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**mvblair** · 04-04-2009, 01:45 AM

With Mottola gone, I don't know anything about Finland's NT except that Gerald Lee is a pretty good player (he scored 30 points against Hofstra last month).

Why is Koponen's name not on the list? Does it have something to do with his military service? Is he injured? He played well when Finland qualified (summer 2008?) to play with the "big boys."

As far as the article's optimism about Finland's NT, well, I'll believe it when I see it. Every country has plenty of potential somewhere, but I just don't know anything about Finland's group.

**Hakkapeliitta** · 04-05-2009, 06:11 PM

Koponen is on the list (6th name). I have no trouble in trusting a good number of our players like Rannikko, Koponen, Huff (why is he not getting that much playing time in Maroussi?) and Muurinen (he really should be playing abroad) but without Möttölä Finnish NT has no real presence under the basket - unless Lee ends up surprising me and many others. Furthermore, key players have to stay healthy.

The group is very tough, but then again last summer we played two tight games against Italy and won France in preparation games (or did that happen in 2007, I can't remember).

**rikhardur** · 04-23-2009, 03:20 PM

Finland: Backcourt Has Dettmann Upbeat

France and Italy may have tradition and big names on their side, but they'd better not underestimate Finland in the Additional Qualifying Round for EuroBasket 2009.

The Finns raised eyebrows with their performances in Division A last summer and now, with the return to fitness of Teemu Rannikko, they should be even more formidable.

Henrik Dettmann's team has plenty of cause for optimism before clashes with the French and the Italians.

"He has a phenomenal ability to make players around him better," Dettmann says.

"In order to be the best player on court, he even doesn't have to score."

Had Rannikko not suffered a heel injury just after Christmas in 2007, who knows what Finland would have done last year.

When Finland earned promotion to Division A in 2007, Rannikko was the leading scorer of the team at 16.7 points per game.

He also handed out four assists per contest.

Indeed, a look back at the recent history of the guard shows why Dettmann is thrilled to be getting the diminutive playmaker back.

Before transferring to BC Khimki of the Moscow Region, Rannikko played for Olimpia Ljubljana and in 2006-07 he averaged 14.6 points and 3.3 assists in the Euroleague.

In the Adriatic League in January and February of 2007, he had a stretch of four games averaging an eye-popping 29.8 points and 5.5 assists per game.

In one Euroleague game in March against Partizan Belgrade, Rannikko showed his explosiveness by racking up 26 points.

He earned MVP of the Week honours after that game.

The first season (2007-08) with Khimki was injury-plagued, though, with the heel injury ultimately forcing him to sit out the EuroBasket qualifiers.

Rannikko is back on court this season and playing alongside international stars like Jorge Garbajosa of Spain, Carlos Delfino of Argentina, Maciej Lampe of Poland and American Milt Palacio.

During the Last 16 stage of the Eurocup, Rannikko averaged 7.3 points in limited playing time, showing flashes of his Ljubljana-form.

In one game against Panellinios, he buried four out of six shots from behind the arc on his way to 14 points.

Rannikko made 13 of his 22 field goal attempts during the Last 16 stage and was a perfect eight of eight at the free throw line.

"Teemu showed that he belongs to the European elite of point guards, when he played healthy in Ljubljana," Dettmann says.

"Throughout his professional career he has played in all types of guard roles.

"In Ljubljana, they saw that you get most out of Teemu at the point guard position."

What's also encouraging for Finland has been the development of Petteri Koponen, a player who will this week compete for Virtus BolognaFiere when the Italian club hosts the EuroChallenge Final Four.

Koponen was the first Finn to be picked in the first round of NBA Draft when Philadelphia selected him 30th overall. They then traded his rights to Portland.

He was also the first player to be drafted straight out of the Finnish league.

Koponen returned to Finland for 2007-08 and earned MVP honours for the season while winning a second consecutive championship with Honka Playboys.

He averaged 19.0 points and 3.9 assists per game during the regular season, shooting 42.7% from three-point range.

Koponen only turned 21 on April 13 and he is having an impressive season with Virtus.

After starting the season backing up former NBA star Earl Boykins, Koponen quickly gained a role of a regular starter playing alongside Boykins.

He received praise for his defensive play, most importantly.

In the EuroChallenge, Koponen has averaged 18.4 minutes per game.

He had a season-high 17 points in a game against Galatasaray.

"Even at young age," Dettmann says, "Petteri has already shown that he can play at this level. Like Teemu, one of his strengths definitely is making other players better. But for a player of his size, he also has great quickness with serious ability to score.

"This season Petteri has been on a tough road. Coming to one of the better leagues of Europe straight from a small basketball country isn't easy. Every player has to pay his dues and prove himself all over again in new environment. That's exactly what Petteri has done. I am very pleased that he has improved all along and I am sure that his best games of season are yet to be played."

