When the Los Angeles Lakers lift their banner into the rafters this year, it will most likely read ‘World Champions.’ Very cute. Too bad, however, that only Pau Gasol will be able to stare that cloth in the eye and know the title applies to him. You see, to be the champions of the world, it would make sense to…um…win the World Championships, would it not? Right now, only Gasol and his 11 Spanish teammates who took home the Gold in 2006 can claim that distinction. By September 12 of this year, 23 other nations hope they can go to Turkey and do the same. This year Euroleague Adventures will be there with them, blogging and Tweeting live from the sidelines and giving you what you’ve come to expect from ELA: a less boring perspective on international basketball. With the updated rosters of all 24 teams, news, opinions—well, mostly opinions—raps and podcasts, we’ll hold your hand all the way through the trophy games in Istanbul. You can follow your country here or, if you’re really bored you can blur your eyes and try to guess all 24 countries based on their flag designs. And yes I realize those two links bring you to literally the exact same place, but I just thought I’d give you options. After all, ‘it’s about the journey…’ and all that.
2010 FIBA World Championships
- FIBA 2010: The Hangover
- Turkey vs. USA: Can Turkey ride Tünceri's lay-up all the way to Gold?
- Freaknick broadcasting FIBA Final LIVE on BBC Radio
- How Lithuania can slow down Team USA, and what Coach K can do to stop it.
- Omri Casspi, Swastikas, and the separation of church and sport.
- Not even Lithuania knows how good Lithuania is.
- Milos Teodosic doesn't need the NBA.
- Can Spain frighten the unafraid in a Eurobasket revival against Serbia?
- Tiago Splitter: Argentina's good and the Euroleague needs more respect.
- Live IstanBLOG: It's Russia's stingy defense against Kirk Penney's Kiwis.
- Live IstanBLOG: Can Joaquim Gomes and Angola stun Team USA?
- Live IstanBLOG: France vs. Turkey
- Slovenia vs. Australia LIVE Audio Stream: Freaknick calls the game for BBC Radio
- Live IstanBLOG: Hellas vs. España
- Hedo Turkoglu and four other players who need to step up.
- Kevin Love talks about Greece. And his beard. But mainly his beard.
- Greece and the pathetic art of tanking. (Update: and France too.)
- ELATV: Lithuania still rolling.
- Live IstanBLOG: Brazil and Slovenia think second is the best.
- Live IstanBLOG: USA vs. Iran has plenty of non-nuclear storylines.
- USA and Iran are shooting jumpers, not launching missiles.
- Live IstanBLOG: Can Brazil slow Team USA's attack?
- Live IstanBLOG: Croatia vs. Slovenia in a Group B grudge match.
- Bostjan Nachbar talks about Slovenia's great fans and Beno Udrih's decision not to play.
- Live IstanTweets: Brazil vs. Tunisia
- Live IstanBLOG: Croatia vs. Iran
- Live IstanBLOG: USA vs. Slovenia
- USA vs. Slovenia Preview: Freaknick's Slovenian writing debut.
- ELA talks to Stephen Curry about Goran Dragic and Freaknick's Granddaddy
- Live IstanBLOG: Iran vs. Brazil
- IstanBLOG: USA vs. Croatia
- Live IstanBLOG: Tunisia vs. Slovenia
- FIBA 2010 Predictionpalooza: Who's Golden? Plus Group Winners, All-Tournament Team and Statistical Leaders
- The Top 50 non-USA players at the FIBA World Championships
- The Final FIBA Power Rankings: Down Under Rising.
- Dear Turkey: Get Ready. ELA is on its way.
- Freaknick's RAP-Up: "Not Afraid" featuring Nenad Krstic
- ELA featured on newest TalkBasket Podcast. Let's talk FIBA.
- Freaknick's FIBA 15: The Durantula and BasketBieber
- LIVE BLOG: Lithuania vs. United States in Madrid
- FIBA 2010: Lithuania is unknown, underrated, and dangerous as they want to be.
- VIDEO BREAKDOWN: Inside Greece and Serbia's epic brawl.
- PODCAST #67: No Dirk? No Kaman? Germany's got a back up plan for their back up plan.
- FIBA 2010: Puerto Rico's Larry Ayuso and Christian Dalmau are too cool for Turkey.
- FIBA Power Rankings, Take Two: Renaldo Balkman has Puerto Rico in beast mode.
- PODCAST #66: BallinEurope joins the ELA Podcast to talk some FIBA.
- PODCAST #65: CanBallReport joins ELA to talk Matt Bonner's citizenship, Nash's absence and a starting five Canada can be proud of.
- FIBA 2010: Argentina seems content to ignore the future.
- PODCAST: Are Les Bleus sunk without Beaubois? We talk France, Australia and FIBA.
- NEW POLL: How stupid am I for ranking Greece 7th in the FIBA Power Rankings?
- FIBA 2010 Rankings: The good, the bad and even Tunisia.
- ELATV: Javale McWho? Freaknick makes Team USA's final roster cuts.
- The Dotted Line Up: There's a new king atop the free agency food chain.
- The Dotted Line Up: Madrid goes Fisching, Rimas goes home and Roberts eats Turkey.
- Freak's Nicknames: Timofey Mozgov is: 'The Mozgov Cocktail'
- Darko.
- Team USA: Time for young stars to earn their stripes.
- Bosh out, Kleiza in? Lithuanian star waves αντίο to Olympiacos.
