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Post by ScottishBasketballFan on Aug 27, 2022 21:02:58 GMT
I see France lost
Shedding blood for the cause
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Post by spacejammer on Aug 28, 2022 8:37:39 GMT
Looking forward to today game even if Latvia are a force to be reckoned with.
I saw a notice in the Eagles Facebook that the game had final sold out aswell.
Go Team GB!🏀🇬🇧
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Post by erj14 on Aug 28, 2022 9:06:22 GMT
Genuine NBA talent playing in our little arena tonight. Feel especially lucky to have our club in the city I live in today.
Buzzing for tonight!
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Post by spacejammer on Aug 28, 2022 16:12:29 GMT
I'm at the arena now and the queue is insane.
Never seen a queue like it in Newcastle or any BBL venue!
I really hope they delay tip!
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Post by irf on Aug 28, 2022 18:24:55 GMT
Looks like a great game so far
38-38 halfway through
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Post by spacejammer on Aug 28, 2022 19:43:15 GMT
Wow that has probably been the craziest basketball match I had ever been too!
Did not realise how much of a following Latvia had for basketball but they really brought a passionate army with them today.
For GB I would say really hardlines today as I felt we were massively unlucky but credit Latvia they just wanted it more.
Portzingas definitely carried them on his shoulders though especially in the 1st half as they had nothing apart from charity free throws to begin with.
As for GB much better then we were against Turkey and we played better team ball but made some clumsy errors defensively in the 2nd half and fatigued towards the end.
Fouls as well did not help us and some questionable officials especially when it came to dishing out Techs!
But at the end of the day the better team won I suppose and Newcastle will have quite the Latvian party tonight.
As for GB stand out performances were difficult although Gabe did well, Mockford and Hesson were great.
However Soko had a surprisingly difficult game today compared to the Monster performance I saw against Germany 2.5 years ago and fouled out before he could really do any damage.
Overall very interesting game and I hope we can use it as momentum for our Eurobasket campaign next week.
Although as the person who came with me said tonight in order to get a better GB atmosphere next home match they need to get the GB fans sat next to each other rather then dotted around.
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Post by reallyoldfeenixfan2 on Aug 28, 2022 19:53:48 GMT
Although as the person who came with me said tonight in order to get a better GB atmosphere next home match they need to get the GB fans sat next to each other rather then dotted around. Or not let any away supporters in. Watched it on Courtside, Latvian supporters itself amazing. |
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Post by D44 on Aug 28, 2022 21:09:43 GMT
At least 2/3rd of the crowd must have been Latvian supporters, incredible support and definitely not the usual family friendly ECA atmosphere (good)
GB gave such a great account of themselves, but my god Porozongis was good! His touch around the rim was stunning and offers so much rim protection. You can tell, unlike lots of other NBA stars, that playing for his country means a lot to him.
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Post by spacejammer on Aug 28, 2022 21:19:55 GMT
At least 2/3rd of the crowd must have been Latvian supporters, incredible support and definitely not the usual family friendly ECA atmosphere (good) GB gave such a great account of themselves, but my god Porozongis was good! His touch around the rim was stunning and offers so much rim protection. You can tell, unlike lots of other NBA stars, that playing for his country means a lot to him. Aye Portzingas really carried his team tonight although his flopping at the end was pathetic! Safe to say if he wasn't playing for them Latvia would have had nothing tonight as they weren't that great if you ask me. But they did what they needed to do to get the job done. Whilst I was glad to have it at the Eagles I did sort of feel this game needed to be in a bigger venue like the Utilita arena next door. But felt the staff did well to manage it. Although opposite me where the corporate were sat I saw one Latvian fan at the end of the match get ejected by security for some reason. No idea what had gone on though. |
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Post by baldereagle on Aug 29, 2022 8:21:26 GMT
A brilliant evening at the VMA -we got there 15 min before tip and virtually no queue. Every GB chant drowned out by Latvians who were everywhere, although more at north end. Our new Eagle Ben did ok and Gabe is certainly welcome to join us !
