Tim Shea's International Basketball BO-log

OK Corral

	Luis Scola and Tim Shea - Phoenix Predraft Workout

Luis Scola... Argentinean and important NBA Houston Rocket was enormous in a defeat to The Complete Team in the Olympic Semi-Finals today. Special mention to USA Coaches, alerting the players to a concentration loss and getting them “back into the game”… doing so, after a large “letdown” while jumping out to a large lead in the 1st period.(30-11) The Americans “dropped the ball” and almost let our S. American neighbors catch up. Ginobili getting hurt early and was not a factor… so bad luck intervenes. Luis Scola carried the weight in a heroic losing effort. The Dude appreciated it as did the entire Olympic basketball world.

The other Semi-Final had Spain squeezing out a win against The Northern Sharpshooters, Lithuania. Very exciting, well played game, where Lithuania was, as usual, led by the, as usual, national hero Sarunas Jasikevicius and t’was a game to remember. Special mention (merit) goes to Spain’s Coach Aito for his courage and wisdom regarding the frequent use of Ricky Rubio, very much involved in today’s victory and a “shot at the gold”, and who at 17, has become the talk of Beijing. In the end when all the media attention about Spain, Pau Gasol and Co.(including the Slanty Eyed picture) becomes history it will pale when compared to the spirit and involvement of a new generation named Ricky Rubio. He is athe crown jewel and one of the very few that the Dude would pay to see.

Finally, another important reason the American side will win the gold is on display but unmentioned. The Dude explains: Ever since FIBA and USA/NBA basketball have begun to unify criteria the International competition cannot take advantage of the historical “disparities” between the two governing bodies. Above all, a rule disparity, that just four years ago did not allow what is today permitted. To be clear… The rules have not changed… just their now very liberal interpretation. Up until these Olympics, traveling or “walking with the ball” was a constant headache for the American teams… a factor that worked to the International teams interests… but not in these Olympics. The “new” interpretation of the rules now favors the NBA style and it’s the Internationals that now have to adjust. Until then, the gold is ours. Dude’s word.

Speaking of basketball and such, how bad is the FT shooting in this Olympic tournament? Which begs the question, how bad has it become in general? Is it really becoming a lost art?

One detail I must mention about living in Spain (which probably absolutely no one cares about) is the type of basketball TV commentary that we get from the State TV owned TVE(España). Not to be outdone by the Canal+ transmissions, who do the NBA and leave much to be desired, TVE transmissions are a blend of Bull Fighting and Soccer transmissions and are more like radio transmissions at that! Nobody cares anymore?

	Billy the Kid & Pat Garrett

Please let me explain (and admit) that I was spoiled by the great Coach Dan Peterson late night Italian TV NBA transmissions in the ‘90’s. I realize now, that the best I would ever hear, in any country, was right there in front of me. I wish I had known then. He had no “Play by Play” guy… He had no “Color” guy.. HE WAS THE GUY(S). He was, compared to what we hear today, a Master of Ceremonies and I repeat, the
best I’ve ever heard. Now here, back in Spain, our TVE Olympic basketball announcers are a pair that while the “Play by Play” is done by a youngster who hopes to, one day, announce soccer games, the “Color” guy is a cheerleader for whomever is his favorite team.

Now, imagine when it’s the National Team. If the NT is losing, “There is a referee conspiracy or/and why don’t the referees penalize the USA-NBA team’s traveling VIOLATIONS!!!”(see above) and that’s a quote. While a made three point FG is a TRIIPPLEE… TRIP… TRIP… TRIP… TRIIIPLEE!!! As in… “GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAALLLLL… GO… GO.. GO.. GO… GOOOAAALLL! Well… Soccer is King and we all have our dreams. Dude’s word.

Yeah well… what’s the Dude know? He thought Billy the Kid was some kind of hero. They said Pat Garrett had his number.

For more than thirty years Tim Shea has been involved in basketball, first as a player, then a coach at the highest level in Italy, Spain and Portugal and later the International Director of Scouting for the New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns and most recently the Charlotte Bobcats. Tim is based in Lugo, Spain and gives us his unique insight into the International Basketball scene with his BO-Log (Brooklyn Outlaw log).

(This is an opinion based blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of NBADraft.net)