Good News! A Blazer Title (Sort Of)

by Dave on Apr 27, 2009 1:38 AM PDT

Our friendly Finnish sportswriter friend comes through with some sunny news just in time to help clear the drizzle of the last couple playoff games:

Koponen, Virtus Bologna celebrate FIBA EuroChallenge championship

Italian Serie A powerhouse Virtus Bologna defeated French Cholet Basket 77-75 (45-39) Sunday afternoon in FIBA EuroChallenge Cup final.

Keith Langford lead Virtus with 21 points and 4 rebounds. Earl Boykins ended up with 18 and 5 while Sharrod Ford registered a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Cholet Basket was lead by 22-year old French shooting guard prospect Nando De Colo (24/4), Claude Marquis (17/10) and Randall Falker (13/11).

Finnish point guard Petteri Koponen (6-4, 1988), whose NBA rights are currently owned by the Portland Trailblazers, performed very well in limited minutes. After logging his first DNP-CD since early October in semi-final, Koponen responded with a determined effort in both ends of the court in the final.

Koponen entered the game in the middle of second quarter, with Virtus Bologna leading 35-27. He immediately drained a three pointer and dished the ball to Sharrod Ford for a dunk. After returning to bench in the start of the second half, Koponen returned to the game in the middle of third quarter. During Koponen's 11-minute stint on the court, Bologna extended its lead from 54-46 to 74-61. Nando De Colo scored five points during the 14 minutes Koponen was guarding him.

After Koponen headed to bench for good, Cholet Basket was able to make a late 12-3 run lead by De Colo, who scored 8 of Cholet's 12 points during that period. De Colo's jump shot brought Cholet within one point with 31 seconds remaining, and Virtus' Keith Langford was able to make one of his free throws with just 22 seconds to play. Cholet had the last possession and the ball was delivered to De Colo, who missed a contested jump shot with clock ticking down.

Koponen finished with 4 points (3pt 1/2, Ft 1/2), 3 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 turnover and 2 personal fouls in 16 minutes of play.

Koponen started 11 of Virtus Bologna's 15 games in EuroChallenge campaign, averaging 5,8 points, 1,9 rebounds, 1 assist and 0,9 turnovers in 18,1 minutes per game, while shooting relatively well (FT .875% 2p .586% 3p .394%). Koponen's highest point total in one game was 17 points against Turkish team Galatasaray.

EuroChallenge is third highest European club competition behind Euroleague and FIBA EuroCup.

Here's a picture of Petteri (#6) in action: Click for Pic!

Thanks to our friend in Finland for the update!

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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Comments

neat.

This is going to be a long off season filled with many a point guard discussion.

Rings don't come easy.

by pxilpooshr on Apr 27, 2009 2:51 AM PDT reply actions

Koponen looks older in the photo

Thanks Finland guy.

"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''

by tominhawaii on Apr 27, 2009 3:56 AM PDT reply actions

is it the crewcut?

"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy

by Honka Playboy on Apr 27, 2009 7:03 AM PDT up reply actions

It might just be the angle

But he looks like he lost some baby fat in his cheeks.

"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''

by tominhawaii on Apr 27, 2009 7:24 AM PDT up reply actions

Koponen on paras!

PetKo throwing up Finnish gang-signs in a pic found at
http://deceptivelyquick.blogspot.com
Congratulations!

by The Finnisher on Apr 27, 2009 4:31 AM PDT reply actions

I dunno dave.

I’m getting a little sick of whould if’s and should be able to’ers that can’t….

I’m starting to want that sure thing at point guard. You know, kinda like an aaron brooks type, Pippen would always be nice.

I think I"m done on projects.

The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.

by faith on Apr 27, 2009 6:21 AM PDT reply actions

Aaron Brooks is worse than Steve Blake

by jksnake99 on Apr 27, 2009 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions

Faith might have been kidding (see Pippen reference)

"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy

by Honka Playboy on Apr 27, 2009 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions

O

I was…sort of. but I did want to draft brooks. ;) I’m bad at jokes….

The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.

by faith on Apr 30, 2009 2:16 AM PDT up reply actions

What does putting in bench minutes

on the best third-tier Euro team translate into in the NBA?

"We have a different style, a European style," he says adjusting his jacket for emphasis. "They know it's cool.''

by sergioFTW on Apr 27, 2009 7:41 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

D league

At best

Q: Is Greg favoring his knee?
Frye: He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors.

by KP Corleone on Apr 27, 2009 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Better D than Sergio

"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''

by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 27, 2009 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions

our DNP-CD of the future in action

by appel82 on Apr 27, 2009 7:55 AM PDT reply actions

Who cares? He won't be ready for atleast a few more years, even if he comes over.

The BEdger previously known as BR7formvp.

by L-TrainFTW! on Apr 27, 2009 8:06 AM PDT reply actions

The Finn seems to have a long, long way to go before ever seeing an NBA basketball court. I don’t know a ton about the EuroChallenge, but winning on the heels of a DNP in the semis has to be a little like kissing your sister (at least from the perspective of the player’s NBA potential).

The European player who DOES warrant some genuine excitement is not the Finn – it’s the Brit. Freeland has been among the PER leaders in the ACB.

Now THAT is legit. A big, strong rebounder at the back up 4 spot is just what the doctor ordered following that disaster on the boards last night.

Q: Is Greg favoring his knee?
Frye: He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors.

by KP Corleone on Apr 27, 2009 8:44 AM PDT reply actions

Nice for Petteri, little influence on the Blazers.

He needs to get ahead of Earl Boykins in the rotation. Otherwise he won’t get the playing time he needs to develop. To use a comparison, he is their Sergio, at best.

by Norsktroll on Apr 27, 2009 8:54 AM PDT reply actions

I think Blazer fans can safely forget about PK for at least the next 2-3 years.

by jksnake99 on Apr 27, 2009 9:18 AM PDT reply actions

I think they might as well forget about him forever.

by AK1984 on Apr 27, 2009 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Forever is a long time

especially when you are talking about a 20-yr-old player. – Elgin

Tonight felt like the day you open the mail and receive an acceptance letter to your dream school: the University of Playoffs. - Ben Golliver, Apr 15 2009

by 22baylor on Apr 27, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions