I read Jeff Nordgaard's blog, and I have to admit the DEE-VOOO-TIOOON theme pumps me up as well. At first, as usual, I was hypercritical about the thing, thinking it was not exactly Bach revisited. But getting used to it, as usual, I was proved wrong, You have to admit it really sounds like the Euroleague. So, long life to DEE-VOOO-TION!!
I'm a broadcaster, working for SKY Italy. Well, that's my job. When I'm not thinking about basketball for a living, I do the same thing for the one simple reason: I couldn't live without it. Yes, my Euroleague theme would be OB-SES-SION. I happen to think basketball can very well be considered a form of culture and art, as much as music or painting, and the cerebral part of the sport is what makes me really go crazy about it. When I got started in journalism, my point of reference was Mr. Aldo Giordani, a broadcaster who literally invented this profession in Italy. He used to say that basketball was "played athletics", a definition that a French runner coined in the past. I think it's a great way to express the beauty of this sport. But basketball is also a game of chess with moving pieces, and not necessarily at a slow pace. That's why I try to be a student of the game as much as I can. Not that I'm a very brilliant one, but I really believe that trying to understand the subtle nuances of the game is what really makes basketball unique. It's a visual and mental experience, what else could you ask for?
A long debate could follow about the brand of basketball that is played in the Euroleague. Before one can say it's good or bad, he should define what's good and bad, but it would take too long and it would be too boring. I'd like to focus on something specific, the pick-and-roll. It's clearly the most popular play in European basketball, and the one everybody knows (all right, everyone this side of Coach K ….). The great thing about it, in my opinion, is that teams like CSKA and Panathinaikos are elevating the pick-and-roll to an art form, something close to those divine interpretations that Sarunas Jasikevicius showed us in Tel Aviv. What these teams are doing is involving ALL FIVE players in a pick-and-roll situation, thus making the play, when well executed, almost impossible to defend. Look closely next time that you see Papaloukas or Diamantidis (by the way, I thought Greece was the home of philosophers, not pick-and-roll magicians ….). The play starts with them using the screen, but those other three players will not be standing still, waiting for the ball to be rotated to them. They will move, looking for openings and punishing aggressive defenses that send another defender to stop the ball. And the dribblers will find them, meaning they can survey four teammates at a time. It's not uncommon to see two or three passes in as many seconds, finding the open man either cutting to the basket or on the perimeter, one step ahead of the defensive rotations. It's poetry in motion, pure and simple.
Players and situations I noticed in Week 1: Pau Orthez made life tough for Barcelona, Joventut played Panathinaikos to the very end and dominated the first half, Eldo gave CSKA fits and stayed in the game despite shooting 2 for 20 from three-point distance, Efes had a tough one against Prokom: as usual, no easy games here. In the first Euroleague game for Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, he had 11 points in 19 minutes as Aris won. Look for this guy to turn heads. He's not young (37), he's not fresh and has some limitations. But his basketball wisdom is unreal, and if coach Andrea Mazzon can use him in short spurts, he'll be hell for many opponents. It was the first Euroleague game also for Pau's Ian Mahinmi, with 9 points and 5 rebounds against Barça. This guy in considered in San Antonio, Texas, as having virtually unlimited potential. Not many teams shared or share the Spurs' opinion, but I wouldn't bet against him. The Spurs have a thing going with France, and not just Tony Parker. They also tried desperately to draft Boris Diaw when nobody else thought much about him. Other new kids on the block: Mantas Kalnietis of Zalgiris is the most spectacular newcomer: if he ever gets himself under control …. watch out! Le Mans started with a victory thanks to athleticism and a very solid game by Kenny Gregory, another player on the rise. What else? Maccabi-Unicaja was the best game of the week, and Jamie Arnold will be counted on much more under the new regime, while I never had doubts Bynum would have been a terrific scorer here. Last but not least, the way Ricky Rubio of Joventut handled himself at barely 16 years of age was unprecedented. He has the right to grow up slowly, but this kid is special, you can see that by the way he walks on the floor. See you next time!
POSTED BY
Flavio Tranquillo - Italy