Pro A 2009-2010

[forzatreviso]

According to my brother who know DaShaun well, DaShaun WOOD'agent is in touch with french Pro A team LeMans from France. They propose him a one year contract and opportunity to play the 2009-10 Euroleague (if they go past the qualifying rounds ).
To my brother, LeMans made an offert and told him about Bobby Dixon 's achievement with LeMans in French league (they won french cup and Bobby was named MVP...).
DaShaun made bad season on account of his injury (right knee) but I think Treviso should keep my favourite player !!!

[DOUM]

Hi Forzatreviso,

Tx for the news. Do you know if the deal is already done or not ?

If not, do you really think that Dashaun could sign in LE MANS ? And when ?

See you

DOUM

[forzatreviso]

Hi Forzatreviso,

Tx for the news. Do you know if the deal is already done or not ?

If not, do you really think that Dashaun could sign in LE MANS ? And when ?

See you

DOUM

It seems dat it's just an offer from LeMans. Then, i don't know if DaSh say 'yes' or turn down to it.

[CWILL]

According to a newspaper in Frankfurt/Germany french-bulgarian forward Ilian Evtimov is on his way to France.
Evtimov spent the last two seasons with Frankfurt Skyliners. But due to the club's unsolved financial situation after the 2009/2010 campaign the club is willing to part ways with Ilian. They just want to save his huge salary, so Evti is probably a free agent.

[JCM]

According to a newspaper in Frankfurt/Germany french-bulgarian forward Ilian Evtimov is on his way to France.
Evtimov spent the last two seasons with Frankfurt Skyliners. But due to the club's unsolved financial situation after the 2009/2010 campaign the club is willing to part ways with Ilian. They just want to save his huge salary, so Evti is probably a free agent.

He could be part of Orléans' roster to replace US forward Brian Greene.
It's only a supposition

[l'emigrante]

.

Paris-Levallois signed American power forward LaQuan Prowell from Casa TED Ankara

[rikhardur]

Cholet signed Nigerian Michael Efevberha.

[damelo]

The championship starts this week end. Pro B already started.

ASVEL presentation:

ASVEL this year is by far the favourite. Structurally the more stable club in France, the biggest budget, the best representative when business contacts needed in Tony Parker as a shareholder and Vice president, the last champion wants to play top 16 in EL, and needs to en the season as number 1 team. Playoffs are very short, so anything can happen, but... We could nearly say ASVEL season will be a mess without teh title.

C Curtis Bordchardt: The kind of player France forgot it exists. A big center, skillfull, one of the best in ACB last 2 years in Granada. Maybe in France and against quite smaller guys he will suffer, but his role is to be the main inside man in EL. A huge hit for ASVEL, the start to the growth as a bigger European team.

PF Eric Campbell: An undersized inside player, a great energizer, a very good defensive player, and a very serious guy. Could be by far the top player in any French contender as he was when Le Mans won with him in 2006.

SF-SG Ben Dewar: A very good player, inteligent, a kind of Chuck Eidson in my eyes. Good shooter, you can rely on him not to make mistakes.

PG Bobby Dixon: With him, Le Mans was a huge hit last year. ASVEL wanted a more known guy, but Bobby is still a good take for a French team. ASVEL is just very hungry. He will need to share the ball more in a fully loaded team.

C Bangaly Fofana: The tall young guy, last Pro A Espoirs playoffs MVP, will get his chance with the pro group. Don't expect him to play too much, but his size could be helpful in EL, and he is very mobile for his size. He still lack basketball experience, but is known as a very hardworker.

SF-SG Laurent Foirest: One of the few players from Sidney still in activity. Got rest this summer. Great passer, great shooter, he is 36, but still, one of the top players in the championship. You have to love what he brings in that team.

PG Aymeric Jeanneau: Once again, a guy that would be the top PG in the championship in any of the other teams. He is a very reliable guy. He shares the ball a lot. Not a great creator, but a system guy. He can control the tempo when needed.

SF-PF Kristjian Kanjur: You must know more about him than me. He seems to be a good pick by the club, once again...

SG Mindaugas Lukauskis: Another EL player in ASVEL. Don't know much about him, appart than he is a bigger name than what we are used to get.

SG-PG TJ Parker: The only controversial signing. After 2 nearly blank seasons in Nancy, TJ signed in Tony's ASVEL... Didn't like him much in Nancy. A shooter, that is not so good. Not really a PG at the Pro A level.

