http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1 Íîâîńňíŕ˙ ëĺíňŕ îôčöčŕëüíîăî âĺá-ńŕéňŕ Ěóćńęîăî áŕńęĺňáîëüíîăî ęëóáŕ Äčíŕěî http://www.dynamobasket.com/pix/50x90.gifhttp://www.dynamobasket.com 28 Nov 2006 17:17:23 +0300 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=318 Olympiacs Pireus was European champion-by the with, with today our  Dusan Ivkovic on the bench 1997 in Rome-Olympiacos was finalist 1994 in Tel Aviv and Zaragoza 1995 but also the famous  team from Pireus know very well and bad sports days in last years. On the season 2004/05 Olympiacos finished  7th in group A wit poor balance 4-10 and -127 points diference. Last season was better, after 7-7 in group B Olympiacos  played “Top 16” and after 4-2 cross to quarter finals where lost against Maccabi by 2-1 after three very close game. Result no was bad, but the fact that next “Final Four” will be in Athens make ambitions for this season biggest. From last year stay only 6 players: Barlos, Papamakarios, Scortsanitis, Zizic, Charisis and Vasilopoulos. The list of new-coming players its larg: Scoonie Penn, Henry Domercant, Alex Acker, Jerry McNamara, our “old friend” from Charleroi Ryan Stack (ex Aris), Gianis Bouroussis and Arvydas Macijauskas who unfortunately will miss big part of the season for serious ligaments injury. On his place Olympicaos signed very experience Damir Mulaomerovic.But, Olympiacos also signed one  star  for the bench: Pini Gershon. The Israeli coach, two times Euroleague champion with Maccabi Tel Aviv, one time winner of   FIBA Suproleague ,  first winner of prize with the name “Aleksandar Gomelsky” for Euroleague “Coach of the Year” (2005) its right man for new big project. The “Final Four” will be in “OAKA”, the Gym where play “big local enemy”  Panathinaikos, but this fact its motivation plus for Olympiacos.Team from Pireus started very well in Euroleague winning 4 first games, but last week lost his first match after incredible last 10 minutes of Efes Pilsen  who scored 39 points including 10 three-points shoot !  On last Sunday, without his fantastic and fanatic public (the club is banish by Greek League for some incidents against Panathinaikos)  Olympiacos lost at home against Aris, but noting its changed: Olympiacos still strong, still one of the favorites in our group and his Gym “Friends and Peace” still “castle” for any  guest-team. To win in  hot court in Pireus its dream for all clubs.Shooting guard Alex Acker, ex-Detroit Pistons, its second player in Euroleague following ranking (22,40, behind Juan Carlos Navarro with 24, 40), its fourth scorer  (17,8). After 5 round Olympiacos its most efficacy team with 452 points (90,4 points per game), also its first in rebounds (205 or  incredible 41 rebounds per match !). His players accumulated total  “ranking”  511, only behind Barcelona (533). Pireus will be big test for Dynamo. 2006-11-28 00:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=317 Today Dynamo Moscow won the tough road game vs Khimki with 94:89 score. The game was tough and unpredictable till the last seconds.Both teams were playing at a fast speed, and Dynamo was leading 44:40 after the halftime.  Guests controlled the game till the fourth quarter when Khimki tied the score and improved +5. Fotsis nailed the trey (72:74), later Hansen scored free-throws (75:76), the last step Popovic made to go forward - 77:76. Last two minutes to play Pozzecco added 2 points from the foul-line and the score is equal. Dynamo made the great effort to win, and Khimki missed the last shot. Dynamo Moscow Head Coach Dusan Ivkovic: - It was very good game. My team deserved this victory. Both teams played good basketball of the highest level, with a good rhythm, speed and shots. Its the game of the Euroleague level. Tonight Dynamo showed its game and its character - Khimki is a very strong rival.BC Khimki Head Coach Sergay Elevich:- I want to congratulate Dynamo with a good game and victory. Dynamo plyers played great in the key moments when we turned the game and were making a run. My players didn't play so as we prepared before this game, so it's my mistake, I lost this game, not my team. 2006-11-26 00:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=316 During the game against Le Mans Dynamo Moscow  heaved three extra-supporters ! Lasaros Papadopoulos was on the bench, Miroslav Raicevic just behind while Sergey Romanov was in third row. Our three players heaved bad luck to be seriously injured  on the beginning of the season and until now they didn’t help so match to his team-mates….Romanov injured his ligaments during the Memorial tournament “Aleksander Gomelsky” in Ukraine and he was operated. Second was Miroslav Raicevic, on the second game in Russian Super-league he fill the paint in his  left knee and after couple weeks of  conservative therapy  finally was necessary arthroscopy…The last was Lasaraos Papadopoulos, he played two first Euroleague games but after  the match in Vitoria he fill paint in his  foot. -Always it’s most difficult to watch the game than play. When you are on the court you have impression  that you can help, but when you are on the tribune you can do nothing- said all three players.-Every day I fill better and better, I was operated 45 day ago and all my rehabilitation is going on right way. I hope that I will help to the team on the spring-say Romanov.Coach Dusan Ivkovic commented on the pres conference after the match against Le Mans that “Papadopoulos and Raicevic can be back in 3 weeks”, but Papadopoulos its most optimistic:-I think that I be back earliest. I can’t say exactly when, but after therapy I fill so match better-say Lasaros.Miroslav Raicevic it also very close to back on the court. He is working individually very hard with the coach Nenad Trajkovic.