New Zealand national team (Tall Blacks)

[donmar]

I dont think they need to scrap the 3 game tournament as they can make it a tradition as it already probably is a a warmup to a bigger and better tournament with such merge. If they were to merge Asia and Oceania then the teams to qualify should also be increased.

I think large qualification tournaments give teams better preprations for larger tournements like the Olympics as they are taken more seriously then friendlys. I know when Lithuania used to send teams to Australia for friendly tournaments it was always B or C teams. Then Australia would win and you would hear this boasting they have beaten us and yet they are surprised when they lose in real tournaments.

I'm in New Zealand... and they have this long tradition of sporting rivalry with Australia... Australia love their sports so much and they're willing to boast and proud of what they won despite playing a rock, paper and scissors game or like you said B or C Teams... then they got wasted in the actual tournaments when it really counts

[each way]

I watched a bit of their second game against the Boomers a couple of weeks ago and they were nothing short of atrocious.

[NZTallblacks]

New Zealand Olympic Qualifying Games

July 15,2008- New Zealand 77 - Cape Verde 50

Centre Craig Bradshaw (14 points, seven rebounds) pulls down a rebound in front of Cape Verde's Peter Cipriano (fiba.com)

Centre Craig Bradshaw (14 points, seven rebounds) pulls down a rebound in front of Cape Verde's Peter Cipriano (fiba.com)

Cape Verde may have been a dangerous unknown but the New Zealand Tall Blacks were not interested in the underdog story.

The Tall Blacks scored the game’s first 16 points and shooting guard Kirk Penney scored a game-high 25 points as New Zealand put one foot in the quarterfinals with a 77-50 rout of Cape Verde in the opening game of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens, Greece, on Monday night.

Penney shot 8-of-13 from the field and had 12 points in the first quarter as New Zealand raced out to a 21-4 lead and cruised against 56th-ranked Cape Verde, with coach Nenad Vucinic able to give his bench valuable court time.

Centre Craig Bradshaw finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, captain Pero Cameron had 13 points to go with seven rebounds, back-up centre Nick Horvath corralled eight rebounds and starting point guard Lindsay Tait had seven points and five assists.

The win effectively guaranteed the Tall Blacks a place in the quarterfinals, provided world number nine Germany account for Cape Verde on day two. New Zealand meet Germany in their final group B game on Thursday morning (4.30am NZ time).

“We were really nervous about their team, they’re an unknown ,” said New Zealand captain Pero Cameron. “They had some good results against some teams at the last World Championship.

“We got the win. They had a nervous start, but we have to get ready for the next one.”

Large and in charge up by 22 points at halftime, the Tall Blacks never let the gap sink below 20 points in the second half, with 10 players scoring, including rarely used rookies Jeremy Kench and Alex Pledger.

Penney and Tait scored the game’s first 14 points while the Tall Blacks held Cape Verde scoreless until the 2:53 mark of the first quarter and led by as many as 19 points, with the West Africans missing their first 14 shot attempts and finishing the period 2-of-20.

A Horvath triple 45 seconds into the second quarter gave New Zealand a 20-point lead at 24-4 but Cape Verde answered with seven straight points to get within 13 points. The recovery was brief as New Zealand followed soon after with a 12-4 run, including threes from Cameron and Bradshaw, to end the quarter.

Guard Jeff Xavier led Cape Verde with 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists but often was a lone figure on offence, with Rodrigo Mascarenhas ending with eight points and 11 rebounds before fouling out.

The Tall Blacks finished shooting 47 percent from the floor and 32 percent on three-point attempts but saw their shooting percentages drop in the second half, while Cape Verde never got going after their first quarter shooting funk, ending with 25 percent from the field and 16 percent outside the arc.

“It was a pressure game and it was one we needed to win and everyone was pleased to get it. It was one we needed going into the Germany game,” starting Tall Blacks forward Mika Vukona said.

“We got out to that lead but they’ve got talented individuals and in their last game against Lebanon in the warm-ups they went on an 18-0 run, so they’re dangerous. We were always on our toes and we just didn’t want to let it go.”

Pleasing for Vucinic was the Tall Blacks shooting 24-of-29 from the free-throw line and winning the rebounding battle 50-35, while troubling was the Tall Blacks 22 turnovers.

“Those are definitely worrying,” Vukona said. “And that’s something we can’t afford to do against Germany. We’ve got a day off tomorrow and we need to work on bringing that down.”

