reached its second consecutive win. Italy now stands at 2-1. Mindaugas Kuzminskas contributed 14 points for Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points.
Davis Bertans suffered a finger injury in Latvia's loss to Serbia in pool play. X-rays revealed no break and he is not feeling pain. He sat out of the team's 92-64 win versus Belgium. Q. Are you going to be available for next week? Bertans: I don't know, that's a question for the doctor. I'm not a doctor so I can't really answer that. Tomorrow is the day off and then we'll see."
Reports go on to say he did not suffer a break after x-rays were conducted and he's not feeling any pain. "I'm waiting for what the doctor will say, it's hard to say because I have not had the ball in the hands since Friday, but I do not feel pain. We have a morning off, and we will see what we can do. There was a X-ray, nothing broken."
Stephen Noh: Markkanen steps out of bounds on game-tying attempt, injures himself on the play. He's being helped off the court after the game.
Vincent Goodwill: Hearing from Bulls personnel that Markkanen's injury isn't bad, and it's likely he plays Sunday
While Lauri Markannen in his effort to tie the game against Slovenia was injured, Finland’s coach Henrik Dettman denied that anything major happened.
Brian Seltzer: Well-rounded showing by Dario Saric in Croatia's 74-58 win over Romania. 11 p (3-11), 10 r, 2 a, 1 s, 1 b. Most telling #? Game-high +22.
Anthony Chiang: Goran Dragic finishes with 29 pts, 4 reb, 5 assists in 81-78 win over Finland. @Goran Dragic averaging 29.5 pts through 2 EuroBasket games.
Spain beat the Czech Republic 93-56 and cruised to another easy win. The Spaniards pulled away early and never looked back showing flashes of brilliance in the process. The star: Who else? Pau Gasol. He had 26 points and 8 rebounds going 9-of-10 from the field and 7-for-7 from the free-throw line in a very efficient performance. Also, Ricky Rubio put on a show, finishing the game with 17 points and 5 assists.
Germany defeated Georgia 57-67 and improved their record to 2-0, while Georgia fell to 1-1. The star: Who else could it be? Dennis Schroeder was once again amazing for Germany. Since early on he was scoring, assisting and hustling back on defense. He finished the game with 23 points!
FIBA: #PauGasol200 games with 🇪🇸👏 📖 http://go.fiba.com/EB17_TitleDefense … #EuroBasket2017
Our very own Juancho Hernangomez is suited up to compete in the European league, Eurobasket, with his home country of Spain. Juancho gets to share this moment with his brother Guillermo “Willy” Hernangomez of the New York Knicks who will also play for the Spanish national team. Juancho and Willy are very close, and today Juancho shared a special note from his brother as they get ready to head into competition together.
Emiliano Carchia: Cedi Osman not enough for Turkey in loss to Russia: 28 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 7 steals #EuroBasket2017
Emiliano Carchia: Satoransky with 20 points, 13 rebounds & 6 assists leads Czech Republic past Romania (Vlad Moldoveanu 24pts) 83-68 Hruban had 25 for Czech
Pau Gasol: Good first game to start off the #Eurobasket . I'm happy to have played #200games with my national team. Let's keep enjoying the journey!
Ian Begley: Willy Hernangomez had 18 points & 9 rebs in Spain's win over Montenegro in Eurobasket. He shot 6-for-7 from the field and 6-for-7 on FTs.
Goran Dragic: 1st win of the tournament !!! Let's go 🇸🇮!!! @kzs_si #eurobasket2017 #TheDragon #Dracarys 🔥🐲
Emiliano Carchia: Dennis Schroder with a show (32pts, 5reb, 7ast) leads Germany 🇩🇪 to a win vs. Ukraine 🇺🇦 in Eurobasket Group B opening game: 75-63
The start of Heat training camp is still weeks away, but don’t tell Goran Dragic that. The 31-year-old Heat point guard already looks like he’s ready. Dragic has spent the offseason in Slovenia preparing for EuroBasket, and he started the tournament with an efficient 30-point performance to lead Slovenia to a 90-81 win over Poland on Thursday in Helsinki, Finland.
Kristaps Porzingis: Off to Turkey for #Eurobasket2017 #TrīsZvaigznes 🏀👌🏼
Lauri Markkanen: Patiently waiting.. 🐺 #EuroBasket2017 #Susijengi
Motiejunas, who travelled to Texas to be next to his girlfriend who’s giving birth, was quite unfortunate to have stumbled upon extreme weather conditions in Houston. That being said, all flights from Houston have been either cancelled or postponed until further notice, something that might keep Motiejunas in the US longer than expected. As Donatas Urbonas reports, coach Adomaitis hopes the player will make it and join the team’s practice later on the 30th.
David Pick: NBA free-agent Alex Len has withdrawn from the Ukraine national-team and won't participate in FIBA's EuroBasket.
The Golden State Warriors big man had his first full practice yesterday, he is completely healed and despite missing the recent “Acropolis tournament” in Athens, he will be available for the Georgian national team for the start of the official games in the Eurobasket tournament.
In his recent interview with Gazzetta Dello Sport, the Italian international stated that this could be his last EuroBasket with Italian NT. “My last competition with Italy? Maybe. We’ll see what happens but in my mind, this could be my last Eurobasket. There is a question mark, but I only focus at one thing at a time.” Belinelli told the Italian media.
Speaking on the Greek newspaper “To Vima”, Missas gave more details about the health condition of the Greek freak, which is the reason that keeps him out of the Eurobasket. “The story with Giannis is crystal clear”, said Missas. “Giannis wanted to play. That was his goal from the get-go, despite the condition of his knee, which wouldn’t create him any major issue. From day one, he was under great pressure from the Bucks, but he tried his best, giving 100% in every practice. The final decision has to do with him failing in the Bucks’ test. And that’s the end of discussion”.
According to Missas, if Giannis was 100% healthy, then he would play in the Eurobasket: “After the first stage of our training camp the other players of the team were informed about the situation with Giannis, his health and the upcoming trip to China. I have also to say that last year Giannis put on hold his deal with the Bucks in order to play in the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but we can’t forget that Giannis is also a 22 years old kid. And in order to close the whole issue, I have to say that if Giannis was healthy and the Bucks asked him not to play, he would play”.
David Pick: Source: NYK star Kristaps Porzingis is committed to playing for Latvia. His recent absence won't keep him out of EuroBasket.
You are hopeful that you will be able to play in the EuroBasket? Zaza Pachulia: “Absolutely. That’s the plan, that’s my goal. But health is very important obviously. Especially when you talk about ankle. The doctors are paying much attention to it. The Golden State Warriors doctors are also following the situation of course. Obviously, we’re not going to hurt myself. You have to be very smart basically to see where you are and see how much you can do.
What have you heard back from the Warriors? Zaza Pachulia: “I’ve been in touch with the Warriors daily and giving them updates.What kind of rehabs we are doing and how my ankle feels before the practice, after the practice. All the time. I’ve been giving them all informations regarding my rehabilitation, they know everything of course. down to the last detail.”
Georgia captain Zaza Pachulia hopes that he won’t be included in the above list and that he’ll shine via his participation in the tournament and not his absence. The 2017 NBA champion sustained an ankle injury during a prep game vs Czech Republic in Tbilisi and hasn’t played ever since. Pachulia revealed the exact status of his injury and rehabilitation process to Eurohoops, expressing his optimism that he will be able to check in at full strength for the EuroBasket, that is kicks off in less than a week from now.
If you could estimate your possibilities of participating in the EuroBasket what percentage would you give? Zaza Pachulia: “Cant’ say for sure honestly. This injury is based on day-to-day reactions. This morning I had the best workout since I got injured. I did the most things. It depends how I’m going to react each day. If it continues to keep progressing well and not make a step back, most likely I’ll play. But…. if I feel some pain after one of the work-outs and I feel worse, then obviously we’ll shut it down. I’m living the situation every day and every moment seeing how we go.”
Goran Dragic will retire from the Slovenian national team after Eurobasket 2017, the Miami Heat guard announced on his Twitter profile.
David 'Dubi' Pick: Source: Georgia plans on activating Zaza Pachulia for EuroBasket as the GSW's center remains cautious while he rehabs his ankle.
Harris Stavrou: Zaza Pachulia is probably OUT of Eurobasket 2017, according to Georgian NT's head coach Ilias Zouros. Another huge blow for the tournament.
But his heart and mind are with his national team comrades. This is why shortly following his return from China, the Milwaukee Bucks point-forward paid a visit to “OAKA” arena, home of the Greek squad’s practices, in order to talk with his teammates and the national team’s coaching staff.
