Post by Akomplice on Jan 29, 2011 19:34:45 GMT -5
Everyone always loves a tale when a player gets overlooked and burst onto the scene. Usually in order for this to happen they need to catch a break here and there, for the following three players it just happened to be in Idaho. Between these three players we have two late first rounders and an early second round pick. All three of these players are foreign and usually regarded as high risk, high reward type players. Most of the times the payoff isn't good, but when they do find their stride it is something amazing.
Vassilis Spanoulis
Vassilis is coming off a preseason in which the Nuggets let him be the first option to see what he can do with the ball. As the teams primary play maker he put up some staggering stats, 27 points a game, 6 assist and 3 boards a game. He wasn't even chucking nor forcing the issue evident by his 50/80/50 percentage line across the board. This play definitely caught the league by storm, however not his former teammates Niko and Manja. While spending time in Idaho on the same team each one of the players were able to see what Spanoulis was able to do as a playmaker. He would create the offense as he was used at the primary ball handler for the stampede. On the pick and rolls is when he did his best work, because if you went over the screen he picked up the dime, if you want under it was two points automatically. This is no surprise to anyone who has been following the Stampede, all two General Managers. While we don't expect him to keep up the numbers, he has proven that he can play on the biggest level in the world.
Nikoloz Tskitishvili
While not experiencing the same exact success as former teammate Spanoulis, Niko did find himself in the starting lineup for the Blazers to showcase what he can do. While Spanoulis was used as the primary playmaker, the Blazers wanted to see what he can do with the actual starting five and see if he belonged. He ended up posting 14/6/1.5/1.5 at a 42/75/39 clip. Niko proved that he can contribute to winning basketball and made quite the impression on the coach, so much that he will find himself in the starting lineup when the regular season starts. When Spanoulis heard the great news he texted Niko and told him make it rain on the league. Usually the 1-2 punch of the Stampede, Niko proved that he could shoot the ball with the best of them. He was adjusting to the faster pace of the SSBL game, but eventually found his groove. This should come as no surprise because everywhere he has played, his shot was always money. Niko will spend time with the Blazers while Stampede/Blazer teammate Manja will spend another year in the development league. However while speaking on Manja, he gives him words of advice. Hey look at me, I did it and so can you.
Nemanja Aleksandrov
On to our final bitter story, Manja. While he was unable to play in the preseason because he will be spending time in the development league again this year. However being able to play with guys like Niko and Spanoulis was a blast. They really showed me how to play in the development league and what it takes to get to the big time. Manja will be joined by Hilton Armstrong, Rashard McCants and Joel Freeland. Manja and McCants will be the leaders on this team, however Manja feels that he has the upper edge going in because of the experience he gained the past year playing with Span and Niko. He is really hoping to improve his shot this year for the Stampede because he shown flashes of brilliance the past year with playmaking. Manja is hoping that he and McCants can be the same 1-2 punch as Niko and Span were for the Stampede. Both players have proven that not all development league players are meant to stay there.
Vassilis Spanoulis
Vassilis is coming off a preseason in which the Nuggets let him be the first option to see what he can do with the ball. As the teams primary play maker he put up some staggering stats, 27 points a game, 6 assist and 3 boards a game. He wasn't even chucking nor forcing the issue evident by his 50/80/50 percentage line across the board. This play definitely caught the league by storm, however not his former teammates Niko and Manja. While spending time in Idaho on the same team each one of the players were able to see what Spanoulis was able to do as a playmaker. He would create the offense as he was used at the primary ball handler for the stampede. On the pick and rolls is when he did his best work, because if you went over the screen he picked up the dime, if you want under it was two points automatically. This is no surprise to anyone who has been following the Stampede, all two General Managers. While we don't expect him to keep up the numbers, he has proven that he can play on the biggest level in the world.
Nikoloz Tskitishvili
While not experiencing the same exact success as former teammate Spanoulis, Niko did find himself in the starting lineup for the Blazers to showcase what he can do. While Spanoulis was used as the primary playmaker, the Blazers wanted to see what he can do with the actual starting five and see if he belonged. He ended up posting 14/6/1.5/1.5 at a 42/75/39 clip. Niko proved that he can contribute to winning basketball and made quite the impression on the coach, so much that he will find himself in the starting lineup when the regular season starts. When Spanoulis heard the great news he texted Niko and told him make it rain on the league. Usually the 1-2 punch of the Stampede, Niko proved that he could shoot the ball with the best of them. He was adjusting to the faster pace of the SSBL game, but eventually found his groove. This should come as no surprise because everywhere he has played, his shot was always money. Niko will spend time with the Blazers while Stampede/Blazer teammate Manja will spend another year in the development league. However while speaking on Manja, he gives him words of advice. Hey look at me, I did it and so can you.
Nemanja Aleksandrov
On to our final bitter story, Manja. While he was unable to play in the preseason because he will be spending time in the development league again this year. However being able to play with guys like Niko and Spanoulis was a blast. They really showed me how to play in the development league and what it takes to get to the big time. Manja will be joined by Hilton Armstrong, Rashard McCants and Joel Freeland. Manja and McCants will be the leaders on this team, however Manja feels that he has the upper edge going in because of the experience he gained the past year playing with Span and Niko. He is really hoping to improve his shot this year for the Stampede because he shown flashes of brilliance the past year with playmaking. Manja is hoping that he and McCants can be the same 1-2 punch as Niko and Span were for the Stampede. Both players have proven that not all development league players are meant to stay there.
