Nike Basketball News

MVPuppets: Three Rings

nikebasketball_emea — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:28:38 GMT

¿Alguna vez has perdido algo de gran valor para ti? ¿Algo importante de verdad? ¿Tan importante y de tanto valor como tres anillos de campeón? Entonces tal vez entiendas la preocupación del Muppet Kobe por encontrarlos mientras registra su casa y la de LeBron en busca de Gorgeous, Beautiful y (ejem) Sexy.

Unstoppable Drive

nikebasketball_emea — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:04:40 GMT

To perform at the Final Four, you need drive - an unstoppable drive. Go behind-the-scenes and find out how Josh Childress, coach Messina, MVP Spanoulis and others prepared for the showdown in Berlin.

LeBron James, MVP de la NBA 2009

nikebasketball_emea — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:04:24 GMT

¿Qué diferencia a un gran jugador del MVP? Esta temporada, tras batir innumerables récords individuales de anotación y conquistar la medalla de oro en Pekín, LeBron ha encontrado la respuesta.

Sus estadísticas hablan por sí solas: 28,4 puntos, 7,6 rebotes y 7,4 asistencias por partido. Sin embargo, si LeBron hubiese firmado estos números en un equipo intermedio, lucharía por el título pero no sería un valor seguro. No sin el equipo con el que ha establecido un gran vínculo en Cleveland.

El nombre de LeBron encabezaba todas las listas, incluso antes del parón de mitad de temporada, debido a que conseguía esas estadísticas dentro del concepto de equipo. Todo lo que ha hecho esta temporada, a ambos lados de la cancha, se sitúa absolutamente dentro de lo que pide el esquema de los Cavs, exactamente tal y como se ha explicado en el vestuario y en los entrenamientos. Su nivel de dedicación al equipo es inigualable. Su habilidad única para inspirar y motivar a sus compañeros ha provocado que legiones de aficionados de todo el mundo le imiten.

Hay varios buenos jugadores en Cleveland que son mejores gracias a LeBron. Esto no se debe únicamente a que su mera presencia atraiga en gran medida la atención de sus rivales, creando así oportunidades para que ellos puedan brillar. Desde que el autobús sale hacia el aeropuerto hasta que la bocina anuncia el final del partido, algo de LeBron se contagia a esos jugadores: un consejo acerca de una manera ingeniosa de defender el "pick & roll", una discusión sobre el mejor ángulo de corte para que LeBron les haga llegar el balón o un ejercicio antes del partido que rompa con una larga y, a veces, extenuante temporada.

Eso es lo que hace un líder, lo que hace un buen compañero de equipo. Él es capaz de cambiar un partido anotando el lanzamiento clave o mediante un pase imposible, animando desde la banda o con una nube de talco. Por eso está considerado como uno de los más grandes de todos los tiempos. Y, por eso, es el más valioso de 2008-2009.

Most Valuable Puppets

nikebasketball_emea — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:13:01 GMT

Cuando llegó la hora de los playoffs, ya sabíamos que LeBron y Kobe estarían preparados para cada partido. Sin embargo, en este vídeo podemos comprobar que el Most Valuable Puppet LeBron y el Most Valuable Puppet Kobe han llevado su entusiasmo a un nivel completamente diferente.

Así se juegan los grandes partidos

nikebasketball_emea — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:24:09 GMT

Ha llegado el momento, la Final Four. Hay mucho en juego, cada partido es distinto pero el objetivo sigue siendo el mismo: ganar.

Somos el equipo a batir, así que hemos aprendido a tomarnos en serio cada partido, sin importar contra quién juguemos. En la Final Four nos enfrentaremos a los mejores equipos de Europa y lo haremos en una noche en la que estarán ansiosos por machacarnos. Pero estamos acostumbrados a ello. Nuestros rivales siempre nos esperan armados hasta los dientes.

