Panithinaikos-Barca Euroleague Report
by Eric in Madison on Feb 25, 2010 5:02 PM CST
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PrintBarca beat Panithinaikos today in Athens in Euroleague action, 70-67. Barca's win eliminated Pani from the competition, as they can no longer mathematically advance out of the group of 16 round. This game featured the Wolves 2 European prospects, Ricky Rubio and Nikola Pekovic.
It was a fairly crappy game, actually. Rubio started off making a couple of nice plays, dishing to Pete Mickeal for a layup and driving a drawing a shooting foul. (One thing he does well is drive and draw contact. Whether he's still able to do that against more agile bigs in the NBA, and whether he will get the same calls, remains to be seen).
However, he quickly committed 2 fouls in the first 4 minutes and was out for the half. (The 2nd foul was really dumb; wrapping his arms around Pekovic who was setting a screen 30 feet from the basket).
Meanwhile, Pani was building a big first quarter lead, which eventually reached 19-4, almost entirely on the back of Pekovic. Barca simply could not stop him; he was getting deep position and finishing with ease around the basket. Barca made a run, and actually led briefly, at halftime, Pani was up 4 behind Pekovic's 18 points. He is big and strong, and not completely immobile, but it's hard to see him doing all that much in the NBA, frankly. He isn't really agile or nimble, doesn't really have any game outside the paint, and doesn't really rebound. He can really score in the paint, though.
Rubio got a 3rd foul fairly early in the 3rd quarter, and the coach had enough, and yanked him until the last 2 minutes of the game. Meanwhile, Pani pushed the lead, but Pekovic got in foul trouble himself, eventually fouling out in the 4th, and couldn't get going. He wound up with 20.
Eventually, Barca, being better, made a run behind a few threes, and made their final push with Rubio running the offense in the last couple of minutes. He came in down 4, and they won by 3.
That's your Euro report. I'm Eric in Madison. Good night.
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Thanks for the summary!
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." -- Yogi Berra
Were any of Pekovic's fouls
from illegal screens? That’s something I noticed he will really have to work on (or hope the refs care as much as they care about everyone elses in the league….).
At least one was an illegal screen
mostly they just came from him being so big and lumbering.
by Eric in Madison on Feb 25, 2010 6:11 PM CST up reply actions
I believe I saw two
And I didnt start watching until i think the middle of the 2nd half. Not sure if there were any others, but this caught my eye
"That's your Euro report. I'm Eric in Madison. Good night"
An excellent report, but in your sign-off you didn’t tell us if we should have:
1. a pleasant tomorrow
2. Courage
3. our pets spayed or neutered
Also:
TOP TEN WAYS DAN RATHER COULD CONCLUDE “THE CBS EVENING NEWS”
10. Put finger in cheek; make cork-popping sound
9. Pretend to “sweep up” spotlight on floor
8. Say “Nighty-night” and put head on desk
7. Reveal which news story of the evening was the fake one
6. Lick lips and say, “Mmm-mmm, time for pie!”
5. Give coded message to “Li’l Newshounds” fan club
4. Wink and say, “Pour the gin, Lydia, I’m on my way home.”
3. Hurl sweat-soaked scarf to female fans
2. Light big cigar and say, “Ha-ha! See you tomorrow, suckers!”
1. Feed carrot to CBS News bunny
Can always just end by saying
“I’m Ron Burgundy?”
A Darko Fan since 2010!
by TheEvilProfessor on Feb 26, 2010 8:47 AM CST up reply actions
More like a glass 7/8ths empty guy most of the time
I must admit, it was a little disappointing; I had really been looking forward to this tilt.
However….Rubio hardly played in this game-maybe 12 minutes.
This was my first extended look at Pekovic. It’s tough to say, because while he looks huge compared to the other European players, I don’t think he’ll be able to overpower NBA guys like that. He has some skills around the basket, no doubt. But it’s all power based stuff.
Plus, for the biggest guy out there, he really doesn’t rebound much. I don’t know. I guess I could see him being effective in a backup role, sort of a bigger version of Craig Smith, who can get you some scores in the paint.
by Eric in Madison on Feb 25, 2010 9:05 PM CST up reply actions
The game I saw
also against Pani earlier, I thought Pekovic looked pretty good out there. He seemed mobile enough, and did a great job of helping out his perimeter players by setting screens and picks and what not. I also think that the ‘strength’ and ‘athleticism’ of the NBA gets overvalued too frequently. Perhaps 10-15 years ago that was the case, but there are far too many Euros that have their way with players over here now. Point is – I think Pek’s strength will be fine. At some point bulling around in the paint is more about attitude and want-to than actual size and strength. Whoever wants it most wins, and Pek strikes me as a guy who enjoys the scrum. I agree that I think he’s a back up interior scorer in the NBA, albeit a very good scorer.
Growing my own "Darko-stache" since last Monday.
by biggity2bit on Feb 25, 2010 10:49 PM CST up reply actions
"a guy who enjoys the scrum"
Well put. Looks to be very true in the game I saw him in. I think a lot of NBA players will have trouble with him.
