This and that and picks for the Eurobasket Final Four

Super Family’s all pumped about the start of Survivor tonight (it’s their DWTS, I personally don’t give a hoot); you should be pumped about all the fun stuff in here this morning.

Seriously.

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There was a moment, I’m told, of classic international tournament basketball yesterday over in Poland.

France and Greece are tied in the dying seconds, winner wins the group. France makes a shot at the buzzer to win and the celebration? Well, more on the Greek side than the French.

The win gets France into the quarters against Spain today; Greece gets Turkey tomorrow and, apparently, that’s the most amenable matchup to the Greeks.

Check out this story courtesy of Truehoop to see what I mean.

It’s common, actually, that teams kind of jockey for position in the second round of these events to get what they think is a better quarter-final matchup.

Now that I think of it, it could be “tanking” and we all know how I feel about that.

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We’re in the bowels of the Air Canada Centre yesterday talking to Jay about coaching – you can see the newspaper fruits of our labour here – and spied a couple of familiar faces.

One new, one not so new.

Andrea came wandering out of the locker room after his daily workout, looking fine, big, healthy and happy.

Didn’t get to chat for very long but the feeling I got – and am getting from others that I talk to who know him well – is that he’s very glad to be back in Canada.

His time with the Italian national team wasn’t great by any means. He didn’t play particularly well, they lost, there were some issues between he and the coaching staff and the best part of the summer is that it’s over.

I don’t think any of it will have any impact whatsoever on his time in Toronto this year, especially the coaching issue.

If there’s one thing we can all agree on it’s that Bargnani has great respect for, and played well under, Jay. Can’t imagine why that would have changed.

The other guy?

Well, I turn around and there’s this familiar face coming out of the locker room, a face that signals some behind-the-scenes change that could have some impact on how things unfold.

He’s John Lee, an old friend and a former member of Jay’s staff with the national team way back in the day. Good guy, positive, hard-worker.

He takes over for Keith D’Amelio as the team’s assistant strength and conditioning coach; Keith’s gone on to greater things as the head man at Stanford.

Scott McCulloch’s still around as the head trainer and Francesco Cuzzolin’s the head strength and conditioning guy.

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Oh yeah, speaking of Greece, when it comes to next summer and so many of you are wondering when on earth Giorgos Printezis is going to ride across the Atlantic and make his mark on the NBA, consider this:

He cannot play at Eurobasket; why in the world would anyone think he can play in the NBA?

Word I’m hearing is CNP, which differs from DNP in the same way Cannot differs from Didn’t.

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Heard there were some fights in the arena last night? Hope people didn’t miss getting hot dogs because of the truculence. That would be too bad.

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So the First Lady Of The Beat and I are standing around talking to Jay about coaching yesterday when another subject came up.

The Olympics, which I hear are going to be somewhere in these parts soon.

Anyway, my Learned Colleague asks Jay if he’s been asked to take part in the torch relay, like Steve Nash told us he was when Nash was in town a week or so ago.

No, says Jay.

Odd, thinks I.

Wouldn’t it make sense to ask a guy with a prestigious Olympic background (screwed by politicians in ’84 on the boycott, played in ’88 in Seoul, provided one of the great stories as a coach in ’00), a connection to the Vancouver area and a high profile to do something?

Makes sense to me. How about you?

I know, he’s summer, it’s winter but, really, does that matter?

I’m telling you, getting him involved on, say, the Thursday before the Games begin, which also happens to be an off-night heading into the all-star break for the Raptors and the night Nash will be doing his gig, makes a wee bit of sense, no?

Anyone out there listening?

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Mail’s a little low, kids. And the weekend approacheth.

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Oh yeah, ran into Alvin yesterday, too.

He’s been in town a week or so working guys out, was out in L.A. working guys out last month and, just for kicks, he’s still playing some high level ball when he gets back to Philly in the summer.

I swear, if they need a 10-day guy in January, they oughta give him a look.

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You want a darkhorse – well, a relative darkhorse, I guess – at the EuroBasket?

I’m told Slovenia’s playing as well as anyone there, even without Rasho!

One of their best? The Gangster, who looks really good in the estimation of one guy there whose opinion I trust.

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I don’t know this for certain because I’ve never laid eyes on the guy but the talk around ACC is that there’s a striking resemblance between Sonny Weems and Joey Graham.

No idea if that translates into talent but, really, where else can you get this kind of arcane information to get you through another off-day in the summer?

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Some of you may know that I do a wee bit of coaching in the summer (Hi, Playoff Champion Mighty Yankees!!!) so this thing Jay’s hooked up with is pretty cool in my estimation.

Coaches, and I’m talking about the volunteers at the lower levels, often do get short shrift around these parts. Anything anyone can do to give ‘em a pat on the back is greatly appreciated.

Go here and if your guy or gal is worthy, send along a nomination.