In other results on day one, hosts Greece made short work of Lebanon 119-62, while Croatia and Slovenia survived scares before getting Ws. Croatia beat Cameroon 93-79 and Slovenia got by a determined Korean side 88-76.
FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament

At Olympic Athletic Centre of Athens, Greece
New Zealand Tall Blacks 77 (Kirk Penney 25, Craig Bradshaw 14, Pero Cameron 13)
Cape Verde 50 (Jeff Xavier 22)
1Q: 21-4
HT: 42-20 (21-16)
3Q: 60-32 (18-12)
FT: 77-50 (17-18)

Tall Blacks vs Cape Verde Box Score

[rikhardur]

NZL – Vucinic: ‘We’re not going to Izmir as tourists’

TALLINN (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Turkey is a magnificent country to host the 2010 FIBA World Championship for fans wanting to soak up some culture and history, and to have fun in the sun.

And those making plans to follow the Tall Blacks could not have asked for a better destination for the Preliminary Round than Izmir, the country’s third largest city which is on the Aegean coast.

New Zealand coach Nenad Vucinic won’t be taking in the sites, however.

“It is nice and has a huge history,” Vucinic said.

“But we’re not going there for tourism purposes.

“We will have our heads down in video sessions and playing games.”

Such is the life of a coach at a FIBA World Championship.

Vucinic is already getting ready for Group D opponents Spain, France, Lithuania, Lebanon and Canada following Tuesday’s draw.

“I am not that familiar with the coach of Lebanon, but I will be, and of course we know Canada pretty well,” he said.

Vucinic, who coaches Kalev Cramo in Estonia, led the Kiwis to the FIBA Oceania Championship title this summer.

New Zealand played both Canada and Lebanon last summer.

Vucinic and New Zealand had no complaints after the draw.

They did not want to take on the winners of the FIBA Americas Championship, Brazil, and were fortunate in that respect as instead they drew another third seed from the Americas, Canada.

"We knew we couldn’t get Australia from that group and didn’t want to get with Brazil,” he said.

“We wanted Puerto Rico or Canada … and that’s what we got.”

New Zealand know in the 24-team tournament that every second of every game is going to count.

Nothing will come easy, no matter who the opponents are.

“No section is easy,” Vucinic said.

“We have three top-level teams in Spain, France and Lithuania, and while Canada and Lebanon are also tough teams, we have beaten them in the past.

“As always, there is a chance.”

http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/inte/p/newsid/37909/arti.html

[brudd]

Corey webster

CW.. is in the place to be .. gonna rock it one time with the serious 3

[thelebanese80]

new zeland nt 2010

Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt.
SG 4 Tait, Lindsay 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 93 kg (205 lb)
PG 5 Fitchett, Mike 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 85 kg (187 lb)
SG 6 Penney, Kirk (C) 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 100 kg (220 lb)
PF 7 Vukona, Mika 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 113 kg (249 lb)
SF 8 Henry, Leon 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 96 kg (212 lb)
PG 9 Webster, Corey 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 91 kg (201 lb)
PF 10 Frank, Casey 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 98 kg (216 lb)
C 11 Pledger, Alex 2.14 m (7 ft 0 in) 113 kg (249 lb)
SF 12 Abercrombie, Thomas 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 87 kg (192 lb)
PG 13 Kenney, Jarod 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 86 kg (190 lb)
C 14 Loe, Rob 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) 104 kg (229 lb)
PF 15 Anthony, B. J. 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 102 kg (225 lb)
SF -- Cameron, Pero 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 109 kg (240 lb)
PF -- Bradshaw, Craig 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 102 kg (225 lb)
PF -- Trueman, Jeremiah 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 95 kg (209 lb)

http://www.lebanesebasketball.co.cc/2010/04/new-zealand-national-basketball-team-vs.html

[sinobball]

Sean Marks retiring?

[donmar]

Sean Marks retiring?

Sean Marks already retired from international basketball for two years now.. it is also rumored here in New Zealand that he is leaving the NBA to join NZ Breakers in the Australian NBL..

[rikhardur]

NZL - Coach Cameron still has a chance to play in Turkey for Tall Blacks

WELLINGTON (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Pero Cameron is one of the most famous players ever to compete at FIBA World Championships.