Strength and power can take you a long way when you’re built like a tank, 6’10-6’11, coordinated and have good touch around the hoop. I don’t see him coming in and decimating teams to the tune of 15 points in 16 minutes on 75% shooting like he does in the Euros, but I bet he’s going to be useful in some capacity. If we do indeed move Jefferson, his post scoring and pick and roll abilities will be huge for this team. I keep hoping the day will come when I can see a Rubio Pek and roll.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.
Have you seriously considered what a Craig Smith would be like at 6'10"?
I’m not sure I know how effective such a player might be.
"It has come to the editor’s attention that the Herald-Leader neglected to cover the civil rights movement. We regret the omission."
Yes, can you imagine Kahn
dangling him in front of other GMs with that description?
“C’mon, man, he’s Craig Smith, only taller!”
Craig Smith was highly effective
Craig Smith would be an allstar if he was 6-10. He is quite good for a 6-6 PF.
Agreed...(I don't like the +1 convention)
… Smith would be an All-Star if he were 6’10’’. With his power, moves, and soft touch, he’d be somewhere between Carlos Boozer and Karl Malone, at least in terms of offensive ability. But he’d still be a piss-poor defender.
I'd agree with a +something
but at this point, it looks like I am left with foreclosure or bankruptcy.
actually
once you adjust for inflation, Shogun ends up with 0.05 real points rather than 0 nominal points.
Regarding the +1 convention...
… it’s a constant reminder of so many wedding invitations and formal events I’ve been dragged to where female friends inevitably ask questions like, “Oh, Shogun, who’s your +1?” or “Do you have a +1 yet?” or “I know a great girl who could be your +1. I could set you up.”
Chills just shot through my body. In a bad way.
Don’t think Pek has the floaters or ball handling of Smith, so as the originator of the Smith comparison I feel compelled to clarify: I think he’ll play a very similar role as an offense-focused bench guy who comes in and abuses the other team down low. Stylistically they’re a little different, but Pek will bring similar things in a less defensively challenged package.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story.
Well put
I also think he’s likely to be a foul magnet
by Eric in Madison on Feb 26, 2010 10:02 AM CST up reply actions
I think this one is a two way street
foul magnet, but also a foul machine.
I think he’ll give his defenders a helluva time defending him with his strength and almost cruel use of his body. But at the same time, I think he is going to have a lot of troulbe establishing position against the bigger guys and chasing the smaller guys (seems familiar…). I really think he will have more success against the Shaqs and Dwight Howards of the world than the Dirks and the Boshes. I think he will make a living on defense against bigs by making them constantly fight, not for position on the floor, but for position to get the ball.
I meant that he'll commit a lot of fouls
He’ll certainly do better against the power guys, to the extent that he isn’t nimble enough to chase the quicker bigs, but realistically, I don’t see him being a good defensive player in the NBA. I don’t really think he’s a good defender in Europe.
by Eric in Madison on Feb 26, 2010 10:30 AM CST up reply actions
I agree
I think he’ll draw a lot of fouls (certainly does in Euro ball, and it seems to be because guys have trouble with him once he gets in the lane) and commit a nice amount. I think his defense will be really bad once his guy gets the ball and also before that, but I think if he ever finds a niche on defense, it will be in denying the ball to guys in the post. I see him as a guy who should constantly be shifting between fronting his man and bodying him up just so it’s hard for a bigger guy just to establish position, get the ball, post him up, throw it down.
A bit of a random thought...
but I’d really enjoy watching Pekovic-Milicic vs. Perkins-Garnett.
Mostly for the jawing and fighting, but also for the basketball.
I'd enjoy watching it too...
… I think Commissioner Stern could generate a lot of revenue if they did it during All-Star weekend as a half court 2 on 2 played inside a steel cage—a combination of sorts involving streetball, boxing, and ultimate fighting. It’d attract broad constituencies of viewers from the basketball and UFC communities, as well as from the greater Boston and Belgrade communities. The downside is the risk of another U.S.-Serbian war…
Little-known fact:
That’s actually one of the minigames that comes with the new version of NBA Jam on the Wii. You shake your controller to move the screen.
"It has come to the editor’s attention that the Herald-Leader neglected to cover the civil rights movement. We regret the omission."
What would you pay him to get him here?
And would that be enough to get him to come? I thought I heard that he’s making a pretty decent living over there, so I wonder whether people think his NBA value is high enough to get him here.
Panathinaikos’ short name is not Pani, it is PAO. Like Barcelona is called “Barca”. Panathinaikos is called PAO, not “Pani”.
BTW, why do Wolves fans say they only have two European players? Do you not know about Loukas Mavrokefalidis? He is a very, very skilled big man. He’s actually probably a much better player at this time than Rubio is. It seems odd that you do not even consider him at all when he is an excellent player with great skills at 6-11.
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