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I’ve got Serbia, France, Turkey and Slovenia in the Euro quarters. You?

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Comments

[Patrick]

Morning Doug,

I know this is fairly inconsequential but I was just wondering which of the players are in town and participating in the informal workouts (you mentionned Andrea and I know that DeRozan, Bosh, Weems, Douby and O'Bryant have been around this week).

Maybe a better way of putting it is who hasn't arrived yet (excluding Hedo and Jose who are in Poland respectively playing/cheering on their national teams). I'm particularly interested in the "2nd unit" guys like Belinelli, Wright, Jack, Evans and Johnson... seems that I've practically named the entire team, sorry about that!

Anyway, thanks and have a good one!

Blogger's note: Last head count I had had Bargnani, Belinelli, Douby, O'Bryant, Weems, DeRozan, Wright, Johnson. Bosh was here and had to leave for a prior commitment; Hedo, Jose and Rasho due in after EuroBasket, the rest at the end of this week, start of next.

[SAM]

Good morning Doug:

I was wondering how this works: Let's say there's lock out in NBA.CB4 contract expires next summer. If there is no game, how can he make decision wether to stay in Toronto / sign a contract or not without seeing how raps play and if theyy are playoff team?

Blogger's note: I have no idea, that'd sort of be up to him, no? Thankfully, there will be no lockout until after his chance at free agency comes so it's nothing he'll have to deal with.

[brothersteve]

Joey Graham look-a-like Sonny Weems.

I brought my 2 basketball fanatic nephews with me to the season seat holder Block Party last weekend. They both told me that they saw Joey Graham when the 2 Raptor players were introduced. As that was unlikely we checked this out and Joey's other twin, Sonny Weems was the lucky player the Raptors had sent out undefended into the crowd of Leaf and Raptor fans.

They also told me they saw a brushy uni-browed Raptor that they didn't know. That was easy, Quincy Douby. He could get that brow waxed and styled now that he's got a contract again? He'd look like a new man. lol

[Eric]

It's funny how the instinct is always to be defensive,, even before anyone says anything. "Bargnani's bad summer means nothing and nothing will change and everythings just perfect and anyone who feels different is crazy and any problems with coaching stay in Italy because Triano's a swell dude and Bargnani loves him" It's just funny. Why not wait for a reason to get defensive before we do? This way it just looks like an agenda.

As a fan, it makes me uncomfortable. I wasn't going to think that Bargnani had become a primadonna. But now that you prematurely defend him the way you do, it makes me wonder. After all, they use the same philosophy in law enforcement: The guy who goes out of his way to tell you he didn't do it should be the first guy you question.

[Hooman]

I will go ahead and guarentee a win for Spain over France. And I'm not very high on Turkey since Hedo has been taking a back seat to Ilyasova in the recent games (how great would it have been if we got him from the bucks). So my picks are Serbia, Spain, Greece, Slovenia.

Doug, what's up with Hedo? I watched a game early in the tournament and he was lighting it up, now I see a bunch of poor shooting games in the Box Score. Anything to worry about? I know you're reply, "you fans are all alarmists" - well it comes from experience. Jose

Blogger's note: As I mentioned earlier this week, his knee's bothering him, he hasn't shot it well and isn't playing particularly well, either. Why? His knee's hurting a bit, no one shoots it well all the time, no one plays great all the time.

[Anthony Falcioni]

Douglas, Your blogs like today, usually don't contain any usefull information, yet I cannot seem to go through my day without reading it!! Nice job.

[petro]

Croatia... Slovenia beat Croatia twice this summer... it's tough to beat a team 3 times in a row. Croatia has been playing an 11 man rotation... they are fresh and well rested... and have the luxury of an extra day to prepare.

Greece... their system will beat out Turkey's... plus Greece plays better defense.

France... Parker will teach Rubio a lesson.

Russia... a very well coached Russian team will beat a young and fairly inexperienced Serbian team.

[Lazaros O.]

The quarts will have Serbia, Spain, Greece and Slovenia.

[Darko]

So, you are France, you are the only undefeated team so far,
arguably playing the best ball in the Euros, and for all that
good hard work your reward is ... Meeting with a World Champs
in the 1/4 finals. This falls under life sucks, sometimes.
I've got Turkey, Slovenia, Spain (who were supposed to simply
walk through these Euros) and I'll let you know about Serbia vs.
Russia after I look into tea leaves ( that's the saying, right)?
I gotta see which Serbian team shows up today.
One that shot 3's ( in the last 5 minutes of the game) 0 for 6
vs. Turkey, or very next game went 6 for 6 with missed dunk
somewhere in there, to finish off Lithuania.
Heart says (wishes) Serbia, head says that I've got no idea who wins today.
How about some "friendly" match-ups that that we got here,
Turkey-Greece, Croatia-Slovenia and possibly in the next round,
mother of all friendlies, Serbia vs. Croatia.
Should make for a very interesting finish to these Euros, which IMO will be won by Slovenia, unless they colapse mentaly.
They certainly have the talent to win the gold. If they do,
promise me you will put in your blog link to video of
The Gangster celebrating.

