Slovenian NT

[elaj]

Beno Udrih and Boštjan Nachbar said in previous interviews that they will play for our NT during the summer... I guess some smart ass agents advised them not to.

Anyway, this team still has the quality to reach Olympic games. Rasho, Smodiš, Bečirovič and Lakovič will be the go to guys.

 

[Joško Poljak Fan]

Maravič has been more or less injured ever since he left Olimpija, even in his relatively stable season with Manresa 2 years ago he played maybee more than half of their games only.

I hope Joksimović would finally join

my personal choice:
PG: Lakovič, Dragič
SG: Bečirovič, Joksimovič, Klobučar
SF: D. Lorbek, Jagodnik, Preldžič
PF: Smodiš, Slokar
C: Nesterovič, Vidmar

doesn't sound that bad and to be honest Udrih and Nachbar didn't really fit in all that much in the past, while I am sorry for E. Lorbek, he would surely be welcome in the team... but anyway this way Slokar will get more chance to proove himself.
A formidable team that can reach just about anywhere... and just as last year has a clear hierarchy: Nesterovič&Smodiš>Lakovič&Sani>all the rest

the "left home" (2nd) team would be one of the strongest in Europe... if not the strongest:
PG: B. Udrih, Čapin (mostlikely out)
SG: Vujačič, S. Udrih
SF: Nachbar, Milič, Maravič
PF: E. Lorbek, Tušek, Zupan (mostlikely)
C: Brezec

It's evven arguable which team has more individual talent in it, the first or the second

 

[Alyosha12]

Meh i think the FA thing is just a cop out by Pipan to make everyone happy who played last year, Beno and Boki stated many times they would play, i don't see why they would pull back now, unless Pipan didn't want them for the sake of the team,
which is OK and a fine decision i just think he blamed them so that the media and the public would see them as the scape goats if anything will go wrong and not Pipan.

It all sounds a little fishy if you ask me.

 

[Buducnost PG]

Every year the same shit, when we speak about the NT´s of former SFRJ. I am FA i can´t play. Are they afraid of it, that they could get injured, are they the own manager that must search for a new club alone? This thing with the injuries is the biggest shit ever. You can get injured everytime and everywhere. In Serbia in the last few years we had such things, too. And what happend? Players rested in the summer and then in november get´s injured playing with the club. By some Croatians it happend also.

Slovenia has a few very good players and a team for a medal. But if this whole shit continues, they will never get a medal. And this is sad. This is something like the golden generation and who know´s how fast such one will come again by a country from 2mio people.

But i am realy suprised that E. Lorbek will not play. IMO he had a very good season and is the best player of Roma.

Matiz said it will be so more room for Slokar, but if you ask me Lorbek is the better and more complete player and would help more.

But what do to know! At the end you must play with the players you had and look forward.

 

[Inspector]

Don't forget what happened last year, when there was even a worst situation in the roster (now we have Bečirovič and Joksimovič back), but we played the best basketball in our history...

I think Nachbar an Udrih are excellent players, but they are not made for crucial games as they are not able to play under pressure... NBA isn't really the same as Europe...

We will have 6-7 crucial players (Lakovič, Bečirovič, Dragič, Smodiš, Nesterovič, Slokar, Joksimovič...) and some support from the bench instead of having 12 equivalent players, not knowing who is responsible of something...

I am just a little afraid as we don't have a suitable substitution for Nsesterovič and Smodiš (except Slokar), unfortunately E. Lorbek won't play...

 

[Straight forward]

Damn, sory Slovenian friends...Maybe i'm wrong but in my opinion Slovenia might be a different (stronger) level team with B. Udrih. Now that's strange and sad why such teams like Slovenia, Croatia, Lithuania can't get all their strong players in the NT camp...I hate the fact that international basketball is losing it's importance and prestige. And mostly it's because of super saint clubs influence, in other words- bloody money...

