Q
Qba2
Guest
If you name Latvia contender, Poland is top contender...
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SunOverHStreet
Guest
I'm with you on this ''era'' thing, but there is one thing... Yugoslavia ceased to exist in '92. So, the titles from the '95, '97, '01 and the bronze from '99 belong exclusively to Serbia and Montenegro.
As for Spain, I didn't see a team with more bad luck than them. They are for sure the best selection in past six (or more) years, but something or somewhat just don't want to give them their deserved recognition. And time passes by... I have a theory for that, a bad karma surrounds Spain's team because of their whining and theatrical behavior. I don't know why are they doing such things, because that team is strong like hell and maybe plays the best bball after USA.
Y
yessuz2
Guest
I now the only thing - Lithuanians will play like at home 
Q
Qba2
Guest
poland?.... Are you kidding?I hope you are.... Poland has no chance...
Latvia may be surprise. they have good coach and a few excellent players (kambala, biedrinis, skele, valters....)
Gortat=Biedrins
Lampe (or maybe even Szewczyk)>Kambala
Logan>Valters
Koszarek=Skele or even> since Skele didn't make big progress after leaving Anwil (for me it's disappointing, but it's another topic)
Add Wójcik and Ignerski to them.
And I don't think Katzurin is bad coach
Judging by names is wrong choice for you. If you tell me that Latvians know each other better, play in the same squad for longer time etc - that's ok. But don't tell me that they have better players
P.S.
Of course I don't consider Poland as top contender, but I rate them higher than Latvia.
A
arturcia2
Guest
Gortat=Biedrins
Lampe (or maybe even Szewczyk)>Kambala
Logan>Valters
Koszarek=Skele or even> since Skele didn't make big progress after leaving Anwil (for me it's disappointing, but it's another topic)
Add Wójcik and Ignerski to them.
And I don't think Katzurin is bad coach
Judging by names is wrong choice for you. If you tell me that Latvians know each other better, play in the same squad for longer time etc - that's ok. But don't tell me that they have better players
P.S.
Of course I don't consider Poland as top contender, but I rate them higher than Latvia.
gortat (3,3pts, 3,2rb, 0,1ass) < biedrinis (11,9pts, 11,2rb, 2ass) both inNBA
lampe (11,5pts, 4,7rb, 0,9ass) < kambala (14,pts, 5,9rb, 1ass after disqualification) both in Russian SuperLeague
logan (18,3pts, 3,4rb, 3,6ass in polish league) > valters (12,8pts, 3,2reb, 4,8ass in ACB)
kozsarek (14pts, 4,5rb, 5,9ass in polish league) = skele (16,8pts, 4,3reb, 3,2ass in latvian league)
but Latvians have one great asset - the experience. as you said, Latvians know each other better, play in the same squad for longer time. They also have a number of young talents who can strengthen the team already this year.
sorry, but I think that the Latvians have more chance than the Poles to surprise
Q
Qba2
Guest
Ok, I respect your opinion and have opoosite one
But two things:
1. Comparing just by stats is not the best option. If we judge by stats Mescharakov is better than Matjaz Smodis and both play in the same league
There is "slight" difference between Chimki and Enisey, between Magic and Warriors, don't you think?
2. Remember that for Latvia this is just EuroBasket, which they play each 2 years. For Poland it's THIS ONE, they play at home etc.
and BTW question for everyone - how high do you think Polish NT can go? Maybe looking from my point of view I have too much expectations, but I think that not advancing to second round would be disaster and there is small chance for quarterfinals, Poland will need luck to beat Slovenia/Turkey/Serbia, big luck to beat Lithuania. Then I think that if Polish NT can make it into quarters, they would win WC spot by finishing in top 6/7, nothing more.
But two things:
1. Comparing just by stats is not the best option. If we judge by stats Mescharakov is better than Matjaz Smodis and both play in the same league
There is "slight" difference between Chimki and Enisey, between Magic and Warriors, don't you think?
2. Remember that for Latvia this is just EuroBasket, which they play each 2 years. For Poland it's THIS ONE, they play at home etc.
and BTW question for everyone - how high do you think Polish NT can go? Maybe looking from my point of view I have too much expectations, but I think that not advancing to second round would be disaster and there is small chance for quarterfinals, Poland will need luck to beat Slovenia/Turkey/Serbia, big luck to beat Lithuania. Then I think that if Polish NT can make it into quarters, they would win WC spot by finishing in top 6/7, nothing more.
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Get Rich Or Die Playin2
Guest
Well, I totally disagree with your comparisons.
Biedriņš is way better then Gortat. OK, Lampe is little bit better then Kambala, but it's only now - when Kambala has played few half season after two year pause.
Logan may be better scorer, but Kristaps Valters is better all around player, he's more of a point guard. I don't understand why you put Koszarek in same category as Šķēle. In my opinion, two different level players. Šķēle will play next season in ACB while Koszarek in midlevel Italian team.