So what will it be like when Koponen and Rannikko play together?

"Normally I don't give much thought about what the coaches of opponents are thinking about us, because I feel there's enough work concentrating on our own team and improving our play," Dettmann says.

"On this occasion I can say, however, I wouldn't want to be in other coaches' shoes facing the two guards we have.

"With both Teemu and Petteri on our team, we have great depth at the guard position. Because both are strong leaders on the court and can run the team, we are able to get some rest for both of them and bring in some firepower or defensive presence from the bench, if needed."

When it's all said and done, Italy and France would be well advised not to look past Finland.

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**stuart** · 04-28-2009, 01:53 AM

Another article to add to the info: FIBA link

Dettmann all smiles as Finland gear up for summer

HELSINKI (EuroBasket Additional Qualifying Round) - Finland coach Henrik Dettmann has included the son of his former national team player Gerald Lee in his latest squad.

Gerald Lee Jr, a player at Old Dominion in Virginia who just won the CIT Tournament, has played in 71 games at junior level in Finland.

His father, Lee Sr, was a naturalized Finn from America who made his national team debut in 1992 at the age of 41 when Dettmann was beginning his first coaching stint with Finland.

Lee Sr is still the all-time leader of the Finnish league in scoring with 12,556 career points.

Dettmann could not be happier with the progress the national team has made in recent years.

They beat Hungary twice and Serbia once in EuroBasket Division A last summer which earned them a place in the Additional Qualifying Round for EuroBasket 2009 in Poland.

"We have come a long way in four years," Dettmann said.

"Like last year, we are now able to prepare against countries which have regularly participated in World Championships, Olympics or European Championships.

"It wasn't like this four years ago, which tells you something about our development."

Indeed, Finland, who face France and Italy in Group B of the Additional Qualifying Round in August, have been invited to play in an international tournament in Portugal from July 10-12 with Brazil, the Portuguese and African champions Angola also taking part.

Hungary will also host a tournament from July 24-26 which includes Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden.

On July 31, the Finns will go up against Estonia and on August 2 in another friendly they will face New Zealand's Tall Blacks.

Their first Additional Qualifying Round game is against France on August 8 in Pau.

**seksiseppo1** · 06-04-2009, 09:22 AM

Hanno Möttölä is going to come back! He wants to play in national team, but nothing official has been said yet.

**rikhardur** · 06-04-2009, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by seksiseppo1 View Post

Hanno Möttölä is going to come back! He wants to play in national team, but nothing official has been said yet.

Really? That would be great news for the national team. If there's something official do let us know.

**seksiseppo1** · 06-04-2009, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by rikhardur View Post

Really? That would be great news for the national team. If there's something official do let us know.

Finnish Basketball Association had a pressconference today where was announced, that Möttölä is back on bisnes.

404 Sivua ei l?ydy

http://www.koris.net/1/artikkeliarkisto/?num=184604

Valitettavasti etsim??si sivua ei l?ytynyt.

Hanno hasn't still decided where he will play.

**rikhardur** · 07-01-2009, 03:31 PM

Finns Very Upbeat With Rannikko Return

Finland coach Henrik Dettmann is hoping the "team-first" philosophy that proved so successful last year in Division A will come to the fore again this summer when the national team goes into the EuroBasket Additional Qualifying Round.

To reach the Final Round in Poland, Finland must finish top of Group B ahead of France and Italy and then beat the Group A winners (Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Portugal) in a home-and-away tie.

With veteran point guard Teemu Rannikko back to full fitness and in the national team again after missing last year's qualifying campaign through injury, and center Hanno Mottola deciding to end his brief retirement and resume his career, there is plenty of optimism in Finland.

"From a coach's perspective, it's the best possible thing to have all the best players with us from the beginning," Finland national team boss Henrik Dettmann said.

"There is no need to speculate what we could have achieved if someone absent was with us.

"We have to find the defensive intensity and self-belief we had last summer. A year ago, every player in our team was ready to put the team ahead of individual success. That will have to be our starting point also this year."

Finland, despite Rannikko's absence, survived a brutal qualifying group that included Serbia, Bulgaria, Italy and Hungary to reach the Additional Qualifying Round.

They beat the Serbians in Vantaa and also swept their two clashes with the Hungarians.

"The way we played last summer showed that when we do all we can, we have a possibility to send top teams in the world back home with a defeat," Dettmann said. "We have a nice arena, a good home team and great opponents. It's all good - I just hope the audience will find their way to Energia Areena."

After a busy preparation period in July, Finland will open their Additional Qualifying Round campaign in France on August 8 before returning home to face the Italians on August 11 in Vantaa.

