FIBA semi-FINAL

The FIBA World Basketball Championships are finally under way.  You may have heard about some games that were being played here and there during the last couple of weeks, and even seen some on TV, but the games that are actually deciding the outcome just started a couple of days ago.  Only six or seven teams ever had a realistic glimmer of a hope to win it all, and we're now down to four of those.

Yes, Spain is out.  The pre-tournament favorite faltered from the outset, as did co-contender Greece.  Argentina is also out, who many believed had the best shot at winning once Spain started stumbling.  Despite the impressive play of Luis Scola, they just couldn't hang with the elite this year.

And what more can we say about home-court advantage..?  Turkey glides into the semifinals undefeated, winning by mostly comfortable margins.  I can't wait to witness the hysteria that will surround the USA-Turkey final.

Which brings me to the USA-Lithuania semifinal.  In my opinion, this will be the game that determines the winner of the tournament.  I can't see our boys doing any less than winning it all in convincing fashion, but Lithuania should give them a run for their money.

Give that cat a TEAM USA jersey!  Then get me a Simit!

True, this is the same Lithuania team that we beat just a few weeks ago.  But they've stepped up their game in a big way since then, going undefeated in the tournament thus far.  Luckily, we've recently seen them up close, and we know what their strengths are.  If we can block out, pull rebounds, and defend the three point line, we'll be world champs once again. 

Take that to the bank.

The only question that remains is, what do we call this team..?  Redeem Team II? 

Eat Like The Taller Half

What, do they not have pizza in Turkey..?

Just got finished reading this article in the LA Weekly, and I say they're really on to something... I'd love to see a regular column or series that follows a pro player to his (or her) favorite hole-in-the-wall grub spots, or follows veterans when they introduce rookies or new teammates to the cutty locations that only locals know.  Love it! 

Wouldn't it at least be a solid addition to a team website?  A local paper?  Who can I pitch this idea to..?

Below the FIBA radar

Hmmm... the FIBA World Championships are in full swing, and where has all the Rudy Fernandez talk gone?  Nowhere, I say, which is exactly where Rudy will be going before the season starts.

Mi amigo, vamos a ganar

There's no doubt in my mind that ol' Rudy has grossly overvalued himself as an NBA player.  He doesn't seem to be helping his case much in Turkey, either.  If he thinks he'll be traded to a team where he'll be starting, I can tell him right now that the Washington Generals don't have the pieces for a trade, and I can't see him starting anywhere else.

Of course, anything can happen once the season starts.  Players get injured.  Unexpected teams start to make a run.  Before you know it, somebody needs some shooting and energy off the bench for their playoff push. 

Rest easy in Stumptown, Rudy.  You'll get your ticket out when the time comes.  You may even get a chance to play with one of your Spanish buddies once Sasha Vujacic wears out his welcome...

Where Will 'Melo land..?

As a side note, do we really want a league in which not only legitimate stars like Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul resort to strongarming their franchises with trade demands and list of destinations, but the likes of Rudy Fernandez as well?

We'd seen the signs...

But, to the issue at hand:  Since it's become clear that Anthony will be shipped out of Denver ASAP, it's also time to predict where he'll end up.  Y'know, because we all love predictions, especially bloggers... No skin off our asses if we're wrong, but we feel like Soothsayer Supreme if we're right. 

My vote(s): Either New Jersey or Golden State, with a slight lean toward the Nets. 

Sure, the Clippers are in LA and 'Melo's wife works there, blah blah... It's still the Clippers.  And sure, the MJ factor looms rather large in Charlotte, but it's still the Bobcats.  Remember, we're dealing with a list of demands.  Nobody demands the Clippers or the Bobcats. 

The Rockets have also been mentioned, but the uncertainty of Yao ever playing again is sure to put the kibosh on that one.  Plus, the Rockets play in Houston.  As far as I'm aware, nobody has ever demanded to go to Houston for any reason.

The Nets and the Warriors each have new owners, pending or otherwise, that are surely looking to make a big splash.  Jersey gets the advantage because of the bold swagger, the deeper pocketbooks, the City of New York, the prospect of completely owning Brooklyn, and the slightly more promising young talent. 

But at this point, would it really shock us if he signed with Miami...?

Time for shooting drills...

You might wanna work on that release...

Once again, it seems that Rajon Rondo's lack of an outside J has reared its ugly head. 

It wasn't hard to spot the Lakers' defensive strategy of "cheat off of Rondo as far as you need to" during the finals.  Much was made of it, in fact.  And whether or not RR needed any more personal bulletin board material to get him into the gym with a shooting coach, Coach K gladly gave it to him upon his exit from Team USA on Tuesday, essentially calling Rondo a "non-shooter."

Now, if I'm Rajon, and I suddenly have about a month and a half before the NBA preseason, do I let a day go by without jacking up at least 500 jumpers?

Four Teams, One Real Impact

I'm telling you... Nap Town is all that!

In the little trade that just went down between the Rockets, Hornets, Pacers, and Nets, much can be made of the Rockets shedding payroll, the Nets obtaining a hefty expiring contract, the Hornets picking up an athletic swingman that can shoot, etc. etc. etc.  Don't let the smokescreen fool you.  The fact is that this trade was swung for one huge reason and one only:  The Hornets are trying to make Chris Paul happy.  And the Pacers lucked-up and became the chief beneficiaries. 

By shipping out Darren Collison, who played far above expectations last season in Chris Paul's absence, the Hornets' front office is sending a clear message to Paul that they are committed to him for the foreseeable future. Someone apparently feels that Paul's ego and/or confidence is too fragile to have a promising young guard playing behind or beside him.  Or maybe Paul asked for this.  Who knows.  In any case, if there was ever a question, this is now undeniably Paul's team.


Forget that Collison's rookie contract will be paying him under $2 million for a few more years, right?  Well, I'll bet the Pacers don't forget it.  The team that's been famously hunting for a point guard as long as any team in the league just had one fall in their lap.  Yes friends, even in the NBA, patience can be a virtue. 

Could Be A Contender

I don't think there are many fans, writers, or analysts left that don't see the OKC Thunder as one of the top teams in the West.  One good reason is all the smart moves they're making.  Sam Presti seems satisfied with flying under the radar and building up from a solid foundation rather than making glitzy moves and jockeying for headlines. 

Don't you look at KD that way!

Case in point: OKC signed its first-round draft pick, Cole Aldrich.  This is the kind of player that every GM in the league says it wants, but instead drafts the sexier "upside" players.  Name me a team that doesn't need size and defense off the bench.  You can't.  Except maybe OKC...