In 2002, he helped New Zealand go on a stunning run to the Semi-Finals by averaging 14.7 points, five rebounds and 3.6 assists and after appearing at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Cameron was back in the squad at the FIBA World Championship in 2006.

Now 35, Cameron hasn’t been able to play in the NBL this season because of a foot injury and has instead coached Wellington.

According to national team coach Nenad Vucinic, Cameron still has a chance to play this summer.

“Pero has been unable to play for quite a while now, but we are all hoping that he will have time to get ready for the World Championship as he is still a very important part for us,” Vucinic said to The Dominion Post.

“His form in the NBL is not as important as is his injury status in terms of selection. We all know what Pero can do on a basketball court. If he is healthy ,we will have enough time to get him ready.”

Vucinic, meanwhile, should not have any trouble adapting to the Turkish summer because he’s already been in the country coaching Darussafaka.

New Zealand will play their Preliminary Round games in Izmir.

They are in Group D with Spain, France, Lithuania, Canada and Lebanon.

http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/lateNews/p/newsid/40333/arti.html

[c_d]

EUROPEAN TOUR FOR TBS
Tagged in: FIBA World Championships for Men, Tall Blacks
June 9, 2010

The NZ Tall Blacks have confirmed a nine-game build-up to the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Championship for Men in Turkey, late August.

The playing schedule consists of three tournaments in Turkey, Slovenia and Croatia, also featuring games against Iran, Serbia, Russia and Jordan.

“It’s great to play the top European teams,” says Dillon Boucher, a member of the Tall Black coaching staff. “To succeed at the world champs, you have to beat these teams.

“It’s a great build up, especially playing in such a hotbed of basketball in nations such as Croatia and Turkey as well as Slovenia.”

Although New Zealand comes up against some highly rated nations in their world championship pool at Izmir, Boucher says no one team has been targeted to beat. Every game is important.

“You have to beat teams to advance, no matter what pool you are in. There are no easy teams, as it’s a world championship, and every team is there with a purpose – to win.”

Boucher is part of a three-pronged coaching staff, along with head coach Nenad Vucinic and assistant Chris Tupu, who coaches the Nelson Giants in the National Basketball League.

Vucinic has been based in Turkey where he has been coaching the Darussafaka team in Istanbul.

New Zealand’s pool opponents at the world championships are defending champions Spain (ranked third), Lithuania (sixth), France (15th), Canada (19th) and Lebanon (24th), coached by former Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin.

The Tall Blacks, ranked at 13th, open their tournament against Lithuania on August 28.

The full schedule is …

July 23–25
NZ Tall Black Trials at Auckland

July 26
Depart New Zealand

July 28–August 5
Training camp at Istanbul, Turkey

August 6–8
Tournament v Iran, Serbia & Turkey at Istanbul, Turkey

August 9–11
Training camp at Istanbul, Turkey

August 13–15
Adecco Cup v Russia, Serbia & Slovenia at Maribor, Slovenia

August 16–18
Training camp at Rogla, Slovenia

August 20–22
World Cup v Russia, Jordan, Croatia in Zadar, Croatia

August 24–25
Training camp at Izmir, Turkey

http://www.basketball.org.nz/news/european-tour-for-tbs/

[donmar]

Basketball: Turks too fast for Tall Blacks


5:55 AM Monday Aug 9, 2010



Assistant coach Dillon Boucher. Photo / Supplied



New Zealand were clinically dispatched 87-65 by hosts Turkey at a pre-world basketball championship tournament in Istanbul.
New Zealand were quietly satisfied with a narrow 76-71 loss earlier to European runners-up Serbia in the opening game of their preparation for the world championship, but Turkey bought them back to earth.
The Tall Blacks were immediately on the back foot, conceding four turnovers in as many minutes and although they took an early 8-7 lead when point guard Lindsay Tait connected from outside the three point line, Turkey responded with a 12-2 run that carried them clear for good.
"We had a slow start and didn't get out of the blocks well," New Zealand assistant coach Dillon Boucher said.
Turkey were a good team who got an early lead "and we can't let a team like that get away from us".
Down by nine points after the opening quarter, New Zealand slipped to 21 points adrift midway through the second before they found their range.
Back-to-back three pointers from Kirk Penney and Casey Frank edged them back into the contest, but the Turks closed out the half with a 9-2 flurry and a 49-30 advantage at the break.
The deficit reached 25 points before New Zealand's shooters began to hit their marks.
They also picked up more points as they made more frequent visits to the free throw line.
On the back of this improvement New Zealand outscored Turkey 22-19 in the third period, but Turkey responded with 10 quick points at the start of the final quarter to dash hopes of a comeback.
Boucher said the team did some things well, especially in the third quarter.
The home side were paced by NBA performers Ersan Ilyasova (14 points) and Hedo Turkoglu (13).
Penney and veteran marksman Phill Jones led the New Zealand scoring with 13 points each.
New Zealand play Iran, which has lost to Turkey and Serbia, tomorrow (3am NZ time).
- NZPA

