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Basketball this weekend on ESPN3

by Alamo on Aug 20, 2010 3:28 PM CDT

The USA team will be playing some FIBA preliminary games this weekend to be covered on ESPN3. They might be picked up elsewhere as well, depending upon your cable/satellite/internet connections.

The first game on Saturday is against Lithuania. Their team includes former Spurs draft pick Robertas Javtokas. Having turned 30 while signing a new 3 year contract with the Valencia team, it could be that he's unlikely to ever join the Spurs. What with changes in the economy and contract options, who knows whether or not he might yet become a Spur. I am reminded though of when the focus was on Luis Scola and out of the blue the Spurs signed his 30 year old Argentinian teammate, Fabricio Oberto.

Sunday's game is against Spain, one of the tournament favorites with a stable of NBA stars. Next Wednesday will be a pre-tournament game against the team from Greece. Their center, Ioannis Bourousis, was supposedly offered a contract by the Spurs last year prior to re-signing in Europe. He has talked as though he might be interested in the NBA in the future. While unable to play in yesterday's game against Serbia, he nevertheless was hit over the head with a chair thrown by the Thunder's Nenad Krstic during a brawl.

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That game on Sunday should be fairly telling. I’ve actually got a FIBA Championship primer post that should be up early next week, if not sooner.

Tony apologist since 2010.

by Tim C. on Aug 20, 2010 3:53 PM CDT reply actions

I’m looking forward to that. I’ve been trying to follow summaries of some of the preliminary games, but there does not usually seem to be a boxscore provided. Javtokas had been in a game or two, but then in the last couple of games doesn’t seem to be in the scoring leaders so I’m not sure if he is in there or not. The coverage of the U.S. vs. France focused entirely upon the U.S. team. I wouldn’t have known whether Nando was even in the game for France if it weren’t for this post-game video interview on Project Spurs.

by Alamo on Aug 20, 2010 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey, cool. I’ll have to use that De Colo interview.

Tony apologist since 2010.

by Tim C. on Aug 20, 2010 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions

The game is ESPN at 2pm central time. If you get NBATV they will be re-airing it for most of the next 24 hours.

Sunday the game is on NBATV at 2pm with repeats to follow .

ESPN3 is the online option.

by r21x on Aug 21, 2010 12:34 PM CDT reply actions

Javtokas had scored 8 straight points for Lithuania in the 3rd quarter, 10 for the game, in a close game. Up until that point while he has been in the game seems to be moving a lot setting picks but hadn’t touched the ball much. Mainly shots right under the basket along with one nice sky hook.

by Alamo on Aug 21, 2010 3:20 PM CDT reply actions

Shortly thereafter the US made a string of baskets on turnovers, and it seemed Javtokas came out of the game. The U.S. built up a good lead before he came back in, then things stayed more even thereafter. Haven’t seen a boxscore yet, but I would guess that Lithuania may have outscored the US while Javtokas was on the floor. At the least they seemed to play much closer.

He seems committed to play in Europe next season for Valenica and he has already reached age 30. Seems unlikely to join the Spurs, but looks like he would be capable of making a contribution.

by Alamo on Aug 21, 2010 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions