(interbasket.net) -- With the NBA playoffs set to begin in a couple hours, Ibn would be remiss not to talk about the unprecedented competitive Western
Conference this year and the roles that international players are
having on every playoff-bound team. There is no less than 20
foreign-born players playing important roles on those eight teams.
Interbasket will break down each team's international player and how
important they are to their team's success.
1. Los Angeles Lakers Key Rotation Players: Pau Gasol, Ronny Turiaf, Vladimir Radmanovic, Sasha Vujacic International Importance: 8.5/10 Notes: The Lakers have the most players in their likely playoff
rotation with four and the newest one, Pau Gasol, has arguably been the
most important player for the Lakers since being stolen from Memphis.
The Lakers went from being serious pretenders to contenders with the
late-season addition of the Spanish Superstar and World Champion.
Vladmir Radmanovic starts for the Lakers because he has the
potential to become a game-changer with his outside shot, the problem
is the 6-10 Radman isn't very consistent with his play. If Radmanovic
isn't breaking his leg in skiing accidents and lying about it, he can
be a game-changer for Los Angeles.
I'm convinced that Ronny Turiaf is posed to make a splash in this
year's playoffs. With his energy, all-out hustle, defense (he led the
team in blocks with 1.4 a game), and with opposing teams focusing on
other players -- Turiaf is going to that X-factor player that everyone
talks about this time of year.
What a difference a year makes. The former-baby-faced Slovenian has
longer hair, facial hair, and grown up this year for the Lakers -
bringing consistency and competitiveness off the bench. Sasha Vujacic
is the sniper that the Lakers need, is showing feistiness on defense
while leading the Lakers in three-point shooting percentage (43.7).
2. New orleans Hornets
Key Rotation Players: Peja Stojakovic International Importance: 5/10 Notes: Peja not only brings his well-known three-point shooting,
but also brings the most playoff experience to the inexperienced
Hornets. Peja's range keeps the middle open for Chris Paul, David West
and Tyson Chandler to manuever inside.
I'm hoping Peja can help the Hornets advance and have a better
playoff showing that his last couple years in Sacramento. Peja's always
been a better second or third option player, and with Chris Paul
dancing around the paint and the threat of David West, Peja is free to
roam the arc for open shots.
3. San Antonio Spurs
Key Rotation Players: Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto International Importance: 10/10 Notes: International players have always played a big role with
the championship Spurs teams, and with every year that Tim Duncan gets
older, the more the Spurs seem to rely on French point guard Tony
Parker and Argentine superstar Manu Ginobili, whom is arguably been
their best player this year. If the Spurs win it this season, it would
be surprising if Manu wasn't named the Finals MVP (he was ROBBED last
year).
And Manu has a good repoire with Fabricio Oberto, the Spur's
starting center and glue guy. The Argentine center clogs up the middle,
cleans up the messes and rolls to the hoop for easy baskets. Oberto is
sometimes the forgotten Spur, but that doesn't mean Fab isn't important
to their overall success.
4. Utah Jazz Key Rotation Players: Andrei Kirilenko, Memo Okur International Importance: 8/10 Notes: AK and Memo Okur are the #3 and #4 players for the Jazz
and their play is hugely important for the Utah Jazz to advance on
their progress from last year. As some of you may recall, Kirilenko
wasn't in the best place last season and Memo Okur couldn't find his
outside stroke in the playoffs despite earning a reputation for being a
big-time shooter. Kirilenko is playing this season as if last season
didn't happen, with renewed confidence. It's likely he got a shot of
adrenaline from leading Russia to the gold medal in the European
Championships (and the automatic bid to this years Olympics).
Okur was well on his way to becoming the best Turkish player in the
world before he lost his outside shot last season and before Hedo
Turkoglu found his career in Orlando. Okur has suggested that his down
year hasn't affected him, that he'll take the shots as they come. With
Carlos Boozer demanding double teams and Deron Williams passing the
ball, the Jazz are certainly hoping that Okur is on his game this
playoff season.
