Boris Diaw progess playing for France this summer

[Amare32]

France vs Lithuania played last night with france winning 71-64 in a friendly

Boris- 17 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists in 27 minutes

He also had 14, 4 and 4 in 22 minutes the game before Vs Senegal

 

[George O'Brien]

Last year the French team really struggled in their early games but finally got it together and Boris finished just behind Dirk as Euro MVP. It was clear to everyone that he made the transition from NBA to Euro basketball much more smoothly than the other NBA guys on the French team including Parker and Pietrus.

 

[Louis]

Boris Diaw is the first guy in European history to get the MVP award without averaging 10 ppg.

I can't find the link to his European glories though.

 

[Joe Mama]

Last year the French team really struggled in their early games but finally got it together and Boris finished just behind Dirk as Euro MVP. It was clear to everyone that he made the transition from NBA to Euro basketball much more smoothly than the other NBA guys on the French team including Parker and Pietrus.

do you mean the transition back to European basketball? I mean each of these guys started their basketball careers playing euro basketball.

For everybody that thinks that Boris Diaw's best position is the 3 please look at where he has had all his success in international competition last summer and with the Phoenix Suns this year. It was playing the 4/5 (mostly the 5). I believe Boris Diaw CAN play the 3, but his best position is the 4/5.

Joe

 

[George O'Brien]

do you mean the transition back to European basketball? I mean each of these guys started their basketball careers playing euro basketball.

For everybody that thinks that Boris Diaw's best position is the 3 please look at where he has had all his success in international competition last summer and with the Phoenix Suns this year. It was playing the 4/5 (mostly the 5). I believe Boris Diaw CAN play the 3, but his best position is the 4/5.

Joe

You would think that guys like Parker and Pietrus would remember how to play Euro ball. However, my impression is that the French league tends to involve more one on one type play than places like Italy or Spain.

I certainly agree that Boris would not be nearly as valuable at SF

 

[PetryJr]

I agree that Diaw plays his best as a 4, but I watched almost every game he played for France during the Euro Championships last year, and he played primarily as a SF. He'd slide to PF or even C on occasion (he did a pretty good job guarding Okur once, if I remember correctly), but he played as a small forward most of the time. Florent Pietrus was the starting PF.

This year, though, after his success as an inside player in Phoenix, I could definitely see him starting at PF for France, especially since they have two very good SF's already (Mickael Pietrus and Gelabale). Petro would be the starting center, I would assume.

 

[Joe Mama]

I agree that Diaw plays his best as a 4, but I watched almost every game he played for France during the Euro Championships last year, and he played primarily as a SF. He'd slide to PF or even C on occasion (he did a pretty good job guarding Okur once, if I remember correctly), but he played as a small forward most of the time. Florent Pietrus was the starting PF.

This year, though, after his success as an inside player in Phoenix, I could definitely see him starting at PF for France, especially since they have two very good SF's already (Mickael Pietrus and Gelabale). Petro would be the starting center, I would assume.

Really? I didn't see any of the games, but I could have sworn that the articles about them talked about how Boris Diaw played so well at power forward and/or center. My memory sucks.

Joe

 

[PetryJr]

Really? I didn't see any of the games, but I could have sworn that the articles about them talked about how Boris Diaw played so well at power forward and/or center. My memory sucks.

Joe

Well, like I said, he did play PF and C in some situations. France liked going small down the stretch of games, too, if I remember correctly. He also played shooting guard on occasion. Rigaudeau and Parker were the starting guards, and when Rigaudeau came out of the game Diaw would slide over to SG.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

This discussion about being a 3 is interesting to me. I talked several times with the Suns international scouting director - and he was very adamant that Boris is not a 2 or a 3. He can play the 1 or the 4, or a 5 in the right situation (like the Suns).

That was something that the Suns brass had thought of him well before they aquired him, and from what I understand is still the main consensus.

 

[green machine]

This discussion about being a 3 is interesting to me. I talked several times with the Suns international scouting director - and he was very adamant that Boris is not a 2 or a 3. He can play the 1 or the 4, or a 5 in the right situation (like the Suns).

That was something that the Suns brass had thought of him well before they aquired him, and from what I understand is still the main consensus.

Bet you won't see that too often, that a guy can play either the 1, the 4 or the 5...odd combination.

 

[George O'Brien]

Bet you won't see that too often, that a guy can play either the 1, the 4 or the 5...odd combination.

It is odd, because the only guy I know who was like that was Magic Johnson. Magic was huge. http://www.nba.com/history/players/johnsonm_bio.html lists him at 6'9" 255 but that was later in his caree. Boris is not as large, but he tried to pattern his game when growing up on Magic as a big pass first guard.

How big was Magic. In his rookie season (1979-80) Magic helped his team go to finals as a PG. However, when Kareem was injuried, Magic was moved from PG to center in the sixth game to help beat a great Sixer's team. "The big news, of course, was Magic, who was simply that. He scored 42 points, including all 14 of his free-throw attempts. He added 15 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block."

But moving from PG to center is pretty rare.

 

[Gaddabout]

I don't think the issue is whether or not Diaw can play 2 or 3 and be effective. The issue is his strengths make more sense playing at the 1 or the 4, where he has distinct advantages.

 

[nowagimp]

Well, like I said, he did play PF and C in some situations. France liked going small down the stretch of games, too, if I remember correctly. He also played shooting guard on occasion. Rigaudeau and Parker were the starting guards, and when Rigaudeau came out of the game Diaw would slide over to SG.

I wouldnt be surpised that Boris could play SG or SF in the euro league, the explosive 2's and 3's are few there. I think he would have a problem guarding Manu(not a euro, bu an explosive intl player) I do remember quotes on Boris playing well head to head on AK47 and Okur, which was at the time impressive. Boris needs to play well off a quick 2 or 3, to prevent being beaten on the penetration, and if that 2 can shoot the J with a quick release, it could be trouble for Boris.