Does anyone else find it odd that in the NBA playoffs foreign players have a rep of falling apart under pressure (Peja in particular, but Gasol and Dirk were unspectacular last year). In watching the exhibition games and the Olympics, I find this odd since it seems like these guys are now stepping up beyond belief, whether it be Dirk torching the US in the exhibition, Arroyo playing absolutely lights out when PR beat the US, and even lesser known foreign guys like the Lithuanian and the Italian guys were just hitting everything. It seems like on the world stage these players rise to the occasion but in the NBA these same players underperform. Just thought that was odd.
Dirk is the leading scorer in this years playoff. 26.6 pts 11.8 rbs 1.2 ast 1.4 stls 2.6 blks 42% FG 47% 3P% He did play some defense.
Dirk was awesome in the playoffs.. Peja had a hard time while Gasol's woes may be a by product of the system. (playing everyone less minutes) plus he was matched up against TD. Yao was matched up against Shaq that may have had something to do about it. J
The reason is that during the playoff, teams foul a lot and referees do not and can not call as much fouls. International players are not used to the kind of hacking or fouls in the playoff, well they are not strong enough. and of course, referees are somewhat biased toward domestic stars.
I don't know about that, the refs in FIBA call the game like 10x looser than an NBA game. But they're so mercurial a touch foul will be called after a guy gets leveled with a no call. It's bizarre, but I don't think the foreign guys shy from contact.
What's so odd about about players stepping up when representing their country? Haven't you seen Rocky 3?
