Damn, I got the feeling we'e never going to see our real NT. There's always something wrong, call it NBA, call it injuries, call it players' strike. It's been so long since the last time I saw a decent Italian team. This really bothers me.
Okay, you can pull Gallinari off the list. We all know it would be crazy for such a young and promising guy underestimate his back pains. He just needs to think about his health since he's very injury-prone. It's a shame because due to another injury he already was forced to give up NT in 2007. It's like destiny doesn't want him to play official games with Italy.Originally Posted by mvblair
Basile said he considers his NT experience over. He's 34 and wants to rest in the summer months.
Bulleri could be once again bouncing around. A total bust playing for Milano and Virtus Bologna, he's doing great since he went back to Treviso, not far from the levels he reached some years ago. It seemed there were no more chances for him, but as long as he keeps playing this way I guess Recalcati will call him back.
Giachetti played great in the first part of the season as backup PG. He stole Brandon Jennings' minutes and was decisive in several games. But then, he started fading. I think he'll get a call only in friendly games, otherwise he'll get a chance only if someone else is injured.
Recalcati loves Hackett. I'm sure he's going to call him. The problem is there's too much crowd in the PG spot (Poeta, Bulleri, Vitali, Hackett), even if Vitali is more of a combo-guard than a pure PG.
I think you're right. But even if Gallinari doesn't play, I think Bargnani is the better player for almost any team.That's too bad. He's still got a lot of game.Basile said he considers his NT experience over. He's 34 and wants to rest in the summer months.Hackett is also more of a combo-guard (I've read) in the NCAA, where the players are simply smaller than they are in the European competitions. In the NCAA, he has learned to play both positions, so maybe there will be some playing time for him. Who knows?Recalcati loves Hackett. I'm sure he's going to call him. The problem is there's too much crowd in the PG spot (Poeta, Bulleri, Vitali, Hackett), even if Vitali is more of a combo-guard than a pure PG.
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...9723/arti.htmlITA/USA – Surgery appears likely for Gallinari
NEW YORK (NBA) – New York Knicks rookie Danilo Gallinari is likely to have surgery in a bid to solve the back trouble that has plagued the Italian this season.
Gallinari visited with specialists last weekend in Milan and Verona and returned to New York on Monday.
When asked about the possibility of surgery, the 20-year-old said: "Yeah, I'm leaning in that direction.
"We tried everything for eight months to figure out this problem. Last week, we were talking about this with specialists about the right idea and what to do.”
The aim of surgery is to relieve pressure on a nerve in his back.
Knicks officials will confer with specialists this week before making an announcement on Gallinari, who played in just 28 games this season.
Gallinari has not publically ruled out playing for Italy in the EuroBasket 2009 Additional Qualifying Round though his appearance seems unlikely.
Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni, meanwhile, has no regrets selecting Gallinari sixth in last year's draft.
"We didn't pick anybody to win the title this year," D'Antoni said.
"We picked guys that in one, two, three years will develop into some of the best players in the league.
"We're pretty confident he's on that track. Now whether he does or not, nobody can see into the future."
Die Liebe wird eine Krankheit, wenn man sie als eine Heilung sieht
Artificial Nature
http://thestar.blogs.com/raptors/200...as-summer.htmlSpeaking of the summer, which can’t come soon enough, Andrea Bargnani told me yesterday he’s definitely going to play for Italy.
And it could be busy.
The Italians have to play in an additional qualification round this summer – against the likes of France and Israel – just to make it to Eurobasket 2009 in September so there’s a chance the majority of Bargnani’s off-season will be taken up with national team obligations.
You all right with that?
Of course, Italy could bow out in the first qualifier and he’d have all of September off but that might not be the case.
ACB league
Scola & Ginobili 4 life
TAU & Lakers supporter
need4sheed.com
Great news for Italy!
