FIBA Observations
Posted August 30th, 2006 by bwindhorst
Saitama, Japan — Greetings on Day 10 of the FIBA World Championship (whew, only four more to go!). Things are now getting serious after a few weeks of watching blowouts and skipping around Nippon. It has become very clear that this tournament is all about three teams: USA, Spain and Argentina. I will be writing a lot about them in the next few days. I really expect the semifinals and the third place and championship games to be great basketball worthy of attention from every fan.
Before that, though, I’ve seen most of the teams here and been talking with a lot of basketball junkies from around the world who are more versed in the international game than I am. The combination of both has left me with the following thoughts:
The Orlando Magic are a budding force
Building on a strong finish to the NBA season, Darko Milicic looked great here in Japan. We all know he can shoot from the outside but here he showed off a pretty impressive left-handed hook shot. He was also aggressive going to the glass. In getting eliminated by powerful Spain, he banged with Pau Gasol all night and looked like he wanted to and got 15 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Dwight Howard’s athleticism continues to blow me away. Watching him outplay Yao Ming last week in Sapporo by constantly getting in better position for rebounds re-enforced my belief he’ll be the NBA’s best rebounder for the next decade. Then again Carlos Arroyo looked great for Puerto Rico. Obviously the guy has angered a few coaches, but his talent is unquestioned.
I expect those three guys to have huge seasons this year.
Linas Kleiza has a future
Even though the once-mighty Lithuanians are rebuilding and didn’t make the semis, I was pretty impressed with Kleiza. The former Mizzou star worked to get some minutes for the Nuggets last year. He didn’t have great stats here, but he is really learning to be a bruiser and he’s already talented offensively. I don’t think he’ll ever be a star, but he’s one of those international guys who looks like he could be a valuable role player.
Remember the name Ekene Ibekwe
The Nigerians were impressive here, almost upsetting Germany in the quarterfinals. They are starting a lineage and NBA teams are noticing, of course the Cavs drafted Ejike Ugboaja in the second round this year. He wasn’t here but Ibekwe was. A junior to be at Maryland, he’s athletic and big (6-foot-9) with a nice touch that I think some GMs were impressed with. The book on him is that he isn’t always a hard worker, but he looked strong here and some think he’s a first-round pick next year.
Marco Belinelli can shoot
I wrote about him before when the Italians played Team USA. The Italian guard has a pure, quick shooting stroke that reminds me of Brent Barry and he can do it falling away. He’s also tall (6-5) and pretty athletic. He isn’t sure how soon he wants to come to the NBA, but he’s only 20 and he’s got major upside. He was terrible when the Italians got eliminated by the Lituanians, but he will probably be a first round pick in the near future.
Eye the young Greeks
Spain (Gasol, Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro and now Jorge Garbajosa) and Argentina (Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni, Fabricio Oberto, Carlos Delfino and now Walter Hermann) all have players well known to NBA fans. But both Vasileious Spanoulis and Sofoklis Schortsanitis have a chance to make a name for Greece. Spanoulis is a shooting guard who will play for the Rockets this year. Schortsanitis is a massive low post player who has to weigh close to 300 pounds that the L.A. Clippers own the rights to. He looks like Robert Traylor but he’s taller and appears to have more offensive skills. Again, I’m not predicting stardom here, but they are players who have a future in the league Americans really care about.
August 30th, 2006 at 7:10 am
Sofoklis was drafted three years ago and has ballooned and dropped so much weight that no one knows where his future lies. I can’t imagine him being able to come in and produce when known commidities like Diogu and Maxiell look about the same (though much fitter) and aren’t heralded as anything particularly special.
Can you think of a more imposing front line than the Magic starting Darko, Dwight and Hedo? Two low-post monsters on defense, two guys that will spread the offense out and no one smaller than 6′9″. Great time to live in Orlando and be a fan.
evan
August 30th, 2006 at 8:13 am
Howard’s great and Jameer Nelson sure would have been a nice draft pick for the Cavs a couple years ago, but Darko should have shown more by now if he’s going to develop into a second “low post monster” for the Magic.
And maybe I haven’t been paying a lot of attention, but didn’t Hedo peak with the Kings when he was a rookie about five years ago?
