2NFR
Global Moderator 
Posts: 6,297
Favourite Team: Newcastle Eagles
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Post by 2NFR on Oct 17, 2018 14:33:52 GMT
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Post by interestedridersfan on Oct 17, 2018 14:46:01 GMT
Hmm, so I spent last night preparing an unnecessarily elaborate preview piece for this game, only to log in today and discover that much of it has now already been said. But I've written the damn thing so I'm going to post it anyway. Enjoy... or don't. It's entirely up to you. Skim reading's fine... OPPONENT'Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari' or just 'Dinamo Sassari' if you prefer. RECENT HISTORYItalian champions in 2014/15. Italian Cup winners in 2013/14 and 2014/15. EuroLeague participants in 2014/15 and 2015/16. Went 7-7 in last year's Basketball Champions League group phase, narrowly missing out on a place in the last 16. Missed the Lega A playoffs last season for the first time in their top flight history, leading to the appointment this summer of Vincenzo Esposito as their new head coach. Not particularly interesting fact: In 1995 Esposito became both the first player signed by the Toronto Raptors and the first Italian to score a point in the NBA.
SELECTED NOTABLE EX-PLAYERSThis could potentially have been a very long list but after much painstaking deliberation, I've settled on the following: Joe Alexander - Selected four picks after Russell Westbrook (8th overall) in the 2008 NBA draft but lasted just two seasons in the league. Averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds per game for Sassari during their 2015/16 EuroLeague campaign. Travis Diener - Italian-American dual national who Joined Sassari in 2010 after a six year stint in the NBA. Played for the Italian national team at Eurobasket 2013. His #12 jersey had been retired by the club. Christian Eyenga - A 1st round pick of the Cavs in 2011, Eyenga made 44 appearances (including 18 starts) his rookie year then just kind of went away. Averaged 11 and 4 for Sassari in EuroLeague. Now playing in the ACB. Steven Hunter - 15th overall pick in the 2001 draft. A very average NBA big for the best part of a decade, Hunter signed with Sassari in 2011. Was released after six appearances and never played again. Linton Johnson - Played in 154 NBA games over six seasons, including three playoff appearances for the Bulls in 2009. Staggered around in the Italian fourth tier last season as a 37 year old. Gabe Olaseni - GB International averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds per game for the Italian outfit in 2016/17. Now playing in the German Bundesliga. Bootsy Thornton - Notable primarily for having a very silly name. Played EuroLeague for about a decade. Almost as old as Fab. James White - 2nd round draft pick in 2006. Won an NBA Championship as a (very) peripheral part of the San Antonio Spurs his rookie year. Led Lega A in scoring whilst at Sassari. KEY PLAYERThere are probably half a dozen guys on this roster who could have a big night. Scott Bamforth led the team in scoring last season and looks to be a pretty lights out shooter. And it seems Terran Petteway and Rashawn Thomas weren't too far away from making NBA rosters out of college. But Jack Cooley gets the nod. Played his college basketball at Notre Dame where he was a teammate of Scott Martin for three years. Here they are hulking up together back in 2011... Martin has the more impressive arms. Cooley has the more impressive bank balance. Though undrafted, the 6'10" PF/C has made 23 competitive appearances at the highest level, split between the Utah Jazz and the Sacramento Kings. He also played EuroLeague for Malaga in 2015/16. Doubt he'll be particularly eye-catching but he ought to be very efffective. PREDICTIONYou already know where this is going... Sassari's budget must be many, many times that of any BBL club. They breezed through their qualifier against Benfica and I fancy them strongly to win the group. With that in mind, it's hard to foresee anything other than a heavy loss. If they're as good as I expect defeat here won't be too much of a body blow, particularly if we can keep the margin vaguely respectable. Overall points differential is (I think) the first qualification tiebreaker so if we are entertaining faint hopes of making the second round, it's important that we play to the final buzzer regardless. WHY SHOULD YOU WATCH?Well first and fore-mostly because you're passionate about the game in this country and will support any BBL club (even one as hateable as Riders) in European competition. A further incentive to watch this game is that Sassari will, I imagine, be the best non-NBA team to play on British soil this season. Didn't realise they went 7 and 7 last season in champions league. Didn't realise Cooley had played NBA recently You read that above and realise these guys are a whole different level to bakken. And they were different class to BBL as it is. Hope our fans who don't realise how good the opposition are tonight aren't put off too much if we do get badly beaten I'm going to love watching us at least try to compete Brilliant review Steven. If you are going to do that every euro game I won't go looking for stuff myself Really excited about what I'm going to see tonight |
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Post by notoriousbigz on Oct 17, 2018 14:53:35 GMT
Terran Petteway led the Big 10 conference in scoring for Nebraska with 18.1 in 2012-2013. He also played in the NBA Pre-season with Atlanta Hawks a few years after and has played summer league too.
For those who recognise the name, his older brother Terrell played for Sheffield Sharks.
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Post by mj2323 on Oct 17, 2018 14:59:26 GMT
Scott Bamforth is the guy to watch, a great two way guard. Although I do have to agree that Cooley could dominate inside against the Riders "Bigs". However dont get caught up on the Americans, no22 Stefano Gentile will also be one to watch.
All the best to the Riders for tonight! Enjoy it!
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Post by interestedridersfan on Oct 17, 2018 15:12:40 GMT
Wonder how Burnett will do?
