Eighth-Finals: New Zealand vs. Russia

[donmar]

New Zealand Tall Blacks vs. Russia (September 6)...

I pick the Tall Blacks for obvious reason..

[keturidu]

Great respect NZ for their outstanging performance against France. I hope they would rest and play that basketball they were playing. If they could play such lovely basketball they have all chances to go past Russians.
By the way, russians are now in interesting situation and everything's because David Blatt. Mr. Blatt told everyone that he's pissed off russian's playing style and that he goes out of the team after the champ (finger to all, i must say). After that russians WON against Greece and it was a tragedy for him, because it has contradictory with his words about russian teamplay. His mood is fucked up and it could be just worse, because in 1/8 finals they got NZ, that means - there are lots of chances to go through to the next round! That means it's a long way to go home, Mr. Blatt.

[felix_r]

I want to see your faces after Tall Blacks will win!

Go Kirk Penney!

[donmar]

If the Tall Blacks beat Russia.. they get to face USA "B" Team...

[Khalid80]

I got to meet up and have a quick chat with the NT players of the Tall Blacks as we were both on the same plane going from Izmir to Istanbul
(I watched the first round games in Izmir and now will hopefully watch the 2nd round and quarterfinal matches here in Istanbul)

Man these guys go through alot. I talked with their manager (her name was Claire) and she told me that the budget for the preparation of the Tall Blacks for this World Championship was 100,000 Turkish Lira (approx. 66,370 US$ or 51,690 Euros) for 6 weeks of training that took place in both Turkey and Croatia.

Pero Cameron, Lindsay Tait, Casey Frank, Jeremy Kench and coach Nenad weren't also on this flight as the FIBA organizers weren't able to/forgot to book their tickets on time to be with the rest of their teammates So these guys are going to arrive to Istanbul on a different flight.
Also the rest of the team who was with me on the flight sat next to other passengers in economy class (imagine how uncomfortable they must be sitting in these small seats (I was even suffering sitting in them and i'm 184)) and they interacted with the other passengers and were very friendly to everyone from what I saw.

I congratulated the team members on their great win against France yesterday and against us. They were happy to know that I was from Lebanon and they asked me a few questions about our team and the feedback from the game that they beat us in as well.

Anyways even though New Zealand beat us really bad they surely did show that they definitely deserve to be where they are right now.

Their game against Russia, even though it's a bit tough, the tall blacks have a big chance to beat them and qualify to the quarterfinals.

Here are a few pics I took at the airport with my main man Kirk Penney (he really killed us with his shooting) as well as the high flyer "super dunker" Thomas Abercrombie :

[tensai]

this is the hardest match up to predict, actually..
but i have a feeling that russia for winnig

[anonimus]

20+ for Russians..
I doubt that NZ can beat them..Mozgov will dominate in this match.

[re5pectas]

@Khalid80, thanks for your post, I really enjoy reading about your's experience during the WC keep it up!


I will root for NZ - it's like cinderella story for them

[ecay]

Russia is slight favourite for this match but i don't surprise if NZ wins.

[diogU]

Great respect NZ for their outstanging performance against France. I hope they would rest and play that basketball they were playing. If they could play such lovely basketball they have all chances to go past Russians.
By the way, russians are now in interesting situation and everything's because David Blatt. Mr. Blatt told everyone that he's pissed off russian's playing style and that he goes out of the team after the champ (finger to all, i must say). After that russians WON against Greece and it was a tragedy for him, because it has contradictory with his words about russian teamplay. His mood is fucked up and it could be just worse, because in 1/8 finals they got NZ, that means - there are lots of chances to go through to the next round! That means it's a long way to go home, Mr. Blatt.

Such a lovely peace of crap, thank you very much. Nice start at IBN, btw, keep up!

[Justin in AZ]

Definitely, the most intriguing match in this round (outside of the Greece-Spain tragedy, of course).

Two very different styles and skill sets. On paper, we should expect Russia to win.

But I have fallen in love with NZ playing style. Very athletic, with very good shooters.

Someone forgot to tell them "You are not NBA players"! They play like it anyway.

I like them a lot and hope to see them play against USA.

[donmar]

I got to meet up and have a quick chat with the NT players of the Tall Blacks as we were both on the same plane going from Izmir to Istanbul
(I watched the first round games in Izmir and now will hopefully watch the 2nd round and quarterfinal matches here in Istanbul)

Man these guys go through alot. I talked with their manager (her name was Claire) and she told me that the budget for the preparation of the Tall Blacks for this World Championship was 100,000 Turkish Lira (approx. 66,370 US$ or 51,690 Euros) for 6 weeks of training that took place in both Turkey and Croatia.

Pero Cameron, Lindsay Tait, Casey Frank, Jeremy Kench and coach Nenad weren't also on this flight as the FIBA organizers weren't able to/forgot to book their tickets on time to be with the rest of their teammates So these guys are going to arrive to Istanbul on a different flight.
Also the rest of the team who was with me on the flight sat next to other passengers in economy class (imagine how uncomfortable they must be sitting in these small seats (I was even suffering sitting in them and i'm 184)) and they interacted with the other passengers and were very friendly to everyone from what I saw.

I congratulated the team members on their great win against France yesterday and against us. They were happy to know that I was from Lebanon and they asked me a few questions about our team and the feedback from the game that they beat us in as well.

Anyways even though New Zealand beat us really bad they surely did show that they definitely deserve to be where they are right now.

Their game against Russia, even though it's a bit tough, the tall blacks have a big chance to beat them and qualify to the quarterfinals.

