Arena Zagreb (photo by CroHoops.com)
FIBA Europe has been informed of the decision of the national basketball federations of Croatia, France, Germany and Italy to withdraw their joint bid for hosting EuroBasket 2015.
The Board of FIBA Europe that convenes at the weekend in Munich, Germany will examine the statements that were issued by the four federations earlier today and will issue a reply as appropriate.
FIBA Europe
First of all the way “Joke” walked out of Croatian NT locker room was not proper for one professional coach at this level. Come on, you lose the most important game of your career and you calmly tell the press that your “contract has expired”. Are you Human at all?
“Be prepared and be honest.” – John Wooden
Second of all We are aware that “Joke” will never file report to his friends (not colleagues) at Croatian Basketball Federation (CBF/HKS) so we decided to elaborate one for him. Here we go:
Marko Popovic is clearly a tweener. Tweener is a player who plays a position not accustomed for his size. His father was also a tweener, SG at 6’3”. You can do that in some teams, or in some game but not in the every game of the major international competition. Besides is father played in 1980-ties. How many 6’0” shooting guards you see in today’s game??? That’s right – NONE!
Marko has God given ability to shot the three, but he should ask himself who will cover your back on the opponent break after his miss or in 5-on-5 situation when he was matched against taller opponent.Sure numbers may be telling different but what you don’t see in the numbers is that Popovic’s game took more from team’ chemistry and cohesion. Being a captain of the squad should not make you a potential savior in the tough times but it should make you even more responsible, not in words, but in deeds.
CroHoops.com strong recommendation is that Popovic should consider accepting exclusive back-up point guard role, or should be used as a SG in short periods of time max.up to 2 minutes. Otherwise he has no future with the NT because he is not a shooting guard!
“Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.” – John Wooden
Rok Stipcevic ends up as back-up point guard. Joke coached 6’0” Stipcevic in Cibona Zagreb for the first part of 2010/11 season and was fully aware that Stipcevic brings averaging playmaking to the table while also being a huge defensive liability. Sorry but there should be no room for limited players like Stipcevic on the squad which was seeking it’s way onto 2012 Olympics.
Both of the players have been outmatched and outsized. Vrankovic should have consider to bring player like Cibona Zagreb G Hrvoje Kovacevic, who is a little bit taller, but has a jumping ability to go along with his playmaking assets and long distance shooting. Besides “Kova” played abundance of minutes with Draper in Cedevita’s uniform during 2010/11 season.
Kruno Simon was Croatian leading scorer in 2011 London Invitational. However in Lithuania he reportedly played with flu on his shoulders. He showed promise on offense, but was a huge defensive liability not being able to catch up his opponent due to his relatively slow footwork and thus ended up with a huge number of fouls in his playing time.
More potent shooting guards like Bazdaric, Car, Vrbanc and even undersized but explosive Kovacevic could have helped Croatia at the position. On the bright side Simon was a part of the most potent Croatian line up Draper-Simon-Bogdanovic-Markota-Tomic which decided a game vs Montenegro.
“It’s not so important who starts the game but who finishes it.” – John Wooden
Stanko Barac led Croatian 2nd half assault on Greece scoring 16 points to go along with 7 rebounds. Someone who is under non-stop surveillance from Larry Bird’s Indiana Pacers gets 20 minutes in first 4 games and then ends up as the leading player in the most important game.
It was not because “he was searching himself” or because he reportedly had a minor incident with Rok Stipcevic. It was Vrankovic’s coaching immaturity to recognize Ante Tomic as a power forward who’s best game comes when he has someone who can cover for him defensively. Repesa did the same mistake with not pairing PF Nikola Vujcic and C Mario Kasun back in 2009 EuroBasket.
Damir Markota showed huge promise until his first two consecutive three-pointer misses vs Macedonia in the clutch. That was when the “Svedjo” wagon went out of the track. He served as an ultimate NT spokesman to CNT (HRT) after each game and that should be taken into his account.
His defense on much stronger 4s, especially footwork, was a great liability to Croatia. Should strongly consider not taking more than 5 three-point shots on the nights he is off against any competition.
“There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer.” – John Wooden
Vrankovic should have made a stronger consideration for versatile forwards like Hrvoje Peric as well as Tomislav Zubcic. Although many claim Dario Saric’s time with NT hasn’t come yet it’s clear as a bell that he could have gain at least some experience in 200 minutes Croatia played in Lithuania. Prospects like G/F Mario Hezonja and PG Toni Katic need to bulk up but should be strongly considered as a key part of Croatian NT future campaigns.
After being named both Adriatic League and Croatian League MVP PF Luka Zoric was a huge promise going into this summer campaign for Croatian NT. However some of his qualities proved to be liabilities for Croatian NT.
His 1-on-1 post-up offense was to slow and decreased the flow on Croatian NT offense. He should set more screens. On the bright side he battled against every opponent, but don’t expect him to make a huge career in Spanish ACB League.
As well as Zoric, big man PF Luksa Andric has the size to play on this level, but should improve his defensive footwork and his 1-on-1 offense.
Both Zoric and Andic were completely off from the outside and that is the reason Markota played so much minutes on the 4th spot, which ultimately hurt the team.
Vrankovic could have gotten a stronger PFs with a better mid-range jump shot and better defensive footwork in both Marko Banic and Nikola Loncar, players which have added substantial chemistry elements to Croatian NT in previous years.
Bojan Bogdanovic played up to the general expectations when he was given a ball in the right spot. Problem is that that there wasn’t any play in particular which was run for Bogdanovic.
Although he clearly wasn’t both fan and media favorite PG Dontaye Draper had a successful “rookie” campaign in Croatian uniform. He led the Championship in assists per game (7.0) and was 2nd(!) in assist/turnover ratio. His relative offensive ineffectiveness comes as a direct result of bad spacing on Croatian NT offense.
Marko Tomas suffered a bad hamstring injury in the loss to Macedonia. Vrankovic should have used this as a huge motivating spark but this unfortunately never happened.
“Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.” – John Wooden
Who ever takes over as head coach should do a better job in following, recruiting, scouting, envisioning, taking necessary risks and developing right attitude on the way to right team chemistry. Certainly there are candidates, but the question now is if CBF really want to launch this team out of it’s own mediocrity and inability to change and adopt to the World.
Joke V will remain under the close media loop in his second stint with Cibona Zagreb,the same team which he led to dismal Euroleague record in 2007/08 season before being fired for good.
After he got his own graffiti in Kavadarci, Macedonian PG Bo McCalebb continued to push forward Macedonian side at 2011 EuroBasket in Lithuania.
Native of New Orleans integrated 27 points and 4 assists into 65:63 Macedonian win over Georgia and helped his team to reach the quarterfinal stage.
The win is even more significant for all Macedonian people since it comes on the 20th anniversary of Macedonian independence from Ex-Yugoslavia.
RESULTS & SCHEDULE
07.09.2011 – Group E
Germany vs Spain 68:77
Turkey vs France 64:68
Serbia vs Lithuania 90:100
08.09.2011 – Group F
Georgia vs F.Y.R. of Macedonia 63:65
Finland vs Russia 60:79
Slovenia vs Greece 60:69
09.09.2011 – Group E
Spain vs Serbia 84:59
Germany vs Turkey 73:67
Lithuania vs France 67:73
10.09.2011 – Group F
Georgia vs Finland 73:87
F.Y.R. of Macedonia vs Slovenia 68:59
Greece vs Russia 67:83
11.09.2011 – Group E
Serbia vs Turkey 68:67
France vs Spain 69:96
Lithuania vs Germany 84:75
12.09.2011 – Group F
Slovenia vs Finland 67:60
Greece vs Georgia 73:60
Russia vs F.Y.R. of Macedonia 63:61
14 & 15.09.2011. Quarterfinal Round
Spain vs Slovenia
Macedonia vs Lithuania
France vs Greece
Russia vs Serbia
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Scoring – Complete list
Rebounding – Complete list
Assists – Complete list
Steals – Complete list
Blocked Shots – Complete list
Ex-Croatian NT head coach Josip Vrankovic (photo by FIBA.com)
Coach V era is finally over. We will save our advice for someone else. Any coach could have done better job than “Joke” with the staff he had on his disposal.
With today’s Croatian NT 74:69 expected defeat from Greece, which means elimination from 2011 EuroBasket before even reaching quarterfinal stage, Croatian NT head coach Josip “Joke” Vrankovic’s two-year contract with Croatian Basketball Federation has reportedly expired.
43-Year old Vrankovic released the following statement throughout Croatian National Television News @ 19.30: “I thank people in Croatian Basketball Federation for all they have done for us. We had excellent communication and cooperation, within our capabilities.”
During his mandate Vrankovic led Croatia in 2010 World Championship and 2011 EuroBasket and has accomplished dismal 4-7 record with only wins coming vs Iran, Tunis, Finland and Montenegro.
Vrankovic should hand over a detailed report about his most recent failure to CBF officials, before trying to guide Cibona Zagreb onto Euroleague stage.
Draper is doing a nice job on PG spot for Croatia (photo by FIBA.com)
The day after torching Montenegro for 26 points Ante Tomic was again phenomenal. He scored 23 points in 26 minutes vs Bosnia and Herzegovina on variety of hook shots and post-up moves.
However Tomic was THE ONLY bright spot on Croatian NT (2-2) which posted a relatively unexpected 80:92 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, team which has lost by as much as 28 points from Finland(!).
Croatia shot only 4-24 (17%!!!) from downtown. PF Damir Markota was 0-7 in that department. With Croatian NT playing without offensive flow many of the shots came off-balance.
Both Markota and Rudez were totally unable to defend F Mirza Teletovic, especially in the post-up situations. Bosnian international lit up Croatia with 26 points and 9 rebounds.
Croatian NT head coach didn’t detected Teletovic as a potential problem prior or throughout the game and thus failed to install and kind of help or zone defense!
Also, despite Saturday’s CroHoops.com advice Vrankovic again decided to use his “smallball” line-up featuring Dontaye Draper (8 points, 6 boards, 9 assists, 4 steals) and Marko Popovic.
It is now clear as a bell that Draper has won the starting job on this Croatian NT for keeps and Popovic should settle for the back-up point guard, not shooting guard role!
Anything else should be considered as giving up size to any opponent which is a basic mistake coach Vrankovic is repeatedly making while obviously not being aware that this games are played at the top international level and the stakes are really high!
On Monday, Croatia will face 3-1 Greek NT in the battle for the quarterfinal stage.
Croatian PF/C Ante Tomic had 26 points (photo by DishNSwish.tv)
Despite yesterday’s CroHoops.com advice Croatian NT head coach decided to rally mainly on undersized backcourt of Dontaye Draper and Marko Popovic. The risk paid it self off in this one.
Popovic (23, points, 7-10 threes) and Draper (12 assists/0 turnovers) as a part of the “smallball” line-up Draper-Popovic-Simon-Markota-Tomic ultimately orchestrated Croatia to it’s 2nd Tournament win, 87:81 vs Montenegro. Croatia controlled the game all the way and had 15pt surplus at one point.
Absolute hero in this one was PF/C Ante Tomic who finally lived up to expectations and torched Montenegro for 26 points and 8 boards, while also helping to limit down Montenegro’s frontcourt leader Nikola Pekovic (9 points).
Bojan Bogdanovic did the same with Dasic with Damjan Rudez providing the quality back up for that role during the 2nd quarter, as we pointed out yesterday.
Today, Croatia will face fired up Bosnia and Herzegovina NT.
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