This topic contains 27 replies, has 7 voices, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar Mr. 19134 13 years, 5 months ago.

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  • #22195
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    mikeyvthedon
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    I can not believe this has not been posted already. Believe me, I still am as much of an NBA elitist as ever, but this is huge. I know Kobe is hurt, and Bynum is playing, but this is a game that they just should not lose. I mean, I think it is more pressure than a team should be under to play a pre-season game against a team that has been playing together strong for quite a while, but they are the damn LA Lakers, 2 time repeating NBA champs! Odom plays 41 minutes, Gasol takes 21 shots and my brother told me Kobe had the ball in his hands at the end trying to win (shot 2-15 as well, he was very obviously hurt, but as long as you are playing, to me no big excuse). The icing on the cake is, that while Mikeal, Navarro and Vazquez all posted nice contributions (and former Steve Francis teammate and at a time big draft prospect Terrence Morris contributed 4 treys), Rubio does nothing! I mean, I did not see the game, but when you go 0-5 and have a 0.75 assist to turnover ratio, chances are your impact on the game was minimal at best. I am saying, people should be overreacting like crazy! Will the Lakers even make the play-offs? Should they trade Kobe?

    Obviously I am being sarcastic, but I want to hear what people think about this. Do people think this really plays any role as to what the Lakers might face this season? I do not really think it does, but it still leaves a sinking feeling in my stomach when the NBA’s best team and best player pull up flat to a European team with maybe 5 guys who could contribute on rosters, nothing more. Navarro could have maybe been an All-Star, Pete Mickeal could be a role player in the mode of Anthony Parker (not comparing their games, just their impact), Vazquez would be a giant step up at PF for the Magic, Rubio will more than likely helm the Wolves and Lorbek/Morris could be rotation guys, but that is not exactly meaning they are on the Lakers level. Bad teams can beat good teams on the NBA level, it happens, but it used to be a foregone conclusion that the NBA champion would beat the Euro champ by any means necessary. When Maccabi beat the Raptors, it was a pretty big deal, even though the Raptors were at best a middle of the road play-off team. But, these Lakers are a juggernaut, and even without Bynum, the player who makes their length and depth a huge chore to beat, I feel someone should have stepped up. Was Vazquez killing Gasol on D? This could have been a big opportunity for a guy like Shannon Brown to step up. I just find it hard to believe that the Lakers let this one slide. The pre-season has very little meaning in my eyes, it is just a way to warm up and get a little closer to playing shape, but these European games I think have a lot of pride involved. Do you think now they will be taken more or less seriously? I want to know what people think about this, but I think that while the Lakers clearly are not at full strength, this loss really must leave a sour taste in their mouth. The NBA will more than likely always be the best league on the planet, but it used to be the only place premier players would want to compete and prove themselves. Now, it is losing some of its lustre, and some players I believe are saying that being in the NBA is not as big of a deal as before. I am pointing to mainly the guys from Spain, Vazquez, Navarro, Rudy Fernandez, Sergio and such, but with this win, it is kind of giving more fuel to their fire. I think that the NBA teams who go into these contests need to go in with as much to prove as their European counterparts, just to really show what the NBA is all about.

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  • #410291
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    Sup
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    Eh, they also lost to Minnesota.

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  • #410295
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    Mr. 19134
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     Nah I watched the game yesterday and FYI it is replaying right now on NBA TV.  The Lakers tried to win this game.  Growing up in Italy Regal FC Barcelona is a legendary soccer team and Kobe grew up admiring them he said he got chills seeing their colors knowing they were playing against them.

    Heres a stat just so you know both teams took the game seriously.  There were 3 technical fouls in the game it was a rough physical game that was played hard on both teams.  When FC started to pull away in the 4th you saw it in Phil Jacksons face he wasn’t about to let that happen throwing Kobe, Pau, Fisher, and Odom back in the game.  

    Here’s an interesting fact remember the Grizzlies rookie Navarro well Ron Artest didn’t stand a chance guarding him.  Juan owned Ron-Ron yesterday.

    I think this is a big deal if you watched the game you saw and NBA team lose because like Rudy Fernandez will tell you the European style is greater.  I bet FC Barcelona will beat a lot of teams in the NBA in mid season form.  They way they play is hard to guard everybody touches the ball on offense and almost all their shots are open because of the way they swing the ball around.  And the shots that they got to take contested they nail because they are use to a rougher game then the NBA.  They are so fun to watch.

