Jennings is a sophomore
Hi everybody!
Tough game the other day at Fuenlabrada. It’s always gonna be tough there. Last year, when I played with Baskonia, we lost. That team plays with so much energy at home. They fight till the end and they play particulary well at home.
Also, we beat my former team last week. It was a great game for us. Probably the best game so far. We are always asked how we feel when facing clubs you have played for. In my case, there’s no emotion involved. Just business, going out and play the game. Anyway, it was nice getting to see some of my ex teammates like Tiago Splitter, Mirza Teletovic, Fernando San Emeterio… I was looking forward to see them. I spent some time talking to assistant coach Ibon Navarro, who’s a very good friend of mine. Got the chance to talk to him for a few minutes. Just being in the same court and compete with all of those guys was great because I know how hard they work.
You know in Spain there’s El Clasico, the great soccer game between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. It’s a huge rivalry. I can’t say there’s a rivalry between Caja Laboral and Barcelona, but I can say we’ve played a lot lately. Last season I think we played 11 or 12 games! And I think we had beat them coming back to the Finals the year before eight times in a row. Then finally beat us one game and that’s when everything changed. It started a great rivalry. When I signed to play in Barcelona, I already knew the players so well because I scouted them so much.
ANYBODY WATCHING?
There’s been reports out there about low attendance in Euroleague games. I don’t think it’s worse than in previous. When we played in Zagreb, it was sold out. Then we played in Turkey against Ulker and they didn’t have a lot of fans. What I can tell you is that our fans have been great. Our gym is not as big as a lot of other gyms, but the supporters are fantastic. This season Barcelona started selling jerseys for the first team and I heard my jersey is sold out already! It’s a great deal to me, considering the players we have. Juan Carlos Navarro, Ricky Rubio… A lot of stars on our team!
Speaking of jerseys, I read a story that basically said that Michael Jordan doesn’t need LeBron’s support. He’s already Michael Jordan. Jordan is in another level. Everybody can wear the number 23. A lot of people who grew up in Illinois like me, we idolized Jordan. We were able to watch him on local TV every single day. I got the chance to see Chicago Bulls every day – games, highlights, interviews… I’m a guy who understands why people wear No. 23. If you grew up in Illinois, then you can understand why guys like Corey Maggette, Quentin Richardson, Dwyane Wade idolized him so much. It was all Jordan, all the time for them. So I think if somebody wants to wear No. 23, he should be able to wear it.
ON JENNINGS
Brandon Jennings had two good games last year against me in the Euroleague when I played with Baskonia. Actually, his two best games in the Euroleague were against us! Anyway, yeah, I watched the game. 55 points. European basketball, NBA basketball… Two different games. I think he scored 29 points in one quarter. In Europe, it’s highly unlikely you could have the chance to do that. He played one-on-one from the top of the key, screen and roll, shooting every time. That’s not gonna happen here. We can play zone defense, clog the lane. I don’t know what the scouting report was on Jennings, but I know it was wrong! He just played one-on-one from the top of the key and the big guy let him shoot. He didn’t show him respect, so he started getting that kind of confidence. And once you start making shots, you can penetrate to the basket, mid-range, three-pointers, everything.
This guy is great on screen and rolls. Left handed, so crafty with the ball… Now he’s going to get more attention and he can create more opportunities for other teammates. Now the big guy is gonna have to step out and help the guard on the screen and roll, so he will have the chance to find Andrew Bogut under the basket or find the guy on the weak side.
The main thing with Jennings is that he doesn’t play like a rookie. He’s more like a second-year player. Anytime you’ve spent your first year in Europe playing in the Euroleague, competing against some of the best players in the world, competing against men, you don’t feel like a rookie when you go to the NBA. You learn the team basketball, how to play the game. You spend a lot of time in the gym working on your shot, team defense, strategy. If you are a good player, you’ll be able to do the adjustment. It’s not easy to play in Europe.
NO AI IN NYC
So Allen Iverson is not going to New York finally. The Knicks will get it right soon. I got drafted in 2000, the year they went to the Finals and lost to San Antonio. Latrell Sprewell, Glen Rice, Allan Houston, Chris Childs… I know about the program. They had a great team in 1999 and ever since, it’s broken up a little bit. They have the city, they have the right coach, they just got to find the right players and be focused only on winning basketball games. That’s going to take some time, though. They’ve got the money, the cap space. And everybody wants to play in New York. It’s such a great media market. They’ll be back on top in two years. This is the biggest summer of all time in the NBA. There will be a lot of broken hearts when July comes. In Cleveland? in New York? In Miami?
