Interbasket always has you covered with our international basketball forum. And with the 2008 Olympics in Beijing right around the corner, we have created a special, standalone forum for all discussions surrounding Olympic Basketball (link). Register for our forum today, and immediately jump into the discussions with basketball fans from all around the world (seriously!).
We have threads for every participating Olympic national basketball team, we cover the preparation games as well as the pre-Olympic tournament in Greece. Read quotes and what the national team stars have to say,. And find out where you can watch the Olympic basketball matches locally on television or on your computer.
Some of the threads you will find in our Olympic forum: What are Argentina’s and Spain’s chances this year? Are they the favorites? Will the United States National Team continue the dominance they showed in the FIBA Tournament of the Americas last year?
Interbasket has nearly 10,000 forum members and receives thousands of unique visitors a day. Of all these members and visitors, they are as diverse as the world. What better time than the 2008 Olympics than to Join Interbasket today?
The 1992 Olympic Mens Basketball Team, or the Dream Team as they were commonly known, were the first US Olympic Team to feature professionals.
The Dream Team blew through their competition with one goal in mind - to bring the gold back to the USA after the squad of college players lost to the Soviet Union in 1988.
This legendary team featured three of the best basketball players EVER in Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. And the rest of the roster was filled with luminaries from the NBA’s Golden Era, 1980s, such as Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Clyde Drexler. The team also had the best NCAA player in Duke’s Christian Laettner, winner of the 1992 John Wooden Award.
Interbasket is offering several ways of purchasing the 1992 Dream Team’s games on DVD - individually, the Tournament of Americas set, the Barcelona Olympics set, or the entire 14 games (TOA and Olympics). The information about the DVD quality, cost, shipping/handling, and DVD labels are listed below.
Please only click ADD once - and your shopping cart will appear on the right after you have added an item.
Dream Team Sets:
TOA Set: All 6 Tournament of the Americas Games - $44.99 USD - SAVE $15 Olympic Set: All 8 Dream Team Games in Barcelona, Spain - $59.99 USD - SAVE $15 Dream Team Complete Set: All 14 Dream Team Games including the Tournament of the Americas and the 1992 Olympics. - $94.99 USD - SAVE $37 over buying individually
Tournament of Americas 1992: Individual Games
Game 1: USA 136 vs. Cuba 57 (Quality: 8.0) - $9 USD (recap) Game 2: USA 105 vs. Canada 61 (Quality: 9.5) - $9 USD Game 3: USA 112 vs. Panama 52(Quality 9.0) - $9 USD Game 4: USA 128 vs. Argentina 87(Quality 7.0) - $9 USD Game 5: USA 119 vs. Puerto Rico 81 (Quality 6.5) - $9 USD Game 6: USA 127 vs. Venezuela 80(Quality 8.5) - $9 USD
1992 Summer Olympics: Barcelona, Spain: Individual Games
Game 1: USA 116 vs. Angola 48 (Quality 9.5) - $9 USD Game 2: USA 103 vs. Croatia 70 (Quality 8.5) - $9 USD Game 3: USA 111 vs. Germany 68 (Quality 7.5) - $9 USD Game 4: USA 127 vs. Brazil 83 (Quality 7.5) - $9 USD Game 5: USA 122 vs. Spain 81 (Quality 8.5) - $9 USD Game 6: USA 115 vs. Puerto Rico 77 (Game Quality 8.0) - $9 USD Game 7: USA 127 vs. Lithuania 76 (Semifinal Game, Quality 9.0) - $9 USD Game 8: USA 117 vs. Croatia 85 (Gold Medal Game, Quality 8.5) - $9 USD
Customized DVD color labels
You may also add customized DVD labels to the TOA or Olympic Sets for an extra $5USD. Or if you buy the complete 14-game set, the cost for the labels are $7.50USD. If you choose not to have labels, I will just write each game on the DVD with a DVD marker.
DVD Labels if purchasing TOA or Olympic Set DVD Labels if purchasing complete 14-game set
Shipping Information:
Shipping cost is $1.25 USD for individual DVDs, unless when ordering a DVD set then shipping is a set amount. Shipping prices are good for the continental US, I will use USPS express shipping (3-5 business days) and will include delivery confirmation. Each DVD is shipped in a DVD sleeve and will be packaged safely. Shipping covers the cost of materials; DVD-Rs, DVD sleeves, packaging, and handling. Please allow 7-9 business days for the processing of your order and preparation. If the items need to be expedited (faster delivery) OR are shipping internationally (outside of the USA), please add another $5USD in shipping to the total amount. We do not offer delivery confirmation or insurance for orders outside of the United States.
