More on Vijuanic

[George O'Brien]

The following is taken from NBA.COM (dated Wednesday) I rearranged it put Skipper Bologna as the first team described.

A preview of this weekend's Euroleague Final Four

European Vocation

Sandri

While the postseason action in the NBA is just starting to heat up, the hoops season in Europe is drawing to an exciting finish.
On Thursday and Saturday, NBA TV will televise the 2004 Euroleague Final Four and Championship Game live from Tel Aviv, Israel. Here's the schedule for both days:

Thursday: Skipper Bologna 103, Montepaschi Siena 102 (OT)
Thursday: Maccabi Tel Aviv 93, CSKA Moscow 85
Saturday, noon ET: Montepaschi Siena vs. CSKA Moscow (third-place)
Saturday, 2:30 p.m. ET: Skipper Bologna vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv (championship)

To take a closer look at some of the top NBA prospects on each of the squads, NBA.com talked to NBA TV's Simone Sandri, analyst on Basketball International. Sandri also gives his predictions for the two semifinals, and the championship game at the bottom of the page.

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Skipper Bologna


Guyton

Mottola

Italian League: 24-8 | Euroleague: 13-7
NBA Draftees: Milos Vujanic (Suns own rights), Carlos Delfino (Pistons own rights)

Former NBA/NCAA Players: A.J. Guyton (Bulls, Warriors, Indiana '00), Hanno Mottola (Hawks, Utah '00)

Other Players of Note: Gianluca Basile (Italian Olympian)

Sandri's analysis ... "Not only is Vujanic the best guard in Europe, but he's also the best player in Europe. I always said that the Knicks gave up a lot to get Marbury because they gave up the rights to this guy. He has the chance to become a great player in the NBA in 2-3 years. If he decides to go to Phoenix next year, he'll start for the Suns. He's a point guard with a scorer's mentality, and he loves to take the big shot. Watch him this weekend, he could be a future All-Star. ... I also think Delfino was a steal with the No. 25 pick. He's one of the most versatile players in Europe; he's a two guard who can defend the four. He's good from the perimeter, but he plays much bigger than he is. Can take you inside or outside. You always have to put a body on him too, he loves to crash the offensive boards."

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CSKA Moscow


Alexander

Brown

Russian League: 25-1 | Euroleague: 16-4
Potential NBA Players: Sergey Monya (second-rated shooting guard prospect by ESPN.com Insider), Victor Khyrapa

Former NBA/NCAA Players: Victor Alexander (Pistons, Warriors, Iowa State '91), Marcus Brown (Pistons, Blazers, Murray State '96), J.R. Holden (Bucknell '98), Dragan Tarlac (Bulls), Mirsad Turkcan (Knicks, Bucks)

Sandri's analysis ... "Out of all the international players who haven't been drafted yet, Monya is the most ready to play in the NBA right now. He definitely has an NBA game; he's a great defender with good offensive skills, and he can play the two or the three. He defies the stereotype that European players don't defend well. Could be a top 15 pick. ... Khyrapa is probably a late-to-middle-first round pick. He's similar to Andrei Kirilenko in that he has long arms, is a good shotblocker, is very versatile, and has good court vision."



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Maccabi Tel Aviv


Baston

Parker

Sundov

Israeli League: 22-3 | Euroleague:
15-5
Potential NBA Players: Nikola Vujcic

Former NBA/NCAA Players: Maceo Baston (Raptors, Michigan '98), David Blutenthal (USC '02), Sarunas Jasikevicius (Maryland '98), Anthony Parker (Magic, 76ers, Bradley '97), Derrick Sharp (South Florida '93), Bruno Sundov (Knicks, Cavaliers, Celtics, Pacers, Mavericks), Deon Thomas (Illinois '94)

Sandri's analysis ... "Vujcic is one of the most underrated players in all of Europe. He's probably the best center in Europe. He's got an unbelievable offensive game -- he has great feet, can move on the perimeter, he shoots well and he can pass. The only thing is he sometimes falls asleep on defense, which he'll need to work on before he gets to the NBA. ... A number of NBA teams have looked at Jasikevicius as a backup point guard. He has the potential to start in the NBA. He's a pass-first point guard who can also score, and he has unbelieveable court vision. He's a little bit like Jason Williams in that he loves to make the flashy pass."



