I wouldn't be panicked about this, as they (Russians) have some pretty good players. Plus it's an exhibition.. I wonder if Langdon will ever make it back to the NBA. ########################################### Langdon leads CSKA Moscow past ClippersAssociated Press MOSCOW -- Trajan Langdon scored 17 points and Tomas Van Den Spiegel added 16 to lead CSKA Moscow to a 94-75 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in an exhibition game Saturday. "I'd love to come back and play these guys when we're definitely in shape -- to show them what we can do." -- Corey Maggette Center Chris Kaman had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Corey Maggette scored 13 points for the Clippers, one of four NBA teams taking part in a European preseason tour and the first to play in Russia since the Atlanta Hawks in 1988. "I'd love to come back and play these guys when we're definitely in shape -- to show them what we can do," Maggette said. It was the second victory for a European team on the NBA Europe Live tour. FC Barcelona beat the Philadelphia 76ers 104-99 on Thursday in Barcelona. "Beating a team from the NBA is not a thing that happens often," said Theodoros Papaloukas, who had 10 points and nine assists for CSKA. Los Angeles forward Elton Brand said he "definitely [had] flashbacks of Papaloukas," who had 12 assists when Greece beat the United States in the semifinals of the world championships. "He's a great player," Brand said. CSKA, the Euroleague champions, grabbed the early lead before the Clippers went ahead 24-23 on Maggette's score. But CSKA regained the advantage with the next basket and never fell behind again, steadily widening their lead and making it 52-39 when Anton Ponkrashov scored just before halftime. "We knew what they could do, and unfortunately we weren't able to stop it," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. Minutes after the break, former Duke star Langdon hit two straight 3-pointers in quick succession to put his team 16 points ahead and CSKA extended its lead to 65-45 with five minutes left in the quarter. Tim Thomas made it 65-48 with a 3-pointer to start off seven unanswered points for the Clippers, but David Andersen scored for CSKA to help the Russian team to a 73-57 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Clippers scored the first five points in the final quarter, including a 3-pointer from Maggette, but CSKA did not allow Los Angeles within 10 points again. Dunleavy said the game was a good test for his team ahead of the new season. "It tells us how far away we are," he said. Matjaz Smodis and former Washington Wizards player David Vanterpool each had 14 points for CSKA, while Thomas scored 10 for Los Angeles. Former CSKA player Yaroslav Korolev played briefly for the Clippers at the end of the game but did not score. The Clippers have been in Moscow since Oct. 1 for a training camp. They beat BC Khimki 98-91 on Friday night. CSKA's Italian coach, Ettore Messina, said the team must "stay extremely humble" after the win. Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
This just proves that unless Alaskan all-star teams play the NBA champion, the NBA team is not the true world champion because of the 2004 Olympics. American basketball has no fundamentals. Alaskan basketball however has the stuff to create true champions. This is an embarrassment to the entire Lower 48, as well as to Guam and American Samoa, but not to Puerto Rico or the USVI.
Yeah, it is pretty embarassing when you have Brand playing too. If they were all scrubs playing against them, then I wouldn't be shocked.
This just proves CSK moscow is a good team that any NBA team cant take it for granted they that can beat it on any given night. I caught half of the game. The clippers were playing one on one basket ball and CSK were playing team ball. Team ball won big in the end.
All of the important clippers played including Sam. I dont think this one game says anything more than CSK is a good team, considering Clipper was playing in Russia and it's just a preseason game. But I was really impressed with the way CSK played, not only could they compete with a good NBA team, also they showed they could beat one too.
It's a good thing the Trailblazers didn't have training camp in Europe this year, or we'd see a new "Blazers lose to [insert Euro team here]" every other day...
I think cska are bankrolled by the same oil baron who owns chelski in the premier league (english soccer)
wikipedia says he sponsors CSKA but is not allowed an ownership interest since they also have a powerhouse soccer team and UEFA won't let you own two euro teams at once.
im pretty sure this is all a part of david sterns plans guys come on basketball isnt that big in a lot of these countries having their local teams beat our teams increases interest in the sport in those areas.... good for NBA PROFIT
except that they all see their teams as being on par with the NBA, so they don't care for expansion and they'd rather buy their home team's jersey.
Yeah Chris Kaman jersey sales are down 246% in the Moscow area just over the last 24 hours. Trajan Langdon #21 Cavs Throwback Jerseys are up 345% however.
Melo was interviewed during MNF tonight; they have an exhibition game tomorrow against some Turkish team that he had no idea how to play against. Couldn't it be feasible that maybe the other teams are just more prepared (scouting-wise) and fired up?
bwahaha, you mean Carmelo Anthony isn't treating this preseason game against Efes Pilsen as a big deal? Does he know they're named after a beer?
these teams are allways in game shape and well practiced. most of them have played together for YEARS. nba teams have to build thier chemisrty from the ground up every year due to all of the player movement. these guys didn't even get to finish training camp and they are expected to play and win? give them a break. maggetty is right, i'd like to see them play a rematch in midseason.
enlighten me: how many of the starting up five of the clippers are new? and how exactly that the other team is ALWAYS in game shape? given the facts that their stars also just played in WC?