    And Rubio didn’t play as bad as his stats suggest, all his turnoves except one were on alley oop attempts that got tipped.  It’s obvious he got great court vision, dribbles on a string, and is a deceptive athlete was getting by Blake and Fisher easily to get into the lane.  He is also a good defender who will hawk passing lanes.

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  • #410299
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    stanford hoops

    No big deal. Preseason against a great euro team that is in season fourm. Lakers tried to win at the end but aren’t in season fourm and the game wasn’t as important to them as FC. On top of a hurt Kobe and a still vacationing(mentally) Phil Jackson. I’m happy if I’m FC because u beat the world champs but like I said it’s preseason it’s no big deal to laker fans

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  • #410300
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    mikeyvthedon
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    Were the playing NBA or European rules? From the looks of the shooting percentages, I would think European, because I am guessing the lane must have been clogged. Artest on Navarro does seem like a ridiculous match-up, that is not the type of player Artest shuts down. But where do you think FC would rank amongst NBA teams? I mean, obviously on any given day, they showed they could compete, but as much as people they have a different style of play that in some ways is probably closer to fundamentally sound basketball, the system they play in is totally different. They almost play a college style season, with games a lot further apart. The practices they go through are supposedly much more rigorous than that of the NBA, but it has often taken European players a while to adjust to the rigors of the NBA’s schedule. Yes, I realize the Lakers were smoked by the Timberwolves, but it meant so little to them, Kobe barely even played. This game obviously meant something, which was the reason Kobe had the ball in his hands to end the game. But seriously, where would FC Barcelona rank amongst the NBA? I am guessing that the rigors of the season would play a huge part, and that they would be somewhere near the bottom of the league. However, they showed that they could compete on any given night, which is impressive and indeed makes the NBA look much more mortal than many thought.

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  • #410305
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    stanford hoops

    The NBA already knows top euro teams can compete. They have said that plenty of times. Alot of fans don’t know much about euro bball so it’s a big suprise if the

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  • #410306
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    lakano
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    They used hybrid rules

    But watching the game it was obvious the Lakers were VERY rusty compared to Barcelona who is in season form

    Kobe didnt play much I think 8 minutes first qtr started the third and finished off the fourth

    The Lakers also played their bench often with Derrick Caracter and Devin Ebanks getting playing time

    IMO they never would have stood a chance had the Lakers been in season form

     

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  • #410309
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    Mr. 19134
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     FC Barcelona is undefeated against NBA teams at some point you got too realize that they are legit to NBA standards.  

    And it was a hybrid rule game.  

    And I dont wan’t to hear excuses as to why the Lakers lost with 5 minutes left the game was tied at 76 and the Lakers had Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Odom, and Gasol on the court for the remainder of the game.  And Barcelona just beat them plain out.  I understand the Lakers are in preseason form but that is the same 5 players that just won 2 Straight NBA championships.  You got to think that even on an off day they could beat 5 guys that can’t even play in the NBA.  Barcelonas best player is Navarro who couldn’t even start for the Grizzlies.  

    The Lakers are not the world champs, they are the NBA Champs.  Even Kobe acknowledged that difference.  Barcelona after winning the Euro league and beating the Lakers have more legit claim to that title.  Like honestly they do.  

    I think Barcelona if they played in the NBA this year, in the Easter Conference would make the playoffs as an 8th seed.  Sure NBA rules are different but their style of play wouldn’t have to change except for clogging the lane and Vazquez and NDong are more then athletic enough anyway to guard players one on one.  Not only that the NBA hand checking rule would greatly benefit them because they don’t get them calls in Europe.  That rule a lone is why Rubio is better suited for the NBA then Europe.

    The Lakers tried to win this game, they tried like hell to win and couldn’t because it was a poor shooting night and they were just out played too.  FC’s coach made some great defensive adjustments in the final minutes that really took away any chance of the Lakers winning.

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  • #410314
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    lakano
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    Im not taking anything away from their win they deserved it

    (Not to mention the Lakers had alot of the calls go their way in the fourth qtr.)

    but Mr.19134 do you think the game would have went the same way had the Lakers played it right after winning their Championship

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  • #410321
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    billyk
    Participant

    FC Barcelona would NOT make the playoffs in the Eastern confrence… If the played in the NBA they would be playing with NBA rules and they would be playing 82 games not just one exhibition game in front of their home fans… Really I think sometimes people get to carried away.. Pete Mickeal? Terrance Morris ? Fran Fazquez? Juan Carlos Navarro? Come on, they would get ran over a 82 games schedule… Its ONE exhibition game!!!

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  • #410326
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    llperez

    i had no idea the lakers would get thrown under the bus for this loss and people would claim barcelona the best team in the world. Im guessing the lakers would play much harder if they could do it over again. And kobe was pretty awful. Despite stats, pau was bad too missing tons of looks. If lakers are motivated they win this game. I guess the wolves are better then the lakers too?

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  • #410330
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    stanford hoops

    K let’s not go overboard   Its a nice when but it’s a preseason/exhibition game.  This team plays NBA teams before they are in true playing shape while FC is already in there regular season. Add in the different rules farther three point line and playing 4 games in a week  games and not having a deep bench and this is a lotto team. You don’t seem to be factoring in everything just one preseason game. That’s alot different from regular season where you play 82 games plus banging against a bunch of teams with different styles.  You just look at one game 

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  • #410359
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    cavairo7
    Participant

    Thats like the New Orleans Saints losing to the Canadian Football League champs.

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  • #410366
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    Mr. 19134
    Participant

     Honestly I think it would of went similar.  The Lakers would of pulled away in the fourth but the first 3 quarters would of probably looked about the same. It’s the brand of basketball they play NBA players just arent use to defending teams that have that much ball movement.  

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  • #410377
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    stanford hoops

    The coach felt that the Blaugrana had played well in the pre-season friendly on Thursday night in the 92-88 triumph, but that they would not be able to hold their own in the American basketball league. “They played well in this game, but they would not be competitive in the NBA,” he stated. “They do not have the physical capability or the height to do it, but that should not detract from their deserving win here.”

    Praise did come for the performance on the night though. “We knew that Regal Barça were a physical team,” Jackson continued. “They play with desire and endeavour. I think that Pau (Gasol) did not score a basket in the second half and that was thanks to the defensive work of Barça’s guards. They played well and scored a basket more and nine assists more. That showed that they deserved to win.”

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  • #410386
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    Mr. 19134
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     I disagree entirely with what Phil Jackson said.  Phil is speaking from his heart after being out coached and out balled against a Euro team.

    First off Phil Jackson went on to say that they don’t have the size to compete then said they held Pau Gasol without a bucket in the second half thanks to the guards…..?

    The guards werent guarding Pau Phil Fran Vazquez and Ndong were.  Then Kosta Pekovic later in the game.  And they did a great job on him.  That’s pretty much 3 7 footers who would be rotation players in the NBA.  Vazquez was a lotto pick and could start at either center or PF on half the teams in the league.  Kosta Perovic is like 7’3 and is mobile with a high skill level.  Bonafice Ndong has a 7’7 wingspan which would easily be top 3 in the NBA.

    Pete Michael is has your prototypical small forward size and is another guy who could probably start in the NBA at worse be a 8 man rotation player. 

    We already know Navarro can play.  Ricky Rubio was the 5th pick in the draft and didn’t even play in the 4th despite him being a great prospect.  And Terrence Morris is a 6’10 small forward who looked like Rashard Lewis against the Lakers.

    Barcelona has more then enough size to compete in the NBA and they have enough athleticism too.

    If Bynum was playing I think they would of went with Pau at center and Lamar at PF most of the game any way just to match the way FC was playing.  

    What they do is go 4 deep and have a player drive and kick and it works cuz they drill open shots.

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  • #410388
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    llperez

    all bias aside, the lakers were awful yesterday. Kobe shot what again? Pau pretty much got locked up after the first quarter. I dont think that game represented who the lakers were for one second. I think pretty much every team in the nba would have beat the lakers yesterday.

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  • #410393
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    llperez

    just went and checked the box score. Kobe shot 2-15 and the lakers as a team went 0-14 from 3 point land. Ask yourself, is that becasue the barcelona team are the best lockdown defenders out there or were the lakers rusty?

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  • #410404
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    billyk
    Participant

    Wait what team could Fran Vasquez start for??? Pete Michael is a bench player and so is Juan Navarro (he proved that)… Terrance Morris is SOFT… I actually thought coming out of Maryland he was gonna be a decent NBA player, but all he could do was shoot and that was the only decent skill he had (he was a BUST)… I think that Barcelona is a GREAT European team, but the NBA is a diffrent animal… Their bigs arent athletic enough to hang for a 82 games season… I think you are overrating the Barcelona players as NBA players…

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  • #410413
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    Mr. 19134
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     Juan Carlos proved he was a bench player? How?  He averaged 11 points a game in his rookie year in 26 minutes off the bench.  11 points in your rookie year is good.  And you have to believe he would of gotten better once he was acclimated to the NBA more.  If anything that’s more then Mike Conley who has been proving he’s a back up his whole career yet somehow is still a starter.

    Terrence Morris is soft.  So is Rashard Lewis.  Morris is a star in Europe and thats the only reason who don’t come to the states because teams have tried to bring him over.  He is a lot better now then he was coming out of college and did a great job going against Lamar Odom who after playing in Fiba is not rusty.  And 6’10 shooters are at a premium still in the NBA.  Look at a team like the Kings.  All bias aside Morris would probably beat out Casspi and Green for their starting SF spot.

    And Pete Mickael is an ultra athletic small forward who is just starting to hit his prime.  He can defender, dribble, pass and play both wing positions.  If Thabo Sefalosha can start in this league so can Mickael.  Pete Mickael may be better right now then Michael Pietrus.  His combine numbers were off the charts for a wing man.  His lane agility scores and 3/4 sprint were better then Russell Westbrooks.

    And do you know anything about Fran Vazquez?  The guy would easily start on over half the teams in the league right now.  Any knowledgeable NBA scout will tell you that.  He was a lottery pick 5 years ago and has only gotten better and proved he was worth where he was selected if he were to of came over.

    http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2010/6/18/1525067/givony-fran-vazquez-could-start-on

     

     

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  • #410415
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    Mr. 19134
    Participant

     Kobe shot what 7 for 24 in the finals and they still won that game.  The Lakers were out played.  If anybody watched the game like me they would know that the Lakers were really trying to win this game.  They weren’t taking any plays off.  If anything they were trying too hard.  They were just out of a rhythm in front of Regals home crowd.  They looked rattled.  Kobe was trying to do too much at the end and starting throwing up bad shots in an attempt to bring the Lakers back.  When Kobe grabs the inbounds and runs full steam up court toward the rim you know he’s trying to win. 

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  • #410417
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    stanford hoops

    Yea you are totally off the reservation. T Morris could play off the bench in a 9th man role. Navaro already proved hed be a career off the bench guy. You are looking at one preseason game and comparing it to a NBA season. I’m baffled that you even believe this nonsense. That’s like saying the players from the olympics who beat USA could all start for half the teams in the NBA because of ONE GAME. I don’t thunk it’s registering with you that it was ONE PRESEASON GAME. Good lord I know ur smarter then that. Like I said before u aren’t factoring in a NBA schedule nor the bench or back to backs. Peres game hasn’t changed Morris could always shoot. Ur clueless. Morris couldn’t start for anyone nor could Pete. Good lord

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  • #410420
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    llperez

    yeah, last 5 minutes they did try to win. I agree on that part. But early in the game kobe was not even trying to take guys off the dribble, he was settling for fadeaways like he was just trying to get comfortable like someone who is coming off surgery and not trying to push it would. Pau missed plenty of shots down low. The team went 0-14 from 3 point land. I do not think they played their hardest, if you do, then we disagree very much about what we saw. And even if you think they played hard the whole game, then you have to admit they played like crap. kobe and pau combining for 9-36 shooting means they probably lose to every team in the nba. SO not sure im gonna look at that game and say it shows barcelona is a quality nba caliber squad becasue they beat the lakers one game when they played like garbage by 4 points. Ill ask the question again, are the wolves now better then the lakers too?

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  • #410421
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    stanford hoops

    Hell by his logic that d2 team that beat the cuse could play in the bigeast. Maybe make the tournament.

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  • #410423
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    Mr. 19134
    Participant

     I never said they would beat the Lakers in a 7 game series.

    And how did Navarro prove he was an off the bench guy?  The guy was like second team all rookie in the one year he played in the league.