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...9877/arti.htmlITA – Azzurri get thumbs-up from Bargnani
ROME (EuroBasket 2009) – Italy coach Carlo Recalcati delivered some morale-boosting news on Thursday when revealing that Toronto Raptors star Andrea Bargnani will play for the Azzurri this summer.
The headlines in recent weeks have been about the injury-plagued season of Danilo Gallinari and a back operation that has all but ruled the New York Knicks rookie out of the Additional Qualifying Round games for EuroBasket 2009.
Italy played without Bargnani, Marco Belinelli (Golden State Warriors), Gallinari and Daniel Hackett (University of Southern California) last summer.
"I want to have the best players available for the qualifiers,” Recalcati said in an FIP statement.
“Obviously, among them I include the ones that play in America; Bargnani has already given his availability. I will meet Belinelli in a couple of weeks' time when he returns to Italy and for Hackett, we will have to wait until the NBA draft on June 25.”
Bargnani turned into a far more explosive player this season with the Raptors, averaging 15.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
The seven-footer had even better statistics over the last half of the campaign following the trade of center Jermaine O’Neal to Miami.
Recalcati is already looking ahead to the opening game showdown with France.
"We will not have a long preparation but I believe it will be enough to arrive in the best possible condition for the games that count - first the one with France, a traditional rival that has great quality,” Recalcati said.
“We will not underestimate the other teams but the first game at home will be crucial."
As for the French Basketball Federation’s much publicised signing of a letter of engagement by point guard Tony Parker that commits the San Antonio Spurs point guard to national team duty through the summer of 2012, FIP president Dino Meneghin said: "We hope our players don't need a piece of paper.
“The national team is not a contract. It's a feeling, an emotion. For me, a handshake means much more."
Die Liebe wird eine Krankheit, wenn man sie als eine Heilung sieht
Artificial Nature
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...9972/arti.htmlITA – Hackett looks ahead to 2014 with Italy
ROME (2014 FIBA World Championship) - Italian-born and raised Daniel Hackett has spent the past seven years in America playing basketball in high school, and then college at the University of Southern California.
Though he’s focused right now on embarking on a professional career that will probably land him in the NBA, the point guard has one eye on 2014 when he wants to be a full-fledged member of Italy’s national side.
Italy are hoping to host the 2014 FIBA World Championship.
“The 2014 FIBA World Championship is closer that we think,” Hackett said in remarks on www.italia2014.com.
“It has to be played in Italy and I am fighting for my place in the team.”
FIBA will announce next month whether Italy, Spain or China are to host the event.
Hackett the Italian
Hackett’s father, Rudy Hackett, played professional basketball in Italy at the end of the 1980s.
The 21-year-old Hackett, who was born in Forlimpopoli and grew up in Italy, moved to America with his family and eventually earned a scholarship to USC where his father is the team trainer.
This season, Hackett helped the Trojans capture the Pac-10 title and reach the NCAA Tournament.
Because he has declared for the NBA draft and is uncertain about possible commitments that follow, he hasn’t been able to give a thumbs-up yet to Italy coach Carlo Recalcati on taking part in the Additional Qualifying Round for EuroBasket 2009.
However, Hackett is friends with many of Italy’s players like Danilo Gallinari and has already forged links with the Italian national team set-up.
“I started to practice with the team two years ago and I managed to grab my spot on the court…,” he said.
“I am Italian and not from Los Angeles and my heart beats for the Italian national team."
Hackett envisions a time when he represents the country of his birth in a major basketball competition.
"It would be fantastic to be able to play at an event like the 2014 FIBA World Championship in Italy,” he said.
“I could finally play in front of my friends and provoke a unique feeling that can only be understood by someone who really loves his home country.”
