Features 540
Stunning Slovenia shock Spain to enter dreamland
Luka Doncic flirted with a triple double as Slovenia roared to their first every EuroBasket final, securing the nation’s first ever medal in the process. Emmet Ryan looks back on a night where every Slovenian on the floor did what was necessary to not only win but wreck Spain For Slovenia this was the biggest […]
Individual battles will define collective glory
Ahead of Serbia’s re-match with Russia, Emmet Ryan has selected three key battles that will decide who makes the semi-final. The group game won’t matter when a place in the final is at stake but there were lessons from that clash which could prove telling on Friday night The group phase game was an upset. […]
Serbia show no mercy in disposal of Italy
Italy came to Istanbul with a plan and their goal was to essentially kill basketball. Sasa Djordjevic was having none of it and neither for that matter were his bigs. Emmet Ryan on how Serbia put Italy to the sword in a clinical display that was their most accomplished of the tournament to date And […]
Alexey is Shved-ly as Russia top Greece
There were two questions going into this one. Which was the real Greece? The one in the group phase or the one that tore Lithuania apart. Also, how would Greece match up with Timofey Mozgov? We got the answer to that from the off with Georgios Papagiannis put on him right away. The latter approach […]
Doncic faces his greatest test
Ahead of Thursday’s semi final clash between Spain and Slovenia, one man is dominating the headlines. He’s a prospective first overall NBA draft pick next summer but right now Luka Doncic only cares about carrying his homeland to unthinkable glory. Emmet Ryan on the challenge ahead for Europe’s wunderkind One sequence. That’s all it took. […]
The Dragon breathes fire as Goran gets his medal shot
Finally this tournament gave us the classic we have been waiting for. The stars stepped up when it mattered. Slovenia and Latvia lobbed everything they had at each other in an offensive feast. Eventually Luka Doncic proved decisive but the story of this game, and Slovenia’s quest for a medal, belongs to Goran Dragic according […]
Sluggish Spain eventually sweep aside Germany
Sergio Scariolo had plenty to be annoyed about through the first 27 minutes, with only Pau Gasol showing up for Spain before Chacho and Marc finally got it together. This was far from vintage Spain but it was enough to take dwon Germany. Emmet Ryan says they will need to be a lot better next […]
Serbia win, Istanbul is warm, stuff happened
Serbia played Hungary in basketball. Serbia won. Other things happened. Emmet Ryan smoked and talked to people or sometimes he just listened. Rather than break down a result that everyone saw coming, BiE’s editor takes you through the experience instead He would like to live in Ireland. That’s what the Syrian doctor told me. He […]
Ruthless Italy put a halt to Markkamania
Italy rained threes early and stamped on Finland’s neck to book their place in the quarter finals in a performance that was far more comprehensive than the final scoreline suggests. Emmet Ryan on how Nik Melli made life miserable for Lauri Markkanen as Italy played a grown up game to progress It wasn’t Helsinki but […]
Doncic delights as Slovenia glide past Ukraine
It was a quiet affair in the stands but Luka Doncic dazzled as Slovenia eased past Ukraine to book their spot in the quarter finals of EuroBasket 2017. Emmet Ryan looks back on an impressive display by Doncic who is embracing his role alongside national legend Goran Dragic Four years ago today was my first […]
Bogdan wants the weight that comes with the crown
With his side in with a good shot at taking top seed out of Group D at EuroBasket 2017, Bogdan Bogdanovic has a chance to lead Serbia to its first medal finish since 2009. Bogdanovic however has been up and down across the competition, despite coming good when it matters. Emmet Ryan looks at how […]
A Saturday in Istanbul
As we reach the end of the second day of play in Group D of EuroBasket, Emmet Ryan brings you on a journey of how the tournament is being received in the massive city and the interaction with other parts of life and the rest of the competition. The key thing to bear in mind […]