Interbasket

With the NBA playoffs about to begin this weekend, Ibn would be remiss not to talk about the unprecedented competitive Western Conference this year and the roles that international players are having on every playoff-bound team. It’s just crazy to think that Dallas is the seventh seed, San Antonio or Phoenix will be sitting out the second round, and no team has less than 50 wins and no more than 57 wins.

And there is no less than 20 foreign-born players playing important roles on those eight teams. Interbasket will break down each team’s international player and how important they are to their team’s success.

1. Los Angeles Lakers
Key Rotation Players: Pau Gasol, Ronny Turiaf, Vladimir Radmanovic, Sasha Vujacic
International Importance: 8.5/10
Notes: The Lakers have the most players in their likely playoff rotation with four and the newest one, Pau Gasol, has arguably been the most important player for the Lakers since being stolen from Memphis. The Lakers went from being serious pretenders to contenders with the late-season addition of the Spanish Superstar and World Champion.

Vladmir Radmanovic starts for the Lakers because he has the potential to become a game-changer with his outside shot, the problem is the 6-10 Radman isn’t very consistent with his play. If Radmanovic isn’t breaking his leg in skiing accidents and lying about it, he can be a game-changer for Los Angeles.

I’m convinced that Ronny Turiaf is posed to make a splash in this year’s playoffs. With his energy, all-out hustle, defense (he led the team in blocks with 1.4 a game), and with opposing teams focusing on other players — Turiaf is going to that X-factor player that everyone talks about this time of year.

What a difference a year makes. The former-baby-faced Slovenian has longer hair, facial hair, and grown up this year for the Lakers - bringing consistency and competitiveness off the bench. Sasha Vujacic is the sniper that the Lakers need, is showing feistiness on defense while leading the Lakers in three-point shooting percentage (43.7).

2. New Orleans Hornets
Key Rotation Players: Peja Stojakovic
International Importance: 5/10
Notes: Peja not only brings his well-known three-point shooting, but also brings the most playoff experience to the inexperienced Hornets. Peja’s range keeps the middle open for Chris Paul, David West and Tyson Chandler to manuever inside.

I’m hoping Peja can help the Hornets advance and have a better playoff showing that his last couple years in Sacramento. Peja’s always been a better second or third option player, and with Chris Paul dancing around the paint and the threat of David West, Peja is free to roam the arc for open shots.

3. San Antonio Spurs
Key Rotation Players: Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto, Ime Udoka
International Importance: 10/10
Notes: International players have always played a big role with the championship Spurs teams, and with every year that Tim Duncan gets older, the more the Spurs seem to rely on French point guard Tony Parker, who doesn’t cease to amaze with his ability to finish in every circumstance, and Argentine superstar Manu Ginobili, whom has arguably been San Antonio’s best player this year.

The multi-faceted and extremely dangerous Ginobili is a wildcard on a offensively-predictable team and that’s what makes Manu so important for the Spurs. He led the Spurs in scoring this season, with career highs in points, rebounds, and assists, while partly starting and partly coming off the bench throughout the season.

Manu had a stretch, when Duncan was out with an injury, where he turned up his game in keeping the Spurs afloat during the Big Fundamental’s absence. If the Spurs win it this season, it would be surprising if Manu wasn’t named the Finals MVP (he was ROBBED last year), that’s how much the paradigm has shifted.

And Ginobili has a good repoire with San Antonio’s forgotten fifth starter Fabricio Oberto, the Spur’s center and glue guy. The Argentine center clogs up the middle, cleans up the messes and rolls to the hoop for easy baskets. As mentioned above, Oberto is sometimes the forgotten Spur, but that doesn’t mean Fab’s picks, tap outs, and layups aren’t important to their overall success.

Ime Udoka, whose father was Nigerian-born, played for the Nigerian National Team in the 2006 World Championships. Udoka has played a stabilizing role for the Spurs this season with his odd looking jumper and tough defense, many of rightfully compared his style of play and intensity to Mario Elie.

