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Sunday August 8th , 2010 GAME DAY IN DECIN! On game day, everythings seems more intense. Anticipation for tip off has an unspoken presence. There is purpose to every move. Players shoot to get their shot feeling good. Teams eat a pre-game meal and players rest with an afternoon nap to have energy for the challenge. Coaches are efficient, using their practice time covering what is necessary and important. Immediately after the last game, teams look ahead to the next game. Time between games is not only about preparation, it is also about the build up. Keeping consistent or bouncing back, a game day is a fresh start and a new opportunity to win.
Game Day shootaround in Decin Sunday August 8th. After meeting in Liberec for training camp July 19th, our travels took us to Bulgaria for a tough tournament in Sofia before a challenging road trip to basketball country in Lithuania. These games were an outstanding start to our summer 2010 campaign. From one game to the next, our team had responded positively to the challenges. And these games were not only road games in another teams gym, they were away games in another country. Hearing their names called during introductions in foriegn arenas, our players were fired up for our first home game.
Ales Chan and I enjoy a laugh before practice. The morning was rainy. With all the water and flooding over the last days in the Czech Republic, we were all looking forward to see the sun. Our schedule was filled with one event to the next moving directly from practice to lunch to video to the next practice. We were inside most of the day so the wet weather was a nonfactor for our team. Working in a focused environment, it was easy to lose track of current events. It was easy to get lost in our intense national team schedule. But our schedule was all about the build up --- preparing to play our next game. Our Sunday was all about the build up to beat Estonia.
Lubos Barton lining up his over the head-halfcourt trick shot. At 10am, our morning shootaround began. Pavel brought the team to center court and provided the players with a few coaching points before bringing it in. 'Rvi se jako', 'Lev' echoed through the gym. The players split into two teams and worked through set plays and systems 5 on 0 to get loose and then Ladja led the players through their warmup. Once the agilities and stretching was complete, Pavel directed the team through several variations of shooting drills. Anticipation for our first home game added extra energy and the players worked with tempo, focus and enthusiasm.
10 Euros on the line from halfcourt. At the end of practice, I make myself available to rebound or spend time with players to help them work on their game. One player who consistently asks for a rebounder and wants to put the extra time in is Lubos Barton. Most times, Lubos will work through shooting drills --- an experienced veteran from high level basketball, Lubos knows what he needs to do to prepare himself for success and has an outstanding routine for his skills and body. On this game day, Lubos sank some free throws and made 10 straight threes from the top of the key. I also had a basketball and soon we were at halfcourt shooting alternating long-distance heaves for 10euros. When one went in, the other guy immediately bet double or nothing --- the competition continued. Growing up in Ceska Lipa Czech Republic, Lubos must also have seen the Harlem Globetrotters play, because his next trick was a behind the head over head shot just like something Goose Osby or Twiggy Sanders used to do. On his third attempt, Barton banked in his trick shot and shut it down for the morning. Following the extra work and fun, Lubos felt good. Returning to the hotel for our lunch, we enjoyed another well-prepared meal by the restaurant staff from the Vyprez and retreated to our rooms for rest. Sometimes, a pre-game nap can be the best part of the day. On this day, the cool breeze and light rain made this pregame nap a great one. We met for a snack at 4pm and watched a short scouting video at 4:15pm. By 4:30pm we were aboard the team bus departing the Vyprez hotel for the gym downtown. Throughout warmups, the feeling in the team was good. We were happy to be home in the Czech Republic and happy to be in front of the Decin fans. Personally, I was also excited to be in Decin for the game after hearing so many positive stories about Pavel's home team. Ladja put the team through a crisp warmup and before we knew it, the build-up was complete. It was time to tip off our first home game in Decin.