Die Liebe wird eine Krankheit, wenn man sie als eine Heilung sieht
Artificial Nature
How i wish Italy would qualify in Eurobasket. . . they should have qualified last year but breaks were not on their side. . . hoping they will do so this year. . . it just unfortunate you will face a tough opponent such as France when if you reviewed the rosters of those who already qualified, you can say France and Italy are more deserving to be there earlier and not to fight between the two of them for a remaining lone qualifier this year. . .
http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_2LG2Q...frontpage.htmlConfirmed – All Systems Go For Belinelli
Italy coach Carlo Recalcati revealed at this weekend's EuroChallenge Final Four in Bologna that Golden State have given a thumbs-up on guard Marco Belinelli representing the Azzurri this summer when they attempt to qualify for the EuroBasket in Poland.
Belinelli remained in the United States last year to get ready for his second year in the NBA but he now looks set to play for the Italians when they attempt to reach the EuroBasket via the Additional Qualifying Round.
Italy will go up against France and Finland in Group B and if they finish top, Recalcati's team will then challenge Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Belgium for the remaining spot on offer for the Final Round.
"I met the Golden State general manager just yesterday and we talked about Belinelli," Recalcati said to Basketball World News on Friday night.
"And Golden State is very happy for Belinelli to play with the national team.
"That's good to know that he is with us, the same with (Andrea) Bargnani."
Belinelli was enjoying a breakout season with the Warriors until he suffered a badly sprained ankle in January.
He returned to action several weeks later and finished the campaign having averaged 8.9 points per game.
Bargnani will start at center for Italy this summer. He enjoyed a very strong third season with Toronto, averaging more than 15 points and five rebounds per contest. His numbers were even better the last two months following the trade of center Jermaine O'Neal to Miami.
"Andrea is arriving in Italy next week and he'll be with the national team in Bormio when we gather on July 2," Recalcati said.
"I have to check the physical condition of some other veteran players (in Italy). I think that we'll have the best team that we can put on the court next summer.
"We won't have (New York Knicks rookie) Danilo Gallinari, of course, because of his (back) surgery."
Recalcati doesn't know if Daniel Hackett will play, either.
Hackett, who just finished his junior season with the University of Southern California, has declared for the NBA draft. If available, he is a near certainty for the squad.
"I believe in Daniel," Recalcati said.
"I think he is the right kind of player for the national team, and, he wants to play. This is very, very important. He's Italian, he likes the blue shirt and he's an incredible guy."
Die Liebe wird eine Krankheit, wenn man sie als eine Heilung sieht
Artificial Nature
http://thehoop.blogspot.com/2009/04/...o-play-in.htmlBelinelli is allowed to play at Eurobasket
Italy coach Carlo Recalcati revealed at this weekend’s EuroChallenge Final Four in Bologna that Golden State Warriors guard Marco Belinelli(1.96-SG/SF) will represent the Azzurri this summer when they attempt to qualify for the EuroBasket in Poland.
Golden State have given their blessing for Belinelli, who just finished his second season in the NBA, to compete for his national team when they go up against France and Finland in the Additional Qualifying Round.
“I met the Golden State general manager just yesterday and we talked about Belinelli,” Recalcati said to FIBA.com on Friday night. “And Golden State is very happy for Belinelli to play with the national team. “That's good to know that he is with us, the same with (Andrea) Bargnani.”
ACB league
Scola & Ginobili 4 life
TAU & Lakers supporter
need4sheed.com
http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_vF-5Z...leMode_on.htmlBelinelli Ecstatic He’ll Join Italy This Summer
Marco Belinelli is thrilled that his NBA side Golden State have given their blessing for him to take part in this year's Additional Qualifying Round with Italy.
Belinelli remained in the United States last summer to prepare for his second NBA campaign with the Warriors and Italy missed him a great deal as they finished third in Division A Group A behind Serbia and Bulgaria.
That result has left the Azzurri needing to claim the one remaining spot for the EuroBasket in Poland that is on offer in the extra qualifiers and to do that, one of the teams they will have to beat is France.
"The Warriors have accepted my desire and I am really happy," Belinelli said.
"The national team means a lot to me and for me to play gives me great joy. I honestly cannot wait to play.
