Great Britain National Team

[g.g]

Very unlikely. Not on the freeview anyway .Bbc holds rights for a cup final ,and that is that.

I live in the UK but have Greek sat TV as well...so lots of top BB but I would love to see the GB NT playing.

[inaminute23]

I do hope a British tv station picks up the rights to show it, but i won't hold my breath. There is some good news however, Setanta have signed a deal to show the NBA playoffs starting tommorow at 8.30pm BST (LAKERS V ROCKETS). They are scheduled to show 2 live games a week, plus the finals in its entirity. So we never know Setanta might show Eurobasket, the do currently show Fiba basketball every Monday.

[mvblair]

Wait, wait, are you guys saying that you can't see the national team on the TV? That's awful. Surely NT games will be shown during the lead up to the Olympics, right?

[Dtown]

Wait, wait, are you guys saying that you can't see the national team on the TV? That's awful. Surely NT games will be shown during the lead up to the Olympics, right?

Well the best comparison I've heard from my British friends, is Basketball in Britain is like Soccer in the US only much much worse. They have no history with the game, and the national league (BBL) barely draws. This year's Eurobasket is all about setting up the grassroots, so they will have tv contracts and a better following going into 2012.

[auris1]

Wait, wait, are you guys saying that you can't see the national team on the TV? That's awful. Surely NT games will be shown during the lead up to the Olympics, right?

I do refuse to sign for Sky (satellite) or virgin (cable) because it just sucks / cost a lot and because I think that 30 channels on freview are enough. Now – channel 5 have live Nba games every Tuesday with decent commentary from M Webster and the guy who’s name I cannot pronounce. I do not like the one with name I cannot pronounce as well but he is in wheelchair. But I did liked the guy who’s named I forgot (he used to play in nba) and is openly gay (he’s currently doing some chat show by sitting on some the panel).The only problem that the game starts at 1 a.m and by that time I am fast asleep .When I was not working I used on Tuesdays to drink beer calling it warm up for my big NBA night – did not see that many games either for the same reasons(getting smashed long before game starts).
I have never been interested in British national championship and as a matter of fact, NT team due to them being completely shit. I do not expect that to change either. But I hope I am wrong – there would be sufficient interest mainly from immigrants having decent team in euroleague /euro cup.

[Khalid80]

I do refuse to sign for Sky (satellite) or virgin (cable) because it just sucks / cost a lot and because I think that 30 channels on freview are enough. Now – channel 5 have live Nba games every Tuesday with decent commentary from M Webster and the guy who’s name I cannot pronounce. I do not like the one with name I cannot pronounce as well but he is in wheelchair. But I did liked the guy who’s named I forgot (he used to play in nba) and is openly gay (he’s currently doing some chat show by sitting on some the panel).The only problem that the game starts at 1 a.m and by that time I am fast asleep .When I was not working I used on Tuesdays to drink beer calling it warm up for my big NBA night – did not see that many games either for the same reasons(getting smashed long before game starts).
I have never been interested in British national championship and as a matter of fact, NT team due to them being completely shit. I do not expect that to change either. But I hope I am wrong – there would be sufficient interest mainly from immigrants having decent team in euroleague /euro cup.

I believe u r referring to John Amaechi whom is mentioned in Matt's (Mvblair's) signature if u read it

[auris1]

I believe u r referring to John Amaechi whom is mentioned in Matt's (Mvblair's) signature if u read it

YES I was indeed.
I had a nap in between reading it though

[obe31]

Well the best comparison I've heard from my British friends, is Basketball in Britain is like Soccer in the US only much much worse. They have no history with the game, and the national league (BBL) barely draws. This year's Eurobasket is all about setting up the grassroots, so they will have tv contracts and a better following going into 2012.

You are absolutely right. I lived in the UK for 8 years. I was studying there. Basketball is non existant in terms of press or TV coverage. The pool talent however is immense. Being typical Greek I played for the university league, in a team with only two Brits in it.
You would see a lot of talented athletic guys but it was obvious that they lacked good trainers to teach them. I remember playing and thinking " how can this guy be so crap at the basics of BBL!"
I mean we had to join the B league to find decent opposition. If and that is a big if, they decide to develop basketball I would say that they could be up there in the top 5 european teams.
Saying that, i left UK in 2002 nothing happend since then...
I will be rooting for UK this year. It is a pity a country that big to be left out of the second biggest sport in the world. Surprise... rugby is not the second biggest sport in the world, neither pool nor cricket.

Cheers
Nikos

[Luíz for 3]

The country of the football has a great basketball NT!! I have to congratulate the british federation for their job in order of developing basketball in the island. I hope they make to the second phase in the Eurobasket, however they are in the strongest group (Serbia, Spain and Slovenia)...

[12isaac12]

im English, will be a great squad but not quite good enough to be champions especially with the great group they are in. We can give it a go though

[London Towers]

official Pops Mensah-Bonsu will be in the squad for Eurobasket after we thought that maybe he will want to rest after his injury.but he is fit and will join the squad.
BTW reports says Pops is on his way back to europe and will play for Maccabi Tel-Aviv

[obe31]

im English, will be a great squad but not quite good enough to be champions especially with the great group they are in. We can give it a go though

Nobody is saying that they would be euro champions. Far from it i would say. However if they manage to go through to the second stage of the champioship I would be satisfied.

Cheers

[HIGHLANDER]

I think if you look closely at the squad they have, they are pretty strong.
They will surprise a few people in the Eurobasket but i do think even although they have NBA guys and good players playing in Europe and the College level in the States they are inexperienced at this level.
I think they will be entertaining though.

[London Towers]

I think if we manage to get to QF so it will be great success.if we can finish 6th so we can go to Mundobasket.
we have very talnted squad,from SG to C .the main problem i think is in point guard position where we have problem

[Mindozas]

I think if we manage to get to QF so it will be great success.if we can finish 6th so we can go to Mundobasket.
we have very talnted squad,from SG to C .the main problem i think is in point guard position where we have problem

The main problem is that you're in too tough group. Spain even without Gasol (if he won't play) and Calderon is way stronger, Slovenia this year also should bring the best squad in years. IMHO for GB only Serbia might be beatable, which will not be at full strenght and the upset might happen. In any other group GB would have really good chances to progress to the second round, but here... well, it will damn tough task. But GL