[Tim W.]

Here's hoping that Bargnani's play this summer was due to the coaches and how he was being utilized. We all know he needs confidence to play well. Between Bargnani's play and Turkoglu being hurt, it hasn't been a great summer for Raptors playing in Europe.

And for those interested, a new short post onmy blog:
http://www.wearingfilm.com/picketfence/

[binson]

I know Roko's no longer on the team, but have you seen any type of improvements/spectacular performaces by him this summer?

Blogger's note: Haven't seen a second of him playing, can't say

[Justin]

Triano and people like Steve Nash get tons of acolades without taking away a section of the torch relay from an average, every day non-celebrity who it would mean the world too.

[Paul T.]

Slovenia, Greece, France, Serbia.
I think Slovenia will go all the way, they have looked very good so far (crossing my fingers for Greece though!!).

[Patrick]

Hi Doug, I had one more quick question.

Is the previously mentioned Belinelli "media availability" taking place today? I know it'll probably only result in a mish-mash of cliched cookie-cutter statements ("Great to be here", "Love the city", "I can't wait to get started", etc.) but, that being said, it's still nice to here :).

Thanks again!

Bogger's note: It's actually been moved to tomorrow I've been told. I know, more breathless anticipation for another 24 hours

[Caleb]

Hey Doug, any word on when the Raptors will be doing their inter squad exhibition game in Ottawa during training camp? Went last year and it was a blast!

Blogger's note: 1 p.m., Oct. 3, Carleton; I have no ticket information.

[Marc Douris]

Great comment about the volunteer coaching throughout Canada. I recently signed up to volunteer with a youth houseleague basketball team and find it incredibly rewarding. I'm planning on completing the different levels of coaching certificates over the next few years. Who knows I could be the next Canadian coach in the NBA. People like Jay Triano help tremendously in giving people (myself included) the opportunity to advance through different stages of coaching.

People get out there and give back to your communities, the rewards are endless!!

[DC]

Doug, why did Gord Herbert not come back as an assistant coach with the Raptors this season?

A quick correction, Jay (along with Leo Rautins) was screwed out of the 1980 Olympics because of the political boycott. Jay played with Gord Herbert on the 1984 Olympic team that finished a highly credible fourth in Los Angelas.

Blogger's note: You're right, he played in 1984 and 1988; although the '84 boycott had something to do with that fourth place finish.

[Nick M]

Doug,

Oh ye of little faith. Jay won't have anytime the Thursday before the All-Star break because he will be preparing to Coach the Eastern All-Stars!

And could you ask your source if Sonny Weems resembles Good Joey or Bad Joey?

[doug]

I'll take Russia, France, Turkey, Croatia...Hedo played fine yesterday, people I think comment on here without watching any of the games.....Fiba ball is a different animal then NBA ball, a guy like Hedo excels in the NBA for the same reason as Barg's as it utilizes there skill-set better, whereas other players fans see do well in international b-ball by the boxscore and wonder why there not NBA players..there not NBA players as its just different b-ball, they utilize team concepts, rotations, minimal clearouts or set plays designed for one player etc.....as for one thing there is short training sessions, players are plugged into systems, plus international ball is far more structured with a emphasis on defense, fundamentals such as boxing out etc, as their is a lack of familiarity with your teammates for one thing so coaches need structured systems...plus NBA ball is just far more athletic as the best players in the world are in that league...so when people say Barg's or Hedo etc. are not playing well its a combination of things. In yesterdays game Slovenia didn't as much win as Turkey lost...they had a easy layup for the tie instead player dished it out for a 3 pointer to win....maybe a case of not really caring if they won due to semi-final match-up...

[petro]

Let the stars align... would be great to watch a Cro vs. Serbia semi final.

Serbia is a very young team. Most of their players are 21/22 years old.

Great for them... coach must be doing a great job.

Croatia is much older and experienced. WOuld be a great match up.

[doug]

well Serbia won...17-0 run to start second quarter...never saw the game but there a good team, I cancelled a meeting to come home and watch this France-Spain game I think it will be the game of the tourney a real humdinger..

[DirtNasty]

Doug, sorry if this has already been asked, but do you know of anywhere in T.O. us commoners can go watch some EuroBasket this weekend?

Blogger's note: I've got stuff to do Sunday so I can't see the final but know of no place for Saturday outside of, perhaps, a social club

[DirtNasty]

Oh and I can't believe you don't have Greece in your final four!!

Right after this I'll be making a template for an 'I told you so' email I will assuredly send you Monday.

[Felix G.]

Ricky schooling Parker at the end of the first quarter.

[Steph]

Doug, are you coming to London to cover the game?

Blogger's note: I will be, yes