Add Insurance - $2.50 (does not apply to international orders)
We proudly accept PayPal. Please remember to place your shipping address when submitting your order. Once I receive payment, we will confirm your payment and begin processing of your DVDs. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Dream {at} interbasket, net.
I first read about Jared Dillinger here on the Philippine basketball section of the Interbasket forums, and a lot of interest were generated about this guy, because his stats in the US NCAA Div. I was better than the other former US NCAA Div. I players now playing in the PBA.
Born Jared Bautista Dillinger to a Filipina mother and American father on Jan. 6, 1984 in Littleton, Colorado, the 24 year old Jared actively played four seasons for the University of Hawaii Warriors, and was a starter on his last year there in the 2007-2008 US NCAA Div. 1 season.
Dillinger averaged 31 mpg, 9.7 ppg, 2 apg and with a 38.3% shooting from the 3-point line as a starter. Though he’s listed as 6′5″, 200 lbs., roadwarrior (a.k.a. TV Analyst Butch Maniego) says he is likely to be only be around 6′3″.
His first 3 games on Philippine soil with the Pampanga Buddies in the Liga Pilipinas league was a bit of a disappointment because he averaged only around 5 ppg. But I finally got to see him play on TV yesterday (Saturday, June 28, 2008) in their game against the Zamboanga Amores, where he scored 15 points. Here are my notes on him.
Jared’s Game
He is tall, about 6′3″, left-handed, quick and fast, pretty good ballhandler for somebody at his height, and with a good medium body build. His leaping ability seems to be only average, he definitely does not have the kind of hops that Gabe Norwood has.
I think his main asset is his passing ability. Dillinger is a great passer, I saw him throw AT LEAST half a dozen long passes during the game, some of them on fast break plays, and all of them were spot on with no turnovers. It means he was making those passes at just the right spot, with the right speed and right lead where the receivers could easily catch them. He’s like a football quarterback throwing spot on passes downrange.
And not only is he a good passer, he also was constantly passing the ball, hoping to catch his teammates on a good scoring position. That combination of height, heft, ballhandling and passing were probably the reason why he ended up as a starter in the US NCAA Div. I college.
I have some doubts about his offense, though. He hit a couple of outside shots, but in the process also had around 2-3 airballs. He did better attacking the basket, but the Amores weren’t really playing good defence, and I keep wondering how effective he would be against PBL or PBA defenders.
Overall, I think what he has right now will be good enough for the PBA. If he can improve his offense, so much the better. I don’t envision him as a prolific, James Yap or Mark Caguioa go-to PBA superstar level, but more of a tall, athletic role player, a vital cog to a team, rather than THE main cog of a team.
As expected, Italian prospect Danilo Gallinari was the first foreign player chosen at number six by the hometown Knicks and a total of thirteen international players were selected in the 2008 NBA draft.
No doubt the influence of new Knick’s coach Mike D’Antoni had a huge impact of the pick. D’Antoni played professional ball in Italy prior to NBA coaching.
Gallinari walked up to the podium to the sound of loud boos from the Madison Square Garden crowd (when are they happy, really?), and odds are that most of the catcallers never saw the 19-year old play outside of a couple YouTube clips.
“It’s a part of the game,” Gallinari said. “All of the players have got to hear this. Not all of the time you can hear good things.”
Not only was the NY crowd rowdy about the selection of the 6-8, 210lb Italian, but so was infamous for international-basketball player-hating Dick Vitale. Vitale of course referred to his “I told you so” about the selection of Darko Milicic over Carmelo, restating what he said in 2003 “I don’t know Milicic, but I know Carmelo” (I’m sure I missed a couple “babys!” in there). Oh and Vitale also failed to mention his so-called expertise when he said that Yao Ming would be a bust pick in 2001.
The next three veins that popped out in Vitale’s head was picks 20-25, where three international players went at 20, 24, and 25. The Charlotte Bobcats selected Alexis Ajinca of France (20), Seattle took Spaniard (via Congo) Serge Ibaka, and Portland chose Nicolas Batum of France (25).
