Slam and Freaknick's Euroleague Adventures

PODCAST #125: Get Excited.

Freaknick — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:17:54 GMT

PODCAST #124: Galatasaray For The Win

Freaknick — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:47:44 GMT

POCAST #123: Gutierrez, Gorgui and Fab. A College Basketball Conversation.

Freaknick — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:53:44 GMT

PODCAST #122: Sergio & Sergio, At Your Assistance

Freaknick — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:17:24 GMT

PODCAST #121: You Got Knocked The F*ck Out, Maaan!

Freaknick — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:25:58 GMT

PODCAST #120: Bo.

Freaknick — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:15:31 GMT

PODCAST #119: Rob Scott Roughs Up Milano

Freaknick — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:18:06 GMT

Is Emprio Armani Milano the worst team in the Euroleague? ELA's Rob Scott sure thinks so.

Rob joins the gang to tackle the Milano mystery, Montepaschi Siena's alleged underrated-ness, Fenerbahce's desperation and who might surprise everyone at the Copa del Rey.

While you're listening, check out Rob's Switching Screens blog on ELA and his newest project, Euro-step.net.

High quality stuff written by ELA Familia. Give it a look.

PODCAST #118: Shaun Stonerook on Age, Hair And Euroleague Championships

Freaknick — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:10:11 GMT

For American-born basketball players, high-level European clubs usually act as stopovers between one club and the next. Sooner than the paint has dried on their new locker, they've boarded another plane for Ukraine, China, Russia or some pastoral U.S. town with a D-League team.

Not Shaun Stonerook.

After splitting his college years between Ohio State University and the University of Ohio, one year in Antwerp was all he needed to trampoline into the Italian Lega Basket in 2001, where he has lasted ever since.

In his seventh season with Siena, Shuan's out for his sixth straight Italian Championship and the one thing that's eluded him in his 12 years as a pro: a Euroleague Championship.

Shaun tells us if Siena can with a bunch of "old" guys, what makes Bo McCalebb special, why DaJuan Summers didn't make it, when he wants to retire, and his future plans for that hair of his.

PODCAST #117: Picking Team USA's 12, and Why Antoine Wright Is Unemployable In Spain

Freaknick — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:24:42 GMT

Joey Dorsey didn't work out with Dusko Ivanovic in Vitoria, so what makes Olympiacos think he'll make a difference with Dusan Ivkovic in Piraeus? Plus, Sheridan Hoops released the 19 names that will fight for space on the backs of Team USA's jerseys this summer in London. We pick the 12 that we'd like to see representing the red, white and blue.

And of course we talk some Rubio, Jan Vesely's stealtastic second effort, and why Estudiantes shouldn't have signed Antoine Wright in the first place.

PODCAST #116: Sinan Guler on Turkish Heartbreak, His Breakout Year and Enes Kanter

Freaknick — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:23:14 GMT

When we last talked to Sinan Guler, EuroBasket was only days away and lots of experts (including Sinan himself) liked Turkey's chances to make it to the finals, thus qualifying for the London Olympics.

It didn't happen. In fact, Turkey finished out of the top six, and out of Olympic contention.

Now, Sinan is starting for Anadolu Efes and playing the best basketball of his pro career as he guides the Istanbul powerhouse into the Top 16. He talks about his expanded role, the lingering heartache from a disappointing Lithuanian summer, Sasha Vujacic's hijinx and why Enes Kanter will be a beast.

Plus, we look forward to Anadolu Efes' Top 16 match-ups, including a pair of games against crosstown rivals, Galatasaray. Give 'er a listen:

PODCAST #115: Euroleague Top 16 Preview

Freaknick — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:36:06 GMT

The Top 16 draw is set and that means it's time for predictions. Who's the msot important player in each group? Which low seed has a shot at making it through? What's the Final Four going to look like?

We cover it all on today's episode.

POCAST #114: The NBA Lockout Is Over. What It Means To The Euroleague.

Freaknick — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 17:02:47 GMT

Will Partizan crumble without Pekovic? Can Milano last without Gallinari? Will Real Madrid sign someone to replace Rudy? With Milko Bjelica injured and Kevin Seraphin headed home, will Caja Laboral's frontcourt be able to go up against the best? Will Donatas Motiejunas head for Houston?

Those are a few of the thousand questions this NBA Lockout has dumped in our laps. Let's try and sift through them as best we can.

PODCAST #113: Zagreb Lost Again. Other Euroleague Stuff Happened, Too.

