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Jul 29, 2009, 9:12 pm
(This post was last modified: Sep 4, 2009, 5:23 pm by Black Urum.)
Let's make a short overview about how Israel NT is getting ready for the upcoming eurobasket.
first of all- the preliminary squad: Yotam Halperin (Olympiacos), Lior Eliyahu, Omri Casspi, Yaniv Green, Raviv Limonad, Tal Burstein (Maccabi), Guy Pnini (joining Maccabi this season), Ido Kozikaro, Moshe Mizrakhi (Haifa Heat), Yuval Naimi, Moran Rot (Hapoel Jerusalem)), Nitzan Khanokhi, Robert Rothbart, Yogev Okhayon (Nahariya), Yehu Orland, Uri Kukia (Hapoel Holon), Amit Tamir, Avi Ben Chimol (Ashkelon), Elishay Kadir, Nir Cohen, Matan Naor, Gal Mekel (Gilboa/Galil) and Yoni Nir (Givat Shmuel).
The first note is that in the last week all the NT training was cancelled due to a strike that the player's association took because there were problem's with the players insurance's. but that saga is already over and the NT started to practice.
Another important note is that the Israeli Vetran Meir Tapiro retired, Tapiro participetaed in the last 3-4 Eurobasket as Israel NT leader. in Israel it was said that all the NT is built on him. now at the age on 35 he is going to see the NT from the TV and get ready for the next season in Israel.
Israel won't take any naturalised player any time soon- first of all there aren't so many good naturalised player's in Israel (they are old or just not good enough) and secondly in the qualifier's Israel didn't used her naturalised player so taking him made a lot of criticism.
the last (but probably the most important) note is that Omri Casspi that got picked in the last draft by Sacramento is going to stay in the US adn get ready for his Rooky season instead of training with the NT and participating in the Eurobasket. Zvika Sherf, Israel NT coach, offered Casspi to join the NT just on 20/08 and just participating in the Eurobasket, Casspi is probably going to refuse.
Israel is going to face in the Eurobasket: Croatia, Greece and FYROM. In my opinion Israel has a great chance to even finish this group in the first place, most of the time's Israel worth more then expected from the NT. Croatia is a dangerous team but Israel beat them last Eurobasket and they have lot of weaknesses. FYROM isn't a bad team, but in my opinion Israel is better. and Greece is at weak time when Diamantidis and Papaloukas are out, Greece is better then Israel even now, but now is the chance.
I think the Israeli NT is one of the strongest NT we ever had (espcially if Casspi will join). Halperin and Eliyahu are now European stars (last Eurobasket they were in totaly difrrent statues), Yaniv Green is allways great on Eurobasket's and Tal Burstien want to get a big contract for next year and this Eurobasket is his Chance as the Israli Captian. in addition there are lot of promising young players : Limonad, Mekel and Rothbart.
I think that Israel will probably will try to set a fast pace game with a lot of work from the 2 forward position's (where Israel has some power), and if Casspi in the end will get to the Eurobasket this game plan may even work...
to see Casspi and Eliyahu in a fast pace game can be a beautiful sight...
first of all- the preliminary squad: Yotam Halperin (Olympiacos), Lior Eliyahu, Omri Casspi, Yaniv Green, Raviv Limonad, Tal Burstein (Maccabi), Guy Pnini (joining Maccabi this season), Ido Kozikaro, Moshe Mizrakhi (Haifa Heat), Yuval Naimi, Moran Rot (Hapoel Jerusalem)), Nitzan Khanokhi, Robert Rothbart, Yogev Okhayon (Nahariya), Yehu Orland, Uri Kukia (Hapoel Holon), Amit Tamir, Avi Ben Chimol (Ashkelon), Elishay Kadir, Nir Cohen, Matan Naor, Gal Mekel (Gilboa/Galil) and Yoni Nir (Givat Shmuel).
The first note is that in the last week all the NT training was cancelled due to a strike that the player's association took because there were problem's with the players insurance's. but that saga is already over and the NT started to practice.
Another important note is that the Israeli Vetran Meir Tapiro retired, Tapiro participetaed in the last 3-4 Eurobasket as Israel NT leader. in Israel it was said that all the NT is built on him. now at the age on 35 he is going to see the NT from the TV and get ready for the next season in Israel.
Israel won't take any naturalised player any time soon- first of all there aren't so many good naturalised player's in Israel (they are old or just not good enough) and secondly in the qualifier's Israel didn't used her naturalised player so taking him made a lot of criticism.
the last (but probably the most important) note is that Omri Casspi that got picked in the last draft by Sacramento is going to stay in the US adn get ready for his Rooky season instead of training with the NT and participating in the Eurobasket. Zvika Sherf, Israel NT coach, offered Casspi to join the NT just on 20/08 and just participating in the Eurobasket, Casspi is probably going to refuse.
Israel is going to face in the Eurobasket: Croatia, Greece and FYROM. In my opinion Israel has a great chance to even finish this group in the first place, most of the time's Israel worth more then expected from the NT. Croatia is a dangerous team but Israel beat them last Eurobasket and they have lot of weaknesses. FYROM isn't a bad team, but in my opinion Israel is better. and Greece is at weak time when Diamantidis and Papaloukas are out, Greece is better then Israel even now, but now is the chance.
I think the Israeli NT is one of the strongest NT we ever had (espcially if Casspi will join). Halperin and Eliyahu are now European stars (last Eurobasket they were in totaly difrrent statues), Yaniv Green is allways great on Eurobasket's and Tal Burstien want to get a big contract for next year and this Eurobasket is his Chance as the Israli Captian. in addition there are lot of promising young players : Limonad, Mekel and Rothbart.
I think that Israel will probably will try to set a fast pace game with a lot of work from the 2 forward position's (where Israel has some power), and if Casspi in the end will get to the Eurobasket this game plan may even work...
to see Casspi and Eliyahu in a fast pace game can be a beautiful sight...