August 30th, 2006 at 9:55 am
What do you mean Darko should have shown more by now? You mean when he was riding the pine in Larry Brown’s doghouse? Or when he was promised playing time by Flip Saunders and was behind three All-Star players (Ben, Sheed and McDyess)? Meanwhile, Darko comes over to the Magic and he’s averaging over 2 blocks a game, coming off the bench, against players who had been playing all year and were in good condition. On top of everything…Darko’s only 6 months older than Dwight. If you don’t think the future is bright in Orlando, you need to tell the bartender to cut you off.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:59 am
Hedo’s actually coming on season #7 and what people haven’t seen is Darko becoming a presence alongside Dwight. He has that “it” for blocking shots and anticipating ball movement off the goal. Same way that Rodman and Wallace as great athletes, but not necessarily great basketball players found that niche.
I can’t see too many people looking to come weak side against Hedo and then having the rotation come from either or both Darko and Dwight.
evan
August 30th, 2006 at 9:59 am
remember that: when Belinelli will say it’s time to come to the Nba he’ll be one of the top-ten-picks in the Draft. He’s a fantastic basketball player; maybe even more than Bargnani. he got still a huge upside…
note these names: Datome and Gallinari. They’re gonna be the future of the italian basketball.
August 30th, 2006 at 12:41 pm
With as much time that Ferry purportedly spent in Europe scouting all these guys, you’d think the Cavs would have more to show for it than Scot Pollard. I’ve never been to Europe, and I doubt I ever will, but fresh pasta and fine wine on somebody else’s dime must be awesome.
August 30th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
The future may be bright in Orlando, but NBA players who are going to be stars usually show some promise before their fourth or seventh seasons in the league. You Orlando fellows are dreaming.
August 30th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
Yeah Larry, cause Jermaine Oneal really showed tremendous promise in his fourth year when he averaged 3pts and 3reb!!! People need to realise it takes big men a little longer to get acclimatised to the banging in the NBA. Plus Darko came into the NBA as a 17 year old, which is younger then most high schoolers. On top of that he came from Serbia and had to adjust to a WHOLE new lifestyle and language. Like Evan said, he’s only 6 months older then Dwight and actually YOUNGER then Chris Paul!!! I’ve watched EVERY one of his games in the World Championships and I see a massive future! Im a Chicago fan and Im actually envious of Orlandos future.
August 30th, 2006 at 5:50 pm
Chill, Chicago’s going to be fine as long as Sefolosha pans out. Tyrus Thomas is a big gamble, but given we’ve (practically) got the Knicks’ pick next year, now’s the time to gamble. What we need to do is tighten up the backcourt and add some leadership — Hinrich’s place is at the point, not as a combo guard, and Gordon either needs to improve his efficiency or embrace his role off the bench. Of course, a big guy wouldn’t hurt either. Let’s hope Pax is just stockpiling to make a bid on KG. Massive shame the Bulls couldn’t swing something for Darko.
Orlando’s future looks bright indeed. Except Howard just doesn’t have a clue on offense. And Nelson’s too small on D. And they’ve got next to nothing at the 2. And the NBA’s switching away from the style that allowed the ‘twin towers’ style to succeed. Coming on strong at the end of the season isn’t the best indicator of how a team’s going to fare. I think the Magic might make the playoffs next year, but they’re going to have to add a veteran or two to get anywhere substantial.
August 30th, 2006 at 5:56 pm
i’m not sold on this “orlando is the team of the future” stuff. firstly, this is the first time i have had a chance to watch dwight howard extensively and i gotta say i am sometimes astounded by his athleticism but equally as stunned by his lack of ability to do *anything* on the offensive end except dunk. i mean his hands, for being a good rebounder, seem like stone. he loses the ball *constantly* going up for shots and if he can’t dunk, actually has a hard time finishing around the hoop at all.
and why darko might be a nice player in the future, carlos arroyo is *not* even a nba-quality starter. he played *better* in the olympics a couple of years ago then he is now and he still didn’t do much the following nba season. nelson has made himself into a nice player, however but this seems like a 45-win team to me, at best.
and hey, glad to see tucker checking in with something typically pointless…i trust, tucker, that you’ve been pouring over the articles and lawsuits that are threatening to doom the brooklyn nets big plans? or is that something you’d rather not be brought up as that it might destroy your whole “LBJ is off the the nets” fantasy??
August 30th, 2006 at 6:08 pm
You’re right about the Orlando players playing great. But don’t forget about the Raptors playing in the world cup (Bosh, Garbajosa, Calderon, Slokar, Nesterovic). All of them are/were doing well so far. Bosh has impressed me. He saw that what he did was wrong, so he adjusted his game so that he gets more minutes, and so that he could also be more effective.
August 30th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
Im just not sold on all the changes we made in Chicago. I dont think with the new rules in the NBA a team that lives and dies on their defense will win a championship. Our offense is very mediocre cause the Bulls are basically a jump shooting team. I can see the parallels to the Pistons approach but when they won the title they had TWO legit low post threats in Rasheed Wallace and McDyess. Plus their go to guy in the clutch (Billups) could break down the defense and draw fouls if he had too. The Bulls dont have ANY low post threats and on top of that our go to guy (Gordon) comes off of screens for jump shots!!! We will make some noise in the regular season and playoffs but this team will NEVER be at a Championship level the way it is currently contructed. I really do hope Paxson can swing a deal for KG Ill tell you that much.
So the reason I am so optimistic about the Magics future is that they already have a very strong hi low threat in Darko and Dwight. Darko can stroke it but is also a good passer which should cover up Howards limitations in the low post. Most of the time he will be able to go to his pet moves (obviously the dunk and the power hook). On top of that both of them are very good defensively and it will be a nightmare for guards trying to penetrate the lane (which happens all the time now due to the new rules). Jameer is a solid PG and Turkuglo can get the job done at SF although I have my reservations about Reddick.
But on top of all that they could potentially have significant salary cap room next summer when a number of legit outside scorers become available (Carter or more likely Rashard Lewis). After next year they will be poised to make some SERIOUS noise!
August 30th, 2006 at 8:11 pm
Yeah, you guys are probably right. I mean Dwight shooting over 50% from the field and having 16 and 10 against Yao and Darko having 18 and 15 against Gasol means nothing. I mean if these guys who are younger than Lebron can’t dominate now, the Magic should just release them and start over.
Come on now. You guys are telling me that 20 year olds should be in their primes already? These guys are still young and learning the game of basketball. Look how long it took Dirk, T-Mac, Jermaine O’Neal, or even Kobe to get where they are. You are giving them no room for improvement here.
Hedo has just entered his prime and if you saw or read anything of what he did for the Magic at the end of the season last year you would understand what kind of role player he can be for them. How does a guy “peak” in his rookie year?? Oh and about Carlos… he is not a starter for the Magic so why make the argument that he shouldn’t be one??
The Magic have a new look and young squad that played well in their only time on the floor together and you are saying that they aren’t an up and coming team? What is your definition of an up and coming team then? Yeah, they might not end up being as good as some people think ,but you are automatically going to rule them out. You just got to love people who comment on subjects they really don’t know a whole lot about. At least come up with valid reasons you believe the Magic won’t succeed.
August 30th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
Be thankful, KJ - at least Tucker’s predictably inane remarks were brief.
So far, Ferry has been responsible for one draft, and the results appear promising. We’re supposed to get mad at him for scouting FIBA basketball? IDIOT.
Interesting to see that fans of other teams have so many better things to contribute. Although I will believe in the greatness of Orlando only when I see it.
August 31st, 2006 at 12:05 am
Dont count out the greeks just yet buddy. I’m not sold on the Magic either. Arroyo in my books is not a starter and Darko is mentally + physically soft untill proven otherwise. Howard, no questions about it, Best Rebounder next decade!!! Since Tony Parker dropped out b/c of injury, Jose Calderon is the mest point guard penetrator period! Qoute me. As good as Chris Paul!!!
August 31st, 2006 at 3:49 am
Yeah Darko is heaps soft, he only blocked Pau Gasol 3 times during a one on one post up during the Serbia v Spain game.
There is a a difference between soft and finesse. Olajuwon was a finesse player but he definitely wasnt soft.
As for Jose, he is having a good tournament but all he is in the NBA is a backup guard. Same as Arroyo. Comparing Jose to CP3 is outrageous!
August 31st, 2006 at 8:39 am
Ekene Ibekwe…I’ve been following the terps for a while now, but he has no shot. No touch. Just look at him shoot a free throw. He did “test the waters” this summer to see where he stood in the draft, but withdrew his name. No post game, no future in the NBA. Who is saying he will be picked in the first round next year?
September 1st, 2006 at 5:23 am
OPA!
September 1st, 2006 at 9:14 am
It appears to me that the Magic are about a #4 seed this year. With what the three FIBA players showed this summer, they have two starting positions and a back-up
1-guard well filled, and with Hedo and Jameer, that makes 4. And they have added strength at the 2-guard so whichever of them, JJ, Bogans, or even Grant Hill gives good minutes, puts them in good shape. Remember they have Tony, Carlos, Ariza and some other new, young players off the bench; that’s a good 9 or 10 man rotation.