Tuesday 08 May 2007, 12:20:30
Munich, Germany

A few pictures and videos from the final

[by Tobias Seitz] - Now that I am back from Athens and had a few moments to review my pictures and videos, I decided to put more stuff online. If you were not lucky enough to experience the incredible atmosphere at the O.A.K.A. arena in Athens you should really watch this video and the pictures that I put on my blog HoopNation. Overall I think this has been a very good event that showed basketball in Europe from its best side.

I am sure we will see some of the players in the NBA.



Thank you for following this live blog from Athens, Greece.
Tobias


Sunday 06 May 2007, 23:48:30
Athens

LIVE from the O.A.K.A Arena - Panathinaikos won the EUROLEAGUE 2007

[by Tobias Seitz]

(4. Quarter)

- 93-91 Panathinaikos win the Euroleague 2007 - What a game and what a crowd!
- Trajan Langdon can't make another three- but Siskauskas can't make his free throws - Langdon makes his 5th - 93-88
- quick foul by Papaloukas  - Milos Vujanic makes both - 91-86 with 20.7 seconds to go
- 89-86 21.5 to go
- Smodis with two important free throws- he makes one
- Michael Batiste makes a fade away jumper - Langdon can't make the three but Becirovic fouls at the rebound and is out
- Panathinaikos' Fragiskos keeps running up and down the bench for the last 5 minutes
- Timeout - now this is really a huge game from both teams
- another three pointer by Langdon! 6 points in 10 seconds makes it a 87-85 game with 51.3 to go
- Anderson with a defensive rebound and Papaloukas with the ball
- Langdon with a three pointer! 87-82
- 87-79 with 1:28 to go
- Van den Spiegel is out - he fouled siskauskas who makes the lay up and the foul shot
- Smodis with an important three pointer: 83-78 Panathinaikos - now this is really a Euroleague Final! We got 3:01 minutes to go
- Michael batiste! 82-73 with a J.R. Holden lay up
- Michael Batiste makes it 78-69  with 4:24 to go
- Oscar Torres got fouled out which isn't good for CSKA - Messina has to bring in Anton Ponkrashov but still got Trajan Langdon on the bench
- With almost 6 Minutes to go every foul we cause two free throws now. Papaloukas got fould hits the lay up and the free throw to make it 73-69
- Trajan Langdon picks up his 4th personal foul with 6:43 to go
- Trajan Langdon keeps CSKA in the game with a lay up and a foul. He makes his the free throw 69-63
- 69-60 Panathinaikos with 8:40 to go. CSKA has to play like in the begining of the third quarter to win this game
- Yeah - I got a paper to vote for the MVP of the game - I'll put down Papaloukas if CSKA Moscow wins and Diamantidis for Panathinaikos who is shooting 100% from everywhere so far. Next time send me the paper to vote for the NBA's MVP ;)


Sunday 06 May 2007, 22:34:30
Athens

LIVE from the O.A.K.A Arena

[by Tobias Seitz]

(3. Quarter)

- Panathinaikos can't score with 8.5 seconds to go - end of the quarter (65-57)
- Tsartsaris pick up his second foul with 8.5 seconds to go and send Andersen to the free throw line: 65-57
- Remember that Obradovic called a timeout? he must have said the right thing - Panathinaikos is up by 10 again with 20 seconds to go in the third
- on the other end Oscar Torres gets fouled shooting a three pointer and makes just 1 out of 3 (60-55)
- Diamantidis with a nice three pointer that gives Panathinaikos a 60-54 lead
- Papaloukas handles it very well being a Greek in CSKA uniform: He plays very good basketball but is still fair in a very heated game
- finally a timeout  - this will probably calm down the game a little bit
- 52-52 with 4:15 to go
- I have never seen something like that at a basketball game - they crows is so loud that you don't understand your own word
- 52-51 Panathinaikos with 5:25 to go in the third
- It's getting really physical now with a lot of calls the crowd doesn't like - so you can guess who got the fouls called
- So what happened just now : took us a while to understand why Papaloukas was on the floor. Van den Spiegel pushed Sani Becirovic who gave Papaloukas a hit
- Tony Delk hasn't played one minute yet
- CSKA ties the game with another Papaloukas lay up (47-47)
- I just saw that those 3000 ,- EUR seats aren't the first row - they got photographers in front of them
- Trajan Langdon with a huge three pointer and a quick lay up by Papaloukas brings CSKA within 2 (47-45) - timeout Panathinaikos
- there is NBA TV advertising in the gym - I thought you can't even watch games on NBA TV in Europe?
- four quick points of CSKA - still 47-40 Panathinaikos
- one thing you can see - they don't check hands during free throws - smart move. I think that it just messes up you shot when they try to check hands between free throws