-Finally, I can see the light on the end of the tunnel…Now I know that I be back very soon, but also I know that my form not be like before injury. But, I have patients and I wont to say thanks to everybody in the club for support witch I received during this period. I will try  to back this confidence on the court. 2006-11-25 00:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=315 After the game Dynamo Moscow  - Le Mans both coaches commented on the game. Dynamo Moscow Head Coach Dusan Ivkovic:- This game was very important because it was necessary to react to our game against Prokom. We played better against Dynamo Moscow Region on Sunday and continued with the progress here. Le Mans plays at a fast speed, it has 20 assists every game. It was important to score easy baskets in the beginning and establish a good rhythm. Our defense in the first half was great but in the third quarter we lost some energy, played bad offense and lost our speed: that's why we lost the period by 10 points. After that it became necessary to play with two point guards, Popovic and Gill simultaneously. We have a lot of problems with injuries but in a very short period of time we adapted. We transformed our game to a quick transition offense, but we are still waiting for Papadopoulos and Raicevic to return. They are very close. We hope to have them back in two or three weeks.Le Mans Head Coach Vincent Collet:- I think Dynamo played a good game despite missing Papadopoulos and Raicevic to injuries. For us, of course, it was not that good, especially in the first half. We were not ready for this game. Anyway, despite the fact that they beat us by 17 points, I think we had a chance to play better if we would have started more aggressively. There were different reasons for that bad game - if we do not mention the third period, but even in that period we made a lot of mistakes. If you want to win in Moscow you have to lessen the number of turnovers. Dynamo is the better team, and that's why it won, but this was our worst game in the Euroleague so far. To win on this level you have to give 100 percent. That was not the case for us tonight. 2006-11-23 00:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=314 Dynamo Moscow broke part of a Group A tie in positive fashion before its home fans by downing Le Mans by a solid 74-57 on Wednesday thanks to stellar defense. Dynamo improved to 3-2 with the result, while dropping Le Mans a victory behind at 2-3. After holding Le Mans to 7 points in the second quarter, Dynamo was leading by a comfortable 40-23 at the break, but in the third quarter, Le Mans woke up used consecutive three-pointers by Nicolas Batum to pull within 47-43. Antonis Fotsis brought down the house with a nine-meter triple on the third-quarter buzzer, however, and Dynamo never looked back as Eddie Gill helped guard a big margin the rest of the way. Fotsis was Dynamo's best scorer with 17 points. Dmitry Domani added 16 and Gill posted 10 of his 15 points in the last quarter. For Le Mans, Kenny Gregory led the way with 12 points, Tyson Wheeler had 11 and Eric Campbell 10 plus 11 rebounds. After Le Mans center Sandro Nicevic was called for an offensive foul to start the game, a sign of problems to come for the guests, Travis Hansen opened fire from the arc for Dynamo. Nicevic replied with a basket before Domani drove to find a three-point basket-plus-free throw. At the other end, Dynamo's defense pushed hard to keep Le Mans from getting started, and the difference escalated to 10-4 when Antonis Fotsis sank free throws. Le Mans had serious problems scoring until Kenny Gregory finally saw the rim with a layup. That seemed to uncork Le Mans. Tyson Wheeler stole and sent Yannick Bokolo for a dunk, then rose for a triple of his own to make it 15-13 in minute 8. Hansen kept Dynamo ahead, but Gregory soon landed a new bomb from downtown to tie the score, 16-16. Fotsis made up for a previous mistake by striking with a triple that left Dynamo in front 19-16 after 10 minutes. Eddie Gill opened the second quarter with Dynamo's third triple, after which the defense of the hosts kept Le Mans quiet until the athleticism of Bokolo earned him a layup. Dynamo looked for static attacks now as Yuri Vasilyev hit a five-meter jumper for a 24-18 score. The scoring run of the hosts continued with a Sergei Monya triple off the backboard. By the time Nicevic was called for a technical foul, his third, the lead was 30-19 on a free throw by Domani. Far from surrendering, Le Mans stayed aggressive as Nicolas Batum had a three-point play, but on defense, the visitors let Dynamo find easy baskets as Fotsis slammed to make it 34-23. Fotsis added 4 more points in a 6-0 finish to the half that put Dynamo way ahead, 40-23. Making his first appearance of the seasaon, Le Mans big man Alain Koffi drove through Dynamo's defense for a layup to start the second half. Dynamo was less active than in the second quarter, but maintainted a big lead, 40-25, after 23 minutes. The Le Mans defense was now keeping Dynamo quiet as Campbell added a three-point play for the visitors. Andrei Trushkin finally broke the ice for Dynamo with free throws in the 24th minute, but Gregory and Koffi scored again for Le Mans to make it 42-31. Vasilyev and Monya combined then for 5 points to re-open a big lead, 47-33. Le Mans was not done, however. Gregory flew over Vasilyev for a basket-plus-free throw and Wheeler soon blasted for 3 points on one shot to make it 47-40. After a Dynamo timeout, Wheeler was at it again, striking from the arc to end a 0-10 run with Le Mans as close as 47-43. Hansen rescued Dynamo with a basket and then Fotsis had the last word from deep, beating