Finland suffered narrow defeats to Italy last summer, falling 88-80 in Chieti and 69-62 in Vantaa.

On August 17, the French travel to Vantaa for the second meeting between the sides before Finland fly to Porto San Giorgio to take on the Italians.

Rannikko, a free agent after spending two seasons with BC Khimki, is thrilled to be back in the national side.

He had a limited role with Khimki and is eager to show that he still has the ability to help a Finland team that has a lot of potential. Rannikko loves playing with Mottola and is also looking forward to teaming up in the Finnish backcourt with Petteri Koponen.

"Last year showed a glimpse of what this team can do," Rannikko said.

"Even though I couldn't participate because of the injury, our victory over Serbia, two tough games against Italy and a road victory in Hungary showed what we are capable of. Everything is possible."

After fully recovering from an injury that ruined his 2007-08 season and kept him out last summer, Rannikko found it difficult to get minutes in a talented Khimki side.

"My years with BC Khimki were quite an experience," Rannikko said.

"I had the opportunity to play in great, great company. We went to the Superleague Finals twice, Eurocup finals once and won the Russian cup once.

"In two years with Khimki, I had the possibility to play in just 30 to 40 games, which was about half as much as I had planned. Despite that, I have nothing negative to say about the team, about Moscow or about Russia in general. I enjoyed my time with the club and with the excellent players we had in the team."

Rannikko, 28, has a lot in common with Koponen.

Both are guards, and both departed Finland as youngsters for Italy.

When Rannikko left at the age of 19, he joined Reggio Emilia.

"I remember myself how hard it was to leave my home country at such a young age and to go professional," Rannikko said.

"I tried to support Petteri as much as I could and I think he did quite all right."

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**rikhardur** · 08-17-2009, 04:06 PM

FIN – Finns learning how to compete at top level

VANTAA (EuroBasket 2009) - Finland play in the Additional Qualifying Round on Monday knowing they no longer have a chance to play at the EuroBasket this season.

That was assured on Friday night when France defeated Italy to secure top spot in Group B.

The Finns have nevertheless, their coach Henrik Dettmann believes, taken a step forward in international basketball by playing in Division A the past two summers.

Finland narrowly lost to France in their first AQR game and then slipped up at home in Vantaa against Italy on Tuesday by just two points.

"Two years ago we played Division B qualifiers against other small basketball countries and the gym was half empty," Dettmann said ahead of Monday’s home game against France.

"On the contrary, now we play against top teams such as Italy and France in front of packed houses.

"We have been developing constantly.

"My dream is that during the next two years, we will develop just as much as in these last two years.”

What Dettmann, his players and fans will have been reminded the past two weeks is that the competition in Division A is as tough as ever.

”We’re still learning how to play at this level," Dettmann said.

"Situations change terribly quickly on the court and we’re not yet used to that.

"That was clearly visible in the first moments of our game against Italy.

"On this level, we get no extra style points, but instead our success is based on winning situations in both offense and defense.

"We have weaknesses that are only visible at this level – we don’t come across them against Division B teams or during practice."

The future, Dettmann says, is bright.

"Luckily we still have unreached potential in this team and the possibility of development is certain in the future as well," he said.

"Only time will tell if we can maintain steady development, or if we have to take one step back after taking two steps forward.”

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**Gyroscope** · 08-18-2009, 02:47 AM

For once, when it comes to basketball, i can be proud of Finland

Finland 77, France 73.
INCREDIBLE!
Pity they can't make it to the finals anymore. I would've liked to see them against Greece, my other country

**Freaknick** · 08-18-2009, 03:56 AM

Good for Finland beating up on France like that (nothing against France). That's what I love about international competition; national pride is always on the line even when there really is nothing else to play for. Congratulations Finland.

My article on the matter: http://euroleagueadventures.com/finn...d-meaningless/

**wardjdim** · 08-18-2009, 08:23 AM

Congrats Finland!!!

**rikhardur** · 08-18-2009, 03:01 PM

Finland is a very tough team when they put their stuff together. First Serbia now France, way to go.

**raph** · 08-18-2009, 06:30 PM

Congrats finland. hopefully such result will boost basket popularity in the country even though the game prolly disappointed the ones who follow this sport. France's defense was nowhere to be found, our leaders completly sunk, and our coach felt like doing some trials in our front court (but we tried hard to win the game, no one can deny)

Well, that's the france everyone knows after all ..

ps : nice performance from the ex retired mottola yesterday, and ofc on both games from ranniko & koponen. Thats hard to understand how koponen can be playing that bad in italy considering how he performed during those qualifiers.
Even if against france he prolly had some extra motivation (parker & blazers

)

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