Sunday 06 May 2007, 22:34:30
Athens

LIVE from the O.A.K.A Arena

[by Tobias Seitz]
- Some Statistics at half time:
CSKA is much better shooting from the floor now: 54% while Panathinaikos is still 68%. The Panathinaikos bench scored 19 points while CSKA's bench got 11 points.


Sunday 06 May 2007, 22:30:30
Athens

LIVE from the O.A.K.A Arena

[by Tobias Seitz]

(2. Quarter)

- 10 point lead for Panathinaikos at half time (46-36). It is a hard battle with very attractive basketball
- Papaloukas with the last play - pass to Holden - can't make it. Batiste thinks it's already halftime and walks away with the ball: traveling and 0.2 seconds to go but CSKA can't get a shot
- 46-39 with 48.0 seconds to go
- Diamantidis picks up a technical for throwing his ellbow on Matjaz Smodis
- I remember Panathinaikos coach Zelmir Obradovic saying that the fans won't be a big advantage for them - I think it has a big impact on the game
-very physical game- on every offensive play you can see a few players getting on the floor
- 40-31 Panathinaikos with 3:50 to go in the second quarter
- You know me as a German - I am really getting excited about Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks - well at least I planned on doing so ... but the Panathinaikos fans are something you will never see in American basketball -
- Michael Batiste back in the game for Tomasevic
- timeout time = cheerleader time, dancing to greek songs and that guy from France next to me seems to like them - maybe Jeff got them on this video blog so you can judge yourself what you think of it
- Can somebody calm down these fans? Right in front of me is a row of Serbian Panathinaikos fans - I think friends of Dejan Tomasevic - jumping up and down all the time - well thanks coach - timeout
- CSKA was just shooting 30% from the floor but is still just down by 3 (21-24) while Panathinaikos is shooting 70% right now


Sunday 06 May 2007, 21:54:30
Athens

LIVE from the O.A.K.A Arena

[by Tobias Seitz]

(1. Quarter)

- End of first Quarter: CSKA is playing much better and stronger now and are just down by 1 point (17-18)
- Michael Batiste (former Memphis Grizzlies player) is having a very good game - working the rebound, making good passes and scoring.
- I just heard that the seats at the sideline are about 3000,- EUR but I think even if you would want to pay that you would not get one of those seats because they all belong to CSKA fans with a lot of money.
- The love for Panathinaikos must be much stronger then the love for Greece. The whole crowd is yelling at Papaloukas (16-10)
- Diamantidis  with another Panathinaikos three-pointer (14-8)
- J.R. Holden picks up his first
- 11-6 Panathinaikos with 4 Minutes to go
- Oscar Torres answers with a three pointer
- Papaloukas' first action: turnover. CSKA does not really know what do to right now  - What a start for Panathinaikos. CSKA looks impressed by the crowd and is producing too many turnovers. Messina Ettore  called an early timeout after 3 minutes and brings in Papaloukas with 6:15 to go in the first Quarter.


Sunday 06 May 2007, 17:51:30
Athens

LIVE from the O.A.K.A Arena

[by Tobias Seitz] - As we are all waiting for the game between Unicaja and Tau the players made their way to the court to warm up. Tau will be missing sharp shooter Serkan Erdogan and center Kaya Peker. Erdogan has a neck problem, while Peker has a torn calf muscle. It's is probably really hard for these two guy to sit out at a Euroleague Final Four game, so our best wishes. Even the Panathinaikos fans are here already, so it will be very loud on my left side. I will try to catch the emotions again with some pictures. If you know what the Golden State Warriors fans have been like in the series against Dallas, wait until you get to know these fans here.

Here are some more pictures as I was taking a walk in the arena. Watch Jeff doing his great video blog for fiba.com:




and watch Luis Scola getting ready for "work"




These girls are getting the fans ready for the final:





Sunday 06 May 2007, 16:45:30
Athens

LIVE from the O.A.K.A Arena

[by Tobias Seitz] - I promised some more pictures from the arena and the Nike Junior Tournament. Here you go.