Introductions of the Czech players for the fans in Decin. Tomas Toth drove strong down the lane and got the Czech Republic on the scoreboard. Kristjan Kangur posed the first two points for Estonia. Tanel Sokk hit a jumpshot giving Estonia a lead before Petr Bohacik buried a corner three regaining a 5-4 advantage for the hosts. But the Blue and White Estonia team was sharp, executing with tempo. Czech defenders did not guard basket cuts and allowed several easy inside scores from the well drilled Estonians. Holding a 12-9 lead at the mid point of the first quarter, Estonia's undersized frontcourt and skillful guards were controlling the tempo of play. Zbynek Pospisil sparked a run for the Czech Republic with a basket and a three point play in the paint pushing the hosts to a 14-12 lead. But Rait Keerles responded for Estonia evening the game at 14. As the first quarter came to a close, two key players for the Czech team stepped up. Ironically, both have called Decin home at different times during their playing careers. Former Decin forward Lubos Barton buried a big momentum building three and current Decin forward Pavel Houska drilled another three from the top of the key giving the Czech Republic a 20-19 lead after one quarter.
Quarter two continued to be a power struggle between the two teams for control of the game. After Joosep Toome scored inside for Estonia, Pavel Slezak sank a three giving the Czech team a 23-21 lead. Kristjan Kangur hit from behind the arc putting Estonia back on top 24-23 but Petr Bohacik finished a breakaway dunk to reclaim a 25-24 lead for Czech. Rain Veideman got on the scoreboard for Estonia with back to back baskets but Petr Benda finished inside before Bohacik drilled a three and got another bucket giving the Czech Republic a 32-31 lead. After a Joosep Toome bucket, Lubos Barton buried a second triple and the Czechs led 35-33. Just like the first quarter finished with a strong run from the Czech Republic, it was Lubos Barton and Pavel Houska again drilling three straight three pointers igniting a 12-4 surge to take a 47-37 halftime lead.
Pavel Slezak driving strong to the baseline. After a slow start defensively, allowing several easy buckets on the Estonian basket cuts, the Czech Republic eventually gained command of the game. Estonia executed efficiently, but the Czech Republic bench was a big advantage as the entire roster contributed in the first half. Through the first twenty minuutes, the Czech team hit 50% from the floor including 9 of 18 threes (50%) and 6 of 7 free throws (86%) while outrebounding Estonia 18-14. Estonia sank 47% of their shots and 5 of 11 threes (45%). Czech bench players outproduced Estonia's bench 26-13 in the first half in a competitive game that saw 14 lead changes and 3 ties in the first twenty minutes.
As the game developed, the Czech defense tightened taking away Estonia's easy baskets in the lane. The Estonian team wore down in the fourth quarter and the depth of the Czech bench became a big factor. 'Big Z' Zbynek Pospisil and Petr Benda scored inside early in the fourth before Pavel Pumprla completed a three point play on a drive and added another attacking finish for the Czechs. Youngster Vojtech Hruban from USK Prague drilled a wing three. The Czech Republic players were on their way to a 23-10 fourth quarter finishing the game strong. Back to back threes from Pavel Houska and Hruban stretched the lead and two Ales Chan free throws put the finishing touches on a convincing 96-72 Czech Republic win.
Lubos Barton was solid in Czech win over Estonia with 9 points 2 rebounds 3 assists. In the win, Pavel Pumprla paced the Czech offensive production with 15 points 3 rebounds and 5 assists, Pavel Houska added 14 points 6 boards hitting 4 of 5 threes and captain Petr Benda chipped in 13 points 9 rebounds. Petr Bohacik also reached double digits with 10 points in the win. As a team, the Czechs shot 57% from the floor making 12 of 26 threes (46%) and 14 of 16 free throws (88%) while outrebounding Estonia 32-24 and dishing out 27 assists. Depth was a key factor in wearing down the Estonian squad as Czech Republic outscored the guests 56-31 in bench points. For Estonia, Rain Veideman and Rait Keerles shared topscoring honors with 11 points apiece while Kristjan Kangur had 10.
Big Z Zbynek Pospisil making a strong spin move on the block.
Ales Chan slaps five with Tomas Toth as Head coach Pavel Budinsky is focused on the action.
Final score on the Decin scoreboard, Czech Republic with a 96-72 home win. Meeting the challenges in Sofia Bulgaria and Panevezys Lithuania, it was a great feeling to win our first game at home. The strong team performance was the next positive step and our confidence in each other continued to grow. Beating Estonia convincingly made my first home game in the Czech Republic memorable. All the build up was worth it.
click for video highlights of Czech Republic vs Estonia Sunday August 8, 2010 Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm and international baketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! GO ULM! MIKE T
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