FIBA Europe - Europe's heavyweights ready to commence battle to rule the hoop
Europe is set to find out who reigns over the courts as the European Basketball Championship starts in Spain today. Four teams in four groups will compete to be named the old continent's best basketball team. With many NBA stars taking the stage, this year may enter history books as one of the most exciting in the cup's history.
From www.turkishdailynews.com.tr
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Europe is set to find out who reigns over the courts as the European Basketball Championship starts in Spain today.
Four teams in four groups will compete to be named the old continent's best basketball team. With many NBA stars taking the stage, this year may enter history books as one of the most exciting in the cup's history.
Spain enters the tournament as one of the favorites carrying the home team advantage. More importantly, the Spaniards believe that they have the best lineup in the country's basketball history, and with names such as Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro and Pau Gasol, they have every right to feel so. Spain's opponents in Group B are Croatia, Latvia and Portugal, which is participating in the EuroBasket tournament for only the second time in its history.
Group A has a tougher draw, with four strong teams, Israel, Serbia, Russia and Greece lining up to face each other. With Efes Pilsen coach David Blatt at the helm, Russia will be trying to live up to expectations. Point guard JR Holden and Portland Trail Blazers forward Victor Khryapa are the names to watch but the key player is Andrei Kirilenko, who had his worst NBA season last year. Russia can only be a contender if the “AK 47” regains top form.
France will be without the Most Valuable Player of the 2007 NBA Finals, Tony Parker, but Boris Diaw, who is constantly improving at the Phoenix Suns will be in Spain giving a boost to “Les Bleus” in Group D. Slovenia will depend on its successful inside players such as Matjaz Smodis and Erazem Lorbek, while Poland tries to vie for a surprise playoff spot with its veterans. However, all eyes will be on Italy as the young center Andrea Bargnani takes the stage for the first time in Europe.
And finally, Turkey has been placed in the toughest foursome in Group C, where there certainly are no pushover teams. Dirk Nowitzki, who would like to claim the title of Europe's best for himself, will try to drive Germany to the finals. Lithuania has always been a team to watch and the Czech Republic has serious weapons like, Lubos Barton and Jiri Welsch.
However, Turkey has a skilled and experienced squad, and with no absentees except for injured sharpshooter Serkan Erdogan, is one of the contenders for the title. If center Mehmet Okur repeats his winning performances for the Utah Jazz on the NBA stage, there will be little to hinder Turkey's march forward. “With the position he plays, his style of play and influence, Okur is like no other. He has to be the most important player of the team,” says Batug Evcimen, the founder of the www.batug.com site, the most comprehensive NBA resource in Turkey. “Coach Bogdan Tanjevic can get the best out of Okur, if the team can connect the center as the Utah Jazz does with him.”
Topping the points, rebounds and blocks charts of the team in the recently held Efes Cup, Okur raises hope that Turkey can make it, starting tonight against Lithuania.