Next up was promising youngster Nikola Pekovic of Montenegro, whom played a significant role this season for Panathinaikos B.C. of the Greek League and the Euroleague. Pekovic was the first pick of the second round at #31 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nine of the thirteen international players drafted would be taken in the latter half.
Omer Asik of Turkey was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers (36), Luc Mbah a Moute of Cameroon (37), Nathan Jawai from Australia (41), Croatian Ante Tomic (44), Goran Dragic of Slovenia (45), Serbian Tadija Dragicevic (53), Aleksandr “Sasha” Kaun from Russia (56), and Semih Erden of Turkey was the last player selected in the draft (60).
In the second NBA draft that disallowed US high school players to jump straight to the NBA, a record number of freshmen were selected in the first round of the 2008 NBA draft, as well as five of the first seven players drafted (Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, OJ Mayo, Kevin Love, and Eric Gordon). Both are NBA records. The record for amount of international players drafted were 20 in both 2003 and 2004.
The Milwukee Bucks traded away Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons for Richard Jefferson of the New Jersey Nets. Though the trade happened on the day of the 2008 NBA Draft, no draft picks were exchanged.
Even though no draft picks were swapped, the move signals to the potential picks Milwaukee or New Jersey will make in tonight’s NBA draft. The Bucks pick at #8, while New Jersey has the #10 pick.
Yi Jianlian, the 7-footer from China selected sixth overall in the 2007 NBA draft, spent one up-and-down season in Milwaukee. After a promising start to the season, Yi faded during the second-half, finishing off the season wih 8.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and failed to make either All-Rookie Teams. But that didn’t deter the Nets from pursuing the promising 20-year old. “We feel that Yi can be a very special player,” said Rod Thorn, the Net’s GM, “He is a 20-year- old seven-footer who shoots the ball extremely well, and he is an excellent addition to our frontcourt. ”
And no doubt Jianlian and his agent are happy that they’ll be moving to a city with a much larger Asian population, which was the main point of contention when Yi held out last year after being selected by Milwaukee. Around 3.5% of the Wisconsin city’s population is Asian and if the state is any indication, half of that 3.5% is likely to be of Hmong descent (re: Not Chinese), while in East Rutherford, New Jersey (where the Nets play), the Asian population is roughly 10.6%.
Jianlian was packaged with Bobby Simmons, the NBA’s Most-Improved Player in 2006. “Bobby Simmons is a veteran NBA player who has averaged 10 points for his career, and should be a rotation player for us.” said Thorn.
The 6-7 Richard Jefferson, a part of the 2004 USA Olympic team that brought home the Bronze, has spent his entire eight-year career in New Jersey, and averaged a career best in points (22.7) last season. He has career averages of 17.4 ppg, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists.
“We certainly gave up a good player, but to get a good player you have to give up a good player. With Yi, we feel his upside is very up,” Thorn said. “We feel strongly (Yi’s) going to be a real good player for us.”
This month’s SLAM Magazine report is featured in the “In your face” section and focuses on the seemingly ubiquitous Sasha Vujacic, whom really made a name for himself this season, and especially in the 2008 Playoffs.
In Your Face: Teacher’s Pest
He always knew. Always felt the gaze.
Or, worse, the disapproval. He knew he was being taught to handle the pressure. Prepared for something more. It didn’t matter. Everytime Sasha Vujacic did something wrong, he was coming out of the game. Turnover? Sit down. Missed shot? On the bench.
Phil Jackson was getting him ready for this, for a real job with the Lakers. Not some blowout-time cameo. Steady
work. Shooting. Defending. Annoying. “Of course I felt I was being tested,” says Vujacic, a fourth-year guard with the Lakers.
It didn’t really begin until last year. Vujacic sat much of his first year, quite a shock after he averaged nearly 30 minutes a night with Snaidero UD in the Italian League. The next year — Jackson’s first back with the Lakers — Vujacic was used as a point guard. Bad move. But in 06-07, the trouble really started.
“I thought I had to be really perfect to play with Phil,” says the 6-7 Slovenia native. “I finally realized he was trying to make more mature basketball-wise. So, I kept my focus, and it paid off.”