They call Miami the Dade County, but now it’s Wade County. I don’t think he’s going too far.
That’s all for now. Bye!
Lebronstays Said,
November 20, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
No offense Pete. But there won’t be any broken hearts in Cleveland, my friend. Lebron is staying, he knows, we know, and Old York knows. Now maybe in the old days when you played in the league, you need the NY for marketing. But man its 2009, the internet, cable, blackberrys, he is already a global icon! And why wouldn’t you want a market like Cleveland to have a star? The NBA has more than 2 cities, and more than 1 star. So please you, the media, and delusional knick fans let it go. You can’t have our star, draft your your own!!!!
xangoir Said,
November 20, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
Lebron has 0% of staying in Cleveland man. Not even Jamario Moon would stay in Cleveland if he had the choice.
There are tons of good cities in the NBA - Cleveland is certainly not one. Ohio is in the lower half of the country.
uberVU - social comments Said,
November 20, 2009 @ 2:01 pm
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by hoopshype: Pete Mickael says Brandon Jennings is actually a sophomore. http://tinyurl.com/ykbqykt...
Favre4 Said,
November 20, 2009 @ 2:28 pm
It’s all true about Jennings, Pete. I realy like your stanpoint.
Lefty Said,
November 20, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
I dont see why LeCrab would want to play with Bosh or Wade. Yea theyre all friends and all, but if LeCrab and Wade were side by side, they would only offset each other’s production. Call me crazy, but as much as LeCrab keeps saying he’s a team guy–To me, that means he’s not worried about his points dipping as long as he’s getting a ton of assists. Same with Wade. I believe they both want to be The Man in their respective teams, so I don’t see any of them playing with each other. Wade and Bosh, maybe. But LeCrab craves the attention he receives every day and another star in town would take some shine away from him. We will find out what kind of player LeCrab is come summertime. If he chooses New York or New Jersey, that means he’s obviously looking for media attention and fame, as if he doesnt already have those things. It would obviously be magnified in NY, but at the cost of losing. If he teams up with a Wade or Bosh, then he would be backing up his words when he says its not about the money and its all about winning. I personally don’t believe that because he could easily sign with Orlando and they would dominate the league for years to come. But he would no longer be LeBron in Orlando. He owuld have to share the spotlight with Dwight and I dont think he likes sharing very much, unless he gets credit for an assist.
Lebronstays Said,
November 20, 2009 @ 3:27 pm
And what great basketball city do you represent xangoir?
Ollstar Said,
November 20, 2009 @ 4:47 pm
Lebron and wade have played together well for USA basketball, quit judging.
Ollstar Said,
November 20, 2009 @ 4:48 pm
lebron and wade have played together, lets not forget USA basketball. quit judging lebron
Nate Said,
November 20, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
Hey Pete, do you know where they are selling Barcelona jerseys for basketball. I live in Madrid and have been looking all over for a Barcelona jersey and cant find one. Do they sell them on the internet?
gabriel Said,
November 21, 2009 @ 12:05 am
hey pete!
love what you do in Barcelona. Great wins recently. Catalan fans read you in Hoopshype too. I trust this year’s team. Go on!
Salutacions!
Jams Said,
November 21, 2009 @ 4:11 am
Hey “Lefty”, you’re a tool.
Lebronleaves Said,
November 21, 2009 @ 4:54 am
Lebronstays is delusional. Why do you think lebron continuously talked about leaving if he wasn’t? So he could play with freaking mo williams and the rest of cleveland?
mo williams is absolutly terrible, worst all stars selection in years.
