Olympics 2024

[omahen]

Of course I always followed our national team and our best clubs in national and international competitions. But as I grew older, I became more and more frustrated by the obvious lack of direction. I totally understand it is not easy, but I don't accept it is impossible. So I gradually mentally checked out.

I admire Luka because I think he is a natural born winner. A quality which was imho so lacking in Slovenian basketball. I was really happy he was drafted by Dallas, because I thought they are a well run franchise, one of the best. Needless to say I was very dissapointed. Almost quit on everything, because I just can't stand incompetence. They look very good and proffessionally run franchise in the last two years, I hope they will be able to overcome the debacle of the first four seasons of Luka career.

[KillerLeft]

I despise when things are done at a low amateur level and unfortunately I have a very low opinion on how our basketball association works. It seems like a bunch of people are just there riding the Luka wave while contributing very little. Despite huge overall success of Luka (and additional income he provides for assocciation), I don't see anything in Slovenian basketball turning for the better. Please note that Luka was correct to recognize he will not become the all world player in Slovenia and instead left for Real when he was 13. 

National coach is no where near the quality Luka led team should have. It is clear he has zero authorithy over the stars (multiple as long as Dragic was still on the team, now it is singular). Every coach with an ounce of self respect would have stepped down after the debacle in last European championship. Players might have been too relaxed, but it is on him to get to them and get them to commit. If he can't, someone else shoud try or the players just don't have it. Obradovic, Serbias most respected coach and one of best (the best?) European coaches, stepped down when a similar thing happened in Serbia a decade or so ago. In any case, I can't stand it that we have a top 3 player in the world and we give him a third tear European coach. The success for Slovenia came when the coach was Kokoskov, who is in a whole other league compared to the current one.

This is great insight from our Slovenian expert, thanks so much! 

I bet it was super frustrating to feel that same way about his NBA team the first few years. Hopefully, this string of doing business halfway decently continues for the Mavs!

[KillerLeft]

Of course I always followed our national team and our best clubs in national and international competitions. But as I grew older, I became more and more frustrated by the obvious lack of direction. I totally understand it is not easy, but I don't accept it is impossible. So I gradually mentally checked out.

I admire Luka because I think he is a natural born winner. A quality which was imho so lacking in Slovenian basketball. I was really happy he was drafted by Dallas, because I thought they are a well run franchise, one of the best. Needless to say I was very dissapointed. Almost quit on everything, because I just can't stand incompetence. They look very good and proffessionally run franchise in the last two years, I hope they will be able to overcome the debacle of the first four seasons of Luka career.

Hah! Beat me to it!

[MAVS-SLO]

I despise when things are done at a low amateur level and unfortunately I have a very low opinion on how our basketball association works. It seems like a bunch of people are just there riding the Luka wave while contributing very little. Despite huge overall success of Luka (and additional income he provides for assocciation), I don't see anything in Slovenian basketball turning for the better. Please note that Luka was correct to recognize he will not become the all world player in Slovenia and instead left for Real when he was 13. 

National coach is no where near the quality Luka led team should have. It is clear he has zero authorithy over the stars (multiple as long as Dragic was still on the team, now it is singular). Every coach with an ounce of self respect would have stepped down after the debacle in last European championship. Players might have been too relaxed, but it is on him to get to them and get them to commit. If he can't, someone else shoud try or the players just don't have it. Obradovic, Serbias most respected coach and one of best (the best?) European coaches, stepped down when a similar thing happened in Serbia a decade or so ago. In any case, I can't stand it that we have a top 3 player in the world and we give him a third tear European coach. The success for Slovenia came when the coach was Kokoskov, who is in a whole other league compared to the current one.

Completly agree. 

Sekulic is nowhere close to the quality it should be. It is sad that we are wasting such an generational team to be leaded by Sekulic. 

I still can't believe all the names that were named as a potential coaches (from Itoudis, to Kokoskov come back) to the later KZS choose to extend Sekulic who can't be a head coach of an adriatic league club, but it's probably the cheapiest option.

Just compere this to a football situation right now in Slovenia. The team is nowhere close to the other teams, but Kek as a coach really make things to work and they were able to compete with much stronger teams.

[SleepingHero]

@Eurohoopsnet
Slovenia needs to beat New Zealand by 10 in order to advance to the semifinals after the Tall Blacks beat Croatia #FIBAOQT

[dirkfansince1998]

Luka Doncic today:

36 PTS 11 REB 10 AST

Slovenia is heading to the semi’s

https://x.com/NationMffl/status/1808904702462918952

At times it looked like he could barely get up and down the court. Jumpshot is broken. Still got the job done.
Was the first full game of Slovenia I watched this year. Supporting cast looks way worse compared to past tournaments. Baring a miracle the journey ends in the semi-finals against Greece but I would never bet against Luka in a single elimination game.