 

[Joško Poljak Fan]

...and managers as well to be honest.... and Fiba...

why I mentioned Fiba? each eurobasket or world championship organised by them they earn 10-15 million € (the ammount varies from different source) for which noone knows exactly how they're spent later (make that for a longer period which makes secrecy of this money distribution even more disturbing). Backing the national teams with just half of the ammount they earn would mean no troubles with insurances, would probably raise the organisation (to be honest there are 4-5 well organised NT's, while majority -especially when talking about balkan-are far away from it, partly also due to funds available to them) of the NT.

It's a fact that participating with the NT in the summer causes some extra tiredness during the season for those players, as well as those players normaly falling down in the autumn and reaching the peak towards the summer, missing some practices with their clubs etc.
Because of that manager's desire for players to avoid playing for the NT is understandable from that point of view, but things still shouldn't go as far as it did, with players avoiding the NT and especially in NBA getting little to none understandement if decideing otherwise. Nothing against those players really, but if we compare it with football, ice-hockey or handball (as the 3 biggest team sports in europe not named basketball) those things aren't happening there to the same extent, obviously basketball is leading with this trend for some reason - but situation in other team sports makes me believe getting the best players for NT's is actually doable...if there would be a desire for that, but mosthonestly I doubt there is one.

 

[mvblair]

Damn, sory Slovenian friends...

I feel the exact same way. This happens every year to a couple of unlucky NTs. I blame the clubs, franchises, and leagues for not making their rules better for these young men and women, giving them a better chance to compete.

Same old story told by a New York reporter who wants Nachbar for the Knicks:

NACHBAR'S BACK IS HEALING -- By FRED KERBER, New York Post, May 30, 2008

....Nachbar still is headed for free agency.

"The back is doing well. I'm running, doing some light lifting with weights and shooting," said Nachbar via telephone from Slovenia, where he has created a bit of a rift regarding the National team.

With his impending free agency, Nachbar is skipping the qualifying tournament because he will not have insurance without a contract. Some fans back home understand and some others see something just short of treason.

"But I'll play for the Olympics if we qualify, and if I have a contract by then (end of July)," Nachbar said....

 

[elaj]

If we qualify and coach Pipan really calls Nachbar/Udrih to the NT for Olympic games I'll really go mad. Who the fuck he think he is? Players who would qualify for the OG should play there!

 

[mvblair]

.... Players who would qualify for the OG should play there!

I agree. It's not fair that some of these types of "big time" players are entitled to automatically being on the Olympic team whenever they want.

 

[Alyosha12]

Meh IMO the players on the team should vote if they want Nachbar to come, the vote would be anonymous ofc. and if 2/3 of the team agree i don't see why he couldn't come, who cares if a player like Čebular last year, gets kicked off the team to make room for a player like Nachbar who we really need.

If the team wants to win and not just go to Beijing on a field trip any help should be welcome be it pre Athens or after we qualify.
I know i would agree that the player should be added to the team if i were part of the NT, ofc. i wouldn't if i was the one getting kicked off of it to make room

 

[elaj]

Problems...

Slovenian NT started their preparations, but Smodiš still can't practise with the team. He is doing his own practise by some special treatment. He has problems with his right foot, and currently he is waiting for instructions from some American specialist who operated his left foot earlier this year. Due to overloading the power to his right foot during the healing process and practise to come back in shape from his left foot surgery he hurt his right one... he said he is having consistant pain his his foot for already 3 weeks now... there is no fracture in the foot, but still it hurts...

He is questionable for the pre-Olympic tournament. If the doctor will say he has to skip the tournament coach will call another player to the NT... this would be a huge blow for our NT... If he won't be able to play we will have to use Uroš Slokar as our starting PF...

 

[Alyosha12]

Problems...

Slovenian NT started their preparations, but Smodiš still can't practise with the team. He is doing his own practise by some special treatment. He has problems with his right foot, and currently he is waiting for instructions from some American specialist who operated his left foot earlier this year. Due to overloading the power to his right foot during the healing process and practise to come back in shape from his left foot surgery he hurt his right one... he said he is having consistant pain his his foot for already 3 weeks now... there is no fracture in the foot, but still it hurts...

He is questionable for the pre-Olympic tournament. If the doctor will say he has to skip the tournament coach will call another player to the NT... this would be a huge blow for our NT... If he won't be able to play we will have to use Uroš Slokar as our starting PF...