FMP's number 15, Milan Macvan with Zalgiris number 15 Motiejunas Donatas:




The floor of the Final Four in Athens 2007:




The O.A.K.A. arena - I will take that picture again - with fans.







Next is the game for third place between Tau Ceramica and Unicaja Malaga and the fans just started to come into the Arena. Oh, and so did Luis Scola - property of the San Antonio Spurs.


Sunday 06 May 2007, 14:40:30
Athens

LIVE from the Nike Junior Tournament at the O.A.K.A Arena

[by Tobias Seitz] - Zalgiris Kaunas is still up by 11 points but the stronger team. Just a very good playing Milan Macvan (25 points with 8/13 from the floor) is keeping FMP in the game.

Zalgiris Kaunas is the better team with dominating center players. They made 54 of the 72 Kaunas points so far.

FMP just started a little run to come back wihin 5 points and 2:34 to play. Timeout.

UPDATE (14:47): Milan Macvan had two free throws to bring his team back within 2 points but missed both. 10.8 seconds to play now with Zalgiris up by 4 and two free throws - missed both also. FMP can't score again ant the game is over with Zalgiris Kaunas winning 78-74.


Sunday 06 May 2007, 13:50:30
Athens

LIVE from the Nike Junior Tournament at the O.A.K.A Arena

[by Tobias Seitz] - I have to blog about this since I think it is really funny. As I am watching the Final between FMB and Zalgiris Kaunas (Zalgiris is up by 39-31 with 1:45 to go in the scond quarter) I see NBA scouts all over the place again. The funny thing is that they sit right between the fans wearing NBA Shirts and taking notes into their notebooks that have the name of the NBA Team on the front. Of course people look at them all the time and take pictures. But as I was looking at them one guy behind the Memphs Grizzlies scout was taking pictures of the scouts notes! I guess they don't really care since they show everybody who they are.

It's half time now at the Junior Tournament with Zalgiris up by 11 points.


Sunday 06 May 2007, 12:05:30
Athens

It's the final day!

[by Tobias Seitz] - I just arrived at the arena and wanted to share some pictures I took here at the arena as well as at the temple Akropoli. Not just that the Euroleague Final and the Soccer Championsleague Final will take place at this wonderful city - it's really worth it to spend some beautiful days in the city of Athens.










Saturday 05 May 2007, 20:30:30
Athens

Saturday night - Impressions from the Nike Junior Tournament

[by Tobias Seitz] - I went to see some of the games of the the Nike Junior Tournament which was going on right across the street on two courts in the practice gym.

This is the fifth edition of this event and is known to be the highest level and most exciting age group club tournaments in the world. 27 young prospects with national team experience are fighting for the title this year. The players to watch are 1989 born players like Zygimantas Janavicius (Zalgiris Kaunas), Milan Macvan (BC FMP) and Filip Kruslin (Cibona Zagreb).
I haven't heard one word of English the whole day in the media room but this suddenly changed. As I walked into the gym to see the game of Sienna against FMP a tall guy walked in. Jordan T-shirt, Basketball sneakers and a notebook of the Orlando Magic. My friend Christophe told me before that their might be some NBA scouts, so I wasn't surprised to see this guy there. But I did not expect to get to see a NBA Championship ring which this guy was wearing.

So the game started and the stands filled up - but not with fans -  scouts all over the place. I saw people from Draftexpress.com, Eurobasket.com, the Portland Trailblazers, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards.

The Basketball club FMP was well prepared to show off their players as they distributed nice little booklets about their organization and players. Especially 16 year old Dejan Musli of FMP was noticeable and not just because of his 2.13 cm. He is a good and strong rebounder.

Unfortunately I had to leave to check in at my hotel which is in the center of Athens and about 20 minutes away from the O.A.K.A. On my way out I saw Theo Papaloukas coming in to watch the CSKA youth team as well as former Duke/Cleveland Cavaliers' Trajan Langdon and dunk phenomenon Kadour Ziani Man, this guy is really small for jumping so high, so I think Henry (espn.com) was right that he would have won the 06/07 Slam Dunk Contest in Las Vegas. 

My day tomorrow will start with with the final of the Nike Junior Tournament at the O.A.K.A arena before the game 3rd place takes place between TAU Ceramica and Unicaja Malaga at 6:30 local time. The final will start at 9:30 between CSKA Moscow and Panathinaikos Athens. You will a preview and predictions about the games tomorrow.


