The stars and stripes basketball spotlights will not come on but basketball fans will be able to satisfy their basketball cravings with the European Championship which will start tomorrow (August 31st) in Lithuania. While the players of the American league begin their diaspora, the great European national teams, more than ever stuffed with champions who have shown their value overseas, will battle it out to win the title which, two years ago, was Spain's.
Representing the blue colors are the troop led by star performer Simone Pianigiani, fresh from his fifth consecutive title on the Siena bench. The hopes of redeeming an opaque recent history, which after the sensational 2004 Olympic silver medal, gave more humiliations than satisfactions, are placed in the three NBA stars: Bargnani, Bellinelli and Gallinari. The condition of the three tenors, through whose hands more than 90% of the offensive attempts of the blue team pass will be fundamental, also given the limits of a roster that is not exactly irresistible under the knife and in the control room. After a daring qualification, obtained by benefiting from the last minute enlargement of the participating teams from 16 to 24, and a preparation phase not without positive signs, sealed by the triumph in the prestigious Acropolis tournament, Italy is a candidate to be one of the surprises of this European.
The stated objective is to reach the quarter-finals, valid for qualifying for the London Olympics, but the Azzurri will be able to have their say against all the opponents who cannot afford to underestimate them.
However, the road to the final in Kaunas passes through an iron group, which makes Pianigiani's challenge assume the colors of a suggestive but difficult bet. It will start tomorrow (14.15 pm, live on Rai sport 1) with a match full of fascination for our basketball, against Serbia, one of the most prestigious basketball schools in the world, a forge of players with highly refined techniques, historically close to blue basketball. In addition to the Slav masters, Italy will have to deal with France, Germany, Latvia and Israel. The transalpine giants, led by the timeless playmaker Tony Parker, make use of a top-level selection (Diaw, Noah, Batum), and seem to be the most suitable to contend with the Spanish for the final victory. To continue the roundup of NBA aces, it goes without saying that Germany will be led by Dirk Nowitzki, absolute winner of last year's playoff final. The Teutonic scoring machine, who has become a real star in his country, does not seem to be supported by a team up to par but, after carving out a space in the history of basketball by expressing a sublime level of play in the season that has just ended, he can certainly exclude that the magic is repeated.
The favorites remain the reigning champions. Spain, in addition to the now tested top-level roster, will field the dynamic and refined center Ibaka returning from an amazing season in Oklahoma City. The Congolese, who obtained a Spanish passport for the occasion, will form a European dream team together with Rubio, Calderon and the Gasol brothers (Pau is eager to redeem his bad season and his heavy responsibilities in the bad shape of the Lakers). promises show. Also keep an eye on the landlords driven by the Jasikevicius-Valanciuas axis, Turkey which despite the numerous absences will present itself with many interesting young players (in addition to the now well-known Iliasova to keep an eye on Kanter, born in '92, fresh of NBA selection for the Utah Jazz), and the usual Greece where the two new shots of Armani Jeans Milano, Fotsis and Bouroussis, will put on a show.
The ingredients for a great show are all there. A bitter taste will remain in the mouth for an NBA season that promised to be crackling and of the highest level. But these Europeans must be seen more as a welcome consolation than a stopgap. European basketball thrives on a history and tradition that make it unique and captivating. The trophy is, therefore, of absolute prestige: starting tomorrow Lithuania will be fighting for a place in history.