Durante el partido, no puedes estar pendiente de lo mucho que te juegas o de la rivalidad. Si permites que estos pensamientos dominen tu mente, dejarás de concentrarte en lo que se supone que debes hacer por el equipo. Perderás la concentración en tus tareas defensivas y tus opciones en ataque se verán limitadas. Sólo debes concentrarte en ganar. Deja que sean los aficionados quienes se ocupen de la rivalidad.

En la Final Four nos enfrentaremos a los equipos que nos toquen. No se trata de contra quién juguemos (todos los equipos son duros y experimentados), sino de lo que estemos dispuestos a conseguir. Si quieres ser el mejor, tienes que jugar contra los mejores. Y ganarles.

Todo es cuestión de detalles

nikebasketball_emea — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:17:13 GMT

El momento ha llegado. Cuatro grandes equipos. Una batalla titánica. Pero en esta ocasión, más que nunca, los pequeños detalles son los que marcarán la diferencia.

Pequeños detalles como llegar un nanosegundo antes al aro, obtener una ventaja de un centímetro en el aire o vencer a tu rival en la batalla psicológica a través del análisis de su juego ofensivo.

Estos son los detalles en los que hemos estado trabajando durante semanas. Hemos preparado a nuestros jugadores para todas las situaciones posibles y hemos estudiado minuciosamente las fortalezas y debilidades de nuestros adversarios.

Es un momento duro para los jugadores. Quieren participar en la liga nacional, pero no quieren arriesgarse a caer lesionados justo antes del momento más importante de la temporada.

Por ello, necesitamos concentrarnos exclusivamente en el juego, así que he de encontrar ese difícil equilibrio que necesitan para estar seguros de sí mismos, pero no demasiado relajados, y para estar entusiasmados, pero no nerviosos.

El equipo que esté más capacitado para eliminar incluso la más insignificante de las distracciones tendrá las mayores oportunidades de conseguir la victoria. Puedo ofrecerles a mis jugadores todo cuanto esté en mi mano pero, una vez salten a la cancha, todo dependerá de ellos.

No sé lo que ocurrirá, cómo jugaremos o si ganaremos, pero sí estoy seguro de que no olvidaré un solo detalle que pueda ayudarnos a ganar el campeonato de Europa.

Ettore Messina

SIN PRESIÓN

nikebasketball_emea — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:00:19 GMT

Ya hemos llegado. Estamos en el último capítulo de la temporada: la Final Four. Sientes la presión en la nuca, pero no puedes permitir que te domine. Lo único que conseguirás con cualquier distracción es que tu juego se resienta.

He estado en esta situación los últimos siete años, así que para mí es fácil decirlo. Sin embargo, es cierto que no se trata de la presión, sino de comprobar qué equipo rinde mejor y consigue permanecer fiel a su juego porque, al fin y al cabo, ese juego es el que lo ha llevado a la final.

Sólo hay una manera de conseguirlo: trabajar aún más duro, llegar en la mejor forma posible y preparar a tu equipo para cualquier circunstancia como, por ejemplo, asegurarte de que sabrá cómo reaccionar si se encuentra diez puntos abajo en la final o que los jugadores sabrán si pasar o lanzar cuando queden sólo unos segundos de posesión.

Las finales siempre generan grandes expectativas. Siempre existe esa enorme presión pero, al final, quien decide los resultados no es la presión externa, sino el equipo.

Theo

NBA, ALLÁ VAMOS.

nikebasketball_emea — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:20:44 GMT

Hace poco jugamos un partido de la Euroliga en Belgrado ante 22.000 aficionados enardecidos. El baloncesto europeo está creciendo. Y no sólo crece, sino que mejora cada año con la aparición de grandes talentos en todos los equipos.

Los jugadores europeos se han convertido en atletas de máximo nivel: son más ágiles, saltan más alto y corren más rápido pero, además, han conservado el estilo europeo característico de juego en equipo. Todavía son capaces de abrir el juego con pases hábiles y aún buscan al jugador desmarcado.