[SwisherPrice]

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/austr...for-paris/

One of the world's greatest perimeter defenders and Mavs fan favorite Mattise Thybulle didn't make Australia's final roster. I guess he just doesn't bring enough offense!

[Winter]

"Notably, the two biggest stars playing this week are in the same qualifying tournament. Assuming Greece defeats Egypt on Thursday, Doncic will face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Greeks in the semifinals on Saturday. One will go home from there. The other will likely face Croatia, who has already beaten Slovenia, for a chance to go to the Olympics."

Not looking particularly rosy for Olympic qualification.... but who can tell with Doncic.

[omahen]

It will take almost a perfect Doncic performance against Greece while probably being guarded by Giannis, as rest of team is miles worse than Greece one. All but two Greeks are playing in NBA or Euroleague, while Slovenia only has Doncic and the new center. No idea who will try to guard Giannis. We were already killed by Croatia bigs, who are several levels worse then him.

[omahen]

Looks like Luka will have enough rest before next season

[SleepingHero]

Slovenia down 33-47 at the half. Giannis with 11. Nick Calathes with 8 assists. Luka with a solid 10/4/5 but on some poor shooting. Josh Neebo is the only one scoring for Slovenia.

Barring a crazy comeback (which Luka can very well do), it seems like Slovenia will be headed home early.

Which kind of sucks, because while I want Luka to rest and be healthy for the upcoming season, I also sort of wanted a cinderella story where it was Luka vs. Team USA in the finals for the Olympics.

[Mavs2021]

Slovenia down 33-47 at the half. Giannis with 11. Nick Calathes with 8 assists. Luka with a solid 10/4/5 but on some poor shooting. Josh Neebo is the only one scoring for Slovenia.

Barring a crazy comeback (which Luka can very well do), it seems like Slovenia will be headed home early.

Which kind of sucks, because while I want Luka to rest and be healthy for the upcoming season, I also sort of wanted a cinderella story where it was Luka vs. Team USA in the finals for the Olympics.

Yeah that ain´t happening. You got Germany, Canada, Serbia, France, Australia there already, who will all be better. Getting there would be an accomplishment and it would require a healthy Luka. Let´s not forget Giannis is pretty sh*t at FIBA basketball and the talent level in Greece and Croatis are also not what they used to be.

[omahen]

Slovenia down 33-47 at the half. Giannis with 11. Nick Calathes with 8 assists. Luka with a solid 10/4/5 but on some poor shooting. Josh Neebo is the only one scoring for Slovenia.

Barring a crazy comeback (which Luka can very well do), it seems like Slovenia will be headed home early.

Which kind of sucks, because while I want Luka to rest and be healthy for the upcoming season, I also sort of wanted a cinderella story where it was Luka vs. Team USA in the finals for the Olympics.

Luka shooting is ok this game (3-7), but he has 6 TO. I don't watch only follow the box-score on the FIBA site. Is it possible Slovenia went -10 in 90 seconds Luka didn't play?

[SleepingHero]

Luka shooting is ok this game (3-7), but he has 6 TO. I don't watch only follow the box-score on the FIBA site. Is it possible Slovenia went -10 in 90 seconds Luka didn't play?

I'm sailing the high seas but I turned off the game at this point. Luka really picked up his shooting the 2nd half and has 21 going in the 4th on 7/13 shooting, but Slovenia is just outgunned. Its a 1 man show against Greece and that's too tall an order.

The turnovers in the 1st half were bad, but also against a swarming defense, Luka had to do something to get his guys in rhythm so he tried risky looks.

[SleepingHero]

Slovenia falls to Greece. Luka checks out with a statline of 21/7/5 with 10 TO.

Luka and Josh Neebo combined for 15/23 from the field, the rest of the team shot 8/31.

With that Luka and Slovenia do not make the Olympics. Bittersweet moment for me. Happy Luka will have essentially an entire offseason of rest, but a bit sad we won't see Luka tear it up on the international stage

[Mavs2021]

Boss performance by Ayton 24/15 +20 to lead the Bahamas to the final against Spain. Ayton, Hield and Gordon might put up a fight, but Spain at home.

[Chicagojk]

Man, France is turning into a powerhouse. Their basketball team is set up for a long run. Their soccer team is really good. Are they going to do well in the Olympics sports too?

[dirkfansince1998]

Man, France is turning into a powerhouse.  Their basketball team is set up for a long run.  Their soccer team is really good.  Are they going to do well in the Olympics sports too?

Gobert/Wemby frountcourt in FIBA is like a cheat code. Smaller court. No illegal defense in the paint. Germany with more or less the same roster that won the world cup last year was completly outmatched.

[RGP1981]

Did Luka have 11 turnovers in the game against Greece?

His bumbums looked 1.5 times larger than anyone else on the court. #dropItLikeItsHot

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Three-time Gold Medalist Kevin Durant sidelined for start of Team USA training camp due to a strained calf – developing story at @​TheAthletic: