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Sports Insider2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying
July 15th 2008 14:43
Taking place in Athens is the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men’s Basketball from the 14th until the 20th of July. Team Canada had their opening match with Slovenia, which beat the only other team in Group C winning 88-76 over the Koreans to put themselves in good position to get into the Quarter Finals.
Players of note in this one are the newly acquired Rasho Nesterovic form the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert, unluckily for both they are matched up against one-another, both are steady influences on defense, with good back to the basket games.
No commentary in the game I am watching masked by all the shoe-squeaks picked up by the floor-mic.
Carl English is a player I wanted to see, I haven’t seen him since his Hawaii Rainbow Warrior days. Also included was his subsequent summer league tryout for the Pacers way back. A side note Hawaii has now dropped the Rainbow part in their nickname I am told.
A Uros Slokar sighting a late 2nd round draft pick for the Toronto Raptors. Slokar came over after a year playing pro-ball to fine tune a few things. The Raptors drafted Uros instead of fan favorite pick Juan Mendez out of Canada. Slokar’s status is unknown but he did not impress early as an energy guy looking overwhelmed by the NBA.
A great story in Joel Anthony for team Canada now playing for the Miami Heat, at 6’9” with a wingspan of 7’4” is a hardworking post player with good touch and continues to get better each and every day. For Canada to compete they will need Sammy D and JA to be firing on all cylinders. I can’t help but wonder whether some of these guys could be going for a spot in the NBA with all the summer league action going on. Everyone wants to represent their country but this would mess with their livelihoods.
A quick recap of the first quarter, Canada was unable to setup their interior game the Slovenians kept them on the perimeter where Canada seems to lack playmaking ability in traffic, 27-22 Slovenia at the end of one.
I was under the impression that Andy Rautins was an off-guard, but he mans the point. I am sure that coach/father Leo Rautins see’s him as an extension of himself and lets not kid ourselves without Steve Nash at the point team Canada do not have a solid PG. Andy will be returning to Leo’s old stomping grounds for Syracuse. He is rebounding from knee-surgery to help the Orange after losing the likes of Donte Green to the NBA.
To start the 2nd qtr. Slovenia seems to be taking control with smart decisions. But Canada battles back late with some lucky buckets and key turnovers. Joel Anthony, the lone bright spot for the Canadians. The lefty is too mobile for Rasho and too strong for the smaller guys displaying a soft touch from 15-18 feet out.
Commentary glitches back on just in time for the commentator to miss-name a Canadian as Alex English, the old Denver Nugget legend and current Assistant Coach of the Toronto Raptors. “It’s CARL!” I may be one of the only people who realize this mistake but I can take solace in that fact.
Anthony forces his game but Nesterovic gets a block and steal on consecutive possessions as Canada halts and ends the half losing 41-34. Rowan Barrett the 35 year old veteran now has his shots but for team Canada, just looks like he should be playing at the next level.
In the third Q now, I haven’t ever seen Rasho that irritated at an official that altercation coming due to a botched out of bounds play ending up as a layup at the other end for CAN.
Finally the announcer figures out that he has been calling Carl ‘Alex’ English all game and apologizes accordingly, a savvy guy. Ewwohh! Unlucky as #10 Rautins gets blocked but hits #15 Miha in the Zupans, very unfortunate as Andy catches Zupan with his off-hand.
Perfectly diagrammed play giving SLO the 3pt shot at the third period buzzer, 64-49 Slovenians. I cannot remember the last time I have seen so many steals by players who just slap down on the ball. It makes team Canada look almost amateurish. Settling for long jumpers has been Canada’s Achilles heel, just have not brought it this morning. Dalembert was invincible getting dominated by Rasho. Canada with the full court pressure gets some quick steal to bring this one closer.
Nesterovic checks out with 3:15 left in the fourth a job well done as the captain of his side. Sam checks out just after looking dejected on the bench. This game a foregone conclusion with SLO up by over a dozen with two minutes left. SLOVENIA WINS!!! 86-70, Canada must beat Korea to get into the Quarter Finals. With this win Slovenia gets to the Qtr. Final.
