Category: Basketball

Anadolu Efes secured a convincing victory after a competitive back-and-forth battle on the court, defeating Cagdas Bodrum Spor 87-75 at Mentese Spor Salonu last Sunday.

Rodrigue Beaubois shone with 21 points, including four three-pointers, leading all scorers in the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi Regular Season Round 2 match in Mugla.

The win propelled Anadolu Efes to a 2-0 record in the domestic league.

Noteworthy performances included double-doubles from Darius Thompson, who contributed 14 points and 11 assists, and Erkan Yilmaz, who registered 11 points and 11 rebounds under the guidance of coach Erdem Can.

Despite the absence of key players such as Shane Larkin, Elijah Bryant, and Will Clyburn, Anadolu Efes showcased their strength.

On the opposing side, Ben Moore led the home team with 16 points, while Dominic Artis displayed an impressive stat line of 14 points, seven assists, and five rebounds in a valiant effort that ultimately ended in defeat.

In the opening match of Sunday’s schedule, Galatasaray Ekmas secured a close 85-81 victory over Manisa at Sinan Erdem Dome, becoming the first team to achieve a 2-0 record.

Looking ahead, Tofas and Fenerbahce Beko have an opportunity to join the leaders in the upcoming games.

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Anadolu Efes creates separation in the fourth quarter and ups the domestic tally to 2-0 #BSLhttps://t.co/p5Jvur94Yz

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) October 8, 2023

Starting from Saturday, Israel has grappled with a nightmarish missile assault by Hamas.

This incursion resulted in a suspension of all sports activities, permitting foreign players to depart. Brian Angola, the Hapoel Tel Aviv player, used his Instagram platform to convey a message:

“Thanks, everyone, for all the messages that I have gotten all day. Thank God we are okay, but the situation is really hard and crazy. Stay safe out there. I am praying for the people of Israel.”

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Braian Angola and John Holland shared their experiences amid bombings in Israel.

It is a second war situation for Holland over the last two years:https://t.co/dMvYvQQCAM

— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) October 8, 2023

Since Saturday, Israel has faced a nightmare with a missile attack from Hamas. The invasion led to a halt in all sports events, allowing foreign players to leave. Despite the chaos, EuroCup’s Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv’s foreign players, including John Holland, remain distressed in Israel.

“I am in Israel right now. They just started some bombings, and it is pretty crazy,” he said. “We had a bunch of shelter alerts. If you look at the streets, it is pretty empty right now except for a few people. But yeah, you can hear the bombs, you can feel the bombs a little bit, some of them. … It is pretty spooky, I am not gonna lie.”

Thinking back on his previous involvement in war, Holland noted that this marked his second instance, as he had been in Russia with UNICS Kazan during the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

“This is the second war I have been in. I was in Russia when they invaded Ukraine, but that was a bit different because you don’t really feel it, other than the price of ruble going down and stuff like that. You didn’t really feel the bombs like here,” Holland underlined.

“To say the least, it has been an interesting day,” he continued. “We will see about tomorrow [October 8]. I don’t believe we will have practice tomorrow, but I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I am just documenting it just in case, you know. I feel relatively safe. That’s life.”

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Braian Angola and John Holland shared their experiences amid bombings in Israel.

It is a second war situation for Holland over the last two years:https://t.co/dMvYvQQCAM

— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) October 8, 2023

Evan Fournier, the veteran shooting guard for the New York Knicks, has recently voiced his frustration over his role within the team.

Fournier’s 2022-23 season saw him relegated to the bench by Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau, limiting his playing time to just 27 regular-season games.

As the new season approaches, Fournier is uncertain about his role and playing time. He expressed his determination to contribute to the team.

“To be honest — I might be dreaming — but to me, I can help the team. I’m a good player. I can f*cking play. I can bring stuff that this team doesn’t have, too. I have hope to play,” he said, per Kristian Winfield.

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Evan Fournier on being out of the #Knicks rotation: “To be honest — I might be dreaming — but to me, I can help the team. I’m a good player. I can fucking play. I can bring stuff that this team doesn’t have, too. I have hope to play.” pic.twitter.com/cXa9RgccW2

— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) October 7, 2023

Last season the 30-year-old player averaged 6.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 17 minutes per game.

The buzz surrounding No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama continues to grow, with the recent open scrimmage by the San Antonio Spurs drawing a whopping 13,200 fans.

This impressive turnout is a testament to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the young French sensation. The scrimmage, which featured Spurs players split into Black and Silver teams, showcased Wembanyama’s talents, as he contributed 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in his 27 minutes on the court.

It’s clear that Spurs fans are eager to see the 7-foot-2-inch phenom in action, and they turned out in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the future star.

Luka Doncic showcased his skills with 18 points, six assists, and five rebounds during the first half, but despite his efforts, the Dallas Mavericks couldn’t secure a victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing 94-104 in the second NBA preseason game held in Abu Dhabi.

In the Timberwolves’ camp, Karl Anthony-Towns and Naz Reid contributed 14 points each to secure the win.

This game marked the Mavericks’ final match before their journey to Spain, where they are set to face Real Madrid, Luka’s former team.

Luka, a Slovenian superstar, began his basketball journey with Real Madrid at the age of 13, where he quickly rose to prominence as a teenage phenomenon.

He played a pivotal role in leading the team to victory in the 2018 EuroLeague championship, earning both the championship and MVP titles. Subsequently, he made the transition to the NBA.