Before departing for Milwaukee, where he will begin treatment for his knee, Giannis will also attend Wednesday’s (23/8) prep game between of Greece against Zaza Pachulia’s Georgia for the “Akropolis International Tournament”.
Emiliano Carchia: BREAKING: Milos Teodosic out of Eurobasket
According to the Serbian Federation press release “the chronic issue of Teodosic, due to which he missed part of the training camp and all the preparation games, prevents him from being completely healthy at the start of the tournament. Coach Aleksandar Djordjevic and Milos Teodosic, after consulting with the medical team of our national team and the LA Clippers, jointly made this difficult decision”.
"Giannis recently left his national team to travel to China for an appearance. Here he was visited by Bucks Head of Strength and Conditioning Suki Hobson. Hobson put Giannis through a series of exercises to evaluate his knee and reported that he was still experiencing significant pain on basic movements. "After reviewing the report filed by Hobson, Dr. Raasch recommended that due to the recurring knee pain, Giannis should not continue to attempt to play at this time and that the best course of action would be for him to return to Milwaukee for further evaluation and to begin a structured, daily rehabilitation program.
That assertion led the NBA to put out a statement on Saturday night refuting any notion that Antetokounmpo's injury was staged. "The NBA and the Milwaukee Bucks have followed all appropriate protocol under the NBA-FIBA agreement," said Tim Frank, the NBA's senior vice president of basketball communications. "Giannis has an injury that has been confirmed through multiple examinations and any suggestion to the contrary is false."
The Bucks took things a step further with a statement that was released early Sunday morning. The statement, which came from general manager Jon Horst, detailed the events that led to Antetokounmpo removing himself from EuroBasket competition. The full statement from Horst is as follows: "After a brief time in training with the Greek National Team, Giannis reported to our basketball staff that he was having right anterior knee pain following certain movements. At this time, we contacted the Greek National Team and requested that Giannis stop on-court running and jumping for a period of time to rest. Bucks Team Physician Dr. William Raasch consulted with Dr. Voulgaropoulos of the Greek National Team regarding the injury and as a result Giannis continued to sit out from training.
Greek Basketball Federation: A series of clues by which we were particularly worried about since Giannis arrived in Greece and the national team training camp started, had created the conviction of an organized and well-staged plan by the NBA franchise in which Giannis has signed. Everything was in full knowledge of the NBA, if not encouraged by the NBA, and the athlete was put in a very difficult place and ultimately was obliged today to inform that he can’t be a member of the national team.
Emiliano Carchia: OFFICIAL: Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Eurobasket
Giannis Antetokounmpo: I want everyone to be informed by me that I will not be able to play for the Greek national team in the upcoming Eurobasket. All this time I was pressuring myself to practice. I was trying to fool myself and not feel the pain, hoping that I will be ready for the official games. I failed in the tests I was put to and the reason was the pain I felt from the first seconds. I can accept the truth and deal with it in a mature manner. I have to work and improve as much as I can the condition of my knee.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: This is by far the biggest disappointment that I have felt so far in my career. I want to wish the best from the bottom of my heart to my teammates and coaches. The national team is my favorite team and in the future I will prove together with my teammates that we can achieve high goals and make all the Greeks happy.
Gasol, currently with the Spanish national side as they prepare for Eurobasket was understandably shaken, as were all the players of the national team. The San Antonio Spurs forward, who hails from Barcelona sent a message of union. “We send a message of support, commotion and pain for yesterday’s attack, both on Las Ramblas and in Cambrils, we are all very much affected,” Gasol told reporters in Melilla, where the Spanish national team is based.
“Let’s hope that the wounded will recover. We also thank the armed forces that protect the citizens and have helped in this critical moment, and to everyone who has been able to contribute in this critical situation. To unity and cohesion. Together, union is the way to overcome tragedy”, he added.
Keith Pompey: #Sixers sound-round pick Mathias Lessort was cut from the French National Team.
Pau Gasol talked about the upcoming Eurobasket and he didn’t forget the big absence of the Spanish national team. Speaking about Sergio Llull’s injury he said: “It was an emotional and psychological blow to the team. He is a guy you want to play with and a major contributor to the team. It will be difficult to cover him, but each player has to contribute. I wish we can win the championship and dedicate our success to Sergi, who is an important part of this team”.