David Said,
November 21, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
Take Lebron off Cleveland and even the horrible Knicks are a better team. The argument that he’s staying in Clevleand to win is therefore false. As horrible as they are (I am a knicks fan), I’ll take nate rob and dlee over mo will an shaq any day. Danillo is still soft and can not run or defend if his life depended on it, but he has the most upside of any player on either team (CLE, NY). As a Knick fan I would love to see lebron in NY, but if he was really trying to win, he would either sign with another high profile free agent (in NY, MIA etc), or 1. go play with eric gordon and griffin in LAC and try to take the staples center from Kobe 2. basically replace JJ in ATL and play along side jsmith horford and marvin williams 3. sign with portland. CLE or NY, neither choice is about winning… that being said, he wants the spotlight and the money. He will be a Knick and bring back the glory to the garden. Best place in the world to play basketball, just ask any opposing team star.
bear Said,
November 21, 2009 @ 4:47 pm
i think it not only about the media market when free agents consider teams. the future of the team, the life style of the city, endorsement deals that comes from being in a bigger market plays a huge role in it. and if history teaches us anything, superstars will play in big markets. nba is a business first, then basketball
januko Said,
November 22, 2009 @ 2:56 am
Hey Pete! Brandon Jennings’ success here in the NBA proves one thing that scouts or American basketball analysts are so dumb about the European game! Hahahahaha! Why do they say that college basketball is better than Europe? C’mon! Players that we see in the Olympics and other world basketball tournaments are playing there!
But there is one concern though, the kid who skipped his senior year and decided to play for an Israeli team, forgot his name though. That kid is so lazy and immature! My God!
I hope that he can man up and can come through it. I think that kid was just thinking $$$ and thought that playing in Europe is easy. What an arrogant thought to have! I think that kid is ignorant just because European players do not do flashy moves like killer crossovers or high-flying dunks.
Anyway Pete, good luck in your upcoming games!
Common Sense Said,
November 22, 2009 @ 4:07 am
IF LBJ WANTED TO STAY IN CLEVELAND…HE WOULD HAVE ALREADY SIGNED HIS EXTENSION. IT’S OBVIOUS THAT IF THEY DON’T WIN A CHIP THIS YEAR HE’S OUT. UNFORTUNATELY FOR CLEVELAND, THEY HAVE NO CHANCE OF EVEN GETTING TO THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS… SORRY CAVS FANS… YOUR BOY LBJ IS JETTIN!
Mihajlo Moncilovich Said,
November 22, 2009 @ 7:05 pm
Sorry but I do not agree with your assessment of Brandon Jennings and what playing in Europe did for him. You point out that one of the main things playing in Europe does for you is to learn teamwork and to play defense. Well those are the two biggest knocks on Jennings and playing in Europe didn’t change it.
Jennings didn’t go over there to improve his game, he went o earn a paycheck because he was too lazy go to college for a year and too lazy to study for the SAT.
The only thing that he wanted to do while over there is look out for himself. His selfishness alienated his own teammates to the point that he had to be pulled from the line-up. He game was so unimpressive that he pulled himself from the Reebok Eurocamp at the last minute because he thought it would hinder his chances to become a lottery pick more than enhance them.
As you pointed out the European game does not translate very well to the NBA especially for uptempo and open-court pass-first PGs. Jennings displayed poor decision making with the basketball and now with the Bucks he gets 3.5 turnovers to only 5.5 assists. Horrible ratio. You also pointed out they play a lot of zone defense which also did nothing to improve his poor man-to-man defense.
You say Jennings had his two best games against you because he scored a lot of points. Well that is all Jennings came away from Europe, a better shot. He worked on improving the mechanics of his shot daily with his development coach and took 500 practice shots after team practices.
So now he is close to being an Allen Iverson clone. A ball-dominating point who looks to get his points first and doesn’t defend well. Just like Iverson, no team will ever win a title with Brandon Jennings starting at the point. The good news for Jennings is that he is in Milwaukee who will never spend the money to acquire enough top tier talent to become contenders. So he can score all the points he wants while playing there. Just like in Philly, at least the fans will have someone to look forward to watch play.
Jennings was never lacking in confidence that he could play at the NBA level and his play in Europe certainly did not impress any NBA G.Ms.. That is why he dropped to #10 and teams desperate for a PG like the Knicks, Kings, Wolves (passed on him TWICE)& Warriors all passed on him.
WTF is wrong with htis site?