5. Houston Rockets Key Rotation Players: Luis Scola, Dikembe Mutombo International Importance: 7/10 Notes: When Yao Ming went down, every one thought that the Rockets would go down with the 7-6 Chinese center, but that hasn't been the
case. Not by a long shot. Houston definitely is more of a threat with
him in the lineup for the playoffs, but the team-based play and the
impending threat that Tracy McGrady
could go for 50 on any given night is what makes this current version
of the Rockets go. With that said, Mutombo, at age 57, is still
intimidating and blocking shots, while Scola's adapting to the NBA game
will help fuel the Rockets forward.
6. Phoenix Suns
Key Rotation Players: Steve Nash, Boris Diaw, Leandro Barbosa, Gordan Giricek International Importance: 10/10 Notes: Steve Nash by himself is a 10/10. The reigning MVP is
enough to say that international players really play important roles
for the Phoenix Suns, but we need to recognize the roles that
multi-talented small forward from France Boris Diaw, and power bench
players Leandro Barbosa and troubled Gordon Giricek play for the
revamped, re-Shaqed Phoenix Suns. Adding Giricek's shot-making ability
has made the Suns that much more dangerous, and his shooting will
become more important as Shaquille ONeal gets more comfortable in their
re-tooled offense.
7. Dallas Mavericks
Key Rotation Players: Dirk Nowitzki International Importance: 10/10 Notes: As the 7-0 German with the gimpy ankle goes, so goes the
playoff chances for the Dallas Mavericks. Enough Said. 10 out of 10.
It's going to be a ugly off-season filled with second-guessing if the
Mavs don't make it to at least game seven of the Western Conference
Finals.
8. Denver Nuggets Key Rotation Players: Linas Kleiza, Eduardo Najera, Nene International Importance: Notes: These three big guys cannot be more different from each
other and that's why they'll play important roles. Linas Kleiza has
become a surprisingly consistent offensive option coming off the bench
with his ability to not only shoot the three but put the ball down on
the floor and attack the basket with his 6-8, 255-pound frame.
Eduardo Najera really has created a great niche for himself. He's a
poor-man's jack of all trades and I don't mean that in a detrimental
manner. He plays defense, he rebounds, he gets on the floor, dribbles,
drives, and is efficient with his time. Najera has also added a
consistent three-point shot, the 6-7 Mexican forward has shot and made
more threes this season than in all of his seasons combined. his
newfound touch which will stretch the defense for Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony to work their offensive moves with more space to spare.
Nene is working his way back into the rotation after having a tumor
removed, but if the Brazilian power player can get into game shape, the
Nuggets will be in good shape on the inside. Even if Nene can give
10-15 minutes of smart play, strong defense and throwing his weight
around, the Denver interior will be fortified and that much more ready
for a rugged playoff run. The Nuggets will need his strength to
counter Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom in the first round.
What about the East? This isn't the case in the East where
the amount of international players in key roles can be counted on one
hand and two fingers - Hedo Turkoglu, Jose Manuel Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Anderson VarejaoSasha Pavlovic, Carlos Arroyo, and Andrea Bargnani.
And none of those players are the true, unquestioned leaders that the
West has in Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki. Hedo Turkoglu plays a key
role in Orlando, and Calderon runs the Toronto team, but the rest of
those guys are solely role players. Teams like Washington (Darius
Songaila), Boston, Detroit (Walter Herrmann), and Atlanta (Zaza
Pachulia) have international players, but none of them play a
significant enough role.
( www.interbasket.net ) -- With a week or so into the NBA season behind us, interbasket is here to
report on the international players making news in the NBA.