- BREAKING NEWS: ELA's new FIBA 2010 tab is rather awesome.
- Euroleague Adventures is going to Turkey.
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Great news, I want thank to writer becaus i have found a lot good knowledge. Im waiting for more posts. Bye!:)
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I am not sure if Milos will succeed in NBA , because it’s very different basket culture.
The same story with Papaloukas,DDwho did not try or Sasa Djordjevic,Spanoulis who did not succeed.
”If he’s learned anything from the travails of established stars like Juan Carlos Navarro and Sarunas Jasikevicius, he’ll see that trading in European stardom for NBA ambiguity is an exchange that doesn’t always go over smoothly.”
I COMPLETELY AGREE
This does not mean that NBA is blind or Milos is not a top player.
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What a beautiful game versus Argentina… I’m eagerly waiting for the match with the US, but I’ll be honest, if I was betting money on this I’d bet on USA.
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I’ve been following Teodosic since his very first day at Olympiacos and your first paragraph is just spot on.
Makes you wonder what would have happened if it was him instead of Lynn Greer with the ball, two years ago at Berlin…
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@Andrius: I’ve got to agree on all counts. The game was wonderful, I can’t wait for the follow-up, but I’d take the USA as well. But I’m from the USA and as I’ve said here…you just never know how LTU will choose to beat you when they step out there. I will say this: I am rooting for the winner of this game to take the championship.
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@jorje: That’s the issue, isn’t it? The culture. Him accepting them and vice versa. And as you said, this doesn’t mean Milos isn’t an elite player. Just cut out for a different style.
@redglove: Thanks for the read man. And it really is incredible what a jump he made from year to year. Despite his carefree attitude, the man works his ass off. You saw this year they were ready to give him the final shot (though J-Chil had to clean it up this time). He’ll hit the next one.
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Amazing game. Manu words “Argentina has got the weakest team thay could get” has helped us
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It’s nice to see original name of our team Lietuva. I do not know who was that “genius” that named our country Lithuania in English, but I would sue him if I knew.
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we are the champions
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The NBA is extremely racist against any player that is not black. If Teodosic goes to the NBA he is retarded. he will sit at the bench all year and then forever and ever until the end of time EVERY NBA fan will call him names, make fun of him, etc.
Just look at how these retarded RACIST NBA fans talk about players like Jasikevicius, Spanoulis, Navarro. It’s ridiculous, racist, and absurd. If Teodosic even thinks about going to the NBA he should be bitch slapped.
NEVER AGAIN should ANY good European player (that isn’t black) go to the incredibly RACIST NBA.
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Well, as they say, you can’t fix stupid. The vandal and the “pastor” are continuing proof of the truth to that axiom.
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And I thought putting them number 11 was to high. Shame on me. But I’m really really happy for Lithuania
I saw in the preparations that they had heart, but I never imagined it would take them so far.
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arwyta, how could you thought that putting Lithuania number 11 was too high?
Let me show you something about this NT:
Eurochamp:
* 1937 – 1 place
* 1939 – 1 place
* 1995 – 2 place
* 1997 – 6 place
* 1999 – 5 place
* 2001 – 11 place
* 2003 – 1 place
* 2005 – 5 place
* 2007 – 3 place
* 2009 – 11 place
World Championship:
* 1998 – 7 place
* 2006 – 7 place
Olympics:
* 1992 – 3 place
* 1996 – 3 place
* 2000 – 3 place
* 2004 – 4 place
* 2008 – 4 place
Sure, we all remember those two disastrous years of 2001 and 2009 (and if you would look at the roster of these teams, you might be surprised), but other than that it’s still pretty solid and steady to suggest you that belittling and underestimating this team is something you should be doing with caution! Generations change, there’re good times and bad times, but I’ll be damned if Lithuanians don’t know how to play the ball!
Kisses and keep well!
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Nick, I heard that there’s a chance of you doing more commentary on BBC world service. Is it true?
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@James: I’ve been checking in live during all of the games so far, but we’ll have the entire final live on BBC World Service, free and online. It’s a first for them, so everybody here is pretty excited. I will post a link when it’s available. We/they need feedback to convince them basketball is worth the air time.
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When you post the link, presumably the same as before, please let us know how to give them feedback. There is no “comment” link on the streaming audio site.
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Ok kl.
Man Iguodala’s D was big today. Lietuva needed a lot from Kleiza, and they got nothing. He had as many points as turnovers in the game.
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@James: Yeah it was tough for him tonight. Iggy bothered him early but he hardly tried in the second half. A 1/11 start can get to your head.
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@Eric
The NBA’s not racist and the reason why Navarro et al., didn’t succeed in it is because they lacked the speed and athleticism to guard the big PGs of the NBA.
I think Teodosic could play in the NBA because of his outside shot and his great court vision. He also has that swagger that will be his advantage when he starts playing with PGs that are stronger, faster and bigger than him.
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gansta gangsta
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You know.
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Hey Nick. Have fun during the last two (three?) games. Look forward to listening to you and Chris on the BBC and watching the game on espn. As I tweeted earlier, the last game I had tv on to watch the game and listened to BBC audio stream and the two were synched almost exactly…no delay from one to the other. Have a good time today.
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Individuals designed for greatness are going to be tested and have to deal with road blocks unlike those who are destined for mediocrity will have it easy
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acqvcsmetsroblrsyvzf, space heater, LsZveLd.
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