the buzzer with a nine-meter triple that gave new life to Dynamo after three quarters, 52-45. Domani and Gill scored easy baskets for Dynamo to start the fourth quarter, restoring a 58-45 advantge and destroying much of what Le Mans had accomplished earlier. Koffi recovered a loose ball to score his team's first points of the final quarter, but Fotsis squashed any hopes of the visitors with a new triple that made it a 14-point game, 61-47. NIcevic finally woke up for Le Mans with 3 straight baskets, but Gill replied with 2 three-pointers. As nobody else on Le Mans was ready to take over on offense, Dynamo was soon flirted with a 20-point advantage, getting as close as 72-53 on Bojan Popovic's free throw. Dynamos's defense didn't relax as Gill had a steal and free throws to finish another Dynamo home win. 2006-11-22 00:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=312 Vincent Collet was good player, he played  11 years in French first division (Asvel 1987-1990, Le Mans 1990-1994, Le Havre 1994-1998), couple times he was close to French national team but officially didn’t make debut. His position was “2” and “1”. After the end of the carrier he was an assistant coach in Le Mans for two years (1998-2000) and from 2000 he is “big chief”. In his first season he was nominated “Coach of the Year” and he repeated title in 2004 and 2006. Also, he was an assistant coach in the national team during the European Championship in Sweden 2003 and in this interview for our web-site he recognized that in the future he is  “interested to be the coach of the national team”, but right now we are talking about Le Mans, Euroleague and match against Dynamo. - How do you feel after 2-2 in 4 first Euroleague’s  round?-Generally, I am satisfied. We won against Climamio and Efes Pilsen, the second match away, but I am very sorry for two games which we lost, especially against Olympiacos last week. In the middle of third part we lead by 14 points but we permitted to the Greek team to back on the game in only few minutes… It was the classic example of inexperience.- You  are, like Dynamo, debutant in Euroleague. With which ambitions did you start in this competition?- On the beginning our first wish was to play good basket and leave good impression. Now, after 4 games and first experience, I must to recognize that our ambitions are going up. Now our target  is “Top 16”.-How do you see the situation in our group?-The same like after the draw. Two teams, Olympiacos and Tau, are great favorite. On the second lever I see Efes Pilsen and Dynamo. Our target is to be better than another three teams in our group and I believe that this is possible.- What do you expect in Moscow?-Very hard game. We played there last season and we were very close to win. We will try now again. I know that Dynamo has problems with injured players, but Vasilyev and Truskin are good players and with help of Hansen, Fotsis, Domani, Popovic, Monia and rest of the players Dynamo is very strong team. They have very large bench, something very important for situations like this, when the coach has not all players. Any way, I expect hard and tough game.- What is your situation with your roster?- We also have not complete roster, shooting guard Nebojsa Bogavac is still out of the team for muscular injury while Alain Koffi will play his first season game after 4 month stops for injury. His come-back was the reason to give free hands to Mate Skelin. His contract was temporary, he played well, but Koffi is back and we gave to Mate opportunity to sign with Akademik Lukoil from Sofia. 2006-11-21 15:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=305 If one team finish the regular league on 5th position, no so match person witch will betting  that this team will be champion after playoff, but sometime happened…The last example its Le Mans, French champion and fifth opponent of Dynamo Moscow in Euroleague. Last season Le Mans was fifth in regular French league, but in playoff was better than Bourge (2-1) in preliminary round, in quarter-final win against Asvel Villeurbane by 2-0, in semi-final also was 2-0 against Pau Orthez while  in final, in one game played in Paris, last victim was Nancy (93-88). Las season Le Mans also win French “Week of  Aces” (French League Cup) and completed one of the best season in his history.Regarding last season, le Mans changed  couple players, but 7 champions still there and, of course, also coach  Vincent Collet (40), ex-player  of Asvel (88-90(Le  Mans 90-94 and Le Havre 94-98). Two American guards, Kenny Gregory (28, 1,96) and Eric Campbell (29, 1,95) still playing in Le Mans and  after 4 round both are between  best Euroleague players in overall index ranking! Campbell is 10th with index 19,75, Gregory 11th with 18,75.  From the last season stay also forwards Koffi Alain and Aaron Cel, playmakers Pape Philippe Amagou and Yanick Bokolo and shooting-guard Nicolas Batum.  Officially, Croat center Sandro Nicevic is “new”, but he played in Le Mans before and now he is “back to home”. Really new one is Montenegrian shooting guard Nebojsa Bogavac who come from Breogan Lugo, Spain, forward Frederick Adjiwanou (Reims) and American playmaker Tyson Wheeler (from Gravelines). Bogavac now has an injury and will not come to Moscow. Croatian center Mate Skelin resigned the two-month contract with the club and landed in Academic Lukoil Bulgaria – he was playing till the time Alain Koffi recoveres after the injury. Now Koffi is in a good shape and is going to play his first game in the season against Dynamo Moscow. After 4 rounds Le Mans its 2-2. At home French team beat Climamio 82-71 and lost in last round, but after big fight, against Olympiacos 81-88 and win Prokom 69-67 and Efes Pilsen in Istanbul 64-53. In French championships Le Mans started very bad, but now, after couple victory, situation is better, but with 5-6 in 11 round Le Mans it’s right now out of playoff, but no dubs that will be there on the end of regular season. Last time Le Mans show that doesn’t mater from witch position will start…On last round Le Mans wins against ex-champion Strasbourg by 63-55 with “American twins” Gregory-Campbell again  in decisive roll.Le Mans was French champion 4 times (1978, 1979, 1982 and 2006), French Cup won two times (1964, 2004) and one time (2006) win “Week of the Aces”. His first “double” arrived last season and now French club show to everybody that is one very dangerous team. The match in Moscow will be very interesting fight between two very ambitious Euroleague debutants. 