International Basketball Blog – Page 93 – NBA Blog

Yi Jianlian out for season

Milwaukee Bucks Director of Player Personnel Dave Babcock announced today that rookie forward Yi Jianlian (7-0, 238) will miss the remaining eight games of the season after suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee during the Bucks win over Washington on Wednesday, April 2.

Yi, 20, underwent an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) exam yesterday afternoon. After evaluation and further testing by Bucks orthopaedic physician Dr. John Heinrich, M.D., it was determined that a period of 2-3 weeks will be needed to rest and rehabilitate his injured knee before returning to basketball activity.

In 66 games this season (49 starts), Yi averaged 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 25.0 minutes. Among rookies who qualify, he ranks T-7th in scoring, 5th in rebounds, 2nd in free throw percentage (.841), 5th in blocked shots (0.85) and 7th in minutes played.

Yi was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December when he averaged 12.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocked shots in 16 games. He scored a season-high 29 points in the Bucks 103-99 win over Charlotte on December 22.

Overseas: Denmark a longshot to host 2014 World Championship

Fiba.com reports: Denmark coach Allan Foss admits his country is a long shot to be awarded the 2014 FIBA World Championship. The Danes, along with Spain, France and Russia have also expressed an interest in bidding for the event. Foss, whose team was relegated to EuroBasket Division B last year, said to FIBA: “Well, clearly it is a long shot, but it would really mean something to (improve) the knowledge of basketball in Denmark.”

Spain: Ricky Rubio may play in Olympics

Fiba.com reports: Spanish backcourt phenom Ricky Rubio is almost certain to be headed to the world champions’ pre-Olympic training camp with a chance of making the team for the Beijing Games as a back-up point guard. Pepu Hernandez, the Spain coach, indicated earlier this season that the DKV Joventut star would join up with the senior squad and that likelihood has become even stronger with Rubio enjoying an outstanding campaign with his club.

Euroleague: Olympiacos Piraeus releases Marc Jackson

Euroleague.net reports: Five days before its best-of-three playoff series against CSKA Moscow begins, Olympiacos Piraeus unexpectedly released center Marc Jackson, it’s top rebounder and inside scorer, on Thursday. Jackson averaged 15.1 points, 6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 20 Euroleague games this season, his first in the competition.

Milt Palacio wins Euroleague MVP for March

Euroleague.net reports: Only twice before this season had teams ever started the Top 16 with two defeats and still made the Euroleague Playoffs. This month, Partizan Igokea became the third such comeback playoff qualifier in large part because of the trust placed in – and rewarded by – starting point guard Milt Palacio, Euroleague Basketball’s choice as MVP for March. In his debut Euroleague season, Palacio found consistency at the perfect time to help Partizan go deeper into the competition than it has all decade. When the month started, Partizan was tied for last place in its Top 16 group and faced three must-win survival tests against superpower opponents. Its first victim was eventual group winner Montepaschi Siena, which had been undefeated to that point. Next, came Partizan’s only road win of the round, against Efes Pilsen. However, those first two victories merely set the stage for a game that fans in Belgrade, Serbia will remember a long, long time. In a winner-take-all classic, Partizan ended the Euroleague reign of defending champion Panathinaikos with an impassioned display of great basketball in the Top 16 finale. At the center of it all was Palacio, averaging 20.3 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists while making 74% of his two-point shots, 55% of his triples and 88% of his free throws during March.

Raptors file claim against Spanish league over Garbajosa injury

Statement from Toronto Raptors regarding claim filed against the Spanish Basketball Federation for non-payment of insurance proceeds related to Jorge Garbajosa’s injury:

“The Toronto Raptors issued a Statement of Claim on Friday against the Spanish Basketball Federation regarding the non-payment of insurance proceeds related to Jorge Garbajosa’s injury. It is unfortunate that we’ve reached this point. The matter is now before the courts. Therefore we will respect the court process and not comment further while the matter is on-going.”

2008 EuroCup Final Four to be in Cyprus

FIBA Europe announced on Friday that Proteas EKA AEL will host the 2008 EuroCup Final Four in Limassol, Cyprus.

The event will take place between 18th and 20th April.

Proteas, who are also hosting the EuroCup All Star game on 25th March, are participating in the Final Four the first time in their history after sweeping Khimik 2-0 in the Quarter-Final round.

“Cyprus is a fast growing basketball country and we are very happy to be able to bring the Final Four to Limassol,” said FIBA Europe President George Vassilakopoulos.

“I’m sure it will be a great event both on the floor and off for fans and players alike.”

“Having hosted the EuroCup All Star game four straight years Proteas are perfectly suited to organize an event like this,” commented FIBA Europe Secretary General Nar Zanolin.

“We’ve got four great teams taking part and it should be an exciting weekend of basketball.”

The hosts will take on Dexia Mons-Hainaut in one semi-final on 18th April while Baltic sides Tartu Rock and Barons LMT of Riga will battle in the other.

Wang Zhizhi postpones knee surgery until after the Olympics

Fiba.com reports: China national team center Wang Zhizhi has decided to postpone a knee operation until after the Beijing Olympics. The 30-year-old, who experienced pain in his knee this season with Bayi, travelled to the United States after Bayi’s CBA play-off exit and doctors discovered the big man has a bone spur that needs to be removed. Having surgery now would leave the 2.14m Wang needing two to three months of recovery time, causing him to miss the first part of China’s intensive training ahead of the Olympics.

Yao Ming has left foot surgery

Surgery for Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming was successfully completed this morning at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. Houston Rockets Team Physician Dr. Tom Clanton and his associate Dr. Bill McGarvey performed the surgery to repair a stress fracture in the tarsal navicular bone of his left foot.

“Yao is comfortable and recovering well after surgery,” said Clanton. “At this stage, we will continue to monitor his recovery and begin an aggressive rehabilitation once he is physically deemed ready.”

Statement from Yao Ming: “I am very relieved that everything went well with my surgery today. I am looking forward to getting better and starting my physical rehab as soon as the doctors say I can. I would like to thank everyone for their kind wishes during this time and I look forward to the day that I can rejoin my Rockets teammates on the bench.”

Euroleague Week 3 co-MVPs awards go to Dimitris Diamantidis, Terence Morris

Euroleague.net reports: One of the most exciting weeks in Top 16 history came to an end with two players tying for the best individual performance in this round. Dimitris Diamantidis of Panathinaikos and Terence Morris of Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv shared co-MVP honours, each with a 29 index. Diamantidis had 17 points on 2-for-2 two-pointers, 3-for-4 triples and 4-for-4 free throws in his team’s road loss against Montepaschi Siena. He added 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, a block and 4 fouls drawn to amass a 29 index. Morris had 16 points on 5-for-7 two-pointers in Maccabi’s pivotal home win against Real Madrid. He added 15 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks for a 29 index. Marc Jackson of Olympiacos, Willie Solomon of Fenerbahce Ulker and Daniel Santiago of Unicaja also shined with week, each with a 26 index.