Saturday 05 May 2007, 13:30:30
Athens

Press conference time

[by Tobias Seitz] - I think I saw Julien Debove, who is also blogging for fiba.com in there. I remember his article "Go vote!". He was speaking about the French election going on right now. Why do I say this? Well take a look at Ettore Messina - doesn't he look like French politician Nicolas Sarkozy who is running for president?

But back to the press conference. Zeljko Obradovic made one interesting statement, saying that he knows a lot of fans will be there tomorrow and cheer for his team but in the end it doesn't mean anything. We will still have to play 5-on-5.

I will head over to the Nike International Junior Tournament and watch the rest of Maccabi Teddy Tel Aviv against Cibona Zagreb. Should be interesting.

EDIT: If you should follow the Euroleague Final from Russia: The final will be televised on national TV.


Saturday 05 May 2007, 11:50:30
Athens

I finally made it!

[by Tobias Seitz] - Let me say one thing before I start: it's really hot here.

The staff at the accreditation center was still half asleep. The reason:"Hey man, we (Panathinaikos Athens) made it to the final!"

So here is my schedule:
- Press conference of CSKA Moscow coach Ettore Messina and CSKA player David Andersen
- Press conference of Athens coach Zeljo Obradovic and Guard Sani Becirovic
- watch the afternoon practices of all four teams starting at 4:00pm local time.

So lets see what the OAKA Arena looks like from inside...


Friday 04 May 2007, 06:17:30
Athens

The Warriors of Athens!

[by Tobias Seitz] - So Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks got killed in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Nobody really believed in the Golden State Warriors before the season. By now we all know that we should have. (okay, their midseason trades helped them)

Now with the Semifinal of CSKA Moscow playing Unicaja Malaga coming up in a few hours we have to be careful with our predictions. Not only that everybody thinks CSKA Moscow is the best team in Europe and can even compete in the NBA, the insiders think that they will go home with the Euroleague title in the end.
Sounds familiar right? People did expect that the Mavericks will go home with the title this year and they failed.

But why talk about the Warriors and the NBA? Well, we found our Warriors here in Athens: Unicaja Malaga. Not only that Mickael Pietrus' brother Florent is on the roster of Unicaja - they got more former NBA players with Marcus Brown (Portland Trailblazers) and Argentinian point guard Pepe Sanchez (Phildelphia 76ers).

Maybe they got some advice from Don Nelson - we will know in a few hours.



Friday 04 May 2007, 09:12:30
Athens

[by Tobias Seitz] - So are you excited about the Euroleague Final Four in Athens? Well I am - I am so excited that it almost makes me forget how bad the Dallas Mavericks played. I am not really excited about the help I got from the Euroleague Media Managers but finally I got my flight, hotel and most important my accreditation. My flight takes off on Saturday at 5:50am - another thing I am not so excited about but I do not plan on getting any sleep anyway. As you already know the Semifinals start tomorrow night with CSKA Moscow vs. Unicaja and Panathinaikos vs. Tau Ceramica and I will miss those two games. The reason: The German Women's Basketball League. TSV Wasserburg and BG Dorsten with American top scorer Michelle Maslowski is tied in the final for the German Champion.

If you are not excited yet let me tell you one thing that I am really looking forward to: The Greek Basketball Fans (and NO, not just the girls)! I can not wait to tell you LIVE and with pictures what the crowd will be like. I have been to many NBA games, college games and the Worlds in China but I have never seen fans like that. Oh, one thing: I have never been to Oakland, USA, home of the Golden State Warriors, where people told me that fans are as crazy as European fans these days. Have you ever heard the theme song of the Euroleague? It's called DEVOTION and the fans love it. I love it. I will put it on my iPod and listen to it the whole time I will be on the plane.

Calling about 20 Hotels made me realize how many people will be there in Athens to follow this great event - which is not only the Final Four. There will be the Nike International Junior Tournament as well as a 3on3 Streetball Tournament and of course the practice sessions of the teams. But why would you want to follow this Blog if you can watch the games on TV? I will try to give you a perspective as if you where there. I will try to share every single moment that I can and if you really need moving pictures - watch Jeff Taylor who will be there with his famous Video Blog.

So check back to FIBA.com and follow the Euroleague Final Four Weekend as if you where there - I promise.