2006-11-21 00:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=306 Before the Euroleague game vs Le Mans Dynamo Moscow Head Coach Dusan Ivkovic and our forward Yury Vasilyev shared their opinions about the upcoming game. Dynamo Moscow Head Coach Dusan Ivkovic:-After injuries of  some of our key players, we lost our play, especially in offenensive aspect. On this concept we are the worst team in Euroleague and we must react. It's not easy because we must to find another way, so we work very hard and I am optimist. In our last game in Russian League against Dynamo Moscow Region we showed some positive things and I hope that we'll continue in this way. We are still waiting for return of Papadopoulos and Raicevic. For the moment they will be two supporters more, but their presence close to the bench is also important for the team.Le Mans is a very agressive team. We played last year in ULEB Cup against Le Mans two times and both games were very tough. They  changed a little in the roster of the team. Le Mans won two games in Euroleague, one on  the road, and also played very well against Prokom and Olympiacos. No dubs, tomorrow it'll be very hard game for both teams.Dynamo Moscow forward Yury Vasilev:-After our bad game in Gdans last week we have an obligation to play better and show that Prokom was just one bad day. In Euroleague there are no bad teams, no easy games. Last season in the ULEB Cup we lost to Le Mans and won in Moscow, now I hope that we can repeat our victory tomorrow. Our victory against Dynamo Moscow Region was very important for us, especially in the mental way. After losing a game, there is no better therapy than victory. Only what can be better - is two victory in a row and we'll try to do exactly this. 2006-11-21 00:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=307 Today Dynamo Moscow won by 1 point in the tough game vs Dynamo Moscow region in the Russian League - 79:78.The game was equal, regardless of Dynamo missing injured Papadopoulos and Raicevic Dynamo Moscow came out and won the game. The last and the key throw made Travis Hansen - he was the best player of the game, he nailed 5 three-pointers! Dynamo Moscow Head Coach Dusan Ivkovic:- It was a tough game and we deserved this victory. It was difficult to play without our big men - Papadopoulos and Raicevic - but Russian young players Trushkin and Vasilyev did a great job. We missed 27 points in the first quarter, played bad defense - it's impermissible for us! But we improved in the second and third quarters, making better in the offense. Payed good against zone. Hansen was great, he scored 5 treys!We play the Euroleague game vs Le Mans on Wednesday, so there is no time for rest and from tomorrow we start our preparation for this game. Dynamo Moscow region Head Coach Rutenis Paulauskas:- It's more painful to lose one point than to lose 20 points in the game! But generally I'm satisfied with the game of my team in the first quartre, but in the second we made some serious mistakes in defense and let our rival to made some attacks in the row and shot the ball. We failed in the last attack, otherwise we could win the game, but Hansen made the throw and brought the victory to his team.We lacked some wise decisions of our playmakers in the kast seconds... 2006-11-19 00:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=304 Prokom Trefl outlasted Dynamo Moscow 60-49 for a crucial Group A win on Thursday night in Sopot, Poland. Prokom, which led 26-24 at the end of a low-scoring first half, improved to 2-2, the same record Dynamo has after the loss. The teams are now tied with Le Mans and Efes Pilsen for third place in the group. Jasmin Hukic led Prokom with 11 points, while Huseyin Besok, who came up big in the second half, finished with 10. Dynamo's Bojan Popovic led all scorers with 14. Prokom dominated inside and won the battle of the boards 43-32, but shot only 13-of-23 (56.5%) from the line. On the other end, Dynamo, which was without injured center Lazaros Papadopoulos, had trouble on the perimeter, making just 2-of-16 (12.5%) three pointers. Both teams struggled on offense at the start of the game, before Hukic finally opened the scoring for Prokom. Popovic pushed Dynamo ahead for the first time with a layup and a free throw on the next possession. Christian Dalmau responded with a triple, but the next few minutes belonged to the visitors. Popovic was the main factor in a 0-7 run, which gave Dynamo the biggest lead in the first half 5-10. However Dynamo lost the ball twice on the break and Prokom found success on the perimeter, as Donatas Slanina and Hukic scored 5 in a row for a 13-12 lead. Andrei Trushkin answered with a basket inside before Adam Wojcik closed the period with a free throw to tie the score at 14-14. Filip Dylewicz opened the second period with easy points on the break, but Popovic was still on fire on the other side. Yuri Vasilyev threw down a