Casspi Continues to Carry a Nation
July 28, 2010 by Jason Wise
Tyreke Evans isn’t the only member of the Sacramento Kings hoping to make an impact for his country this offseason. Across the Atlantic, Omri Casspi is making waves playing for the Israeli national team leading up to Eurobasket qualifications.
Although the Israeli national team did not qualify for the World Championships this August in Istanbul, Turkey, it still has a chance to qualify for next year’s Eurobasket tournament in Lithuania. In August, the team will compete in a qualifying round consisting of 15 teams with each group winner and the two second-best placed teams qualifying for the Eurobasket 2011 Tournament.
Israel is in Group A, competing with the national teams of Finland, Italy, Latvia and Montenegro for a berth into next year’s tournament. With its only medal being silver in 1979, after losing to the then-Soviet Union, Israel is looking to win its first gold in the tournament’s 75-year history. Although success has eluded Israel in Eurobasket history, if Casspi’s on-court demeanor is any indicator of the team’s mental focus they won’t lack confidence going into qualifications.
In the three practice games leading up to the tip-off in Kaunas, Lithuania, Casspi has turned in strong all-around performances. Check out his stats from the previous three practice games:
vs. Belgium: 24 points, 6 rebounds (Win 79 – 55)
vs. Holland: 17 points, 5 rebounds (Win 96 – 83)
vs. Britain: 27 points, 5 blocks (Win 86 – 82)
Stay current with Kings.com throughout August to track Casspi and Israel’s journey and hopeful Eurobasket 2011 berth.
More Casspi Coverage
Israel’s Game Schedule:
8/2/2010 – Israel vs Italy
8/8/2010 – Latvia vs Israel
8/11/2010 – Israel vs Finland
8/14/2010 – Montenegro vs Israel
8/17/2010 – Italy vs Israel
8/23/2010 – Israel vs Latvia
8/26/2010 – Finland vs Israel
8/29/2010 – Israel vs Montenegro
For more Israeli team news, go here - Israel Team Page on FIBAEurope.com
To keep up with Omri’s game stats and scores, go here -Scoreboard for Qualifying Round
Casspi's gonna be raw this year!!! With Noch gone it's gonna be an exciting year for us!!! GO KINGS LETS GET IT LETS GO!!!
Dalembert/Cousins
Landry/JT/Whiteside
Greene/Casspi
Garcia/Wright/Sloan
Reke/Beno/Jeter
SIGN MONTE ELLIS!!!
We all love Caspi. Is he athletic enough for the Kings? Seems like last year he was sluggish toward the end of the 2009-2010 NBA season.
Rudy fernandez please
I cant believe you forgot Evans lol
no i didn't haha… who did you think Reke was? haha
donald sloan isnt with the kings..? is he???
and yup this is goonna be a killer lineup and we've got a really good bench i but i think the real lineup for our first real game this season will be
Pg- Tyreke Evans- of course
Sg-Garcia or Casspi if i was westphal id go with casspi if u have garcia as a backup man thatd be great
Sf- Donte Greene
Pf-Demarcus Cousins if i was westphal id see how he does at the starting position with reke and donte and casspi and with landry and jt as a backup i am getting cringy just saying that im too excited for the kings lol
C- Ouch um Dalembert for sure and Hassan Whiteside but u know in the long run if they dont sign dalembert for next season and whiteside proves he can start then he might be with cousins starting i mean thats like a pau gasol and bynum but younger and better well i dont know if theyre better ryt now but u know what i mean if ur a kings fan
In the next few years this might be the lineup
-Tyreke Evans
-A really really good 3 point shooter i mean really good but kinda young and fresh u know cuz with tyreke driving and getting dbled team a lot he can kick to this "guy" who can shoot
-Greene/Casspi
-Demarcus Cousins
-Hassan Whiteside
this is probably going to be the best youngest starting 5
I think we should get Eddy House back while we still got the chance.
The Kings need a three-point-shooter, definitely! Hey, get Bibby back on the Kings!
Go Kings!