C Ali Traoré: Le magicien is the best offensive center in France since Cyril Julian retired. A great scorer, he's got an incredible talent for that. Can use both hands. Poor defender, even if he tries as much as he can. Probably the main option as center for Pro A, but undersized to defend on EL centers. He was a great help at the Euro.

Coach: Vincent Collet: The best French coach, still young, his teams are always good and play seriously.

Globally, a very equilibrated team, that will play a very built basketball which may better fit EL than Pro A. Still, they have on their bench players that would be first option in any other French team, so...

[damelo]

Preview Orleans EO45:

After the last champion let's go with last year's biggest surprise, and finalist, Orleans. They started very fast, but had only the Pro A championship to compete in. After a very good entrance in EL qualifying room, losing by only 2 for Charleroi after trailing by 21 in the 3rd in a very low scoring game, after only 3 seasons in Pro A, Orleans enters this season as a top contender, and wants to confirm they are on top of the league for a long time. With a huge support by the local institutions, this team has everything to raise a level. Only, ASVEL is still one step over. But, in a one game Final, who knows?

PG Laurent Sciarra: The old guy, second of the three Sidney players to remain in pro A this year, is still seen a te best PG in the championship by most players. His age can be remembered sometimes, but his passing abilities are unequaled, and his experience is a big plus for this very young team.

PG Aldo Curti: Coming back from a summer in which he approached the NT, Curti is a very good PG, but a poor shooter and scorer. Still, matching with papy Sciarra, his minutes will increase. He is still young, and is a great defender. He is a good arganizer, and a good passer as well. And with continuous Sciarra advise, he can't go worse than he is.

SG-SF Anthony Dobbins: Very athletic player, great on man defender like Curti, he was there last year. He'll share his minutes with Banks and Nichols outside, and is the defensive specialist.

SG Cedric Banks: Streaky shooter, able to take fire or to miss lots of shoots, always very aggressive player that brings more than his points. A little undersized, but a good mind, good passing abilities, able to help in the creation sometimes too. Usually very good when the season starts, getting tired later on.

SF-SG Austin Nichols: Coming out af a very big season, 23pts per game in Hyeres, Foreign MVP, Nichols is described as having no Ego. A great shooter, shooting very high, a great scorer, and a calm and open minded man. He is one of the two great additions to this year Orleans roster, and surprised everybody by staying in France.

PF-SF Adrien Moerman: After being pro B MVP at 19, he came last year to get a real role in Orleans. He improved behind starter Brian Greene who left. He is a huge potential, and a complete 4. One of the two member of the '88 generation paint in Orleans. It could be his season.

PF Justin Doellman: Coming out of Besancon, Don't really know what to expect. I just hope Moerman will get at least the same minutes he will have.

C Ludovic Vaty: The other '88 guy. He just came out of a great season in lost Pau, and will have the opportunity to prove he is a starter level in pro A. He was second at eval amongst French passport holders last year. Great rebounder, very powerful, he was with Ajinca as Pau's prospects during their last EL performance, and already blocked Scola I think.

C Ryon Coville: Great defensive and rebounding Center, undersized like Vaty for EL. In his second season in the club, he will most likely be the main inside threat. His competition, or addition with Vaty may be necessary if Orleans wants to play EL at full power.

Coach Philippe Hervé: Good coach, last year proved his methods are efficient.

Globally, a very good roster for French championship with 9 very good pros. But, for Europe, only 9 pros, and the Espoirs, and no big prospect coming from the club. Still, most probably integrated with the pros will be William Herve and former INSEP player Frens Johwe Casseus. BasketNews classify them as 3 in their preview behind Le Mans. With more stability, they could beat them.

[the_black_planet]

Damelo or some other guy please write some lines about the 1st matchday of the 2009-10 championship!It's known to anyone that Pro A got a great reinforcement this year,it's not only the signings of Asvel but also other very good names in Europe like Fazekas that I wish to stay more this year,Sene and more.I think Hyerre Toulon is gona have a strong team this year with the signing of Sene who was huge in 1st match.6 points but 18 boards and 5 blocks! Also Pierre Pierce for whome I'm really qurius to watch him sometime or at least learn more about his game was huge too in this match.I hope to be able to download some games of the french Pro A this year that is gonna be a strong challenge and also to watch some future Euro stars like Edwin Jackson who got back in Pro A,Thomas Huertel,Abdoulaye M'Baye and more!