"I have already spoken to (France center) Ronny Turiaf, my Warriors teammate. The (opening) game (between France and Italy) will be a special one for the both of us. I am already charged up for that game."
Italy must finish top of Group B in the Additional Qualifying Round above France and Finland with games at home and away against both.
If they achieve a first place finish, Belinelli and the Italians would then go up against the winner of Group A (Portugal, Belgium or Bosnia and Herzegovina) in a two-legged final.
Die Liebe wird eine Krankheit, wenn man sie als eine Heilung sieht
Artificial Nature
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/new...0179/arti.htmlITA – Bargnani keeps fingers crossed that Italy will stage FIBA World Championship
ROME (2014 FIBA World Championship) - Italy big man Andrea Bargnani has expressed the hope that his country will on May 23 be named hosts of the 2014 FIBA World Championship.
FIBA will make the announcement in Geneva, with China and Spain also hoping to host the prestigious event.
Toronto Raptors star Bargnani, the number one draft pick overall in the NBA a few summers ago, said in an FIP statement: "To organize the 2014 World Championship would represent for our movement a starting point to re-launch basketball and bring the sport to young.
"I would be delighted to compete in such an important event in Italy.
“I played in Rome with the Raptors and it was exciting. It would be fantastic to face the strongest teams in the world in front of our fans."
Die Liebe wird eine Krankheit, wenn man sie als eine Heilung sieht
Artificial Nature
http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_zWuG2...frontpage.htmlRecalcati Receives Contract Extension
Italy have extended the contract of national team boss Carlo Recalcati for at least another year.
Recalcati, whose contract was set to end in September 2009, will now be in charge through the end of September in 2010.
He will this summer attempt to lead the Azzurri into the EuroBasket in Poland by winning the Additional Qualifying Round (AQR) in August.
France, Finland, Portugal, Belgium and Bosnia and Herzegovina are also in the AQR.
The Italian Basketball Federation (FIP) have announced on their website: "The Federal Council has reached an agreement with national men's team coach Carlo Recalcati, deciding to continue the working relationship until September 30, 2010. Such agreement previews the extension of the working relationship based on the sporting results that will be achieved."
The EuroBasket is the qualifying event for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
The 60-year-old Recalcati, a former Italy national team player, has been at the helm of the Azzurri for several years.
He guided them to a bronze medal at EuroBasket 2003 in Sweden and to silver at the Athens Olympics the following year.
Die Liebe wird eine Krankheit, wenn man sie als eine Heilung sieht
Artificial Nature
It sucks.
It means I can be happy? Tony Parker won't be too much in Eva's area this summer?It sucks.
It's a bird? It's a plane? No, it's Rudy!
It means italian federation is blind... Recalcati is done.It means I can be happy? Tony Parker won't be too much in Eva's area this summer?
I don't know if you can be happy... i hope not.