Thanks for asking, Mark. Yes, Sloan signed a Kings rookie contract prior to Vegas Summer League. Following is a link with more info on the young PG: http://bit.ly/aDY6Zx
There are a ton of valuable free agents still available, I can't believe we are not even trying to grab at least a shooting threat, I say bring peja back he's still unsigned, michael redd, etc
Pg- Tyreke /jeter
sg- Beno (better compliment because he shoots and can run the offense) /Garcia
Sf- donte (better defender than casspi) /casspi(not good enough off the dribble game to play sg)
pf- landry (more skilled offensely) /thompson
c-cousins (complimet to landry's finnese and not quick enough to play pf) /dalembert
The kings are gonna wait it out when it comes to free agency because of the crazy cash mediocre players are getting. the kings arent gonna make playoffs so they should save the money and use it next year. the kings are goin to have a high draft pick (maybe the lottery) and second round anyways
Yes. Get Peja!
Go Kings!
Teams don't become good by waiting to see what happens… I really really love the kings, but I'd like to be out of the "rebuilding" phase and get into the contention phase. I think we have some really good pieces, but we lack talented depth on our roster. I'm just not impressed with JT,greene, and casspi. I think casspi will get better, because he was only a rookie last season but JT and greene it's like they have sparks of greatness but that's it, they are not consistent enough. I like the moves for dalembert cousins and whiteside, because we need front court presence, I think the only places we are lacking are at the 3 and backup for g/sg
Dear Geoff Petrie,
Geoff I know that being a GM was a had job and many works to do but Geoff if you want the Kings be a better team, I suggest that make a deal to acquire Ricky Rubio [now that his value is not too high thus far] in exchange for future draft picks and please stop signing cheap players I'm high on you Geoff, please hear my request if you read this. and sign Ryan Thompson because he is a good perimeter defender and has a defensive awareness like Bruce Bowen and he excels to the basket like Tyreke but not much and he doesn't demand the ball. and last but not the least if Mike Bibby's contract expires please sign to have a veteran leader on the court and have a shooters like him.
My Starting Lineup
[1st Option] As of now
PG:Tyreke Evans, Beno Udrih, Eugene Jeter
SG:Donte` Greene, Francisco Garcia, Free Agent
SF:Omri Casspi, Antoine Wright, Free Agent
PF:DeMarCus Cousins, Carl Landry, Hassan Whiteside
C:Samuel Dalembert, Jason Thompson
[2nd Option] Most likely to happen
PG:Beno Udrih, Eugene Jeter
SG:Tyreke Evans, Francisco Garcia, Free Agent
SF:Omri Casspi, Donte` Greene[or vice versa], Antoine Wright
PF:Carl Landry, Jason Thompson[or vice versa], Hassan Whiteside
C:Samuel Dalembert, DeMarCus Cousins
[3rd Option] My Realistic Dream Lineup
PG:Ricky Rubio, Mike Bibby,Beno Udrih
SG:Tyreke Evans,
SF:Omri Casspi, Donte` Greene
PF:Demarcus Cousins, Carl Landry, Hassan Whiteside
C:Samuel Dalembert, Jason Thompson
HOPING! GOD BLESS YOU ALL*
——————————IMHO——————————
I totally agree with you Sacholic, you almost express want I want to say, I'm suggesting Ryan Thompson and Tracy McGrady for those two Free Agent vacancies! thanks =D
Correct. that's my point of view.
haha lol. replying on his own post? but I agree with you.
yessss sir he sure is
demarcus is a center not a pf he's not quick enough to defend the perimiter whiteside is more realistic at the 4 spot with his length and shot blocking abilitys
I Think Cousins is faster than KG! watch his game at LVSL and you will know. Thanks!
Continuing to Carry a Nation??? Put the nation DOWN for a minute and focus on BASKETBALL! He was totally worn out last season with all the publicity and insanity surrounding him. He needs to focus JUST ON BASKETBALL if he is to succeed! Slow down your demands on his TIME!! That is, unless you WANT him to FAIL!!!
Kingsfan86 has a good point about the depth of this roster. If one compares this roster to the L.A. Lakers or San Antonio Spurs, how do they stack up? Has this team team changed signifigantly? There needs to be more depth, more veterans, more enthusiasm.
Go Kings!
Sure teams wanting to be good wont wait, but that is what can shoot them in the foot in the future unless you're getting a superstar or you already have a superstar caliber guy on your team. I'm just saying kings shouldnt go after free agents this summer but get some deals going. they have young assests teams other teams would want. when it comes to JT, GReene, and Casspi, they are bench players. the kings need a sg that moves without the ball and a spot shooter. its going to take at least two years for the kings to be contending.
2 years?? not really. They can contend for the 8 spot this season and watch JT, Greene, Casspi improves because they have the potential to be a role player!