[damelo]

Yep, I'll try to end the previews of each team... But, need time, and they won't be really previews then.

For the fist day, we had lots of surprises.

ASVEL lost at Dijon, Nancy lost versus Poitiers, Hyeres beat Roanne, Paris beat Gravelines.

Logical wins went on for Cholet over Rouen, and Le Havre took advantage of Vichy in a fight for stay in Pro A game.

Here's were you will be able to find all the boxscores. Two games remain to be played.

http://www.lnb.fr/index.php?pid=4

[the_black_planet]

Ok damelo then we'll wait for your next articles!Could you write next about Hyerre Toulon?

[damelo]

Since I should work but question me a lot about some stuff that could not run the way I'd like... Let's do it.

Even if the logical order wouldn't want me to do next Hyeres-Toulon preview, some reason pushed me to do so...

For this one, I'll need some help from BasketNews preview, much more than I did for the 2 first teams.

Last year's HTV struggled a lot due to injuries. They had 17 players overall signed during the year, second in France to Pau-Orthez.
Nevertheless, the MVP was once again in this little team. Austin Nichols went on for an extraordinary season. But, he left... This year, for Hyeres, to stay in Pro A will be the must-achieve objective. They will look for the playoffs, but nothing's really sure about their presence there. Let's take a look on the players:

PG-SG Pierre Pierce: Coming out of a good statistical season in which he was the second threat behind Nichols, Pierce is a low percentage outside shooter, but a very good percussion scorer. In the first game of season, he's put up good numbers(21 pts, 9rbds 8ast), but with 0/4 threes. He'll need to keep this pace for HTV to get a great season.

SF Florent Tortosa: Newly integrated in the team, he was known as a good three point shooter in Espoirs Pro A, the U22 French championship. He was part of the U20 team that won the Silver in Greece, but didn't play much there. DNP during first game.

SF Derrick Obasohan: The Nigerian is not unknown in Hyeres, a club for which he put up great numbers 2 years ago. In Strasbourg he was a great shooter, shooting 51/111 in the season, best percentage in Pro A. He can alternate at the 4 too, but needs to recover his best level. Could be a very good surprise for HTV this year. Went on for 33 points against Roanne already.

SF Hrvoje Perincic: He is the coach's player. He played for Weisz in Strasbourg, and now for HTV. His shoot and experience are precious, and he will be the mental leader of the team. A good first game, but nothing extraordinary.

SG-PG Laurent Legname: 32 years old, only one pro season away from his native South, last year in Boulogne, N1(3rd div). He is a great outside shooter before anything. He'll come frome the bench all season long.

SF Nobel Bougnou-Colo: Coming from Orleans's formation center, he is an athletic guy, competed in the 2008 slam dunk contest. Very good stealer, but even more prone to lose balls(124 stl, 130 lost in 30 games of Espoirs Pro A last year). He'll learn this season.

C Saer Sene: Tall guy, who played few in the NBA after being a 1st round pick. His size and athleticism could be a great advantage in France defensively, but I don't expect him to make such a big impact offensively. Usually, Pro A is a kingdom for small and mobile centers.
He went on for 8 points, 18 rebounds an 5 blocks and 2 ast against Roanne.

PG-SG Daniel Horton: Played a part of last season for Pau, averaging around 11 points per game, and being part of the recovery the team knew with the arrival of Dylan Page. Played the season before in HTV. He will make the backcourt with Pierce.
The only starter with a poor game against Roanne.

C Vincent Masingue: A veteran, very reliable, efficient but not so skilled. Count on him to fight in the paint, have his opponent suffering. Vinny Vinny Bang Bang was injured most of last year, and did not play the first game.
You may want to send him to the FT line when the game is on the line.

PF-C Thomas Terrell: He was one of the top players from the LEB Oro last year, maybe our Spanish friends know him. Athletic, reliable seeing his CV, he will be the main offensive threat inside. His ability to defend on bigger guys could be useful.
Had 20 points against Roanne.

Really, I can't say much on this team. Unfortunately, I just can rely on what journalists say. It seems to be a good team, but too much americanised in my opinion. I don't think they will make the playoffs personnally.

[the_black_planet]

Thank you my friend and sorry to put you out of your order,waiting for your next article!

[JGX]

A backcourt of Daniel Horton and Pierre Pierce? I hate this team even more than the German team with Rickey Paulding and Jason Gardner.