Eurobasket 2022 is Must-Watch

 For basketball junkies, the NBA off-season is rough. Typically, we fill our time watching old highlights, classic games, and Pro-Am videos. In between, there are debates about potential roster moves or reflections on big trades. But really, that gets tedious quickly.

This month, however, there is a special treat: EuroBasket 2022 (you can catch the games on ESPN+). It's a two-and-a-half-week tournament in which teams are vying to qualify for the FIBA World Cup. So far, the games have been exciting and driven by star power. In fact, the top team from each of the 4 groups carries a slew of NBA talent.

Group A: Spain

Spain is currently 4-1 in pool play and features a number of NBA regulars, including Rudy Fernandez (a crafty, unpredictable player who I'd describe as Ginobli-lite; he played for some fun Blazers teams in the early 2010s), Willy Hernangomez (New Orleans Pelicans center), and Juancho Hernangomez (current Toronto Raptors power forward, but now better known as Bo Cruz). 

While formidable and leading their group, Spain seems very beatable, especially compared to recent years when they had teams with the Gasol brothers, Jose Calderon, and Ricky Rubio.

Group B: Slovenia

Slovenia is sitting at 4-1, just ahead of the tough competition of Germany and France. Slovenia is a small country of just 2.1 million people, and the weak supporting cast of this team is reflective of that. However, the country is blessed with two great players that are the team's driving force: (1) Luka Doncic, arguably the best young basketball player in the world; and (2) Goran Dragic, who is operating as a sixth man, a lightning bolt of energy for when Doncic needs a breather. 

Both Doncic and Dragic are amazing in that they operate as offenses unto themselves. They're like a lightning and thunder running back duo. Doncic is powerful and methodical and brilliant. As usual, he's been bullying defenders on the perimeter, but also surprisingly, he's been taking his game down to the post. That power alone would be overwhelming, but coupled with his surgical execution, the other teams have been completely flustered. Dragic has only made that worse as Doncic's perfect compliment. His lightning speed and unpredictability push other teams off-balance, loosening them up for when Doncic takes back the reins.

So far, the results have been magical for the small country. On Tuesday, Luka scored 47 points against perennial powerhouse France and led Slovenia to the win. His 47 was the second most in EuroBasket history! And he put on a show in doing so; check out this one-legged three:

Of course, that was just par for the course. This entire tourney has been Luka's playground. Check out this nutmeg, alley-oop combo ...

Group C: Greece

Greece is one of only two remaining unbeaten teams, sitting at 4-0. They, of course, are led by the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo. And so far in this tournament, Giannis has not disappointed. On Tuesday against Ukraine, Giannis scored 41 points on an amazingly efficient 13-for-18 from the floor and 15-for-18 from the line. Overall, he's leading the tournament in scoring, averaging 31 ppg.

Greece seems poised to challenge for the title. Not only because they have the best player, but because they have a solid supporting cast. Some of their NBA talent includes Tyler Dorsey (current Maverick guard, who averaged about 10 ppg for the Grizz a few years back); Nick Calathes (multi-year NBA pro, who was a triple-double machine and former SEC player of the year for the Florida Gators), and the lesser known Antetokounmpo brothers. 

In the first week, all this talent has meshed, leaving the team with a perfect record and highlights like this ...

Group D: Serbia

Besides Greece, the only other undefeated team is Serbia, also at 4-0. Serbia is led none by none other than the "Dad Bod God," Nikola Jokic. So far, Jokic is averaging about 20 ppg on an absurd 65% shooting. His performance is leaving Nuggets fans hoping that a third straight MVP might be on the horizon.

Alongside Jokic is Vasilijie Micic. At 6'5", Micic is a former draft pick of the Bulls, who spurned the NBA for the EuroLeague, where he won back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022 and a league MVP in 2021. Currently, Micic is second on Serbia in scoring at 15 ppg. He's a magician with the ball and knows how score the rock. If you haven't heard of him, this smooth conbo-guard's highlights are worth checking out ...

  

Cavs Trade for Mitchell: Could This be the Best Non-Lebron Team in Franchise History?

Take away LeBron James, and the Cleveland Cavaliers have never had a serious contender. The late 90s were a complete disaster. They had the bloated alcoholic version of Shawn Kemp, whose stint with the team ranks as one of the all-time weirdest second acts (alongside Patrick Ewing on the Sonics, Dominique Wilkins on the Celtics, and Allen Iverson on Memphis). They had a couple years when Andre Miller, never considered a scorer, led the team in points. And then they had the Ricky Davis years, where he did things like this: Ricky Davis’ Bold Failed Triple-Double Attempt Led To Him Being Nicknamed 'Wrong Rim Ricky' (opencourt-basketball.com)

 

Consider the only other successful Cavs era that didn't involve Lebron. In 1988-89, the team was led by the great Lenny Wilkins and had a team with Mark Price, Brad Dougherty (a number 1 pick, 20-10 guy, that ultimately derailed by injuries in his late 20s), Ron Harper (a 20-point scorer also derailed by injuries), and an autumnal Larry Nance. That year, the team finished a respectable 57-25, but lost to the Bulls in a deciding game 5 on the famous "shot over Ehlo." For the next few years, the Cavs repeatedly finished with 50+ wins, but time and again lost to the Bulls. While that was the best non-Lebron Cavs team, it was, at best, a 90s Eastern Conference afterthought (historically outpaced by the Pistons, Pacers, and Knicks).

Those forgotten teams were 30 years ago!

But alas, the Cavs are making a push for the best non-Lebron team in franchise history. With last week's trade for Donovan Mitchell, the Cavs have raised their ceiling from up-and-comers to fringe contenders. Right now, they have a little bit of everything. 

They have Darius Garland, a point guard that can score and breakdown the defense to get his teammates involved. Then they have Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley to protect the paint and grab boards. What's really scary about this trio is the upside. They are all under 24 years old. Garland and Allen have already made an all-star team. Most pundits believe Mobley will join them shortly (some, like Bill Simmons, have even floated the idea that Mobley could be the next Tim Duncan).

Now, they have added Donovan Mitchell, the missing puzzle piece. In Cleveland, Mitchell has the situation that could allow him to be his best version. Always criticized for his defensive flaws, Mitchell now has rim protection with Allen and Mobley and athletic, defensive-minded wings (Joe Ingles and Jordan Clarkson were never those guys). On offense, he can lean on Garland to be the playmaker, a role Utah desperately wanted Mitchell to fulfill. But that always seemed like putting a square peg in a round hole. Essentially, Cleveland can boil Mitchell down to what he does best: score.

So will this be a match made in heaven? I think so. And for both Cleveland and Mitchell, it couldn't have come at a better time because. Cleveland needs desperately to escape from under Lebron's shadow, and Mitchell needs to avoid becoming this era's Steve Francis.