And Latvia has also few more good and established players like Kristaps Janičenoks, Jānis Blūms, Sandis Valters, Kaspars Bērziņš and Uvis Helmanis. If we look at overall talent level, Latvia is better then Poland. Plus our team has good chemistry. But I'm not saying that Poland sucks, I even think that they have potential to achieve good results, because they've solid roster this year.
Mindozas6
Moderator
IMO Latvia has the edge over Poland, not a big one, but it is. If we're talking about possible achievements in upcoming EC, I think Latvia has more chances to go further, but not because the team they has, but because of the opponents they will face. Poland probably will beat Bulgaria, but I think 2nd round will be all they'll reach, while Latvia has good chances to fight even for 1st place in their group, cause Russia are really weakened without JR, Kirilenko and Savrasenko, Germany might be without Dirk and Kaman, so Latvia really has good chances to grab two wins here and as I think, France will be the team, which will qualify, but Latvia definitely can give a fight to them. However, even with 2-1 record, Latvia is contender to quaterfinals, cause from other group they'll get Greece, Croatia - hard rivals, probably too hard for latvians and most probably Israel, the team they surely capable to beat.
A
arturcia2
Guest
Ok, I respect your opinion and have opoosite one
and BTW question for everyone - how high do you think Polish NT can go? Maybe looking from my point of view I have too much expectations, but I think that not advancing to second round would be disaster and there is small chance for quarterfinals, Poland will need luck to beat Slovenia/Turkey/Serbia, big luck to beat Lithuania. Then I think that if Polish NT can make it into quarters, they would win WC spot by finishing in top 6/7, nothing more.
you'll need a lot of success to win against the spains, serbs, slovenians, turkey or lithuania. I think that this would be a miracle if you win one of these games.
sorry, but this is my opinion
Q
Qba2
Guest
I would rather not consider Spain as the same level opponent as Turkey or Serbia...
It's hard to compare them, but:
- did Skele sign with ACB team?
- it's where will they play, not where they played
- Koszarek's problem was that Anwil withdrew from Eurocup last season and he couldn't show his skills at european level
- Koszarek made big progress last two years and remember that 2 years ago he had assist record of EuroBasket
It's hard to compare them, but:
- did Skele sign with ACB team?
- it's where will they play, not where they played
- Koszarek's problem was that Anwil withdrew from Eurocup last season and he couldn't show his skills at european level
- Koszarek made big progress last two years and remember that 2 years ago he had assist record of EuroBasket
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ozziem2
Guest
??? I don't remember this
. I only remember that Spain dominated over Greece in that match.
P
penzias2
Guest
Well, a good PG would also help. Don't get me wrong, Hackett is a nice prospect but if he's the starting PG in your team, you've got a problem.
P
penzias2
Guest
The golden boys (the nickname given to the 80-81 generation after they became world junior champs) will be there at least 4 more years, and maybe 6 since the world championship will be held in Spain in 2014, so the spanish era is just beggining. Though i'd agree that they already should have won the gold medal in 2003 & 2004 but bad coaching choices killed us back then.I'm with you on this ''era'' thing, but there is one thing... Yugoslavia ceased to exist in '92. So, the titles from the '95, '97, '01 and the bronze from '99 belong exclusively to Serbia and Montenegro.
As for Spain, I didn't see a team with more bad luck than them. They are for sure the best selection in past six (or more) years, but something or somewhat just don't want to give them their deserved recognition. And time passes by... I have a theory for that, a bad karma surrounds Spain's team because of their whining and theatrical behavior. I don't know why are they doing such things, because that team is strong like hell and maybe plays the best bball after USA.
Moncho Lopez FTW!!!
V
Victorious2
Guest
??? I don't remember this
Here you go: http://www.eurobasket2007.org/en/cid_BqypGFJPHy-Nw4lwIAq,v3.gameID_5174-49-A-1.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2007.roundID_5169.teamID_362.html
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SunOverHStreet
Guest
Amen, my friend, amen...
I'm not saying that we gonna win the trophy, I'm not gonna say even that we'll get trough the group stage, but I don't get it how suddenly some guys get so cocky about their NTs. And I'm talking about GB, Poand... A long way of hard work is ahead of you. Two or three good players will get you nowhere. Deep roster is what you need, two solid or good players on every position, and then we can talk about your success.
R
Remon2
Guest
??? I don't remember this
You remember the wrong match then.
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g.g2
Guest
Most of the bookies puting Serbia 4th in line to win the tournament after Spain, Greece and Lithuania; I do believe that Serbia would appear with a very strong team, and I would love to see them on the podium but somehow I have the feeling that this young team dont have the "metal" as yet to fight the "big" boys for medal. What do you think?
S
SunOverHStreet
Guest
I would like that, but it's not real... 4-th place is very good for us, but also very far away. I really don't know. They will fight, that's for sure, but that's not enough. You have to have luck sometimes, also...
As I said before, they are young and have less experience than those NTs that you mentioned, but have great talent and will, so anything can be expected.
We have good centers and PFs, but I'm little concerned about PGs. On that position we have the most inexperienced guys on team, and you know that PG have the most important role. Maybe Tepić will move from SG to take that role with hot-headed Teodosić. We will see.