Which really isn't bad, what i don't know is who will be his sub?

 

[Inspector]

Which really isn't bad, what i don't know is who will be his sub?

Probably Miha Zupan, who isn't really a suitable substitute... I am a little afraid there will be a gap on the PF position if Smodiš won't make it... In past it was our best covered position... These are really bad news for us...

 

[elaj]

A huge blow for Slovenian NT... Matjaž Smodiš won't play on qualifying tournament for Olympic Games...

"American doctor who made a surgery on my foot in last December, confrimed the opinion of Russian doctors who advised me at least one month of rest. Basketball is out of question. After three to four weeks he'll again give his opinion after he'll see the MRI scans. The risk is just too big. I am very sorry that I won't be able to help my teammates. I wish them good luck and I hope they'll be able to qualify for Olympic Games in Bejing. If it will be possible I'll go to Athens to cheer for them."

Damn it... now I doubt that we'll qualify for OG. Smodiš was that vocal leader on court... nobody can replace him. They should really call Erazem Lorbek one more time and work something out... but probably Željko Zagorac will be called up...

 

[Inspector]

A huge blow for Slovenian NT... Matjaž Smodiš won't play on qualifying tournament for Olympic Games...

"American doctor who made a surgery on my foot in last December, confrimed the opinion of Russian doctors who advised me at least one month of rest. Basketball is out of question. After three to four weeks he'll again give his opinion after he'll see the MRI scans. The risk is just too big. I am very sorry that I won't be able to help my teammates. I wish them good luck and I hope they'll be able to qualify for Olympic Games in Bejing. If it will be possible I'll go to Athens to cheer for them."

Damn it... now I doubt that we'll qualify for OG. Smodiš was that vocal leader on court... nobody can replace him. They should really call Erazem Lorbek one more time and work something out... but probably Željko Zagorac will be called up...

I can't believe... If only Erazem Lorbek would be able to play... Now we have Slokar and Zupan on PF position...
If I was Pipan I would call Marko Tušek who has a lot of experience and is able to assume responsibility in crucial moments... He's much better option than Željko Zagorac!?

 

[Inspector]

I can't believe... If only Erazem Lorbek would be able to play... Now we have Slokar and Zupan on PF position...
If I was Pipan I would call Marko Tušek who has a lot of experience and is able to assume responsibility in crucial moments... He's much better option than Željko Zagorac!?

If only Tušek would be prepared to play...

 

[elaj]

Tušek retired from NT long time ago already, no need to call him up. Rasho, Bečirovič and Lakovič will have to step up even more and lead this team. No time for crying... I'd call Lorbek again, maybe he changed his mind if not, let's call Željko Zagorac and give major role to Uroš Slokar. Despite losing Smodiš in my opinion we still have the quality to qualify for the Olympic Games.

 

[Inspector]

Tušek retired from NT long time ago already, no need to call him up. Rasho, Bečirovič and Lakovič will have to step up even more and lead this team. No time for crying... I'd call Lorbek again, maybe he changed his mind if not, let's call Željko Zagorac and give major role to Uroš Slokar. Despite losing Smodiš in my opinion we still have the quality to qualify for the Olympic Games.

I agree, we still have the quality to qualify to the OG... There's no doubt, we must win against Canada and Korea also without Smodiš, and than we need one more triumph to qualify... It doesn't sound impossible... Hope we will finally have some luck...

 

[Alyosha12]

Well this is a disaster!
I can't believe it, its like losing half of our team IMO.
Smodis really was our go to guy, he was the one that you pass the ball when our offense was not doing well, he would get you at least a foul and a trip to the FT line if not an AND 1.
Man i am so sad right now, i mean we can still qualify but its gonna be a lot harder without Smodis.
Sure Slokar is very good, and is IMO very underrated, he is a really nice rebounder( better then Smodis) he finishes strong and has a nice shot, but he is no Smodis.
And then there is the whole case of his sub who is Zupan, and sure zupan is a very good energy guy, but he is good for 10mins of the bench to spark things up a bit, he is not a 20mins per game guy