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Post by mj2323 on Oct 17, 2018 15:24:07 GMT
Wonder how Burnett will do? I rate Burnett a lot from the limited times I have seen him play. He stepped up in the first game against Bakken, and may be a player that plays better against stronger opposition. Its a great opportunity for all the Riders players to see what level they are playing at. Any news on if Hampton is playing, or when he is likely to be back? |
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Post by ecrider on Oct 17, 2018 16:07:02 GMT
Sometimes i wish i could stop myself reading this stuff. Any optimism for tonight has already evaporated!
Strangely i don't buy in to how great it is that a british club is in Europe. I just don't want to see my team get smashed by anyone
What be a good result for Leicester - 30 point defeat??
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davetwt
Bench Player
Posts: 239 
Favourite Team: Leicester Riders
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Post by davetwt on Oct 17, 2018 16:25:58 GMT
judging by whats on here,i think more like 50 point defeat!!!
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Post by interestedridersfan on Oct 17, 2018 16:39:54 GMT
What nobody has factored in yet is the intimidating atmosphere of Leicester Community Arena on a Wednesday Night in Europe
There will be loud clapping, drums, smoke bombs and flares (that's just in the kids for a quid stand)
I've just bought some marker pens and am working hard on a "Welcome to Hell" banner for my stand
And I've heard that despite it being a bit chilly outside the OAP stand are all going topless (including the women)
The Italian's won't know what's hit them. The intimidating atmosphere could be the leveller we are looking for
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Post by inaminute23 on Oct 17, 2018 16:58:11 GMT
Hold them to 20, would be brilliant. Hopefully there is a full house and it is noisy!
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Post by notoriousbigz on Oct 17, 2018 17:13:19 GMT
What nobody has factored in yet is the intimidating atmosphere of Leicester Community Arena on a Wednesday Night in Europe There will be loud clapping, drums, smoke bombs and flares (that's just in the kids for a quid stand) I've just bought some marker pens and am working hard on a "Welcome to Hell" banner for my stand And I've heard that despite it being a bit chilly outside the OAP stand are all going topless (including the women) The Italian's won't know what's hit them. The intimidating atmosphere could be the leveller we are looking for Hahahaha |
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Post by interestedridersfan on Oct 17, 2018 17:35:43 GMT
What nobody has factored in yet is the intimidating atmosphere of Leicester Community Arena on a Wednesday Night in Europe There will be loud clapping, drums, smoke bombs and flares (that's just in the kids for a quid stand) I've just bought some marker pens and am working hard on a "Welcome to Hell" banner for my stand And I've heard that despite it being a bit chilly outside the OAP stand are all going topless (including the women) The Italian's won't know what's hit them. The intimidating atmosphere could be the leveller we are looking for Hahahaha Scrap that There's hardly any one here!! We will get much bigger crowd for Royals on Saturday. Probably less than USA select here by some way!! Unless there's a mad rush on its way! |
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Post by inaminute23 on Oct 17, 2018 17:46:44 GMT
That's really poor, if the crowd is small.
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Post by inaminute23 on Oct 17, 2018 18:00:21 GMT
And the stream isn't working!!
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Post by cumbrianbill on Oct 17, 2018 18:04:28 GMT
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Post by inaminute23 on Oct 17, 2018 18:07:02 GMT
Must be my app
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Post by inaminute23 on Oct 17, 2018 18:17:14 GMT
Great defensive start for Riders. Dinamo being put out of their rythm.
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Post by interestedridersfan on Oct 17, 2018 18:20:53 GMT
Great defensive start for Riders. Dinamo being put out of their rythm. Siege mentality here. We may only be half full but all the ones here care and are making more noise than when it's full Think we've got them a bit worried!! Long way to go yet They defend the basket so well think we need a lot of 3s Never seen so many blocks ever |
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Post by faz on Oct 17, 2018 18:25:22 GMT
That's really poor, if the crowd is small. That’s a real shame. Hardly going to encourage brutish ball to progress if the fan base isn’t there. |
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Post by faz on Oct 17, 2018 18:25:56 GMT
Great defensive start for Riders. Dinamo being put out of their rythm. Siege mentality here. We may only be half full but all the ones here care and are making more noise than when it's full Think we've got them a bit worried!! Long way to go yet They defend the basket so well think we need a lot of 3s Never seen so many blocks ever Sounds more like Highbury on thd live screen |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2018 18:26:23 GMT
MVP have a link to the game
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Post by inaminute23 on Oct 17, 2018 18:44:04 GMT
And we wonder why no UK channel picked it up. That place should be at very least 3/4 full and bouncing. If it can't be for this game, then when? Really disappointing as Leicester are doing a good job defensively.
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Post by interestedridersfan on Oct 17, 2018 18:47:35 GMT
Cooley is a beast. But we are making it harder than he expected. He's so physical it's untrue. Our players are literally bouncing off him trying to defend him.
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Post by benji on Oct 17, 2018 19:19:05 GMT
Leicester doing well to keep themselves in it. The other team look pretty strong and organised. Shame the place is so empty, is it because it's mid-week or a lack of appetite for Euro matches from the fans? Or maybe just because they were expecting to lose by so much?
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Post by benji on Oct 17, 2018 19:21:40 GMT
Certainly a lot more physical than I'm used to watching, the refs don't seem to be stopping any of it though!
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