HoopWatch

The effects of globalization are astounding and evident today. Years back, NBA-backed USA Basketball Team and NBA ball clubs alike have been dominant against other International teams. The Dream Team of 1992 breezed through the Olympics easily, winning by an average of 30-plus points. And USA has been Olympic champions when an NBA team was sent in 1996 and 2000. Also, in exhibition games, NBA ball clubs has easily beaten Euroleague teams, Chinese ball clubs, Asian selections, etc. An NBA team has always won the McDonald’s Championship year after year.

It was not until 2000 that USA has felt the narrowing gap between NBA talents and that of international players. France lost only by a single point in the 2000 Olympics, and Yugoslavia lost by less than double digits in the gold medal game of that same tournament. For the past three major world tournaments, USA was not even playing in the gold-medal match. And in this year’s NBA Europe Live Tour, two NBA teams bowed down to European ball clubs. This is a huge evidence that the rest of the world has caught up with the NBA.

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The Philadelphia 76ers lost to Winterthur FC Barcelona 99-104. And the Los Angeles Clippers were defeated big time by CSKA Moscow, Euroleague champions, 75-94. These are the sixth and seventh time that an NBA team was beaten by an international team in NBA history. Maccabi Tel Aviv has overwhelmed four NBA teams previously. They edged the Toronto Raptors last year 105-103. In 1984, they trounced both the Phoenix Suns and the New Jersey Nets. And they overpowered the Washington Bullets in 1978. In 1988, the Atlanta Hawks were routed by the Soviet National Team.

Philadelphia was miserable from the free-throw line. They made only 26 of 48 free throws. That’s a percentage below .500. They missed, a mind-boggling, 22 free throws. Allen Iverson only shot 7-of-13 from the 15th parallel line. They also had more than 20 turnovers. Samuel Dalembert exploded for 21 points and Chris Webber added 19. They, however, played poor defense allowing six Barcelona players to score in double figures, led by Spanish stand-out guard Juan Navarro with 18.

The Clippers on the other hand were simply outwitted by CSKA Moscow. They stared at a double-digit lead most of the game. Chris Kaman led Los Angeles with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Corey Maggette added 13. CSKA Moscow was led by former Duke star Trajan Langdon, who had 17 points. Tomas Van Den Spiegel had 16 points and former Washington Wizard David Vanterpool added 14.

The setbacks could well be attributed to the NBA players being unfit yet as they have just started preparing for the coming season, being jetlagged and unfamiliarity with the European teams. But one cannot take away the effect of globalization for these defeats.

Some players in European teams were US NCAA college stars, and some NBA players are former Euroleague stars. Most countries these days are encouraging their players to study in the USA. This gives their players the much needed exposure and familiarity on the American style of play and the American players as well. Such that when they face them, they are not in awe anymore. They are not intimidated.

Darius Songaila of Lithuania, Yuta Tabuse of Japan, Andrew Bogut of Australia, Emeka Okafor of Nigeria (parents), and Desagana Diop of Senegal have all studied in American schools (to name a few). Songaila studied at Wake Forest, Tabuse at Brigham-Young in Hawaii, Bogut at Utah, Okafor at Connecticut, and Diop at Oak Hill Academy HS.

On the other hand, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki was born and raised in Germany, Tony Parker of San Antonio in France, Spurs’ Manu Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto in Argentina, Houston’s Yao Ming in China, Memphis’ Pau Gasol in Spain, New Orleans’ Peja Stojakovic in Serbia and Montenegro and Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko grew up in Russia.

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There is a clear exchange of talents. Former Duke star Trajan Langdon is now playing for CSKA Moscow. Former Temple guard David Hawkins is leading Lottomatica Roma. These players clearly affected their teams and their leagues, contributing their own brand of basketball, and a different one at that. Tony Parker from France led San Antonio to two consecutive victories against Asvel Villeurbanne and Maccabi Tel Aviv, scoring 26 and 27 points respectively. David Hawkins led Roma with 22 points against the Phoenix Suns. Trajan Langdon led CSKA Moscow with 17 against the Clippers.

The world has gotten smaller with globalization. Countries not only trade goods nowadays but service and talents as well. It has made countries, firms and individuals competitive. With everyone fighting for survival and success, it is fitting that one must strive to be noticed and to be good at what he does. A lot of American players play as imports in European and Asian Leagues. These athletes are everywhere in the world. With the globalization of basketball, players have been improving, and the quality and style of play is changing. In time, not only Euroleague ball clubs will defeat NBA teams, but Asian ball clubs as well. (pics courtesy of yahoo.nba.com