Luis Scola
hasn’t shown much with the Houston Rockets thus far (3.4ppg, 4.6rebs,
1ast in 18 min) and all the xenophobes are out. I’ve already heard
this sentence many times “Look at Luis Scola, he is supposed to the be
the best player outside the NBA and…” It is a little shocking to me
that Scola hasn’t done more than he has, making the Spurs keeping Fabricio Oberto
over Scola look genius, but I am very confident that his name will be
in the rookie-of-the-year running by the end of the year. And teams
have better look out because when the 4-1 Houston Rockets mesh him into
their offense (and figure out their point guard situation), they’ll be
a very very tough team to beat.
Speaking of the Houston Rockets, one of the knocks against Rocket’s center is that Yao Ming
has been his lack of toughness, and one can infer that the critics are
looking at Yao’s size and then looking at his career rebounding (8.9)
and blocked shot numbers (1.8) as evidence. Now I understand that he
isn’t the fastest nor most-atheletic person on the court, but
admittedly Yao’s rebounding and blocked shot numbers should be much
better than they are. If the first four games are any indication (and
they normally aren’t) Yao Ming is finally getting it; hitting the
boards (11rpg) and blocking shots (2.6), it looks like Yao may average
a double-double this year, and for only the second time in his six-year
career,
Luis Scola isn’t the only international rookie struggling; he can
take some solace in a a couple other foreign rookies that were expected
to start off a little quicker this season. Spaniard Juan Carlos Navarro of the Memphis Grizzlies was supposed to come in and give familiarity and help to Pau Gasol,
and thus far he has only given the former. La Bomba is only averaging
4.0 on 23% shooting, all four of his field goals in his first three
games have been three-pointers, c’mon Navarro, where’s the floater?
Marco Belinelli
of the Golden State Warriors made waves, no shockwaves, during the NBA
summer league with his smooth quick-release jumper and he surprised
many with his ability to get to the basket on his way to a 37-point
outing. So far, Belinelli is struggling as much as the Warriors are
(0-4). Once the Warriors right the ship, Marco should have time to
adjust and improve on the 13.7 minutes, 4.3 points and 33% from the
field he’s shown early on.
Instead, the mystery of the 2007 draft, Chinese forward Yi Jianlian
has taken the lead as far as international rookies performing. After a
rough first couple games — Yi is showing he can hit the jumpshot, block
a few shots, and gather a lot of fouls in a short amount of time. The
latter can be worked on, but the Bucks love the potential that he has
shown, particularly his ability to hit the long-range jumper. He is
currently third in rookie scoring, behind Kevin Durant and Daequan
Cook, averaging 9.8ppg on 44% shooting as well as 4.8 rebounds, 2.0
blocks (4 fouls) in 26 minutes. Yi was #2 in Nba.com’s rookie report
for the first week of the season. Not bad!
Hey, anyone remember Peja Stojakovic?
Let me refresh your memory, Stojakovic was THE international player
several years ago. But now four years later, a couple injuries, and
two teams removed from his glory days in Sacramento, Peja’s reputation
has since suffered. Though his stats arent’t bad, Peja is no longer
mentioned in the top ten international NBA players, and maybe not even
top-15. How the three-time all-star is getting a fresh start and
running small forward for the New Orlenas Hornets. Peja has been
inconsistent in his first five games, but his game against the Lakers
deserves a mention, Peja went off for 36 points in their win. With
Chris Paul running the show and dishing, Peja hit 10-13 threes to set a
Hornets franchise record and to let the league know that Peja is still
around. Peja is only 30 years old, I hope he finds his way back up the
ladder to one of the elite international NBA players.
Manu Ginobili
is playing like a man possessed. Despite coming off the bench;
everyone in the league knows that Ginobili will be there to finish the
game. In just under 30 minutes per game, Manu is putting up 20.8
points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.6 steals. He spent the summer
resting instead of playing for his National Team and his performances
this season is showing what a rested Ginobili brings to the table “At
this point, I can really tell the difference” Ginobili said about how
rested his body has felt from taking the summer off. --Stuart Leung