monster dunk, but Wojcik responded with a hook for a 19-18 advantage. Rashid Atkins and Sergey Monia traded bombs from a downtown, but those were the last baskets for a few minutes as both teams played tough defense. Prokom tried to force the game inside and used its advantage on the boards. The hosts drew some fouls and went to the line, but missed its free throws. Dynamo woke up with Eddie Gill finding Trushkin for easy points inside. Dimitri Domani increased the lead to 22-24 from the line before Prokom finally found a way to the basket. On the last possession of the half, Jeff Nordgaard stole the ball and raced in for a layup to give the hosts a 26-24 at the break. The second half started with Huseyin Besok dominating inside and Atkins running the show. Prokom rode those two to a 13-2 run, which gave them a 39-26 lead. Hukic made another triple during the run, while Hamilton scored all of his 7 points in the period. The Polish champions played much faster and built the advantage on easy points. Moscow still didn't have an answer for Prokom's tough defense and could only score from the line. Popovic made four consecutive free throws, but it wasn't enough as Prokom held on to a 44-30 lead following Tomas Masiulis's free throws. Trushkin took an offensive rebound and made a dunk to end the period with Prokom leading 44-34. Travis Hansen got things going for Dynamo with a three-point play and Gill added a bomb from a downtown to get within 4, but Besok answered inside again. Prokom had a scare when Hamilton picked up his fifth foul midway through the period, but remained in control. The visitors tried to close the gap with outside shots, but to no avail. Popovic finally made a three-point play and cut the gap to 49-45, but Besok quickly did the same on the other side. Then Dalmau's seven-meter triple gave Prokom another double-digit advantage with 90 seconds remaining and it was clear that home fans could celebrate for the second time this season. Slanina made a three-pointer to end the game with Prokom on top 60-49. Dynamo Moscow Head Coach Duisan Ivkovic:- It was not a game played on a Euroleague level. I know that Prokom could be playing under pressure: they had to win the match. However, I cannot understand my team. I cannot explain to myself what we presented today. We started well, but then we lost too many easy points. Hukic scored a triple and Prokom made some three-point plays. In the first half we had 11 turnovers and 11 missed shots. This shows how we played. Prokom was better. No doubt about it.Prokom Trefl Head Coach Evgeniusz Kijewski:- It was a difficult game from a psychological point of view. We had to win it. The result is good, but we did not play well. I'm satisfied with our defense. We would be happy if we played such defense each week. Our first goal was to stop Hansen and Fotsis, who are great shooters, and we could not leave them wide open outside. They made all their attempts under pressure. One of the goals was to win on the boards and also we wanted to get easy points after fastbreaks. Thanks to fastbreaks, we took an advantage. 2006-11-16 00:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=302 -Coach Kijewski, how you see the game against Dynamo?-No dubs, will  be very hard game for us. Dynamo is very strong team and  I am sure that will play “Top 16”.-Thanks… And Prokom ?-My big wish is that Prokom and Dynamo go together to second fase. We are played “Top 16” in our first Euroleague season and was great experience. I like to repeat…-Did you see Dynamo this season?-Yes, I watched two last games, against Tau in Vitoria and Climamio in Moscow…- And?-Strong team, no dubs. Dynamo played for the first time in Euroleague, but it doesn’t  matter. If you are strong and if you working well, no problems.- Where Dynamo is must strongest ?-Depend if Papadopoulos will play or not…But in any way, Dynamo has great players. I think that for us the most dangerous can be swingman Travis Hansen, he is great 3-points shooter. Also the playmaker Bojan Popovic improw a lot while Fotsis is one of the best European players on position “4”.-And your team ?-We played bad last game in Athens, specially in defense, and we must to do better against Dynamo. For each team who want to be in “Top 16” its obligation to win in his own court, but I know that tomorrow’s game will be very hard for us.- But you have advantage of home court and your fans?-Yes, this is true and this is reason to be optimist, but the results always depend haw player wil do his job or  haw opponent player will permit to make his job.-Do you have any problem with injury players?-Yes, the guard Tomas  Pacesas its injury and he didn’t play against Dynamo.- Which teams are favorite in our group ?-Until now, Olympiacos played better and still favorite number one. The Tau is second and Dynamo third. This is reality, I don’t say this because I talk for the web-site of Dynamo Moscow ! 2006-11-15 00:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=303 In the  span of just 14 months, he has been European champ, ULEB Cup title winner andWorld Championships silver medallist. Now, one of the great talents of European basketball, Antonis Fotsis of Dynamo Moscow, is leading a new Euroleague club to  agreat start already. Fotsis ranks fourth in scoring and eighth in performance  rankingafter three regular season games, of which Dynamo has won two. At just  25 years old,he has already accomplished a lot, but Fotsis is ready for more.  And as he says inthis Euroleague.net interview, one of the important things  that Fotsis has learned isthat winning can become contagious. "Looking at the  last year, I'd have to say theseare the best  moments of  my career  until now," Fotsis  said in a joint interview forEuroleague.net and Dynamo's official  website. "But I  hope that in the future therecan  be more results like these -  and even better."  