Finnish NT 2015

[Joško Poljak Fan2]

One of my favourite national teams as of late.

What's the status with Eric Murphy?
Any newcomers expected in NT?

 

[Upi2]

One of my favourite national teams as of late.

What's the status with Eric Murphy?
Any newcomers expected in NT?

A few of the older players (Möttölä and Muurinen) retired from the NT. I think Eric Murphy is going to be with the team, wouldn't be all that surprised if his younger brother Alex were also in the preliminary team. Jamar Wilson is likely to join the team, just received his citizenship (married to a Finn and has been practising with the Finnish NT during the past few summers).

 

[Dirtyh2]

Jamar Wilson

Situation with American players has became so bad in some countries that I can't be happy that Jamar is joining Finnish NT. Although it is extremely difficult to get Finnish citizenship and you never get paid for playing for our NT. It helps little bit that he has practiced with team voluntarily many summers before this and players of NT seems to be happy for his status. Then again he bring new options to our back court and now sometimes Koponen can be used in a same role than he plays in Khimki with Tyrese Rice.

So nothing new, we have even better back court, great team spirit and lack of tall guys. Instead of Möttölä and Muurinen we probably have Ville Kaunisto (have been in with team since 2012) and Vesa Mäkäläinen (played in EC2011) who has improved his 3pt shot dramatically this season. And if Nuutinen can't play I hope that Joonas Caven (211 tall SF) is next in line. What is good is that Lee jr finally got deal and role for real league and Kotti was healthy and had very good season in VTB.

 

[Finnlay2]

Situation with American players has became so bad in some countries that I can't be happy that Jamar is joining Finnish NT. Although it is extremely difficult to get Finnish citizenship and you never get paid for playing for our NT. It helps little bit that he has practiced with team voluntarily many summers before this and players of NT seems to be happy for his status. Then again he bring new options to our back court and now sometimes Koponen can be used in a same role than he plays in Khimki with Tyrese Rice.

Indeed. You really don't get a Finnish citizenship (sports background or no) unless you're pretty thoroughly naturalized. Wilson has resided in Finland for the past five years, has a Finnish wife and also speaks Finnish. So he certainly is no simple mercenary with a new passport. In a strike of irony, you could, on some accounts at least, call him more Finnish than forementioned Murphy, whom the rules consider a native.

 

[Dirtyh2]

So he certainly is no simple mercenary with a new passport.

Yeah I know. Don't get me wrong. I'm just so sick and tired of this whole naturalization thing.

 

[Upi2]

I'm just so sick and tired of this whole naturalization thing.

I might be also if basketball were pretty much the only reason for naturalization (~Bo McCalebb, Andray Blatche, etc.). In Jamar Wilson's case at least it doesn't seem to be, although the NT would definitely benefit.

Perhaps the rules (allowing player poaching, naturalized bb players, Wild Card system in the World Cup, etc.? ) are what they are because FIBA has nothing on FIFA when it comes to corruption...?

And I wouldn't be surprised if both Kaunisto and Mäkäläinen were cut from the final Finnish NT (to be honest, perhaps even hoping so, especially when it comes to the latter name), but they do deserve a place in the prelim team (and have chance to prove my views wrong). I just think e.g. Caven and Alex Murphy would likely be better and both of them having their best basketball years ahead of them makes them stronger choices for the team's future.

 

[Dirtyh2]

I just think e.g. Caven and Alex Murphy would likely be better and both of them having their best basketball years ahead of them makes them stronger choices for the team's future.

Taking those 2 leaves only 3 players who could make screens. And neither can play defense against opponent's PF/C. We're living scary moments because I think this is Kotti's last summer with NT.

 

[slice me nice2]

So tell me Finnish fellas, will the son of Beşiktaş Erik Murphy join the team? or he will concern himself with individual training during the whole summer that I have heard something about this.

 

[Finnlay2]

So tell me Finnish fellas, will the son of Beşiktaş Erik Murphy join the team?

Now that it was made official, Henrik Dettmann called it "a move that will serve both Besiktas and the NT". So I'd say it's a pretty safe assumption that he will. We'll know on July 20th when the team gathers to the first camp and the long roster is released. Until then, all players involved are training individually (or vacationing).

Besides, training individually vs. training under coaches who run the show in both ends? It'll be like an extended training camp to him.