Source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news...ectid=10664637

[donmar]

Tall Blacks sneak home over Iran

Published: 7:29AM Monday August 09, 2010
Source: ONE Sport


Kirk Penney celebrates with Thomas Abercrombie - Source: Photosport

Related News

• Tall Blacks dispatched by Turks August 08, 2010
• Tall Blacks run strong Serbians close August 07, 2010

It took some buzzer-beating heroics from star shooter Kirk Penney to earn the Tall Blacks a hard-fought 69-68 victory over Iran at the Adidas Cup tournament in Istanbul.

The result between the reigning Oceania and Asian champions marks New Zealand's first win on the road to the FIBA World Championships for men in Turkey, starting later this month.

But it also shows how far the Kiwis must improve if they hope to qualify out of their pool at Izmir.

They squandered several opportunities to seize control of this encounter and had to claw their way back from six points adrift in the final quarter.
Penney had been the villain when, with 25 seconds remaining and his team still a point down, he committed his fifth turnover of the game. Somehow, Tom Abercrombie regained possession, Mika Vukona missed with his attempted winner, but the ball was regathered and Penney made no mistake as the clock ran out.

As they had against Turkey the previous night, the Kiwis really set themselves behind the eight ball with eight turnovers in the opening quarter that gifted their opponents nine straight points.

They were also in early foul trouble with the frontcourt, in particular, struggling to stay with their counterparts, led by NBA centre Hamed Ehadadi and Rice University forward Arsalan Kazemi.
Trailing 11-18 into the second quarter, New Zealand drew level midway through the period and grabbed a 38-35 halftime advantage when Penney hit from the arc as the clock wound down.
They had found a couple of sparks in Abercrombie and BJ Anthony, got Penney rolling (17 points, 3/6 3pt) and, overall, were shooting the ball marginally better than Iran.

But they could not break the Asian champions. Lindsay Tait hit a three-pointer soon after the break for a five-point edge, but the Iranians produced another 9-0 run that swung the contest back their way.
Entering the fourth stanza, they were 55-53 up and Ehadadi already had his double-double for the night.

Kazemi stretched the lead to six with 7m 48s left, treys from Craig Bradshaw and Phill Jones had the Kiwis' noses back in front, but Iran hit from distance for a three-point margin heading into the closing seconds.
Hopefully, this will be morale-booster for the Tall Blacks after tough losses to Serbia and Turkey. Penney again led all scorers with 28 points (10/18 FG, 4/9 3pt, 4/6 FT).

But this time, he found support in Bradshaw (12 points, 2/5 3pt, six rebounds) and especially Abercrombie, whose all-round performance (10 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks) may have been the deciding factor.

Ehadadi finished with 21 points/14 rebounds and Kazemi 20 points (6/8 FG, 8/9 FT).

Source: http://tvnz.co.nz/basketball-news/ta...r-iran-3688325

[donmar]

Tall Blacks beat Slovenia in overtime thriller
By MARC HINTON - Stuff

The Tall Blacks have upset European powerhouse Slovenia 104-103 in a double-overtime thriller in Maribor today to post the most significant result of their world championships buildup.

Paced again by a game-high 42 points from scoring machine Kirk Penney, the Tall Blacks overcame the odds, the loss of starting point guard Lindsay Tait to a stomach bug, a scarcely believable 45 free throws awarded to their opponents and the fouling out of four key players to nudge the host Slovenian team on their home court.

It was easily the best performance on the current European tour by Vucinic's side and will serve as a massive confidence-booster as they get themselves ready for the world championships in Turkey beginning on August 28.

Slovenia are packed with NBA and Euroleague talent and the victory, on the opening night of the Adecco Cup tournament, was rated a significant one by coach Vucinic, even if in the greater scheme of things it means little.

