Post by doc on Oct 14, 2008 7:42:19 GMT -5
NBA has close eye on Euro coaches
"It's not a matter of if it's going to happen," said Bryan Colangelo, the Raptors GM, "it's when it's going to happen."
Before Raptors coach Sam Mitchell scored a contract extension a couple of summers ago, of course, there were those who figured it might happen in Toronto. And maybe it still will.
Colangelo makes no secret of his admiration for the European game, and he likes to point out that he has already broken the Euro barrier, hiring Mike D'Antoni as a Phoenix assistant after D'Antoni made his name in Italy. But D'Antoni is an American citizen who speaks in a West Virginian drawl.
Before Raptors coach Sam Mitchell scored a contract extension a couple of summers ago, of course, there were those who figured it might happen in Toronto. And maybe it still will.
Colangelo makes no secret of his admiration for the European game, and he likes to point out that he has already broken the Euro barrier, hiring Mike D'Antoni as a Phoenix assistant after D'Antoni made his name in Italy. But D'Antoni is an American citizen who speaks in a West Virginian drawl.
With the Red Army in town, Raptors can't relax
"I know they (Red Army) didn't do so well against Orlando in their first game (94-66 on the weekend as Dwight Howard dominated), but they're still a good team."
Chris Bosh and Jermaine O'Neal should give the Russian team as much or more to handle than Howard did and you can add seven-foot Andrea Bargnani to the mix.
Moscow coach Ettore Messina said his team will be better prepared for the Raptors.
"Howard, just to give you an example, looked like Godzilla at one time," Messina said after the Magic game. "He's huge. And we are a very big team in Europe. Usually we overwhelm opponents because we are much taller, we have more weight, we have more quickness. Here, we look like Bambi."
Chris Bosh and Jermaine O'Neal should give the Russian team as much or more to handle than Howard did and you can add seven-foot Andrea Bargnani to the mix.
Moscow coach Ettore Messina said his team will be better prepared for the Raptors.
"Howard, just to give you an example, looked like Godzilla at one time," Messina said after the Magic game. "He's huge. And we are a very big team in Europe. Usually we overwhelm opponents because we are much taller, we have more weight, we have more quickness. Here, we look like Bambi."
CSKA Moscow coach might have NBA future
After a choreographed stretching and calisthenics routine led by a trainer — the transition between exercises signalled by three sharp claps — Messina's roster of high-priced international talent (CSKA's budget is estimated to be in the $40-million U.S. range) got warm with about 20 minutes of high-paced three-man weaves and fast-break drills before going full court.
More than any other transgression, a sloppy pass brought the whole process to a halt. If this is the mark of international coaching greatness, Messina makes no apologies.
More than any other transgression, a sloppy pass brought the whole process to a halt. If this is the mark of international coaching greatness, Messina makes no apologies.
Raptors Notebook: Exhibition tilts mean more to international teams
For the first time since straining his hamstring two weeks ago at the Raptors' training camp in Ottawa, forward Joey Graham practised with the team on Monday.
How did he look?
"Like he hadn't practiced in two weeks," Mitchell said.
How did he look?
"Like he hadn't practiced in two weeks," Mitchell said.
NBA reducing staff in the United States
"We made the decision some months ago that the economy was going to be a bit wobbly so we began a belt-tightening," Stern said in London, where the New Jersey Nets beat the Miami Heat in a pre-season game.
The NBA continues to hire in other countries, he said, as it seeks to grow internationally.
The NBA continues to hire in other countries, he said, as it seeks to grow internationally.
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