Two moans - a poor programme with no heights/club info for each player and just 4 uncaptioned photos/ no text on the Belgium loss. The other was Howard’s total inability to tell us why the game stops. He’s there next to the officials so why can’t he tell us who’s fouled who ? There’s more to compèring than “Make some noise” !
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Post by spacejammer on Aug 29, 2022 8:41:22 GMT
A brilliant evening at the VMA -we got there 15 min before tip and virtually no queue. Every GB chant drowned out by Latvians who were everywhere, although more at north end. Our new Eagle Ben did ok and Gabe is certainly welcome to join us ! Two moans - a poor programme with no heights/club info for each player and just 4 uncaptioned photos/ no text on the Belgium loss. The other was Howard’s total inability to tell us why the game stops. He’s there next to the officials so why can’t he tell us who’s fouled who ? There’s more to compèring than “Make some noise” ! Yeah I agree with that sometimes I couldn't tell what was going on and it felt more like a Lativia home game then a GB Home match especially when he hyped them up. Although Drew Lasker did an excellent job as announcer last night I felt. And I noticed the legend himself Fab Flournoy was back in the building sat next to Dave F. Considering out foul trouble I'm surprised that Bigby Williams, Van-Ostrumm and Anderson didn't get any minutes last night? I mean I remember Bigby coming off the bench in the 3rd Quarter against Turkey and gave us a surge of quick points. I noticed that and height wise we struggled to find someone who was tall enough to guard Portzingas except Olanseni. |
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Post by blueskies99 on Aug 29, 2022 15:19:08 GMT
Its back.......for one episode....
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Post by dandayr on Aug 29, 2022 17:55:45 GMT
I've been lucky when travelling with work to be in some big basketball college and NBA crowds in the US - nothing matched the intensity of the atmosphere in Newcastle last night. A couple of times it did border past supportive to intimidating - so important to get the balance right. As to GB fans being out-sung by the visitors - that's nothing new, happened to us also in 2012 at the Manchester arena when the USA chants would be louder than any GB ones.
Was disappointed when Ovie picked up his 5th (he had just got into finding space and contributing to the offence) and the snowball effect that had and soon we lost another and what looked like a potential W slipped away. It was inevitable though as the refs were not strong enough and thins they picked us up for they let go at the other end. Once a GB player makes a comment or sign of frustration - here have a T. Meanwhile visiting bench jump up annoyed many times, reacting to contacts - and just get told time and time again sit down and lets not go to the times their coach could have got a T if same criteria applied to him as our players. I am sure at one of the P4 timeouts that is what Marc Steutal was highlighting - and first play after we got the benefit of a foul then the refs went back to not noticing maroon antics.
Like others, surprised Bigby not giving some minutes even if it was to save our key guys from getting those 4th fouls to early. The athleticism he shown in earlier games, hard to see he could not have added something for a couple of minutes.
Enjoyed another trip over to Newcastle for a GB game. Think I will now invest in that courtside1891 subscription to see the milan games.
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Post by erj14 on Aug 29, 2022 22:39:09 GMT
Wow, quite simply my best basketball experience ever. Like others, I've been to NBA playoff games and haven't experienced an atmosphere like that. Breathtaking at times and left absolutely buzzing.
Me and my 8 year old son (and a few others around us) did our best to create some noise for GB but were drowned out by the Latvians surrounding us. Had some great proper basketball chats with some of the visiting supporters and can't fault the night. Thank you so much to whoever is involved with bringing these events to Newcastle, truly cherished memories for me and my boy. To be able to take him to witness World class basketball talent in the same building he plays his CVL games on a Sunday, I feel immensely privileged.
Really feel for this GB team though, given the correct preparation that other teams benefit from they could really do something. Our governing body can't even be arsed to go out and get some sponsors. Even other team has 3/4 logos on their jerseys. It's a national disgrace and something needs to be done.
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