Svetislav Pesic 18
Twenty Years Ago Today: A European Dream Team for 1992
When basketball fans look back on the 1992 Olympic Games, the top three topics are the awesomeness of the Dream Team, the success of Lithuania playing its first Olympic hoops as an independent nation, and the success of Croatia playing its first Olympic hoops as an independent nation. Fair enough, BiE supposes, but what about […]
The Serbian Finals: A fight to the bitter end
Tonight, Partizan will host Crvena Zvezda/Red Star Belgrade in game three of the Serbian finals. BallinEurope’s man in Serbia, Marko Savkovic, offers a parental advisory: This match will resemble a street fight at some point… On Friday, Red Star finally succeeded in what seemed to be mission impossible only days ago: actually beating Partizan after […]
Valencia: Another Title for Another Ex-Yugoslavian?
In the leadup to the 2011-12 Eurocup Final Four tournament beginning on Saturday, Eurosport Turkey basketball commentator Uygar Karaca contributes a series of previews on the remaining quartet entitled “Four Teams, Four Stories” to BallinEurope. Today, Karaca takes a look at Valencia BC. Of course, we have to mention brilliant coaches like Luis Casimiro, Paco […]
Lakers scout: “Germany biggest hope for European basketball”; L.A. interested in Maik Zirbes?
Former Real Madrid/current Los Angeles Lakers scout Antonio Maceiras visited Germany last week, including a stop in Bamberg to watch Brose Baskets destroy TBB Trier (no, seriously: Just look at this box score). Naturally, this gave BallinEurope contributor David Hein the opportunity to chat with the man about working for the Los Angeles Lakers and […]
Serbian Cup final: Partizan Belgrade domination continues
Speaking of national cups, Serbia’s tournament also went down this weekend, with Partizan enjoying a 64-51 win over Red Star Belgrade. Win the win, the perpetual Euroleague side once again reasserted its supremacy back home and are on a title run longer than Montepaschi Siena’s. BallinEurope’s man in Serbia, Marko Savkovic, analyzes the keys to […]
What every young player needs: Playing time
Even in these days of internationalism, certain constants remain in European basketball vis-à-vis player development. BallinEurope’s Marko Savkovic takes a brief look at the current situation in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, with particular reference to Partizan’s Danilo Andjusic and Nemanja Nedovic of Red Star Belgrade. Ask any coach what a young player needs […]
Fallout from Eurobasket 2011: Is Serbian basketball in trouble?
With a quite respectable history over the past 20 years – particularly in the FIBA EuroBasket tournament – Serbia has earned a reputation as one of The Continent’s great basketball powers. A little concern may be justified, then, at Team Serbia’s relatively disappointing eighth-place finish in this year’s European national-team tourney; indeed, at least one […]
Real Madrid woes: EL Final Four whitewash of Whites sparks rumors of change
Just one day after getting outmuscled in two Euroleague Final Four games, Real Madrid is looking to next season and figuring to make sweeping changes – are the Whites due for yet another offseason of roster regeneration? Following Real’s 82-63 loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv, former Madrid legend/current staffer Alberto Herreros stated that the current […]
Euroleague Final Four flashback: FC Barcelona takes first EL title, 2003
While many of us (ahem) were shocked that FC Barcelona did not qualify for this year’s Euroleague Final Four to be played at the Blaugrana’s venue, Barca made good in defending home court the last time the Spanish capital hosted. In 2003, Barcelona brought a veritable dream team to the tournament to chase the team’s […]
Euroleague Final Four flashback: CSKA Moscow vs. Real Madrid, 1969
The city of Barcelona has hosted the Euroleague Final Four three times before. In 1969, 1998 and 2003; for true devotees of European basketball, the memories of these three events will be nearly as tangible as this week’s on-court action. For those who don’t (or are too young to) remember, BallinEurope this week presents looks […]
Real Madrid-Power Electronics Valencia: Recaps, videos, notes and Fearless Prediction™
The final game of the Euroleague Playoffs is tonight as Power Electronics Valencia goes to Real Madrid in a decisive game five matchup – and the seventh time the teams have faced off this season. Tipoff is set for 8.45pm CET and without further ado, let’s open up the BallinEurope notebook on the series by […]
Valencia’s oldest its newest as team signs 44-year-old Darryl Middleton
When Darryl Middleton was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, the NBA was ruled over by the likes of Larry, Magic and MJ, Sir Charles and Hakeem the Dream. Rookie of the year was Mark Jackson and the Detroit Pistons were ascending into dominance. Andrew Bynum was about nine months old; Blake Griffin and Brandon Jennings […]