This  has to be the height of your career so far, right? How do you rank your achievements of the last year? "Yes,  looking at the  last year, I'd have to say these are the best  moments of  mycareer  until now, but I hope that in the future there can  be more results like these-  and even better. It's  very difficult to make same kind of list and say, 'This ismost important.' Each  title is special in its own way. For example, in Belgrade my[national team]  generation won its very first title and brought the EuropeanChampionship back  to Greece after 18 years. In Charleroi, I won a title with my newclub Dynamo in  my first season in Moscow and we won the right to play in theEuroleague. In  Japan, we beat Team USA and we were the second-best team in the world.” Greek  basketball came out of crisis with this national team. What  changed? “I don’t  know exactly, but something changed in a very positive way. I think thatthe  most important work was done with young players. My generation is now at its peak. We have been very close friends for many years. We have excellent team  ambitionand we've learned how to win. In short, we are a  team.” One of  your best friends is Lazaros Papadopoulos, your teammate in Dynamo. Did his presence play a factor in your decision to come to Moscow? “Yes, of  course. I don’t want to say that he was the main reason, but I called him,I  asked him for some details and when he told me that Dynamo is very serious and ambitious club, I signed.” How do you  feel in Moscow ? “I am  happy. Everything that Lazaros told me was true. The club is working veryhard.  Now in our new gym we have excellent conditions to work in. Now it depends onus  to return their investment with good results.” What do  you like in Moscow? “Many  things... Today, Moscow is one of the biggest centers in the world and notonly  in the political sense. I like the museums, the churches, theaters, the main streets. I've been to the Bolshoi Theater a couple of times and I enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I don't have so much time for these kind of  activities.” And what  you don’t like about Russian capital? “The first  thing is the traffic. I'll never be angry again about the traffic inAthens  after seeing the situation here. Also the weather, but only sometimes. It canbe  very cold, but also spring and summer can be very nice.” When  you decided to go to the NBA, did you have some target? "Maybe it's better to say that I had some challenge. The NBA is dream for all players. I had the opportunity and I accepted…" Did you make a mistake ? You were only 20.  Maybe that was too  early? "Maybe, but when you have this kind of opportunity, you must to take a  decision. Idecided to go and I don’t think that I made a mistake. OK, I  don’ t played so much inMemphis, but I learned a lot. I worked very hard  at the practices, I played againstthe best players in the world and my  experience was positive." Would you try again? "I don’t know, but I believe in 'Never say never'. Who knows what can  happentomorrow? Let me just say that this page is not closed. But right now I  am onlythinking about Dynamo and our three competitions." Back to  basketball. What can Dynamo fans expect this season? “We will  fight in all three competitions and we will give our maximum. Now we havesome  problems with injuries, but I hope that this situation will be resolved very soon. Generally, I don’t like to set goals for the season. I prefer to go step  bystep, game by game. For me, the most important game always the next  one.” You and  Lazaros played together at Panathinaikos. In a few weeks you will play with Dynamo in Piraeus against Olympiacos. How will you feel? “The games  between 'Pao' and Olympiacos are something special and can't be comparedwith  another game. I played in Piraeus with Real Madrid, but it's very different. Local derbies have some special color. By the way, Olympiacos have a very strong  teamand I think that the Reds are the favorite in our  group.” And what  about Dynamo's Euroleague chances? “We've  started well. For a new team to go 2-1 after three games is not bad. I amsure  that we will reach the Top 16, but like I say, I prefer go step by step and now the most important game is against Prokom.” Talking about colors, you always were a "green" (the color of  Panathinaikos). "Yes, I was fan of Panathinaikos, but I never was crazy." Did you play other sports when you were kid? Yes. I swam, I did mostly short distances, 50 or 100 meters. Also, I liked  ping-pongand today I try to play when I find a table." Did you have a partner for ping-pong at Dynamo? "Unfortunately, no." What was the key reason that you chose basketball in the end? "Probably family tradition. My father was player and also a coach." Talking about coaches, you have had many teachers over the course of your  career atPanathinaikos, Memphis, Real Madrid and Dynamo. Can you tell us what  you learned and who was the most important in your career? "I've learned something from each of my coaches. If you listen, you always  can learnc something."  If  somebody ask you how is Antonis Fotsis is as a player, what would you tell  them?“It's  not is easy talk about yourself. But, if you insist, I think that my strengthsare shooting, running the fast break and rebounding. I can improve my defense  and myone-on-one game and many another things. I feel that I'm a team player  and I am veryhappy when my play helps my team win. I hope that will happen many  more times thisseason.” 