 

[Finnlay2]

Finland's long list of candidates, 20 strong:

PG Roope Ahonen, free agent
PG Tuomas Hirvonen, Kouvolan Kouvot
PG Petteri Koponen, BC Khimki
PG Antero Lehto, Tampereen Pyrintö
PG Antto Nikkarinen, Helsinki Seagulls
PG Jamar Wilson, free agent
SG Fiifi Aidoo, HBA
SG Mikko Koivisto, free agent
SG Sasu Salin, BC Gran Canaria
SF Shawn Huff, MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg
SF Carl Lindbom, Helsinki Seagulls
SF Alexander Madsen, Kouvolan Kouvot
SF Oskar Michelsen, Davidson College
SF Matti Nuutinen, free agent
PF Joonas Cavén, free agent
PF Ville Kaunisto, Kouvolan Kouvot
PF Lauri Markkanen, HBA
PF Erik Murphy, Besiktas JK
CE Tuukka Kotti, Loimaa Bisons
CE Gerald Lee Jr, free agent

Most notable omission is veteran PG Teemu Rannikko, who is sidelined due to to some kind of injury.


While there are plenty of young guys on the list, I don't expect the final team to look all that radically different from previous years. Something like this...

PG Koponen, Wilson, Lehto
SG Salin, Koivisto
SF Huff, Nuutinen
PF Murphy, Kaunisto, ?
CE Lee, Kotti

When you enter the usual suspects and other probable paint-ins, all there really is left is one forward slot that could get somewhat contested. But seeing who grabs it will be interesting, as all the remaining candidates are more or less part of the junior detachment.

 

[Dirtyh2]

I guess that Carl Lindbom is pretty valid choice. In Finnish league he has to play against quicker Americans but I actually think that he is usefull for EC. Euro SF/PF are of course strong and skilled players but they are not that quick. And he has done good job in Universiade.

I really hope that Nuutinen can play and both Rannikko and Möttölä are assistant coaches with Lassi Tuovi.

With Madsen, Markkanen, Aidoo, Pöllä and Maxhuni we have somekind of future. Now we just need to wait and what's gonna happen.

 

[Mindozas6]

Expected to see Alex Murphy atleast in the list, strange he isn't there

 

[Dirtyh2]

Expected to see Alex Murphy atleast in the list, strange he isn't there

Maybe he has to go back to school. He said in twitter that he is going back to US in August. So he is having vacation in Finland or practice with senior NT after Universiade.

 

[Finnlay2]

I guess that Carl Lindbom is pretty valid choice. In Finnish league he has to play against quicker Americans but I actually think that he is usefull for EC. Euro SF/PF are of course strong and skilled players but they are not that quick. And he has done good job in Universiade.

My guess would be either him or Cavén.

Kinda bummed as well to see the middle Murphy missing. He was by and far our MVP in the Universiade and looked more than able to take the next step.

 

[Dirtyh2]

Cavén.

I was very disappointed on his performance in Universiade. It seems that he is not able to find his own role. He is like SG or SF in way too tall but way too thin body and neither he or coaches knows what to do with him. He's still only 22yo so in a right place anything can happen but there's no time for wrong places anymore. I can't see him in senior NT with out some injuries.

I wonder why Anton Odabasi is missing.

Third guard is also a little question mark. Antero Lehto had very little role in Serie A and his display in WC wasn't that great either. He is good player but I think he is one of those players who need bigger role to be good. That said I think that third guard should be either Aidoo or Hirvonen. Neither of them is better than Ahonen, Lehto or Nikkarinen but third guard is getting something like 1mpg and if Koponen or Wilson in tournament gets injured we are in trouble anyway. If before then Lehto is best choice.

Same thing if Huff, Nuutinen or one of the big guys can't play we should take Jonas Cáven and if two of those then Alexander Madsen, Lauri Markkanen or Oscar Michelsen too.

Very thin material now when older guys are stepping out. 9 players rotation is looking good anyway but absolutely no place for injuries.

 

[Finnlay2]

I was very disappointed on his performance in Universiade. It seems that he is not able to find his own role. He is like SG or SF in way too tall but way too thin body and neither he or coaches knows what to do with him. He's still only 22yo so in a right place anything can happen but there's no time for wrong places anymore. I can't see him in senior NT with out some injuries.

I'm not actually stating my own preferences, simply trying to figure what Dettmann might do. The current lineup pretty much dictates that he's forced to pick at least one of the kids to fill the forward ranks, and as of right now we have no candidate who is head-and-shoulders above the rest.

Luckily, there's no reason to be overly cynical with HD at the helm. He may play with favorites every once in a while, but he's not a deeply conservative coach who's afraid of dropping some familiar faces if another distinguishes himself, especially if we're talking about coming-from-the-bench picks at best. Still, if none of the fresh faces have a standout display, Cavén may end up making it on the fact alone that he is currently the one who's spent most time with the senior team.