Here are a few pics I took at the airport with my main man Kirk Penney (he really killed us with his shooting) as well as the high flyer "super dunker" Thomas Abercrombie :

Nice... good stuff Khalid

Basketball is not the number 1 sport here in New Zealand.. so there's not much financial support from the government... and they don't get that much sponsors either... some of the teams (especially provinces without rich basketball history) in the local league (NZ National Basketball League) disband after one season and later comeback if they save enough money to run a club for a season again.. sometimes, they get replace by another club who will pretty much experience the same thing...

Anyway, I think you made their day Khalid... there's not much Tall Blacks fans here in NZ simply because its not the number 1 sport... most people here doesn't even know there's a world championship going on or that their national team is winning... it sad that theres a lot of passionate basketball nations in the world that would kill to have a national team as strong as the Tall Blacks.. yet they're not really appreciated or followed by many their own countrymen.. but I believe, every win they get in the World Champs is a giant leap for NZ basketball...

[Khalid80]

@Khalid80, thanks for your post, I really enjoy reading about your's experience during the WC keep it up!


I will root for NZ - it's like cinderella story for them

Ur welcome re5pectas
I will try my best to sit with the Lithuanian fans during their matches if i can and hopefully cheer with them like I did in one of the games in Izmir.
If only I had a Lietuva t-shirt as none of the Lithuanians here has an extra t-shirt to spare since they are all using them

[sagenas]

Ur welcome re5pectas
I will try my best to sit with the Lithuanian fans during their matches if i can and hopefully cheer with them like I did in one of the games in Izmir.
If only I had a Lietuva t-shirt as none of the Lithuanians here has an extra t-shirt to spare since they are all using them

But you can paint your face

I'll be rooting for Tall Blacks, they're really interesting team.

[Saskibaloia]

As usual, being a good ol Aussie lad, I'll be supporting the lads from across the sea just like whenever, they support us in other sports such as in the Football World Cup when the Aussies had the All Whites Supporters supporting them in their games and of course the "Green and Gold Army" supporting the All Whites when they took on Italy especially what Italy did to Australia back in the Round of 16 in the 2006 World Cup.

I'm hoping that the All Blacks can pull out an upset as this will show that basketball in the Oceanic Region is still very strong and will be for many years to come. Talking about Oceania, I'm hoping when one day New Caledonia will be able to take on the Tall Blacks and the Boomers. Previously, the French Basketball Federation would provide some assistance however, this source of support has reduced and thus, the rise in New Caledonian basketball was short lived.

[Basketcase]

Nice... good stuff Khalid

Basketball is not the number 1 sport here in New Zealand.. so there's not much financial support from the government... and they don't get that much sponsors either... some of the teams (especially provinces without rich basketball history) in the local league (NZ National Basketball League) disband after one season and later comeback if they save enough money to run a club for a season again.. sometimes, they get replace by another club who will pretty much experience the same thing...

Anyway, I think you made their day Khalid... there's not much Tall Blacks fans here in NZ simply because its not the number 1 sport... most people here doesn't even know there's a world championship going on or that their national team is winning... it sad that theres a lot of passionate basketball nations in the world that would kill to have a national team as strong as the Tall Blacks.. yet they're not really appreciated or followed by many their own countrymen.. but I believe, every win they get in the World Champs is a giant leap for NZ basketball...

True, But there are lot Filipino migrants here in NZ like Donmar and me that follow the NZ basketball specially when The Tallblacks are playing here or anywhere in the world, hopefully, fingers crossed, the Tallblacks would advance and get a medal to inspire and get more Kiwis into basketball, because they have the height for it,which is unfortunatelly for us Filipinos were not that gifted on that category. There a lot of tall kids here, they either play Rugby or Cricket, there's just not much interest and support for basetball in this country,anyway GO TALLBLACKS!!!

and DONMAR!! are you guys ok down there, Christchurch just been hit by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake this morning

[auris1]

Russia is slight favourite for this match but i don't surprise if NZ wins.

will Chrapia be playing?If he does,i go with russia...But even then i wouldn't be surprise in new zealand wins,it just wouldn't be so surprising if they did so when Chriapa was not playing.In that case new zealand is a slight favourite,but i wouldn't be that surprised in russia winning either.
But as i say,both teams are slight favourites,and in the end i wouldnt be surprised if any of them won

[shanangough]

Yeah, basketball here gets very little attention. It boomed for a little bit after the 4th place in '02 but after disappointing finishes in the '04 Olympics and the '06 World Champs things quietened down considerably.

As Basketcase mentioned all the top athletes here gravitate towards the "main" sports. I went to school with Mils Muliaina and he was a very good basketball player but of course went on to captain the All Blacks instead of pursuing basketball further. Jeff Wilson is another one who could easily have gone the basketball route rather than playing for the All Blacks and the New Zealand cricket team.

I'm really hope for a win here. Russia will be tough but the Kiwis know what to expect. If they can get out to an early lead and avoid falling behind in the early stages they stand a good chance. Go New Zealand!

[UMUT_FB_LAL]

New Zealand hasn't done really special things
Just beat Canada and Lebanon.. And France, who were trying to lose but fucked it up a little

I take the experience of Russia over them

[Saskibaloia]

and DONMAR!! are you guys ok down there, Christchurch just been hit by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake this morning

I can't believe it that an earthquake of that magnitude occured. Hopefully, the lads across the Tasman Sea are okay.

Yeah, basketball here gets very little attention.

Much more when you lads host the Rugby World Cup next year, say "tchau" to any other sports coverage. One of the lads from work is from New Zealand and the only thing he talks about is rugby.
I'm thinking of hoping over to watch Uruguay play but of course "Los Teros" have to beat Romania in the two legs in November.
I am hoping that "Los Teros" can reach the World Cup as I was there in Uruguay back in 2007 when Portugal defeat "Los Teros" and progressed to the World Cup Finals.