2006-11-15 00:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=301 With only 11 years age the kids are going in 4th class of  basic school , but in the world of the sport its possible to cross from “basic school to university”. This is exactly what make Prokom Trefl Sopot, the third opponent of Dynamo in Euroleague.The club was founded  in 1995 and started from Polish Third division!. One year later they are played Second division and  on the season 1997/98 they make his debut in Polish First division! In his first  stage in elite of Polish basketball, Prokom finished on 11th position, next year was 9, and 1999/2000 again 11 but arrived first trophy: Polish Cup ! Thanks to this results Prokom make his euro-debut on the season 2000/01 playing Korac Cup and they win second Polish Cup. Next year Prokom repeated  Korac Cup.The biggest international success arrived on the season 2002/03 when Prokom played FIBA Cup  and lost final game in “Final Four” tournament played in Thessalonice (Greece) against Aris by 1 point. Curiously, the wining points  for the local team, in last second, scored….Mirioslav Raicevic, today player of Dynamo. Unfortunately, Raicevic still injury and he will miss the game, but in his memory this shoot has special place. The first experience in ULEB family was ULEB Cup 2003/04 when Prokom was eliminated  in eight-finals by Hapoel Jerusalem, future winner of competition.The first Polish title arrived on the season 2003/04 and in two next seasons Prokom make “three-peat”, win three titles in the row and also third Polish Cup in 2006. No dubs, with 6 national titles and one euro-final in only 11 years, Prokom Trefl Sopot its most successful  team in last decade and now its turn for some good results in Euroleague.Prokom played Top 16 on the season 2004/05 and now, like minimum, want to repeat. For this target the club make big effort and signed 4 excellent new players: - American playmaker Justin Hamilton, ACB champion with Real Madrid two years ago and starting point-guardsof Montepaschi Siena last season, - Bosnian forward Jasmin Hukic who spent last season in Russian Ural Great from Perm, - Lithuanian shooting guard Donatas Slanina  arrived from Caja San Fernandno (Sevilla, Spain)- Turkish center Husseyn Besok change French champion Le Mans for polish best team, Prokom. After couple difficult years for injuries, Besok played great season in ULEB Cup and French league and for sure will be very important player in all systems of coach Eugeniusz Kijewski.Regarding last season, in the club stay guards   Rashid Atkins (USA), Tomas Pacesas ( Lituania), Christian Dalmau (Puertorico) , local polish stars like forwards Adam Wojcik and Filip Dylewicz, American center Jeff Nordaard, lituanian forward Tomas Masiulis and  denish center Michael Andersen.-Our club is completely new, we are started from zero and we are very satisfied with our results, specially  in last couple years-say for our web-site Mr. Jacek Jakubowski, general manager of the club.In Polish league Prokom play in his small Gym (2.000) in Sopot, for Euroleague’s games  the club using “Olivia Arena” in Gdansk with capacity for 5.000 spectators, minimum permitted by Euroleague.-The logical consequence of our progress on the all level its new Arena witch will be ended in two years. His location its between Sopot and Gdans and will be for 15.000 peoples-say Mr. Jakubovski.The latest success of Prokom coinciding with mandate of Mr. Kazmiers Wierzbicki, last three years president of Prokom, but he was involved in all project from beginning.Of course, its imposible to bild good team without good coach and Prokom fined  right man in  Eugenisuz Kijewski, ex-excellent polish international player (best scorer in Polish league 84/85, 85/86 and 86/87) . He was coach of Polish national team from 1993-1998, coached also Wloclawek in the season 1998/99 but his biggest job started in February 2000 when he took Prokom Trefel Sopot.If somebody asks why our opponent has “three names”, the answer its simple: Sopot it’s town, Prokom and Trefl are the sponsors. Prokom-  it’s software company, Prokom is the factory for the children’s games, specially “puzzle”. 2006-11-14 00:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=300 He is, no dubs, on the best time on his great basketball carrier. In little more than last 12 month he win with Greek national team European Championship in Belgrade (September 2005), in April 2006 with Dynamo Moscow he was Champion of ULEB Cup , in September 2006 in World Championship his native Greece was finalist and, finally, in October he back in Euroleague. In three first game he was the best player of Dynamo and in overall ranking for MVP of the first faze he is, for the moment, on 8th position with index 20, 67. Of course, we talk about Antonis Fotsis, 25-years old forward of our club.-Yes, I am agree that I am , looking year behind,  in the best moment of my carrier until now, but I  hope that in the future results can be like last year and including better-say Fotsis in one large interview for our web-site.Did you have some preference regarding this titles from the last season ?-No, it’s very difficult to make same kind of order and say “This is most important”. Each title has something specially. For example, in Belgrade my generation win very first title and back to Greece European title 18 years later. In Charleroi I win title with my new club Dynamo in my first season in Moscow and we win also right to play Euroleague. In Japan we are win USA and we are the second team on the world… Talking about Greek national team, what is the secret? Then years behind basketball in Greece was in crises, without money, without public…What happened ?