Looking ahead, the Mavericks will face Real Madrid, and it will undoubtedly be a significant matchup for Doncic, returning to the team where his remarkable journey started.

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Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Abu Dhabi

Next stop for the Mavs is the game against Real Madrid on a special night for Doncic vs. his former clubhttps://t.co/r9S9aVHh4Z

— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) October 7, 2023

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert believes that new additions like Georges Niang, Max Strus, and Ty Jerome are already helping the team’s offense create more spacing with their shooting.

(via Cleveland Cavaliers):

Reporter: “In what way do you feel like the stylistic changes offensively can benefit you guys the most?”

LeVert: “I think just more spacing on the floor. Obviously, with the added shooting that we went and got over the offseason. More lanes to drive because of the spacing, you have to kinda respect those guys out there with Georges [Niang], Max [Strus], and Ty [Jerome]. I think that’ll benefit everyone from the guards to the bigs.”

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon points towards weird things going on within the Dallas Mavericks’ organization following the demotion of athletic trainer Casey Smith.

(via RealGM):

The Dallas Mavericks are embarking on a critical season after missing the playoffs and play-in altogether last season. The decision from the Mavericks to demote longtime athletic trainer Casey Smith has created an extra layer of uncertainty to their situation. 

“There’s weird stuff going on with the Mavericks as far as not involving the roster, [but] involving the organization,” said Tim MacMahon on Friday’s Hoop Collective Podcast. “This banishment of Casey Smith, who is probably the most respected athletic trainer in the NBA. [He] was overseeing that whole group, basically their whole medical group. He wan an essential part of the front office. Put it this way, when the Mavericks sent a contingent to Slovenia for Luka’s supermax press conference, Casey Smith was there. He’s been on the bench for 20 years. He’s not going to be on the bench this year. He’s not going to be a traveler. It is not his decision.

“There’s a lot of people… There’s a combination of people being pissed and people being concerned with the Mavericks’ organization about that. 

“I’m not going to get into why that decision was made because I honestly haven’t gotten a straight answer. I’ve gotten a lot of second hand answers. And I’ve gotten two kind of different second hand answers, neither of which are great.

“And then you also have Scott Tomlin who has been there forever. By the way, Casey Smith and Scott Tomlin are like Dirk’s best friends. Scott Tomlin, longtime PR guy, is actually going to work for Dirk. He’s going to be the executive director of Dirk’s foundation. Leaving right after they get home from this trip. A decision made in the wake of Casey Smith’s reassignment. I don’t think that decision is made, especially with this timing, if everything is hunky dory I’ll put it to you like that.

“There’s a lot of weirdness going on with this organization right now.”

Enes Kanter Freedom, who was effectively kicked out of the NBA in February of 2022 because of his strong vocal opinions on geopolitical issues, specifically concerning the treatment of Uyghur Muslims by communist China, condemned the Saturday attack on Israel that has killed at least 100 Israelis in an attack for which the Islamist movement Hamas is taking responsibility.

“I’ve been closely monitoring what’s going on in the Middle East,” Kanter Freedom said. “I’ve come across numerous messages, and I believe that it’s very important to address the situation in Israel with clarity. What is happening there is undeniably barbaric, acts of terrorism that cannot be softened with ‘buts’ or additional justifications. 

“The loss of innocent lives can never be justified by any means. It’s crucial to emphasize that these events have nothing to do with Islam. In fact, Islam teaches that taking the life of one innocent person is equal to killing entire humanity. We have to condemn these actions and stand in solidarity with the innocent people in Israel. Many of my Palestinian friends are not supporting Hamas, each act of Hamas terrorism; taking away hopes for peace in the region.” 

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Enes Kanter Freedom condemns unprecedented attack on Israel: ‘Undeniably barbaric’ https://t.co/PAxhKiUv4L

— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 7, 2023

Danny Green of the Philadelphia 76ers recently shared his perspective on the offensive prowess of two rising NBA stars, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic, in a conversation on the “Run Your Race” podcast.

While he acknowledged the exceptional talents of both players, Green suggested that Gilgeous-Alexander possesses a more extensive offensive skill set.

Green praised both Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic, labeling them as MVP-caliber players. He expressed his belief that Luka Doncic is already a better all-around player who excels in making his team better, likening him to LeBron James in that regard.

Doncic is known for his ability to contribute across the board, including impressive triple-double performances.

However, Green highlighted Gilgeous-Alexander’s unique offensive talents, describing him as “that dude” on the offensive end of the floor.

He emphasized Gilgeous-Alexander’s deep offensive toolbox, which includes a smooth mid-range game, versatility in finishing plays, and excellent ball-handling skills.

According to Green, Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to use his body effectively and smoothly execute his moves sets him apart.

“I think Shai has a deeper bag,” Green said. “Shai is that dude. Offensively he’s just skilled. Luka’s skilled too. It’s not far off. I’m just saying Shai has a deeper bag.

“He’s very skilled. He’s so hard to guard because they both know how to use their bodies well. Shai makes it look a little bit smoother.

“He has a little more mid-range, a little bit more in-between, a little more [Kyrie Irving] in his game with the finishes and the handle.

“I think Luka uses his body more when he’s in the paint and in the post. Shai uses his shoulders unbelievably well on every dribble.”

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Danny Green thinks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a deeper bag than Luka Doncic

“Both of these guys are MVP caliber players…[Luka] is closer to Bron than anybody… More of a triple-double guy… Shai is just that dude.”

Thoughts? 🤔

(via @TidalLeague)pic.twitter.com/wUAJEP7fmN

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 7, 2023