An inside look into a struggle of a game for Men’s basketball in Canada. Thanks for reading this was written by Scott Penny.
Players of note in this one are the newly acquired Rasho Nesterovic form the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert, unluckily for both they are matched up against one-another, both are steady influences on defense, with good back to the basket games.
No commentary in the game I am watching masked by all the shoe-squeaks picked up by the floor-mic.
Carl English is a player I wanted to see, I haven’t seen him since his Hawaii Rainbow Warrior days. Also included was his subsequent summer league tryout for the Pacers way back. A side note Hawaii has now dropped the Rainbow part in their nickname I am told.
A Uros Slokar sighting a late 2nd round draft pick for the Toronto Raptors. Slokar came over after a year playing pro-ball to fine tune a few things. The Raptors drafted Uros instead of fan favorite pick Juan Mendez out of Canada. Slokar’s status is unknown but he did not impress early as an energy guy looking overwhelmed by the NBA.
A great story in Joel Anthony for team Canada now playing for the Miami Heat, at 6’9” with a wingspan of 7’4” is a hardworking post player with good touch and continues to get better each and every day. For Canada to compete they will need Sammy D and JA to be firing on all cylinders. I can’t help but wonder whether some of these guys could be going for a spot in the NBA with all the summer league action going on. Everyone wants to represent their country but this would mess with their livelihoods.
A quick recap of the first quarter, Canada was unable to setup their interior game the Slovenians kept them on the perimeter where Canada seems to lack playmaking ability in traffic, 27-22 Slovenia at the end of one.
I was under the impression that Andy Rautins was an off-guard, but he mans the point. I am sure that coach/father Leo Rautins see’s him as an extension of himself and lets not kid ourselves without Steve Nash at the point team Canada do not have a solid PG. Andy will be returning to Leo’s old stomping grounds for Syracuse. He is rebounding from knee-surgery to help the Orange after losing the likes of Donte Green to the NBA.
To start the 2nd qtr. Slovenia seems to be taking control with smart decisions. But Canada battles back late with some lucky buckets and key turnovers. Joel Anthony, the lone bright spot for the Canadians. The lefty is too mobile for Rasho and too strong for the smaller guys displaying a soft touch from 15-18 feet out.
Commentary glitches back on just in time for the commentator to miss-name a Canadian as Alex English, the old Denver Nugget legend and current Assistant Coach of the Toronto Raptors. “It’s CARL!” I may be one of the only people who realize this mistake but I can take solace in that fact.
Anthony forces his game but Nesterovic gets a block and steal on consecutive possessions as Canada halts and ends the half losing 41-34. Rowan Barrett the 35 year old veteran now has his shots but for team Canada, just looks like he should be playing at the next level.
In the third Q now, I haven’t ever seen Rasho that irritated at an official that altercation coming due to a botched out of bounds play ending up as a layup at the other end for CAN.
Finally the announcer figures out that he has been calling Carl ‘Alex’ English all game and apologizes accordingly, a savvy guy. Ewwohh! Unlucky as #10 Rautins gets blocked but hits #15 Miha in the Zupans, very unfortunate as Andy catches Zupan with his off-hand.
Perfectly diagrammed play giving SLO the 3pt shot at the third period buzzer, 64-49 Slovenians. I cannot remember the last time I have seen so many steals by players who just slap down on the ball. It makes team Canada look almost amateurish. Settling for long jumpers has been Canada’s Achilles heel, just have not brought it this morning. Dalembert was invincible getting dominated by Rasho. Canada with the full court pressure gets some quick steal to bring this one closer.
Nesterovic checks out with 3:15 left in the fourth a job well done as the captain of his side. Sam checks out just after looking dejected on the bench. This game a foregone conclusion with SLO up by over a dozen with two minutes left. SLOVENIA WINS!!! 86-70, Canada must beat Korea to get into the Quarter Finals. With this win Slovenia gets to the Qtr. Final.
An inside look into a struggle of a game for Men’s basketball in Canada. Thanks for reading this was written by Scott Penny.
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