The 24-year-old Vujacic became a rotation regular for L.A. this year, averaging 8.8 ppg and shooting 43.7 percent from three-point range, both career bests. His consistency has earned Jackson’s trust, as his pain-in-the-ass defense. Vujacic is such a pest that he has been attacked by Melo, elbowed by Renaldo Balkman, and shouted at by Rafer Alston. His teammates even get tired of him at times. “If being aggressive irritates opponenents, so be it,” Vujacic says “Kobe does that to me in practice, so I am used to it.”
Fans should get comfortable with Vujacic’s growth, because the tireless worker — he’ll stay in the gym during the off-season until he makes 1000 jumpers — will keep getting better. The only question now is whether that improvement will continue in L.A. — as a restriced free-agent after the season, he could move on. Then again, “L.A.’s great,” he says.
Spanish superstar Juan Carlos Navarro has decided to leave the NBA after just one season with the Memphis Grizzlies. He is returning to Spain and will suit up for FC Barcelona this coming ACB season.
Navarro’s announcement of his departure caught many by surprise, among those was Memphis General Manager Chris Wallace, “As of late Tuesday, Juan Carlos’ intention was to test the NBA free agent waters come July. However, on Wednesday he received the proverbial offer he could not refuse from his old team,” Wallace said. “We plan on extending a qualifying offer to Juan Carlos so that the Grizzlies retain the right to match any future offer if he ever decides to return to the NBA.”
The 28-year old Navarro started out the 2007-08 NBA season slowly, even though many thought joining his fellow Spanish national Pau Gasol, he would have an easier time adapting.
Navarro eventually found a rhythm for the speed and culture of the NBA by averaging 10.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists while playing in all 82 of Memphis’s games. La Bomba, as he is nicknamed, also recorded 156 three-pointers, two short of an NBA rookie record held by Kerry Kittles (which was accomplished with the shorter three-point line in 1996-97). Juan Carlos Navarro participated in the midseason NBA Rookie-Sophmore game and was named the NBA’s all-Rookie Second Team.
Despite his accomplishments and progress through his inaugural season, Navarro played for the NBA’s third-worst team and he received inconsistent minutes throughout the season - one game he would start, the next he would come off the bench. The combination of these factors more than likely played a role in his departure.
I can’t say that I blame him for leaving; Navarro was used to winning and being the man. Having to put up with starting over again, all the changes in style and culture (on and off the court), in addition to a frustrating season. However, I do believe that Navarro gave up too quickly.
The Spaniard was originally a 2002 second-round draft pick of the Washington Wizards, but instead of coming over to American immediately, Navarro stuck around the ACB and Euroleague for five years. He was then dealt to the Grizzlies previous to the 2007-08 NBA season.
And Juan Carlos Navarro won’t be back anytime soon (or ever), as he signed a five-year contract with FC Barcelona. Wallace will attempt to counter the offer, but he seems to also recognize that Navarro is gone for good, saying“ Juan Carlos made a positive contribution to the team and we wish him and his family all the best in his return to his homeland.”
Are you interested in the 1992 Olympic Dream Team DVDs? Click here
Whether you are interested in an individual game, the Olympics, the Tournament of Americas, or the entire set, Interbasket has all 14 of the Olympic Dream Team games on DVD. Catch the team that featured Magic, Bird, Jordan, Barkley, Ewing, Pippen, Drexler, Mullin, David Robinson, Stockton and Malone.
The Dream Team played fourteen games over the course of two months, in June and July of 1992, starting in Portland, Oregon for the Tournament of the Americas, the Olympic qualifying tournament, and ending their run in Barcelona, Spain for the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Watch as their opponents take group photos with the Dream Team before the game and ask for their jerseys after the game. See the plethora of sports stars and celebrities in the stands. Watch as an opponent walks up to Magic Johnson to shake his hand after he makes a free-throw. This is why there will never be another Dream Team.
Watch as these legendary individual superstars dominate the competition as a team with talent, class, style, and sportsmanship.
Interbasket always has you covered with our international basketball forum. And with the 2008 Olympics in Beijing right around the corner, we have created a special, standalone forum for all discussions surrounding Olympic Basketball (link). Register for our forum today, and immediately jump into the discussions with basketball fans from all around the world (seriously!).
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