Hoops

Greek team named for Boomers Farewell Series

On ABC1 7.30 report Thursday ; " Can the Boomers win their first medal "
Looks like an interesting show .

^ The rankings were 2012 btw, so you can't exactly claim that the league isnt what it used to be.

#964,

ULEB has actually ranked Greece as the 2nd best domestic league in Europe.

Did you think I just made up the statement that the A1 Greece was the 2nd best league??

ULEB ranks the leagues based on 70 % competition results of all teams (and 30% arena capacity, sponsorship, revenue), so I think you will find that all teams in Greece were evaluated.

Plus the Greece financial struggles are not having too big of an impact on the league, because ULEB evaluated their sponsorship and revenue level and they must have fared well in the 30 % aspect of the test.

Anon #959,

First of all, I never said Jawai was not great!!
He should be in the Boomers no matter what!

Secondly, im not a selector. Don't attack me.

The gap between Greece and NBL has certainly reduced.

But, A1 Greek is still considerably better IMHO.
It was ranked the 3rd best competition in Europe behind Italy and Spain until 2007.

Now it is considered the 2nd best domestic league in Europe, with Spain on top.

Better than leagues in France, Germany, Turkey, Lithuania.

Not just talking about the Center position. Greece have height and length right across the board.

Pappas at PG is 6"5

They have 6"7-6"8 2 guards and 6"10 PF's.

But agree with you re: Baynes. He put up great numbers (14 and 9) in Greece, and had good games against Olympiacos and Panathiniakos even when his team lost by 40 +

Will still be a very very high quality team.

A lot of the players are not too young --- some 22, 23 and even 25! I think youl find some are also from the 2008 U20 Euro champs or 2006 U18 Euro champs.

Giannopolous avg 12.4 points in Grek A1 and will enter 2012 Draft; considered a fringe prospect.

Katsivelis is another NBA prospect- 20 yo 6"5 SG. One of the top SG's in International 91 class.

Pappas--needs no introduction. Dude will be in the NBA, if he was more athletic. Absolutely kills teams at the International level.

A lot of tall timber - 6"11/7"0.

I would expect a close game/series

1. AUSTRALIA 1.45
2. NEW ZEALAND 5.75

Drop a $10 on NZ

That's right - a team of very talented youngsters.

What is disappointing for mine was this takeaway from Brett Brown:

"When we approached the Greek national federation to bring a team out to Australia to play the Boomers we always understood that, because of Greece’s commitment to the London qualifying tournament, it would be a national team filled with younger players,” said Brown. “The side Greece has named is exactly that and includes some very talented young athletes."

Why were not BA open about the fact we were only ever going to see the Greek national junior team?

I'm still glad to be able to watch the Boomers on home soil, I would have liked to know up front that it would not be the Senior team which BA obviously knew about...