Así que, ¿cuál es la causa de este gran salto de calidad? En primer lugar, el simple hecho de que la masa de aficionados en Europa haya crecido enormemente a lo largo de estos años y que hoy en día los partidos se televisen en todo el continente. Esto ha hecho que el baloncesto europeo sea más profesional y que los jugadores y los equipos evolucionen.

Este incremento en el grado de profesionalidad también se puede ver en el elevado nivel del arbitraje. El juego en Europa es uno de los más difíciles de arbitrar por su alto índice de contacto. Hace sólo diez años era muy complicado ganar los partidos fuera de casa, especialmente en algunas canchas donde había mucha presión. Pero nuestros árbitros han ido mejorando cada vez más y, hoy en día, si juegas duro y con inteligencia tienes bastantes opciones de ganar fuera, sin importar lo apasionado que sea el público.

Y, por último, EL BALONCESTO SE VUELVE INTERNACIONAL. Hace veinte años, los equipos europeos sólo tenían dos extranjeros y, en la mayoría de los casos, eran dos estadounidenses desconocidos. En la actualidad, podemos ver estrellas estadounidenses en la Euroliga y un número cada vez mayor de grandes jugadores europeos en la NBA. Aunque las grandes superestrellas siguen siendo de EE.UU., aparecen nuevos talentos en todo el mundo esperando a tomar el relevo.

A los aficionados europeos les siguen apasionando las grandes estrellas de la NBA, pero también se sienten cada vez más atraídos por la intensidad y la emoción que impregnan la mayoría de nuestros partidos. Todavía existe distancia entre nosotros y el mágico mundo de la NBA pero, creedme, se está acortando muy rápido.

Ettore Messina

Prepararse para el gran momento

nikebasketball_emea — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:39:42 GMT

Todo se decidirá en breve. En pocas semanas jugaremos en el escenario por el que tanto hemos trabajado durante todo el año: la Final Four de Berlín.

Todo el equipo está ansioso, pero sabemos que tenemos una gran tarea por delante. Nuestro objetivo no es llegar a la final, sino ganarla. Por eso, este mes vamos a jugar duro y a prepararnos para esa semana en Berlín, porque sabemos que no será fácil.

El equipo tuvo algunos partidos complicados en la segunda mitad de la temporada. Pequeños problemas de lesiones y de ritmo pueden marcar la diferencia para un equipo. Yo debería saberlo, puesto que ya pasé mi lucha particular contra esos “pequeños problemas” a principios de 2009.

Pero todo eso se debe simplemente a que somos humanos. Todos pasamos mejores y peores momentos y todo es psicológico en un 90%. Es cuestión de enfrentarse a ello, mantener la confianza, ser fiel a tu juego y minimizar tus errores.

Por lo tanto, jugadores como Theo Papaloukas son fundamentales en nuestro equipo, tanto dentro como fuera de la cancha. Este tío lo ha visto todo, va a jugar su séptima Final Four consecutiva y la ha ganado tres veces.

Los jugadores más jóvenes, como yo, le hacemos un montón de preguntas para saber lo que nos espera. Sin embargo, ya puedes preguntarle a un jugador experimentado como él todo lo que quieras, que al final tienes que concentrarte en tu juego y esperar lo inesperado.

La clave no está en el capitán, sino en el equipo

nikebasketball_emea — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:39:05 GMT

¿Qué cambia cuando te conviertes en capitán? ¿Tu forma de jugar? ¿La relación con tu entrenador o con los aficionados?

La respuesta es: nada de lo anterior.

Lo único que cambia es tu responsabilidad a la hora de ayudar a cada miembro del equipo a jugar mejor.En la cancha trabajo tan duro como todos para contribuir a que mi equipo gane, como siempre he hecho, por lo que no se modifica mi actitud hacia los demás ni mi forma de jugar.