BTW today the Italy NT roster was released:
I've more faith in the team since Shaun Stonerook seems in the roster for the first time...1. Amoroso Valerio 80 204 A/C Bancatercas Teram
2. Bargnani Andrea 85 213 A/C Toronto Raptors
3. Belinelli Marco Stefano 86 196 G Golden State Warrio
4. Bulleri Massimo 77 188 Pm Benetton Treviso
5. Crosariol Andrea 84 210 C Air Avellino
6. Cusin Marco 85 211 C Vanoli Soresina
7. Datome Luigi 87 203 A Lottomatica Roma
8. Garri Luca 82 206 A/C Angelico Biella
9. Giachetti Jacopo 83 192 Pm Lottomatica Roma
10. Gigli Angelo 83 209 A/C Lottomatica Roma
11. Mancinelli Stefano 83 203 A Gmac Bologna
12. Mordente Marco 79 190 G Aj Milano
13. Poeta Giuseppe 85 192 Pm Bancatercas Teram
14. Soragna Matteo 75 198 A Benetton Treviso
15. Stonerook Shaun 77 201 A Montepaschi Siena
16. Vitali Luca 86 201 Pm Aj Milano
Giocatori a disposizione (riserve a casa):
17. Aradori Pietro 88 195 A/G Angelico Biella
18. Cinciarini Daniele 83 194 G Air Avellino
19. Cittadini Alessandro 79 207 C Gmac Bologna
20. Hackett Daniel 87 196 Pm Usc Trojans
21. Ress Tomas 80 208 A/C Montepaschi Siena
22. Spinelli Valerio 79 185 Pm Angelico Biella
Valerio Amoroso (Bacatercas Teramo)
Giuseppe Poeta (Bacatercas Teramo)
Andrea Bargnani (Toronto Raptors)
Marco Belinelli (Golden State Warriors)
Massimo Bulleri (Benetton)
Matteo Soragna (Benetton)
Andrea Crosariol (Air Avellino)
Marco Cusin (Vanoli Soresina)
Luigi Datome (Lottomatica Roma)
Jacopo Giachetti (Lottomatica Roma)
Angelo Gigli (Lottomatica Roma)
Luca Garri (Angelico Biella)
Stefano Mancinelli (Gmac Bologna)
Marco Mordente (AJ Milano)
Luca Vitali (AJ Milano)
Stonerook Shaun (Montepaschi Siena)
thin under basket as always and their PG's aren't really what they used to be..
who's idea was to invite Giachetti? lol Recalcati should be shot to death just because of that..
other than that nice roster, especially strong on positions 2,3 and 4 but I don't think they stand a chance against France..
"Heja, heja Cibosi, hrabri kao vukovi,
heja, heja cibosi, vodite nas k pobjedi. "
some of the people on the forum are allowed to do whatever they want as long as they have guys from upstairs holding their back. way to go interbasket!
Thin? Probably but Crosariol and Bargnani are both 7-0 and around 250lbs... who has France with the same size other than Turiaf?
Poeta is the best PG we have since a long time... he's better than Bulleri imo. He's no Pozzecco (yet) unfortunately...
I agree about Giachetti: Recalcati had, as always, a bad idea...
Anyway i think we have some chances against France... they miss Noah and M. Pietrus and they're a young, athletic team but somehow unexperienced and without real 3p threats (you know in FIBA basketball outside shot is very important).
Official 16-men roster in Bormio:
1. Amoroso Valerio (80, 204, A/C, Bancatercas Teramo)
2. Aradori Pietro (88, 195, A/G, Angelico Biella)
3. Bargnani Andrea (85, 213, A/C, Toronto Raptors)
4. Belinelli Marco Stefano (86, 196, G, Golden State Warriors)
5. Crosariol Andrea (84, 210, C, Lottomatica Roma)
6. Cusin Marco (85, 211, C, Vanoli Soresina)
7. Datome Luigi Dal (87, 203, A, Lottomatica Roma)
8. Garri Luca (82, 206, A/C, Angelico Biella)
9. Giachetti Jacopo (83, 192, Pm, Lottomatica Roma)
10. Hackett Daniel (87, 196, Pm, Benetton Treviso)
11. Gigli Angelo (83, 209, A/C, Lottomatica Roma)
12. Mancinelli Stefano (83, 203, A, Gmac Bologna)
13. Mordente Marco (79, 190, G, Aj Milano)
14. Poeta Giuseppe (85, 192, Pm, Bancatercas Teramo)
15. Soragna Matteo (75, 198, A, Free Agent)
16. Vitali Luca (86, 201, Pm, Aj Milano)
In the end Shaun Stonerook and Massimo Bulleri refused to play for the Italian NT: two great misses...
Die Liebe wird eine Krankheit, wenn man sie als eine Heilung sieht
Artificial Nature
He already said during this season that he's old for playing and has to recover from some hernia during the summer... it's almost the same story every year: Recalcati tries to call him but Shaun refuses... what a pity.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
