France vs. Italy: Eurobasket Qualification

[KoolKat]

Why doesnt Mikael Pietrus, Noah, Diaw, and T Parker play for France. Who is the other Pietrus?

His older brother, Florent. Playing in the ACB with Pamesa Valencia.

[Melissa]

Why doesnt Mikael Pietrus, Noah, Diaw, and T Parker play for France. Who is the other Pietrus?

Diaw is playing, Noah was training with the team but the bulls wanted him to come back, Parker will play the next game, Pietrus is injured.

[hassano]

For those who watched the game, howd bargnani play?

[eaggolfer3]

For those who watched the game, howd bargnani play?

Not very good. Was paractically invisible the whole game. Made a couple buckets in the fourth.

Finished with 10pts 4rebs 1ast 1blk 5/10fg 0/2 from three in 32 minutes.

[sipitri]

For those who watched the game, howd bargnani play?

He didn't play a good game at all.

[DouXer4ouR]

France is just better then Italy at everything.

[Rekindled]

France is just better then Italy at everything.

the italian coach sux , and they have no point guard. all their plays are just 1 player going in iso (bellilneli).

much more passing and flow for france.

[yobore]

France is just better then Italy at everything.

this might be the first time france can put it all together. behind USA they have the most NBAers but they're not good together. Now the talent is enough to trump that.

[josh99]

Diaw is playing, Noah was training with the team but the bulls wanted him to come back, Parker will play the next game, Pietrus is injured.

Pietrus is injured? I thought Parker was injured?

[kaiteng]

Game 1 result

Italy still has one more rematch with France, but first they're gotta beat the crap out of Finland for now.

[Qwyjibo]

I hope Italy just loses every game and doesn't qualify for anything. This is the big drawback when it comes to having a lot of international players on your team. I'd rather Bargnani and Belinelli not playing meaningless (to me) games and risk injury. Focus on the Raptors. To hell with Italy, the USA, Turkey, Spain... whatever.

[red1]

I hope Italy just loses every game and doesn't qualify for anything. This is the big drawback when it comes to having a lot of international players on your team. I'd rather Bargnani and Belinelli not playing meaningless (to me) games and risk injury. Focus on the Raptors. To hell with Italy, the USA, Turkey, Spain... whatever.

Agreed, would suck balls if they get even a minor injury.

[zybine]

I saw the game (I'm french). Good, tense eurogame : strong defense, suspense, fantastic audience from Sardinia.

The Italians were clearly not prepared : bad team chemistry, Bargnani out of shape. But Bellinelli stole the show and was the clear MVP of the game. He really has all it takes to have a successful career in the NBA. Good pick for the Raptors.

The French were focused and - it is so rare it is worth mentionning it - played like a team. The can be successful in this Euro competition if they keep this asset WITH Tony parker playing.

Diaw was rather solid, F. Pietrus (Magic player's twin brother, an undersized 4) was impressive and, at the end of the game, Batum took the lead. The Blazers player is really a special talent. I fear the NBA might turn him into a defense specialist. It's too bad because he can really do it all.

The young players were good : Nando de Colo, who's just been drafted by the Spurs, showed his polished offensive game. He will try to make it in the NBA as a PG, but he is definitely an undersized 2. I'm not too sure he'll be successful. And Antoine Diot proved again he is a solid NBA prospect. Solid, unspectacular PG with high IQ and, more important, guts and motivation. I figure he 'll be a solid back up PG in the NBA.

A small precision (cf previous posts) : those two kids are white. The rest of the team a) either comes from the caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe (Turiaf, Petro, Pietrus), b) either has black father, white mother (Diaw, TP, Batum, Noah).

[ALBballer]

Does France have any white players on their respective national teams? The soccer and Basketball teams are made up of black immigrants.

[Lakas Fan Yo]

this might be the first time france can put it all together. behind USA they have the most NBAers but they're not good together. Now the talent is enough to trump that.

Based on this game both France and Italy are terrible. The better Euro teams would blow both of them out easily. Of course France would be a little bit better with Parker, but still those teams are quite a ways off from the better Euro clubs.