    He could start at shooting guard right now for the Knicks.

    And playing overseas for the best team in Europe didn’t improve Morris game?  Everybodies game matures with experience and success am I wrong?

    Click on the link everybody knows Vazquez is a stud. Would you not rather have him starting then Joel Anthony?  If you say know you’re crazy.  And Joel Anthony is the starter on a championship caliber team.  And he stinks.

    And Pete Mickael is a very good player.  He hit his peak later then most players.  He’s an all world athlete with a high basketball I.Q. and a high skill level.  Plus he is a monster defender.  There is no reason he couldn’t start on a team looking for a perimeter shooter and defender.

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  • #410432
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    billyk
    Participant

    Juan Carlos averaged 11 pts as a 28 year old rookie, but was very inefficent from the field (40%) and didnt really show any point guard skills (2 assist per game)…. So he is a 6’3 shooting guard that has a decent handle.. Really I dont think he is a starting PG on a playoff team… His style is more European than NBA, therefore I dont believe Barcelona would do to well with him as the starting PG over a 82 game NBA schedule.

    Terrence Morris is a poor mans Rashad Lewis I would give you that, but he is nowhere the shooter Rashad Lewis is.. You are right Morris is a star in Europe, but aganist NBA competition he is a bench player.. Yeah  he could probaly start over 2 unproven players, but again he is a average NBA player depending on what system he is in… I dont know how effective he would be over 82 games..

    I wouldnt say Pete Mickael is ultra athletic, he would be an average athlete compared to NBA small fowards.. Again like Morris he would be a average NBA player… I dont believe he would be as effective shooting NBA three pointers on a consistent basis.. Plus he is a journeyman player thats has just came out to his own a few years ago…

    I know Fran Fasquez was drafted by the Magic and was scared to come play with the big boys so he stayed in Europe.. He averaged 7 pts and 3 rebs last year, not exactly lighting it up.. He is a good defensive player, but thats all he is a big body that can play a defense again nothing special… He has pretty much no offensive ability from what I have seen…

    So a team with the core of NBA bench players and maybe fringe starters can make the playoffs in the Eastern Confrence?? They had a GREAT game aganist the Lakers but, lets not act as if this is a legit NBA team… NBA rules and a 82 NBA schedule… In a 7 game series the Lakers would sweep this team..

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  • #410437
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    stanford hoops

    Not to mention there starting bigs fouling out because they foul alot with hand checking and being slow footed. Defense would be a very big problem. And like I said that NBA three point line would hurt them as well

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  • #410444
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    Mr. 19134
    Participant

     No Pete Mickael went to the NBA Combine and tested as the best athlete that year.  He had a Lane agility score of 10.83 and a 3/4 sprint of 3.06.  Despite a while ago he hasn’t lost any of his athleticism.  He has only gotten better.

    http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Pete-Mickeal-5227/

    And FC Barcelonas bigs are very mobile by NBA standards.  Everybody is making a big deal about Mozgov when Vazquez is a hands down better talent.  Him and Splitter are about the same type player, Vazquez is a little better then Splitter tho.  

    Some people just don’t want to live in America Spain is a beautiful country and they are heroes there so why come to the NBA to make the same amount of money playing on a team that don’t have a shot at winning anything because of the Lakers and Heat of the world are so much better then everybody.  Really if you look at it there are only like 4 teams every year in the NBA that have a shot at even making it to the finals.  There is like 20 teams in this league that I don’t even know why they are playing the season because they have no shot of winning anything not even a division title.

    And haven’t we already established years ago that European stats don’t mean anything because they don’t translate to the NBA.  Everybody touches the ball in Europe and nobody takes over 20% of their teams shots like in the NBA.  Vazquez averages about the same numbers Gasol averaged the year before he came over and won ROY.  Even Marc Gasol didn’t average diddly doo in Europe.  Their stats are deceptive.  But Vazquez is a game changer because he gobbles up rebounds and blocks shots.  People rarely went to the rim on Barcelona last year with Vazquez their.

    And Vazquez offensive game is very similar to Biendrins.  He gets a lot of offensive puts back.  And dunks everything within 10 feet of the rim.  He is a very good athlete with like a 7’3 wingspan.  Very long and mobile.  Even by NBA standards he is an athletic big man.

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