Andersen and Newley Playing For A Championship

RIP...Drazen Petrovic one of the best Euro to NBA players

I will give David Andersen the first look here as he is performing on the bigger stage. At 4.55am tomorrow Andersen and his CSKA Moscow team will play for the Euroleague title. Outside the NBA this is the biggest title you can win.

CSKA will take on Maccabi Elite. These teams are considered powerhouses in the European competition. Both have great history and tradition and were the two best teams this year.

Andersen played a massive role in getting his team past Tau Ceramica in the semi final. (boxscore) He came up with 8 points in the fourth quarter and was key in securing the win for the team from Russia.

Here is a preview of the matchup that you can catch on ESPN (508) @ 4.55am Monday.

As for Brad Newley, his team Panionios got off to a good start in their Greek League playoffs. They beat Panellinios 83-70 to take a 1-0 lead in the best of three quarter final.

Newley had a solid contribution across the board. Points, rebounds and assists. It was a good team win as ten players scored.

Game 2 is on Monday.

I've been trying to let this one side all day but I just cannot get it out of my head.

Neil Mottram has signed with the Sydney Kings for two years. I have no problem with that part. The problem I have lies within the following quote as seen at tvnz.co.nz.

"The Sydney Kings are well known to be a very professional and organised club."

Now Mottram has spent the last couple of years in Adelaide but surely he has not been cut off from the rest of the world while down there.

Neil, I just hope you have contacted your Commonwealth Games Gold Medal coach and some of the past and/or current players to see what the working conditions are like.

Most professional athletes will always talk up the franchise that they have just signed with, but when a franchise has been so heavily scrutinized of late, some things are best left alone.

I hope the Sydney Kings have got their franchise back on track because they are the team everyone loves to hate. Every sport has to have their villain and the Kings are ours.

In other hoops news; The Singapore Slingers get their man. David Andersen the "secret" weapon at the Olympics? I don't think so. Europe knows who he is even if we (Aussies) don't. Europe basketball turns 50.

NBA News; Can the Celtics get past the Hawks in game 7. Kobe is MVP? About time I say. Hornets sting Spurs in game 1. 12 best Euro/NBA players.

Drazen Petrovic vs Oscar Schmidt - two of the best international players