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Montepaschi Siena


Vanterpool

Italian League: 25-7 | Euroleague: 11-9
NBA Draftees: David Andersen (Hawks own rights)

Former NBA/NCAA Players: Bootsy Thornton (St. John's '00), David Vanterpool (Wizards, St. Bonaventure '95)

Other Players of Note: Giacomo Galanda (Italian Olympian)

Sandri's analysis... "Thornton is a little undersized to play in the NBA, but he's shooting the ball extremely well right now and is the main reason why Siena made it to the final four. ... Vanterpool comes off the bench at point guard, but he plays more than the starter. He's dangerous because he can shoot from the perimeter, but can also post up his defender. ... Andersen is the type of player that scouts love. He's a seven-footer who can shoot from the perimeter and is very mobile, but the Australian big man is still a work in progress."

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Simone Sandri's predictions for the Euroleague Final Four:

Skipper Bologna vs. Montepaschi Siena:
The first game is an all-Italian semifinal. It's such a tough game, because both teams know each other so well, and Italian bragging rights are at stake. Siena is playing the best basketball right now, but even though Skipper has some injuries down low (if Mottola gets in foul trouble, it will be a long day for them), they have great guards and Vujanic is the wild card. I have to go with Skipper Bologna.
CSKA Moscow vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv:
If this was being played on a neutral site, then CSKA would definitely be the favorite, but the home crowd will be a huge factor for Maccabi. Still, will it be enough of a factor? CSKA has a lot of experience and veterans, so they'll know how to take the crowd out of the ball game. Maccabi has an explosive offense, so for them to win it'll have to happen with points, not defense. But I think Holden, Brown and Alexander will be enough to see CSKA through.

My prediction is for a Skipper Bologna-CSKA Moscow final, and I think CSKA is playing the best basketball overall. I see them as the favorites, even with Vujanic on the other team.

 

[PhxGametime]

I was really high on Barbosa before Draft and after Draft while watching play against Team USA and had him a tiny bit rated higher than Milos Vujanic after watching Vujanic 2 years ago against USA as well but...

With Voskuhl, Lampe, Cabarkapa, and Jacobsen on bench - Barbosa might be better suited to come of bench with defensive skills (atleast with size, athleticism, and in the steal department) more-so than Vujanic? I'd like them both getting 25-30 minute range but I'm not a coach. I guess it depends on Suns adding a M. Daniels or A. Iguodala player but I like Barbosa's size off the bench - playing both positions.

I would like Vujanic's ability to press full court and create offense off the bench but I'd like to see Vujanic's 2 man game work with Amare (George Karl mentioned Vujanic has best pick and roll game in the world). Hopefully he did improve in last 2 years...

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

If the Suns land Kobe, both would have to come off the bench. I would assume JJ would slide over to PG full time.

I guess if they traded for TMAC, he could slide in for the 3 assuming Marion was involved. Depending if JJ gets traded or not, we might see a backcourt of Barbosa and Vujanic starting.

 

[George O'Brien]

I was really high on Barbosa before Draft and after Draft while watching play against Team USA and had him a tiny bit rated higher than Milos Vujanic after watching Vujanic 2 years ago against USA as well but...

With Voskuhl, Lampe, Cabarkapa, and Jacobsen on bench - Barbosa might be better suited to come of bench with defensive skills (atleast with size, athleticism, and in the steal department) more-so than Vujanic? I'd like them both getting 25-30 minute range but I'm not a coach. I guess it depends on Suns adding a M. Daniels or A. Iguodala player but I like Barbosa's size off the bench - playing both positions.

I would like Vujanic's ability to press full court and create offense off the bench but I'd like to see Vujanic's 2 man game work with Amare (George Karl mentioned Vujanic has best pick and roll game in the world). Hopefully he did improve in last 2 years...

A lot of people have mentioned that Vujanic showed a lot of promise two years ago (which is why he was a high second round pick), but he started fullfilling it these past two years. The usual comparison is that he is much better than Tony Parker was.

If the Suns are convinced he really is that good, it will effect many of their other decisions. For example, their priorities may switch from signing a guard to signing a shot blocker. Even the remote possiblity of the Suns drafting a PG would become less. The pressure to move Eisley would be even stronger since Eisley might not even make the team.