Freaknick — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:10:17 GMT

PODCAST #112: Fernando Is A Sad Emeterio

Freaknick — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:12:08 GMT

Caja Laboral's undefeated after two weeks of Euroleague play, but last year's catalyst just isn't himself. We dissect the Fernando San Emeterio situation and ask the following questions:

-Barcelona? Panathinaikos? Is anyone as good as CSKA Moscow?

-Will Zagreb be the second Croatian team in two years (Cibona) to go winless?

-After a win at Anadolu Efes, does Spirou have a shot at rising above the Group C nastiness and advancing?

-And via @robscott33, how much of a badass is Caleb Green?

Euroleague Adventures Predictionpalooza 2012

Freaknick — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 22:46:03 GMT

Lockout, shmockout. Nobody cares. Some young rich folks pissed off at older, richer folks. Not interested.

Where I'm from, basketball is played on the hardwood, not a conference room. The Euroleague starts this week. 'Euroleague' as in 'basketball'.

Look, listen and let's get it...

PODCAST #110: La Bomba and Les Bleus Battle To Be Europe's Best

Freaknick — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 02:08:20 GMT

Who's more important to Spanish success: Juan Carlos Navarro or Pau Gasol? Why does Slam think Spain can still win if Tony Parker drops 25? Is Joakim Noah really the key to French success? Would you leave Rubio on the floor in crunch time? Is France actually deeper than Spain? Does Vincent Collet have the upper hand after that little stunt he pulled last week? If Spain wins, are they better than the Yugoslavian teams of Drazen, Divac and Kukoc?

That's a lot to think about. Someone should have a podcast about it or something.

PODCAST #109: If Peeing Your Pants Is Cool, Consider Me Milos Teodosic

Freaknick — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 22:14:07 GMT

Russia just got to the loose balls today (that's what she Shved) and now they're set to face France, who rode Nando de Colo out of a funk and into the semifinals.

And how can Spain stop Bo McCalebb? Well, they can't. But will the Spaniards' talent squash Macedonia's annoyingly scrappy will?

We talk about Timofey Mozgov and foul trouble, Joakim Noah and his "offense", how Alexey Shved dominates your eyes without busting up the statsheet, and whose tattoo actually makes you pee your pants: Pero Antic's and Andrei Kirilenko's?

PODCAST #109: Martynas Pocius Talks Macedonia, McCalebb, and What A Gold Medal Would Mean to Lithuania

Freaknick — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:05:49 GMT

What would happen if the home team could bring home a EuroBasket Gold Medal?

"Lithuania might explode," says Martynas Pocius. He talks about how they plan on stopping McCalebb, how fan support means nothing if they can't execute, and where Sarunas Jasikevicius ranks on the all-time list of Lithuanian ballers.

You'll want to listen to this one.

PODCAST #108: The Voice Of EuroBasket On Atmosphere, Tanking and Cinderella Stories

Freaknick — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:29:21 GMT

If you've been listening to these games in English, you've heard Jeff Taylor. Animated, opinionated and with enough of a Southern accent to make me feel at home. Now the Voice of EuroBasket joins us from Kauno Arena to talk about the tourney. The good, the bad and the unexpected.

Have a listen, and follow Jeff on Twitter @JeffreyNTaylor.

Some of the topics we cover:

-After seeing them both live, who would you take: Jonas Valanciunas or Enes Kanter?

-Is this Lithuanian crowd influential enough to lead Lithuania to a Gold Medal? How many points are they worth?

-Is it tough to stay neutral when a team like Finland is poised to do the impossible?

-What was Vincent Collet's explanation for pulling Parker and Noah in Spain's rout over France? Is that sort of tanking bad for international basketball?

-Does David Blatt think this team is as good as the Russian EuroBasket champions of 2007?

-On a neutral floor, who's the best team out there?

-Has Macedonia embraced Bo McCalebb as one of their own?

-Has the expansion of EuroBasket from 16 to 24 teams been a success, or a mess?

PODCAST #107: Turkey Takes a Step Back, Can Finland Leap Forward?

Freaknick — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 03:37:48 GMT

Serbia sends Turkey packing, so what does that mean for Turkish basketball? Should Vincent Collet have rested Noah and Parker in France's embarrassing loss to Spain? Can Petteri Kopponen lead Finland---and Nick's fantasy team---to victory against Slovenia?

Those answers plus plenty more EuroBasket chatter.