Chris Anstey Breakdown and News

Goorj, the three ball is me BABY!

The Olympics is only five days away so I better pick up the pace with my player breakdowns.

Lets take a look at the NBL's MVP Chris Anstey.

strengths: The knock on Anstey is his lack of being a consistent low post target and floating out to three point territory. I look at this as being a strength for the Boomers during international competition.

With his ability to shoot the three ball this allows Andrew Bogut or David Andersen the room they require to operate down low. I would actually look at playing Anstey with either of these guys, especially when we play against the bigger teams.

Him and Nielsen together are not so good as "Nellie" is more of a slashing power forward. You need a constant target down low so "no go" for this combo.

Anstey is a proven performer at the high end of European ball so his strengths have served him well. The Aussies need to roll with these instead of looking at his negatives.

Chris is a good rebounder and passer as well so he can be more than just a guy that will stretch the opposition defense.

Also, remember he is a legit seven foot so he can intimidate on defense when he wants to. (I'll look for Dwight Howard to monster dunk on him at least once though when they clash in the next few days.)

weakness: I believe he tends to get carried away with passing the ball at times and this leads to some very loose turnovers. Always looking for the "home run" backdoor play, it can quite often let to a fast break for the opposition.

He needs to cut down on his careless TO's. Just the other night against Argentina he had two on penetration. This stat more than any other at the international level can be a game killer.

The team that manufactures easy points usually wins.

overall: Anstey's strengths far out weigh his weaknesses. The trouble is, his mistakes can be costly to the team.

I believe he will figure heavily if the Boomers make a medal run.

News

Fast Fact: On this day in 1949 the NBA was born.

Blogger Green Bandwagon breaks down the Boomers with some interesting facts.

"This country has been built on giving everyone a fair go and Sydney and Basketball Australia haven’t given us a fair go," said Bendigo Spirit chairman Jock Clark. Courtesy of the Bendigo Advertiser.

What's wrong with the Sydney Blueys?

Julius Hodge’s agent Cervando Tejeda e-mailed HoopsHype.com to shoot down a report on the Melbourne Herald-Sun that had Hodge going to the Tigers of the Australian League.

“Neither Julius nor me have given any verbal commitment to the Melbourne Tigers organization,” Tejeda said. “Right now Julius’ focus is getting an invite to an NBA veterans camp and making the NBA.” - HoopsHype

SEABL's Ben Armstrong retires.

Cairns Taipans Martin Cattilini says, "Just think."

Team USA gets by Russia. (boxscore)

David Andersen video thanks to ESPN. (many other internationals as well)

Andreas Nocioni talks after the win over Australia

Spirit Debate Continues & Other Stuff

This is what the Great Debate is over!

Who Has The Spirit

The debate over which team or teams will be able to use Spirit as their nickname continued today in Sydney.

The Bendigo Spirit who play in the Women's National Basketball League have always operated with this nickname.

Bendigo is fighting for their name as the (kind of) new franchise in the Men's National Basketball League, Sydney Spirit, is trying to swoop in on the nickname.

I like the passion that the people of Bendigo are approaching this matter with. I hope they get what they are fighting for.

Bendigo's GM Wendy James had this to say.

"We were given a good hearing and we stood up for our name and the reasons why we want it exclusively", she told the Bendigo Advertiser.

For the full article click here.

Anyone for Steak

"Jason was met at the airport by team owner Bob Turner and driven to his quarters before they proceeded to a downtown restaurant for a steak dinner. Danny said Jason was very impressed with his quarters and might ask a cousin based in Singapore to stay with him in his flat." - INQUIRER.Net

Good to see that all is going well for new Singapore Slinger Jason Castro. If all it takes to impress him is a steak dinner, look for more NBL clubs to recruit players from the Philippines.

RESPECT

"Probably not the NBL, though: people there couldn't organise the proverbial in a brewery without losing their shirts. And pants. And then blaming it on a biased media and a dodgy bloke from Perth with miracle tablets." - Sydney Morning Herald

This is a great article by the SMH's Bernard Zuel. I'm sure when many front office big wigs read this article, they had their lackey put out a press release about something they had just done.

Athens

With the first round of games nearly complete at the FIBA Athens 2008 tournament, finally we are a step closer to finding out which three countries will get the remaining three Olympics spots.

The Kiwis lost to Germany today for the fifth consecutive time, while Greece continues to dominate in front of their home fans.

For all the latest news and results click here.

Vegas in Summer

Check out the latest and greatest scores from the Vegas Summer League.

South Dragons new import signing Ebi Ere has been putting up some solid numbers over the past two games for the Memphis Grizzles.

If he keeps playing well, he may have to take a pay cut to play in the NBA next season.

A Pocket Full of Posey

"You knew this was coming -- the inevitable overreaction to a role player on a championship team in free agency. Every year there's one guy whom teams can't stop fawning over, and this year it was James Posey. Sure, he was an integral part of championship teams for both Miami and Boston, but as with a lot of players who win rings it can be hard for us to look at him rationally." - ESPN's John Hollinger.

A good article explaining how timing is everything for a solid role player in the NBA. I'm a James Posey fan, but the New Orleans Hornets have just shelled out $25 million for the best role player in the recent NBA Finals series. Is he worth it? You decide.

Yao Rusty

"Entering to huge applause from the crowd in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, Yao appeared rusty in scoring six points over seven minutes in the first half. Four of those came from free throws, helping China race to a 51-39 lead after the second quarter." - Associated Press

China's great basketballing Olympic hope Yao Ming returned to action today against Serbia.

Although it was reported he looked rusty, the confidence he brings out in the other players will see China become a much tougher opponent with him in the line up.

During my recent trip to China I was told that the other Chinese players on the squad respond positively to the presences of the big Houston Rocket centre.

Youngsters to Scrimmage Team USA

"We're looking for this select group to really compete and help prepare our senior team for Beijing," USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said in a statement. "I'll also repeat something I said last year. Some of these players have represented USA Basketball in the past and there are others who will. This is an opportunity for them to get into the USA Basketball pipeline." - Associated Press.

To check out the full squad click here.

Marbury Gone?

The future of Stephon Marbury with his hometown New York Knicks looks bleak. The Knicks signed Anthony Roberson to a two year deal. This signing seems like it could be the death of Marbury in New York.

A Little Ol Skool NBL - 1982 All Star Game