4. Utah Jazz
Key Rotation Players: Andrei Kirilenko, Memo Okur
International Importance: 8/10
Notes: AK and Memo Okur are the #3 and #4 players for the Jazz and their play is hugely important for the Utah Jazz to advance on their progress from last year. As some of you may recall, Kirilenko wasn’t in the best place last season and Memo Okur couldn’t find his outside stroke in the playoffs despite earning a reputation for being a big-time shooter. Kirilenko is playing this season as if last season didn’t happen, with renewed confidence. It’s likely he got a shot of adrenaline from leading Russia to the gold medal in the European Championships (and the automatic bid to this years Olympics).

Okur was well on his way to becoming the best Turkish player in the world before he lost his outside shot last season and before Hedo Turkoglu found his career in Orlando. Okur has suggested that his down year hasn’t affected him, that he’ll take the shots as they come. With Carlos Boozer demanding double teams and Deron Williams passing the ball, the Jazz are certainly hoping that Okur is on his game this playoff season.

5. Houston Rockets
Key Rotation Players: Luis Scola, Dikembe Mutombo
International Importance: 7/10
Notes: When Yao Ming went down, every one thought that the Rockets would go down with the 7-6 Chinese center, but that hasn’t been the case. Not by a long shot. Houston definitely is more of a threat with him in the lineup for the playoffs, but the team-based play and the impending threat that Tracy McGrady could go for 50 on any given night is what makes this current version of the Rockets go. With that said, Mutombo, at age 57, is still intimidating and blocking shots, while Scola’s adapting to the NBA game will help fuel the Rockets forward.

6. Phoenix Suns
Key Rotation Players: Steve Nash, Boris Diaw, Leandro Barbosa, Gordan Giricek
International Importance: 10/10
Notes: Steve Nash by himself is a 10/10. The reigning MVP is enough to say that international players really play important roles for the Phoenix Suns, but we need to recognize the roles that multi-talented small forward Boris Diaw, and power bench players Leandro Barbosa and troubled Gordon Giricek play for the revamped, re-Shaqed Phoenix Suns. Adding Giricek’s shot-making ability has made the Suns that much more dangerous, and his shooting will become more important as Shaquille ONeal gets more comfortable in their re-tooled offense.

I think most are still awaiting Boris Diaw to turn up his game after the trade of Shawn Marion to the Miami Hear; the high-IQ Diaw still seems as if he’s lost on offense, has been hesitant to shoot his mid-range shots and needs to shore up his intensity. If he can get it together, especially with his great passing ability, he can make an already dangerous Nash-Amare Stoudemire-Shaquille O’Neal tandem even more powerful.

7. Dallas Mavericks
Key Rotation Players: Dirk Nowitzki
International Importance: 10/10
Notes: As the 7-0 German with the gimpy ankle goes, so goes the playoff chances for the Dallas Mavericks. Enough Said. 10 out of 10. It’s going to be a ugly off-season filled with second-guessing if the Mavs don’t make it to at least game seven of the Western Conference Finals.

8. Denver Nuggets
Key Rotation Players: Linas Kleiza, Eduardo Najera, Nene
International Importance:
Notes: These three big guys cannot be more different from each other and that’s why they’ll play important roles. Linas Kleiza has become a surprisingly consistent offensive option coming off the bench with his ability to not only shoot the three but put the ball down on the floor and attack the basket with his 6-8, 255-pound frame.

Eduardo Najera really has created a great niche for himself. He’s a poor-man’s jack of all trades and I don’t mean that in a detrimental manner. He plays defense, he rebounds, he gets on the floor, dribbles, drives, and is efficient with his time. Najera has also added a consistent three-point shot, the 6-7 Mexican forward has shot and made more threes this season than in all of his seasons combined. his newfound touch which will stretch the defense for Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony to work their offensive moves with more space to spare.

Nene is working his way back into the rotation after having a tumor removed, but if the Brazilian power player can get into game shape, the Nuggets will be in good shape on the inside. Even if Nene can give 10-15 minutes of smart play, strong defense and throwing his weight around, the Denver interior will be fortified and that much more ready for a rugged playoff run. The Nuggets will need his strength to counter Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom in the first round.

What about the East? This isn’t the case in the East where the amount of international players in key roles can be counted on one hand and three fingers - Hedo Turkoglu, Jose Manuel Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Rasho Nesterovic, Anderson Varejao Sasha Pavlovic, Carlos Arroyo, and Andrea Bargnani.

None of those players are the true, unquestioned leaders that the West has in Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki. Hedo Turkoglu plays a key role in Orlando, and Calderon runs the Toronto team, but the rest of those guys are solely role players.

And those eight can be found on only four teams - Orlando, Toronto, Philadelphia, and Cleveland. The other four remaining Eastern teams; Atlanta (Zaza Pachulia), Boston, Detroit (Walter Herrmann), and Washington (Darius Songaila) have international players, but none of them play a significant enough role of mention.

Every Wednesday (almost cough cough) during the NBA season, interbasket takes a closer look at ten international NBA players that has caught our eye. (This week is for period 12/19/2007- 01/01/2008)

This week we see another European having troubles with Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, Dirk receives another award, Yi Jianlian and Linas Kleiza finding their grooves, Hedo doing his thing in Orlando, Nash is passing, Yao is boarding, Manu’s probably not going to make the all-star game this year and a partridge in a pear tree.

Due to the holidays, I wasn’t able to post my international NBA player week in review, so for this week i’ll cover 12 International NBA players to help cover some ground we may have missed.

Interbasket’s 2007 International NBA Player of the Year
So with 2007 behind us, who was your NBA international player of the year for 2007? Considering only NBA accomplishments; there’s only really a couple real candidates in my mind: Dirk Nowitzki leading that group and Steve Nash behind him. Much like how the MVP voting went for last season in which Dirk won and Nash came in second. Tony Parker was finals MVP, and Manu Ginobili joined him in adding another NBA championship ring. Anybody behind those five are really only pretenders.  So with you reading my stream-of-consiousness train-of-thought, Interbasket’s International NBA Player of the Year is Dirk Nowitzki. Congrats Dirk.

Utah says Goodbye to Gordan Giricek
Gordan Giricek has fallen out of favor with Jerry Sloan, becoming very public last week when Giricek and Sloan were seen arguing during a timeout in the second quarter of Utah’s loss at Charlotte on December 19th. Sloan sent the disgruntled Croatian guard to the locker room and Giricek didn’t see an NBA floor for the next three games. That fourth game turned out to be his last with the Utah Jazz. The Jazz sent him (and a conditional first round pick) to Philly for Kyle Korver.

GM Larry Miller gave some insight into the situation when he spoke to a local radio station (KFNZ 1320 AM). He said that assistant coach Phil Johnson once told him “Phil Johnson said, ‘Gordan Giricek is the most talented player on this team. But he won’t do what he’s supposed to do.’

The 6-6 shooting guard, who had fallen to the role of third-shooting guard, wasn’t surprised at all by the trade, saying that he had asked management to move him because he felt as he was being disrespected. “What concerned me all the time was to be respected as a man,’‘ Giricek added. “Not my role, but to be respected as a man.” Sounds familiar huh? You think he and Andrei Kirilenko has had some late-night chats?

Now, only four days after being sent to the Philadelphia 76ers, Giricek returns to Utah tonight to face his team of the last five season. Geez, I would need some time to heal, but these are grown tattooed men made of testosterone, muscles and anger — “It will be awkward a little [tonight]. I’ve been playing basketball a long time, and I don’t need any more excitement like that.’ Said Giricek ‘I don’t fall into the [trap] that this is my ex-team, they traded me and now I’m going to do everything I can to beat them. I think I’m going to see it as a game that I’m going to help my new team beat my old team.”

Hedo, He Do!
Sorry for the title. Some guy had that nickname on one of the basketball forums I frequent. Kind of funny, kind of lame.

Anyways, Hedo Turkoglu continued his fantastic season as one of the Magic’s indepensible four (Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, and Rashard Lewis are the other three) Despite Hedo having a horrible game (7-19 shooting and 7 turnovers) Turkoglu hit the game-winning jumper with 0.7 seconds left against the Chicago Bulls last week giving Orlando the 112-110 win.

Since the last report we talked of Hedo (12/05), Turkoglu’s field goal percentage has dropped, but his points per game has gone up (18.6 to 19.6) as has his rebounds (6.1 to 6.2). Helping Orlando stay on top of the Southeast division.

Kleiza Rising
Speaking of game-winners, Lithuanian Linas Kleiza found himself with the ball with seconds to spare.

After Allen Iverson drove the lane and missed, Marcus Camby tipped the ball out and Kleiza was in the right place, right time. The 6-8 muscular power forward with a nice soft touch, hit the straight-on jumper to give Denver a one-point win over the Sacramento Kings 106-105.

Linas has scored double-figures in seven of his last eight games and has seemed to hit his stride. After earning more minutes last season, Linas hasn’t quite been as consistent as he would like this season.

He’s still improving. On the season, Kleiza’s third, he is averaging career highs 10.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists. This from a guy that is seventh on the team in minutes, yet third on the team in scoring. Kleiza is sixth in the league in two-point field-goal shooting (61.1 percent). That’s saying a lot playing with the likes of green-lighters Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony. If AI and Melo are the cornerstones, it’s important to find guys that play well and efficiently with those two — Kleiza (along with Camby and Eduardo Najera) are proving to be those guys through their play.

Nash Still Passing
In his last 25 games, Canadian Superstar point guard Steve Nash has registered 23 games with double-digit assists. And for the season, he’s had 26 games (out of 31 played) with double-digit assists — Jason Kidd is second with 20 games of 10+ assist games (out of 29 games played). Nash is passing at a career-high rate at 12.4 assists a game.

Songaila Finally Misses
Darius Songaila finally missed his first free-throw and is at 24-26 this season, Songaila’s only shot 5 free-throws since the last time we reported on his streak - a duration of 18 games. Because of this, Songaila hasn’t shot enough free-throws to qualify for the league leaders, but before his miss the other night, Darius topped the list of NBA players that have shot the most free-throws without a miss.

Beno’s Ups and Downs
After going 0-8 in 29 minutes in a win over New Jersey last week, Beno Udrih hit a career-high six threes (6-7) in a win over Milwaukee the next night to the tune of 24 points. Before playing 29 minutes and putting up no points in the New Jersey game, Beno had a streak of 11 games in double-figures.

Yi Jianlian Only Bright Spot in Milwaukee
In a win over the Charlotte Bobcats, Yi Jianlian had career highs in points, FG att, FG made, and minutes. At the end of the game Yi scored 29 points, pullled down 10 rebounds and shot 14-17 from the field. Yi hit his first 12 shots before missing. Jianlian has scored in double figures in the last eight of ten games and was just named the NBA East Rookie of the month for the month of December (2007). Yi averaged 12.1 points and 6.6 rebounds in December and ranks second in scoring and rebounding among rookies.

No real surprise, Kevin Durant took home that award for the West, which brings up a good question - Is there even a small chance that Yi could change the decision-makers whom seem to be unanimously handing the award to Kevin Durant?

As of this writing, both have played 30 of their team’s 31 games, so let’s look at the stats between the two-frontrunners for Rookie of the Year:

* Kevin Durant, Seattle Sonics (9-22): 19.7 points on 40.7% from the field, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.2 blocks in 32 minutes a game.

*Yi Jianlian, Milwaukee Bucks (12-19): 11.0 points on 47.1% from the field, 6.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 28 minutes a game.

Hmmm… yep, it’s definitely still Durant at this point. However, if Durant remains steady for the season at around 20ppg and if Yi can get his point average up to 14-15 points a game, it would be a competition. In Yi’s last eight games, he’s been averaging around 34 minutes a game which is promising.