-I don’t know exactly, but something changes in very positive way. I think that most important was good work with young players. May generation its now on the best years to play basketball on the high level. We are very close friends from many years, we have excellent ambient inside of the team, we learned haw to win….In short words, we are the team.One of your best friends its Lazaros Papadopoulos, your team-mate in Dynamo. His present her helped you to come to Moscow ?-Yes, of course. I don’t want to say that this moment was crucial, but I called him, I asked for some details and when he told me that Dynamo is very series and ambitious club, I signed.How do you feel yourself  in Moscow ?-I am happy. All what Lazaros told me was true, the club working very hard , now in our new Gym we have excellent conditions for our work and our obligation, I mind from players said, its back  to club with good results all hopes deposed in us.What do you like in Moscow ?-Many things... Today Moscow is one of the biggest center in the world, not only in political sense. I like  museums, the churches, theatres, large streets …I was couple times in “Bolshoi Theatres” and I enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I haven’t so match time  for this kind of activities.And what don’t you like in Russian capital ?-On the first place its traffic. I say that no will be angry never more in Athens with the traffic because I will remember haw is situation in Moscow and I will be very quite…On the second position is whether , but only sometimes. Yes, can be very cull, but also spring and summer can be very nice.Backed to sports court, what fans of Dynamo can expected this season ?-We will fight in all three competitions and we will give our maximum. Now we have some problems with injuries, but I hope that this situation will be resolved very soon. Generally, I don’ t like to put targets for the season. I prefer go step by step, game by game. For me, the most important game always its-next. But when you decided to go in NBA you had some target ?-Maybe is better to say that I heaved some challenge. NBA its dream for all players, I haved opportunity and I accepted…Did you make a mistake? You was only 20, maybe was so early?-Maybe, but when you have this kind of opportunity you must to take decision. I decided to go and I don’t think that I make mistake. OK, I don’ t played so match in Memphis, but I learned so match, I worked very hard on the practices, I played against best player of the world and my experience was positive.Did you can try again?-I don’t know, but I believe in  “Never say never”… Who know what can happened tomorrow ? Let me to say that this page not is close. But right now I thin only about Dynamo and our three competitions.You and Lazaros played together in Panathinakos. In few weeks you will play  with Dynamo in Pireus against Olympiacos. Haw you will feel?-The games between “Pao” and Olympiacos are something special and not its possible to  compare with another games. I played in Pireus with Real Madrid, but it’s very different. Local “derby” have some special color. By the way, Olympiacos make very strong team and I think that the “Reds” are first favorite in our group.And Dynamo in Euroleague ?-We are started well, for one new team 2-1 after 3 games not is bad. I am sure that we will play “Top16”, but, like I say, I prefer go step by step and now the most important game its against Prokom.Talking about the  colors, you always was “green” (the color of Panathinaikos) ?-Yes, I was fan of Panathinakos,  but I never was “craze” .Did you practice another sport when you was kid ?-Yes, I practice swimming, shorts distance, 50 or 100 m. Also, I like ping-pong and today I try to play when I find some table.Did you have some partner for ping-pong in Dynamo ?-Unfortunately, no.What was the key moment to choice finally basketball?-Probably family tradition. My father was player and also coach….Talking about coaches, you heaved many teachers in Panathinaikos, Memphis, Real Madrid and Dynamo. Can you     tell us what you learned and who was most important in your carrier?-I learned something from each of my coaches. If you wont, you always can learn something. If somebody ask you haw is Antonis Fotsis like player, what you will say?-Not is easy talk about your self. But, if you insist I think that my strongest arms are shoot, fast-break and rebounds. I  can improve my defense, play “one against one”  and many another thinks. I always fill like team-players a and I am very happy when my play help to my team to win. I hope that this will happened this season many times.Thanks, Antonis.-Was my pleasure. 2006-11-12 00:00:00 http://www.dynamobasket.com/articles.php?articles_type=1&aID=299 Antonis Fotsis, the best player of Dynamo against Climamio Bologna last night, missed the title of MVP of third round of Euroleage onlyfor two index-points. Our player make index 33 for 26 points and 10 for 13 shooting from the field , 3/3 free trows,  grabbed 8 reboundsand collected 3 steals.Juan Carlos Navarro of Winterthur FC Barcelona was the Week 3 MVP with an index ranking of 35. Navarro shined in his team's 86-92 road win against Zalgiris Kaunas which allowed Barcelona to become the exclusive Group C leader with 31 points on 9-for-15 shooting and 10 of 10 free throws. He added two assist  a steal and nine foul drawnfor a total index 35.Marko Milic of Union Olimpija scored 19 points and grabbed 13  rebounds despite his team's home loss against Panathinaikos. Milic had a 29 index to be  third in the MVP race.Dejan Bodiroga of Lottomatica Roma (26 index), Zoran Planinic and  Luis Scola of Tau Ceramica (25 each), Marcus Goree of Benetton (25) and Marcus Faison of  RheinEnergie (25) complete the top individual perfomances of the week. 2006-11-10 12:00:00