I noticed that today, the east didn't have any international players West Gasol Yao Dirk Parker Duncan (according to NBA, Virgin island players considered International) is this just by chance or do western conf teams thrive off international play?
Peja.. Scola.. and how could you forget Ginoboli? Some other good/great players within the Western Conference. I'm sure if I had the time there'd be more I could name.
I can only think of Turkoglu,Calderon,Ilgauskas,Bogut in the east who could be considered Borderline all-stars. Guys in the West Duncan Nowitzki Parker Gasol Yao are probably going to be HOF'ers, just wondering if the "east" as an entity doesn't prefer international players.
I don't think anyone in the East would not prefer to have international players: Duncan (how is he international? born in Bahamas and played college ball at Wake), Ginobili, Parker, Gasol.... All GM's want good players. There is no underlying anti-internationalism in the East. The West has just had better players period over the last 10 years. The Celtics built their Championship around 1 home grown East player and 2 West acquisitions. The East would be trash if it weren't for the following: -Celtics trading Jefferson for KG and Jeff Green for Ray Allen -Cavs getting #1 pick in the LeBron year -Heat drafting Dwayne Wade -Magic getting #1 pick in Dwight Howard year Western Conference GM's just have been better at acquiring talent, finding gems, and assembling teams over the last decade. -Cuban taking the cellar dwelling Mavs and turning them into winners (Dirk for Tractor Traylor trade and many other good moves) -Spurs winning the Duncan sweepstakes but also doing almost everything else right in terms of building around him -Lakers building the Kobe-Shaq dynasty, let it destroy itself, and still find a way to re-emerge as elite -Suns going from average to elite with the Nash signing and good moves by Colangelo in spite of Sarver's cheapness
I understand that Duncan was born in a US territory. That's not the point. He's not an international player. Those guys are generally considered to be players who played in other leagues. Duncan was schooled in the US and found from the US college system. He's not a Scola or a Gasol or a Parker or Fernandez or Batum or whatever.
yes I do understand what you're saying, but Duncan shows up on the Fedex International plays of the week
its amazing how all threads can get sidetracked, it never fails to impress me http://www.nba.com/players/int_players_0708.html Regardless of whether Duncan is considered international or not, I find it interesting that all the "international" players play in the WEST.
Well I guess you have sidetracked you're on thread or gotten confused in it because all "international" players don't play in the West. Just there are no "international" players that made the East All-Star team.
The East does have some good international talent: Andrew Bogut Zydrunas Ilgauskas Hedo Turkoglu Jose Calderon Al Horford Ben Gordon Boris Diaw Raja Bell Mickael Pietrus Andres Nocioni
I obviously meant to say the West. Conf. teams had the best international players, I believe it's just a coincidence that the best international players are in the west, not trying to imply that the Eastern Conf. teams are biased against international talent, its just that they don't have the international star caliber of west teams.
What are you talking about with Bogut? He is a national player not international?? What are calling him - a foreigner?
If gasol wins a couple of chamionships, he will be in the HOF. Gasol for his career is 19/9/2.5 assists and close to 2 blks Its okay not to like him, but Gasol is one of the best in the game today.
