2008 Beijing Olympics 10
“Too old” Ilgauskas to retire after 2010-11; will not play for Team Lithuania in Eurobasket
Lithuania-based news outlet/high-profile club sponsor Lietuvos Rytas yesterday published quite an extensive piece on Zydrunas Ilgauskas and his recent lack of playing time with the NBA’s most woeful Miami Heat. Big Z took his talents to South Beach for the veterans’ minimum salary of $1.4 million this year reportedly at the behest/encouragement of LeBron James, […]
BallinEurope’s 2010 FIBA World Championship power rankings 5.0
Right. It’s time for the final edition – pending Nenad Krstic’s prospective suspension by FIBA – of BallinEurope’s 2010 FIBA World Championship power rankings. Now that Team USA has had it out with Spain and Greece, we can see the picture a little more clearly heading into the tournament tipping off Saturday. There’s a clear […]
Spain vs. USA friendly: Five things to watch for
The biggest of all this year’s international basketball friendly matches goes down in Madrid tonight at 7pm GMT (9pm CET, 1pm EST) as prospective 2010 FIBA World Championship favorites Spain and USA meet in the first truly serious test for either team. It’s also a rematch of the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold match of sorts; […]
Remembering the other two Dream Teams of 1992
On this day of 1992 Team USA’s well-deserved induction into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame, BallinEurope again takes the opportunity to remember those other two squads competing in the Barcelona Games whose impact on an international level was almost as great and whose impact at home was inestimable. What the Dream Team gave to […]
Power ratings: 2010 FIBA World Championship
August is here and it’s full speed ahead for the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey later this month. In coming weeks, we’ll be seeing the national teams competing in the tournament playing warmup games all over the planet – indeed, some have already begun play. With the last few big names having declared “yea” […]
Look out, Bundesliga (basketball): Here comes Bayern Munchen!
Rarely is the introduction of a new second-division basketball team greeted with such fanfare; of course, it’s not every day that a world-renowned football brand like FC Bayern joins the hoops world, either. Bayern München president Uli Hoeness unveiled the new second-division club’s uniforms and future plans amid much hoopla in southern Germany on Friday, […]
On the differences between American and European basketball
One question that BallinEurope receives in the virtual inbox from time to time was asked again this week by reader Richard: [H]ave you made an article about a comparison between the NBA and Euroleague? If you haven’t, can you make one? But if you already made it, can you give me the link? Thanks. Hey, […]
Alba Torrens to Team USA, Australia: Bring it
According to FIBA, Alba Torrens has no fear. In a brief profile piece over at the governing body’s official website, the 20-year-old 2009 EuroBasket Women standout is looking forward to meeting the world’s powerhouses in next year’s FIBA Worlds. “I would like to face the USA because you always want to play a game against […]
Team Spain takes U16 tourney, garners sixth medal in 2009
Congratulations this morning go out to – believe it or not – Team Spain, who managed to knock off host Lithuania in Kaunas, 70-64. Jaime Fernandez led all scorers in the final game, putting in 20 points just as he had in the semifinal against Serbia. For those of you keeping score at home, Spain […]
Monday's cigarettes
Back from holiday, here are just a few cigarettes to start Olympic Qualifiers week in Beijing.