Gerome Said,
November 22, 2009 @ 10:55 pm
When did it become dumb to be a millionaire? Its amazing that everyone wants to critize the kid for being successful. Mihajlo Moncilovich called him lazy for not going to college. College isn’t the route for everyone to go. What’s the purpose of going to school? Most people go to school to get a good paying job & become whatever they wanted to be in life. How many careers earn 3.5 million dollars in a lifetime, let alone 1 year. Doctors, lawylers & etc, eventually reaches millions in salaries over time. Salaries are not what they appear to be…you gotta pay back your student loans, unless you’re already rich! Their spending at least 8-10 years in school creating debt, that eventually has to be repaid. At the end of the day, you go to school to pursue YOUR goals in life! School is always an option. He got his money & if it didn’t work out, he can always go to college! Don’t criticize the kid because he didn’t go to your school of choice, do something to help! I hate to bring up racism, but it seems like the sports that African Americans dominate…are the only ones that’s a problem. Tennis, hockey & baseball just to name a few…why isn’t a teen professional athlete a problem in those sports?
Bustnani Said,
November 22, 2009 @ 11:53 pm
Raptors fan here. I’m pissed as hell that our ultra well connected, Godfather of Italian basketball, assistant GM, Maurizio Gherardini didn’t have his euro spies tell him that Jennings was a hidden gems. It’s picks like these that change entire franchises for a decade, and would be a slam dunk to get Bosh to re-sign.
Sure, it’s difficult to project how a guy plays in structured euro ball vs. the nba, but that’s what scouts and gms do all the time - just like for system oriented ncaa teams.
VITORIANO Said,
November 23, 2009 @ 11:26 am
Pete deberias ser un poco mas agradecido al equipo que confio en ti cuando todo el mundo decia que no servirias en el y que te saco de tu destierro en Corea.
Espero que no sigas con tus pedos y escapadas nocturnas.
APRENDE A SER MAS HUMILDE
eddie Said,
November 23, 2009 @ 11:57 am
Mihajlo Moncilovich
you sound like a jealous wannabe but couldnt be basketball player. Europe did help him and he is a better player because of it. stop hating. The kid has been great, no rookie does he has been doing by accident. you need to stop hating because this kid is going to keep doing this all year.
Wake Up Mihajlo Moncilovich Said,
November 23, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
Hey Mihajlo Moncilovich,
Jennings was too lazy to study or go to college? But he wasn’t too lazy to practice all day every day in Europe, right? Are Tony Parker Rubio lazy?
Tell me again why it is lazy to get paid to develop in your profession? This is known as apprenticeship and nobody has a problem with hockey players, baseball players, golfers, tennis players, and soccer players getting paid as soon as they are ready to play on a professional level, even if it is not the highest level.
***
Jennings did not put up big numbers in his one year in Europe because European teams are obsessed with players paying dues. So much that when they have a star on their hands they want to “Put him in his place” as opposed to reaping the rewards of having a superstar, which sounds a lot like they are worried about the egos of the other players a little too much.
Even the Euro-coach over there said that they held him back.
Jennings is a star in the best league in the world. 90% of the players on the highest level European clubs can’t even play in the NBA, and most of the guys who can are just regular players.
Deal with it.
VITORIANO Said,
November 24, 2009 @ 3:06 pm
Pete se un poco mas HUMILDE y aprende a recibir critias y aceptarlas y no solo borrar los comentarios que no te interesan
james p Said,
November 24, 2009 @ 3:57 pm
@Mihajlo Moncilovich
one thing you might be right about brandon jennings is his turn overs need to go down. But your wrong about him only looking to score. There were a couple of game where he didnt score at all in the 1st half including the 55 point performace . ANd he probably didnt try that had to score he was looking to pass.
Max Said,
November 24, 2009 @ 6:07 pm
Hey Mr. Mickeal
I wrote an article similar to yours about a week ago. You can check it out or follow my blog at topnbanews.blogspot.com.
thanks
Max
g.c. Said,
November 28, 2009 @ 9:15 am
u are the best!
g.c. Said,
December 4, 2009 @ 5:51 am
so f*** the rest
FromBCN Said,
December 6, 2009 @ 8:08 am
Pete, I honestly think you are the best SF playing in Europe right now.
You have been named the Euroleague November MVP playing for the only unbeaten team of the Euroleague, Barcelona.
http://www.talkbasket.net/news/pete-mickeal-euroleague-november-mvp-2620.html
Congrats and keep it up.
From BCN