Third guard is also a little question mark. Antero Lehto had very little role in Serie A and his display in WC wasn't that great either. He is good player but I think he is one of those players who need bigger role to be good. That said I think that third guard should be either Aidoo or Hirvonen. Neither of them is better than Ahonen, Lehto or Nikkarinen but third guard is getting something like 1mpg and if Koponen or Wilson in tournament gets injured we are in trouble anyway. If before then Lehto is best choice.

Overall Lehto is our 3rd best PG right now, so I wonder if Dettmann's going to go as far as think their readiness while coming in cold. I was highly concerned about our guard situation after WC since it was also a pretty damning example of what happens if you only have Koponen to lean to. I didn't and don't have high hopes on Ahonen or Nikkarinen taking any great strides forward (though I suppose Lehto is a prime example of someone becoming a solid performer even at a later age). The chance to include Wilson is going to remedy a lot, even if he isn't any kind of long-term solution. Still, we should get just enough miles out of him 'til we have one of the youngsters ready to grab a spot.

Personally it makes little difference to me who's gonna be the 3rd guard in these games, but I still kinda figure Dettmann's not going to veer too far from the tangent here. Of course, it's going to take a step out of the challengers if all the final spots are known to be filled from the get-go. So I suppose it could be better to maintain at least token ambiguity behind the top-two rather than have four other guards around who feel that they're just going through the motions.

Still, I'm one of those who doesn't really think that having a guy make the final team simply to "gather XP for the future" is a valid reason. Not alone, at least. You pick 'em when they're ready (or you have no better options). Though occasionally I do find myself disagreeing with the coach on when they're supposed to be ready. Further incubation is no valid reason either if the more established options aren't really that much better.

 

[Joško Poljak Fan2]

Congrats on upsetting France, even if it's a friendly game.
How does the team look like so far? Did Murphy change the playing style noticably?

 

[Finnlay2]

How does the team look like so far? Did Murphy change the playing style noticably?

You mean the team's style or his own?

If the latter, he does seem a bit more fit and at home with the team than last year. If the former, it's hard to say because the team actually hasn't played a single game without him over said year.


Overall, I'd say the squad certainly hasn't regressed. Despite some big time veteran presence retiring after the World Cup, the new guys on the court have not made me miss them yet. Beating France was nice, though I don't give it great odds that Finland will repeat that feat when we meet them again in the tournament opener. TBH, I was actually perhaps more pleased that the guys were able to stay in Lithuania's pace. Even after we started breathing right down the necks of the rest of Europe's greats, they've still been a really natty opponent for us. So that game not turning into a massacre was a big plus.

 

[Dirtyh2]

We have pretty interesting situation. Two "locked choices", Nuutinen and Koivisto, are in bad condition after their injuries. Somehow I believe in Nuutinen. Besides Koivisto, Finnish roster has only Salin for shooting guard, although Koponen is able to play it. It is possible that Dettmann takes only 4 guards but 3 small forwards but I don't believe it. It is also interesting to see if Markkanen (U18 top scorer) is getting a spot. He got injured in Belgium so his condition is also a question mark.

If Koivisto can't find himself in time I think it's possible to leave him out. Koponen plays SG about 10 minutes and 5 minutes we go with 2 SF's when Wilson is PG. Salin plays 25 minutes and Ahonen plays once in while if needed. Huff plays 25, Nuutinen and Caven share 15 and 5 minutes that is left from SG.

I think it's 3 players from Ahonen/Koivisto/Caven/Nuutinen.

And 3 players from Kaunisto/Lindbom/Markkanen

 

[Finnlay2]

Koivisto's lacking effort IS kinda hard to ignore. For what it's worth, there's also Aidoo who can play the two spot. But it's hard to consider a kid who hasn't even hit the court yet a viable candidate.

The news from Markkanen is not encouraging, btw. Initial reports say he'll be out for a month. If that's true, it's another spanner in the works.


So right now it looks like we'll have four guards: Koponen, Wilson, Salin + Ahonen (who seems to have taken back the spot Lehto robbed of him last year).

Then they either take a chance with Koivisto regardless or go with an extra SF, meaning both Cavén and Nuutinen will make it behind Huff. Though given we still have all those young guards waiting in the reins, it'd be pretty much the perfect time to see what they've got, at the very least.

With Markkanen potentially out, the five big men default to Murphy, Lee, Kotti, Kaunisto and Lindbom.