En lo único que soy superior a otros jugadores es en la experiencia. He coincidido con la mayoría de los jugadores griegos en la selección, así que todos conocían mi trayectoria y mi experiencia y me aceptaron como capitán. Para algunos jugadores, ésta es su primera final, así que hablo con ellos para que estén preparados.

Ser el capitán consiste en hacer todo lo posible por ayudar a tu equipo a conseguir la victoria cada vez que saltas a la cancha. Así de sencillo. Y así es como siempre he jugado.

Theo

Hoop Summit: Game Day

nikebasketball_emea — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:30:30 GMT

After losing his first four Nike Hoop Summits, World Select Team head coach ROB BEVERIDGE recorded his first victory in Portland Saturday ...

I really felt earlier in the week that this group was coming together. They enjoyed each other's company and we spent a lot of time on team bonding exercises.

We went ten-pin bowling and were laughing at each other for the gutter balls and because the bowling alley were struggling to find size 17 shoes for some of the guys. We had competitive drills and the guys had to do push-ups or have piggy-back races when they lost. All that really brought this group together and you saw what this team is about.

This is the biggest challenge I could ever have in my coaching career. I have spent year after year listening to the USA guys talk about the problems they have of bringing their team together but unless a coach has been in the situation we're in, you really have no idea of the difficulties we face.

It's like a game of chess and trying to teach all the players which piece they are in the game and obviously the biggest challenge we have is doing that with the language barrier to overcome.

So, while the win is fantastic, I'm more concerned that the players appreciate what they have actually done - they have done something very very special and I feel privileged to call myself their coach.

I'll always think how lucky I am. I'm a professional coach, I get to travel the world, develop friendships with people and have long-term relationships with many of the players and I know I will keep in touch and follow the careers of many of these kids.

At the end, our celebrations were pretty wild and that was relief more than anything. I'm a competitive guy and to beat the USA on their own court with so many things against us ... that was pretty special.

DONATAS MOTIEJUNAS, from Lithuania, scored 21 points in the World Select Team's 97-89 victory in the Nike Hoop Summit game in Portland Saturday.

This is history!

The last time the World Team beat the USA in this game was 1998 so beating them here in Portland is awesome for us and, especially, for the coaches.

From 10 different players, selfish players including me, the coach built a TEAM. Not every coach could do that and you have to honor our coach, Rob Beveridge, for doing it.

Of course, the USA thought they were better than us but we proved we were the better team and, again, that is thanks to the coaches and I thank them with all my heart.

Rob has been coaching this team for five years and he has so much experience which he passed on to us and that is why we won the game.

It seemed like the week started slowly but it finished like an explosion! For me, the second half of the game was really enjoyable, the first half not so much, but I think I finished the game strong.

There was quite a big crowd at the game but when you have played in some of the gyms I have played in in Lithuania, then the noise and the crowd tonight is nothing!

The NBA is a dream for me - of course it is, who wouldn't want to play there? And watching the game between the Blazers and the Lakers on Friday showed me what the NBA is like. Did tonight show me I'm ready for the NBA? I don't know. I am waiting to hear from somebody! I have said before, when the people around me tell me I am ready for the NBA, then I am ready. Not until then.

So the week is over and I have so many memories, it is impossible to pick just one. There will not be one memory I take home, there will be lots - both on the court and off it where this was my first ever time in America.

But if I had to choose one memory, it would probably be the final buzzer when our celebrations started. The World Team has waited 11 long years for a victory. Now, thanks to the coaches, and teamwork, we have made history.

MILAN MACVAN led the World Select Team to a 97-89 victory at Nike Hoop Summit in Portland Saturday, scoring 23 points and adding 14 rebounds and 6 assists.

I have won against a US team before, at the World Championships in Novi Sad, and any time you beat Americans is special. America is the biggest country in the world for basketball so to beat them in their own country ... it is hard to describe.

This was an enjoyable week for me - my first time in the USA - and I am glad I was selected because I learned so much and had so many experiences.

