Croatian NT for Olympic 2008.

[Joško Poljak Fan]

he only said he is sorry that they didn't broadcast the game
...or did I miss anything

[Picek]

he only said he is sorry that they didn't broadcast the game
...or did I miss anything

he said "i'm sorry you couldn't see this"..
but Cvitkovic was in Athens privately, he wasn't sent there by HRT..
he went there to watch the games..
and after his statement during the main news programme he was suspended..
Bruno Kovacevic is editor of the sports direction on HRT..
he was probably the one who suspended him..
but basketball has been having this "status" on our national television for years..
this is no surprise..

[Picek]

Markota was operated two days ago and he could be ready in three weeks but there are no chances in hell Repeša will take him to Beijing unprepared..
Rudež, Tomić and Bagarić were the ones who were cut of from the list before Athens..
Bagaric was the last one..
but with Prkacin, Nicevic, Barac and Loncar I don't think Bagaric will be the one..
especially since our opposition in Beijing doesn't have a heavy slow center against whom Bagaric big body would be usefull..
my guess is Rudež...
but we will have to wait and see what will happen..
21 days to go..

[Ilya]

I am so happy for the Croatian team! It was about time, mates, congrats!

[London78]

Have there been any rumours about who will be the 12th man for the Olympic squad, or if Markota could be back by then?

[Picek]

Have there been any rumours about who will be the 12th man for the Olympic squad, or if Markota could be back by then?

Markota could be ready by I don't think there is any chance Repesa will take him to Beijing..
it will be either Rudež or Tomić..
my guess is Rudež 'cause he is more versatile, he is not a PF but could play it in order to open some space inside with his outside shooting..

[Picek]

and I was right, Rudež is the one going to Beijing..
Repeša didn't want to risk making things worse with Markota's injury so between Rudež and Tomić he picked Rudež..
I expected that simply because Rudež can play as PF also.. not against stronger bodies ofcourse..
anyway he will have an opportunity to play his first official game for Croatia.. and that opportunity will be a game on the olympic tournament, I guess that is best debut someone could ask for..

[Picek]

we will play our only preparation game against Greece tomorrow (07.08.)..

[Gyroscope]

we will play our only preparation game against Greece tomorrow (07.08.)..

I will attempt a wild (and entirely unfounded ) prediction:
The team that will LOSE this game, will do remarkably well in the tournament.

[KWSN-Men]

we will play our only preparation game against Greece tomorrow (07.08.)..

So we aren't the only ones with this great planning...

[Picek]

So we aren't the only ones with this great planning...

nope..
I think Germans also played only one game (vs Finland) after the qualies..
our team spent 7-8 days in preparation camp and then they travelled to Beijing..
it's not about planning.. one has to consider that those three teams already played a lot of friendlies and 4 (germany 5) official games in july..
not playing friendlies so close to the start of olympic tournament is not a bad solution IMO..
this way we had more time to prepare for the opponents and if couldn't build a team play in those 10-12 games in the last month and a half then playing a game or two wouldn't help us..

[each way]

Is there anywhere online I can watch or follow the scores to this preparation game? Thanks.

[Picek]

Grčka – Hrvatska 86:71 (22:26, 28:14, 16:22, 18:9)
Grčka: Papaloukas 12, Bouroussis 4, Spanoulis 12, Zisis 2, Vassilopoulos 10, Fotsis 15, Printezis 4, Gliniadakis 1, Tsartsaris 4, Diamantidis 10, Schortsianitis 9, Pelekanos 3
Hrvatska: Ukić 10, Popović 3, Tomas 14, Banić 14, Barać 3, Kus 2, Planinić 5, Prkačin 2, Rozić 8, Lončar 10, Nicević.

we were up 24-16 and then dissapeared.. Greece scored 7 three pointers, we made only 4..
if we won't be scoring 7-10 three pointers every game we will have a hard time against everyone..
but nice to see Tomas is continuing with his good play..
Rudež probably didn't play, I guess he won't be playing the entire tournament..

[g.g]

Grčka – Hrvatska 86:71 (22:26, 28:14, 16:22, 18:9)
Grčka: Papaloukas 12, Bouroussis 4, Spanoulis 12, Zisis 2, Vassilopoulos 10, Fotsis 15, Printezis 4, Gliniadakis 1, Tsartsaris 4, Diamantidis 10, Schortsianitis 9, Pelekanos 3
Hrvatska: Ukić 10, Popović 3, Tomas 14, Banić 14, Barać 3, Kus 2, Planinić 5, Prkačin 2, Rozić 8, Lončar 10, Nicević.

we were up 24-16 and then dissapeared.. Greece scored 7 three pointers, we made only 4..
if we won't be scoring 7-10 three pointers every game we will have a hard time against everyone..
but nice to see Tomas is continuing with his good play..
Rudež probably didn't play, I guess he won't be playing the entire tournament..

I am well impressed with the CRO team. Before the OQ I didn't count them lots but they have proved themselves. They are very solid and strong with deep bench without any superstars (that is the bb that I like). I believe they would do v. well in the Olympics.

[Picek]

unfortunately Popović will miss remainder of the tournament..
it's something about his foot..
anyway this is a huge blow for us..
Repeša will now have to use a 10 man rotation with only 3 guards available..
Kus, Planinić and Ukić...
simply not enough to win against anyone except of maybe Iran..
too bad...