"Slovenia on paper are probably the best team in Europe at the moment... they're a tough team," said Vucinic. "But we don't want to get up on too much of a high on winning just one game in the buildup.

"But for sure winning beats losing, even in the pre-season."

Vucinic was rapt with the toughness and tenacity displayed by his side as they fought back from an eight-point halftime deficit, battled away without regular point man Tait and survived the loss of Mika Vukona, Tom Abercrombie, Jeremy Kench and Pero Cameron who all fouled out.

Slovenia led 52-44 at the break, largely due to blistering 71 per cent shooting from the floor. They also enjoyed a massive free-throw discrepancy and forced their guests into 10 turnovers.

But the Tall Blacks stayed in touch by shooting well (61 percent FG), especially from long distance (8/14 3pt).

Soon after the restart, the Kiwis rattled off nine points to draw level and though five quick fouls threatened to stall that momentum, they kept their cool to take a 69-67 lead into the fourth quarter.

Cameron, then Penney, and Penney again struck from deep to put them 11 points clear in the final term but another flurry of fouls saw Kench, then Vukona, then Cameron all foul out.

The Slovenians then drilled six of eight freebies from the charity stripe to draw level at 83-83.

Penney tied the game up from the free-throw line with just over a minute remaining, but his missed second attempt consigned the contest to an extra period.

Still, he opened the overtime scoring with a three-point play before Abercrombie also took a seat.

Consecutive baskets from Fitchett and Craig Bradshaw gave the Tall Blacks a four-point cushion, but with 26 seconds on the clock, Jaka Lakovic made a layup that prompted a second extra period.

Veteran Phill Jones hit his first field goal from deep to open the second extra period, then Casey Frank also connected from range to open up some breathing room. Slovenia crept closer, but Jones finally sealed the result with a made pair of free throws.

The Kiwis shot superbly, converting 56 percent FG and 45 percent (15/33) from beyond the arc. Their main concern would have been a lopsided foul count which indicates adjustments are needed.

But the New Zealanders did well to restrict Slovenia's shooting, keeping them to just 46 percent FG overall after their hot start.

Penney was huge again as he continues to underline his reputation as one of the premier players in the international game. He hit nine treys as he had another banner night in the black singlet (42 points, 14/25 FG, 9/15 3PT).

There was also a timely breakout performance from veteran big man Cameron who showed he has well and truly put his injury worries behind him, weighing in with 15 points in 16 minutes, making three-of-four from long range and all three of his two-point attempts.

Abercrombie chimed in with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds while Frank (nine points, seven rebounds), Bradshaw (seven points, five rebounds) and Vukona (seven points, four rebounds) all made key contributions.

Point guard Fitchett also had a big game, deputising for the infirm Tait and doing a fine job on star Slovenian point guard Lakovic who is one of the premier point guards in Europe.

The Slovenians were paced by former NBA standout Bostjan Nachbar with 29 points, but will now be well aware of the giant-killing capacity of this gritty New Zealand side.

"We hung in there and played tough against a very good and experienced team," added Vucinic. "That has to count for something, and will certainly give us confidence as we continue to prepare for the world championships.
"But we have to keep our feet on the ground and continue to work hard at getting better."

The Tall Blacks meet Serbia in the next game tomorrow, with the Serbs defeating Russia 69-63 in their opening game of the four-team tournament.

New Zealand 104 (Kirk Penney 42, Pero Cameron 15, Tom Abercrombie 11), Slovenia 103 (Bostjan Nachbar 29, Jaka Lakovic 16, Uros Slokar 12). Q1: 26-30; Q2 44-52 (18-22); Q3 69-67 (25-15); Q4: 86-86 (17-19); OT1 96-96 (10-10); OT2 104-103 (8-7).

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketb...rtime-thriller

[Saskibaloia]

Tall Blacks roster ...

So who do you think have made the roster for the Tall Blacks?

Your Trans Tasman Rivals are so organised that we have already finished our roster

[donmar]

So who do you think have made the roster for the Tall Blacks?

Your Trans Tasman Rivals are so organised that we have already finished our roster

I don't know... there is no media report here.. and we know, basketball here doesn't get much publicity.. not many people even know that the team is in Europe right now...

For me, as long as Mika Vukona, Tom Abercrombie, and Kirk Penney in the line-up... I'm ok with that.. I don't expect much from them but sometimes underdogs wins when they're not suppose to.. so who knows.. maybe a repeat of 2002