Even though there were some language problems at first, we made friendships that will last for a long time and, even though many of us knew each other from playing in Europe, we had not played together before.

We obviously spent a lot of time in practice but we did many different things as well - like designing Nike iD shoes for a team mate.

There was fun but, of course, the week was about the game and, while the game was tough, we played a lot of zone and that helped us win. Zone is how we beat the USA in Novi Sad and we did the same here. Maybe that's the way to beat the USA all the time.

After the game, there were many journalists asking us questions. One said I reminded him of Kevin Love. He's a great player, I love Kevin Love, but I don't want to be Kevin Love! I want to be Milan!

When I was young I liked a European player, Vlade Divac, and, in the NBA, Charles Barkley, so maybe I am more like them.

The NBA is my dream, of course. We saw Portland play the Lakers on Friday and that was fantastic, my first NBA game. But maybe I have more chance in Europe because I'm not a great athlete. Maybe that's a problem for me, I don't know.

Now I must go home and play in the National Championships in Serbia which end in May and, after that, I'll talk to my agent about the NBA and the future. Right now, I have no plans.

But, like every kid in Europe, the NBA has always been my dream. I started playing basketball in the first place because I wanted to be Shaq O'Neal. That was my first basketball jersey and I still have it at home, though I can't fit in it any more!

Maybe one day I will be back here and playing again. Who knows?!

TOMISLAV ZUBCIC from Croatia hit 17 points in the World Team's 97-89 upset of the USA at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland Saturday.

I have learned so many things, about basketball and life, this week and I am so glad I was here and part of the win.

We feel we have been part of history and I am going back to Europe thinking maybe I can play now. After all, I have beaten the USA! How many Europeans my age can say that?

From the start, the Americans were saying that they would beat us and had the attitude that they would beat us easily. I didn't like that attitude and we showed them how to play. We showed them that they were not the best. We were!

The first thing you have to say is our coach, Rob Beveridge, did a very good job and the second is we played like a team - playing good defense. We stopped them because they like to run and we stopped them running thanks to our rebounding and our smart players.

When we play like that, this team could beat anybody.

I am very happy personally with my performance and the way I played tonight because other people were watching. I scored what I scored but I think I did other things to help us win and that was important.

Like every young guy, I dream of playing in the NBA but it is not in my mind right now because I do not think this one game will make such a difference.

To play in the NBA, you must play well for a few years and you must have experience for the NBA. I'm not yet ready to play in the NBA.

But I do think that I am a better player and I have had so much fun this week. It is something I will always remember.

Photo Credit: USA BASKETBALL

Hoop Summit: 1 day to go until tip-off...

nikebasketball_emea — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:13:25 GMT

Watch behind the scenes footage from the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon. This annual basketball game event features the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Select Team, comprised of the top high school boy senior players, playing against a World Select Team, comprised of top players 19-years-old or younger from around the world. Get to know these young, up and coming prospects before they become stars.

Photo Credit: USA BASKETBALL

The Family: Playoffs Preview

nikebasketball_emea — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:14:46 GMT

With the regular season just about history, it’s time to turn our attention toward the Greatest Show On Earth, aka the postseason. Two months of intense desire, amazing finishes, and furious battles. The games are played with the sure knowledge that anything less than full effort means a premature end to championship dreams.

Let’s begin our look ahead with the team that came up just short last season, and is gearing up to erase that bitter ending from their collective memory—the Los Angeles Lakers. Showtime is back on the coast, as the #1 seed out west is favored to make it back to the ultimate round.

Leading the way…well, you already know about Kobe Bryant. Great talent, sure, but also an incredible competitive streak, a ferocious defender, and a player who can will his team to victory, either in a game or a series. Simply put, Kobe has to be accounted for at all times, even when he’s taking a breather on the sideline—just his glare from the bench gets his teammates motivated.