Yi’s problem? He’s the third option on the Bucks, while Durant has the green-light.

Big Z loves Team LeBron
I was watching a Cleveland game the other week and the announcers mentioned a little tidbit: Zydrunas Ilgauskas averages 16 points and shoots 51 percent from the field with Lebron James on the court, and only puts up 9/game on 36% without the King this year. Not that Big Z hasn’t proven himself previous to LeBron, but King James has definitely made things a lot easier for aging Ilgauskas who seems to have find himself open for midrange jumpshots a lot more this season.

Yao Back to the Boards
In a recent four game stretch, Yao Ming pulled down 63 total rebounds, 20 of which were offensive rebounds for averages of 15.8 rebounds per game. Unfortunately, the Rockets lost three of those four games. Yao then followed those games up with 13 rebounds in the next two games. On the season, Yao is averaging 10.6 rebounds, a career-high.

Scola Heats Up when McGrady Chills Out
Yao’s teammate Luis Scola had a string of three games in double-figures, also pulling in 25 rebounds in that stretch. The not-so-funny thing, and we’ve pointed this out in a previous update, Scola seems to play much better with Tracy McGrady injured. Of seven games that Scola has scored in double-figures, five have come when Tracy has been out injured.

Manu Ginobili Should Make the 2007 NBA All-Star Team, but won’t
I was doing my all-star picks this week and came to the realization that Manu Ginobili will more than likely be undeservingly left off the West squad. I Know that every year a couple deserving players get the shaft, but I really believe Manu should be in the same category as Dwight Howard, Kevin Gernett, Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant this year - automatic.

Thats what I think of the season Manu has had so far. Despite being injured, Ginobili has been the man this year for the Spurs. I see Manu in the same position as Josh Howard, who will make the all-star game because he has upped his game while Dirk Nowitzki has slowed down some. My all-star picks (not predictions):

East All-Star Team:
C- Dwight Howard
F - LeBron James
F - Kevin Garnett
G - Chauncey Billups
G - Jason Kidd

R - Ray Allen
R - Paul Pierce
R - Chris Bosh
R - Tayshaun Prince
R - Richard Hamilton
R - Caron Butler

West All-Star Team:
C - Yao Ming
F - Tim Duncan
F - Josh Howard
G - Kobe Bryant
G - Steve Nash

R - Brandon Roy
R - Dirk Nowitzki
R - Amare Stoudemire
R - Carmelo Anthony
R - Manu Ginobili
R - Carlos Boozer
R - Allen Iverson

*R1 - Chris Paul
*R2 - Baron Davis
*R3 - Tony Parker
*R4 - Chris Kaman
*R5 - Deron Wlliams

WOW. The West is stacked with talent, each reserve deserves a spot. With the way Portland has been playing lately, Brandon Roy is going to be a lock if they continue going down that path. On the other side, Deron Williams might be the odd man out considering the way he’s played and the Jazz’s freefall lately.

I believe Manu is the guy that’s kept the Spurs amongst the elite this season and certainly deserves a spot, but voters will likely vote for a representative from a team instead of voting another Spur or Sun in — so although I picked Manu, it’s likely Chris Paul will take his spot (and Vince Carter, Dwyane Wade and Tracy McGrady will all undeservedly make the all-star team too).

With all that in consideration it’s likely that this will be first NBA all-star game in 15 seasons where Shaquille O’Neal won’t be participating in the mid-season classic. And it may also be the game with the least amount of international players voted in (not counting Tim Duncan) since 2001.

Sources: Giricek back with Jazz following three-game cooling-off period (Canadian Press), Giricek returns to face ex-team (salt Lake City Tribune), Giricek decision will wait until Jazz return home (salt Lake City Tribune), Whatever he’s called, Kleiza makes Impact (Denver Post), Yi, Durant Named Rookies of the Month (Nba.com), 2007 NBA All-Star Returns (Nba.com)