You're going to have to forgive us here in the early season for a bit. If we don't report on trends that are developing, we're ignoring what we're seeing. If we do tell you what we see, we're over-emphasizing games that are so young in this season that they can't even legally get into a screening of New Moon.
Basically, that's my way of imploring you to remember that we do take these things with a gigantic mountain of salt, but here's what happened. And trust me, the Spurs are going to want to brush this one off.
Perenially disappointing France dropped some jaws today by destroying Italy in last-gasp Eurobasket qualifying, ratcheting up a 81-61 win on the cape of healed Tony Parker (23 points, 5 assists). The French have assured themselves a place in the Eurobasket play-in game, which will be decided late next week. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the likely foe, though Belgium (where Parker was born) can bully in.
The Italians had been the favorite to move on from the qualifier, but they're bruschetta toast. Not only will Italy miss Eurobasket for the first time since 1961, but the Azzurri will also likely miss the 2010 World Championships. It could be argued that the break-up of Yugoslavia and the U.S.S.R. has hurt Italy's performance, as a host of Slavic states and former Soviet republics have leaped the Italians in international competition.
A few years ago, when I began to get interested in European basketball, it was difficult to grok just how important a tournament Eurobasket is. In the United States, the only international competition we tend to care about is the Olympics, with the World Championships an event that usually registers as a blip instead a marquee. But it's really different in Europe.
The championship of Europe -- Eurobasket, a biannual tournament -- is as big as the Olympics or the Worlds for ballers in the Old World. Legends are made in the tournament, and reputations earned. This year's European Championship kicks off in September. But beginning today, six teams will battle to grab the last spot in the tournament.
Tony Parker, training with the French national team in advance of the Eurobasket 2009 qualifying tournament, suffered what appeared to be a minor ankle injury during a scrimmage against Austria last week. He left the gym on crutches, but an MRI executed by the French and overseen by a Spurs official on location revealed no ligament damage. Parker planned to be ready for this Wednesday's tournament opener against Italy.
When I was six, I lifted a pack of gum from a grocery store. I was quickly busted by my mom as I tried to eat the gum, immediately, in the car. After my Dad got through with me, including, and this was not the most severe bit, duct taping the window shut, removing the light bulb and putting a towel at the door overnight when I was afraid of the dark, he asked me a question. "What could you possibly have been thinking?"
There's a dude in San Antonio that makes six-year-old me look like a freaking genius.
Our story begins at the house of San Antonio Spurs superstar point guard Tony Parker.
Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash presented the 2nd annual "Showdown in Chinatown" charity soccer event on Wednesday in downtown New York City. The game benefited the Steve Nash and Claudio Reyna Foundations, and was an 8-on-8 match filled with NBA and soccer greats. Predictably, NBA stars Chris Bosh and Grant Hill didn't fare as well as the likes of Thierry Henry and Edgar Davids. However, international hoopsters, Nash and Tony Parker, definitely held their own on the pitch. Okay, now I'm just name-dropping. Check out FanHouse's look at what was a fun, if not somewhat awkward, game of soccer. The video is below.
San Antonio needed a major infusion of offensive talent this season, and it appears the team has found it. Multiple league reports indicate the Spurs have traded for Milwaukee's Richard Jefferson, sending away only bit players Bruce Bowen (age 38), Kurt Thomas (age 36) and Fabricio Oberto (age 34), according to Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Jefferson has been in Wisconsin for one year, following last June's draft day trade which sent Yi Jianlian and others to New Jersey. Jefferson has always been a moderately efficient scorer, and he should provide some relief for Tony Parker and Tim Duncan in the Spurs starting line-up. He's not quite an ace defender, but he played hard for Scott Skiles last season and hasn't missed a game in two seasons.
It feels strange to even type it, but it's true: the Spurs have been eliminated in the first round, losing to the Mavericks on Tuesday night 106-93 and ending a streak of eight consecutive seasons in which the Spurs won at least one playoff series.
At least there's no confusion about what the Spurs need to do this summer: get deeper. This team never bounced back from the loss of Manu Ginobili, as even huge games from Tim Duncan (30 points, eight boards) and Tony Parker (26 points, 12 assists) weren't enough to keep this game competitive.
Sure, it's possible the Spurs can put together a nice effort on their homecourt in Game 5 on Tuesday night and push their series against the Mavericks to a sixth game in Dallas.
And maybe the Spurs could even follow that up with an unlikely Game 6 win on the road and make their first-round series a seven-gamer.
Mavericks vs. Spurs, 9:30 PM ET Dallas leads series, 3-1 | Preview
It's an argument that's been around for a little while. Which would you rather have: a great point guard or a great big man?
It's a legitimate debate and a strong case can be made for each position. But this year, point guards are winning the matchup.
Yes, if this postseason has proven anything it's that you better have a pretty good point guard – or at least a point guard playing very well – if you hope to do any damage. And if you don't have one, then you better be sitting with one of the league's true stars.
You're going to have to forgive us here in the early season for a bit. If we don't report on trends that are developing, we're ignoring what we're seeing. If we do tell you what we see, we're over-emphasizing games that are so young in this season that they can't even legally get into a screening of New Moon. 
Perenially disappointing France dropped some jaws today by destroying Italy in last-gasp Eurobasket qualifying, ratcheting up 
A few years ago, when I began to get interested in European basketball, it was difficult to grok just how important a tournament Eurobasket is. In the United States, the only international competition we tend to care about is the Olympics, with the World Championships an event that usually registers as a blip instead a marquee. But it's really different in Europe. 
When I was six, I lifted a pack of gum from a grocery store. I was quickly busted by my mom as I tried to eat the gum, immediately, in the car. After my Dad got through with me, including, and this was not the most severe bit, duct taping the window shut, removing the light bulb and putting a towel at the door overnight when I was afraid of the dark, he asked me a question. "What could you possibly have been thinking?"
Phoenix Suns point guard 
San Antonio needed a major infusion of offensive talent this season, and it appears the team has found it. Multiple league reports indicate 
It feels strange to even type it, but it's true: the Spurs have been eliminated in the first round, losing to the Mavericks on Tuesday night 106-93 and ending a streak of eight consecutive seasons in which the Spurs won at least one playoff series. 
One question for the San Antonio Spurs: Now what?
It's an argument that's been around for a little while. Which would you rather have: a great point guard or a great big man?