One of those sidekicks is critical to L.A. making that leap to winning it all. Andrew Bynum was just shoving his way into the elite big man category when he went down with a knee injury. Fortunately, it wasn’t as serious as the one he suffered last season, when he missed that showdown with Boston. Bynum has made his return, and should provide the missing piece to the puzzle in the paint. L.A. was brutalized inside by the Green Machine last year—that won’t happen with Bynum around.

The Bryant and Bynum combo isn’t all L.A. has to offer. Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom were pushed around pretty good by Boston’s bigs last year, and they are
eager for redemption. Gasol has been berserk this campaign, averaging just shy of 20 and 10. Thursday night, with Bynum back and occupying defenders, Pau pounded Denver to the tune of 27 points and 19 rebounds, his third double-double in four games. Odom is always a double-double threat every night, too, showing a rare ball-handling, shooting, post-up versatility. More importantly, the tandem has taken the opportunity to establish more of an inside presence in Bynum’s absence. That’s some serious size and length L.A. can throw at teams when all three are playing, and playing well.

Another player who will be more of a factor this time around is Trevor Ariza. The 6’8” forward has given his team a little of everything this year—a scoring option, solid defense, smart rebounding, and a step up in “want-to.” L.A. has depth to spare, and Ariza is the best of the subs.

Nothing is guaranteed in this league, but it will be a surprise if the purple and gold aren’t in the final two.

Hoop Summit: 4 days to go until tip-off...

nikebasketball_emea — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:01:38 GMT

Hoop Summit: Tomislav Zubcic

nikebasketball_emea — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:45:13 GMT

Few of the players on show in the Nike Hoop Summit on Saturday will have had a tougher journey to get there than TOMISLAV ZUBCIC. Here, the Croatian forward tells his fascinating story:

I started playing basketball at 10, which is pretty late compared to some kids in Europe. My dad used to play basketball and I would go with him to games but it was not until my cousin - who now plays in the Ukraine - said, 'Go and try it,' that I went to a team.

I was born in Zadar, that was my first team, and the first time I went to practice, I loved basketball. It was my first love, love at first sight!

Why? Because it is a team game. I like being part of a team, I don't want to be selfish, I don't want to be an individual, I don't want to be a tennis player or a golfer. I want to be part of a team, doing my best for other people, trying to bring something - a trophy, glory - to a club.

So, I was with Zadar with three or four years then I went to Union Olimpija in Slovenia for five or six months and Fortitudo Bologna in Italy for the same, five or six months, then, at the under-16 European Championships in 2006 I did ok and Cibona called me to see if I wanted to go home to play.

I went to Slovenia when I was 14 and that was tough. I was without my parents, without anybody. I got an apartment from the club and had two room mates and it was good ... but tough, being in another country so young. I went to school but basketball was my life and I didn't have anyone with me. I was a 14-year-old alone in a different country.

It was the same in Italy but not so tough because Italy is a very good place to live and play basketball and the people are nice there and want to help.

But when I got the chance to go home to Cibona I said ok, it was better to be in my own country and get the chance to play near my parents and home. Looking back, I never knew how tough it was going to be living in a new country and I think it helped me, toughened me up ... but it was hard.

Being here in Portland this week reminds me of home! I look at the nature, the woods, the rivers, the green and I like that. I'm from a small village in Croatia and this is like home. But I am here to play the game, to meet people, to learn things and do my best.

I played in a tournament in Dallas last summer and played two games against American teams. Americans play hard but as individuals. Everything is one-on-one, who is stronger. Basketball is a team game but here, in America, it is an individual game.

In Europe, you need to use your brain. That's what we must show the Americans on Saturday - how we play the game in Europe, which is the style everybody should play - pass the ball, shoot, defend, as a team. In Europe, basketball is all about teamwork, that's how it is supposed to be.

Last year in Dallas, I won one game and lost one game by two points and I enjoyed beating the Americans. I want to do it again. We must think like a team and do everything to beat them.

Photo Credit: USA BASKETBALL