On August 31st, EuroBasket, an European competition featuring 24 countries and a high number of NBA players.  With the much anticipated exodus of NBA players to Europe not exactly happening (as of yet), this could be the last time you see some really good NBA players play in a true competitive setting for a really long time.  To get everyone more familiar with what we are going to see during the EuroBasket tournament, I am going to look at each team’s offense and break down a few interesting sets that they run, using game tape from the preparation games that are currently being played.

Spain are entering EuroBasket 2011 as the favorites to win the tournament and for good reason.  Their roster would be competitive in the NBA, featuring the Gasol brothers, Serge Ibaka, Rudy Fernandez, and Ricky Rubio and they run a very good offense that continuously puts them in positions to succeed.

Halfcourt Offense

Quick-Hitting Lob

It should be no surprise that this Spanish team is a little bit flashy, with the NBA guys on their team, they have the talent to do so.  Maybe, the biggest example of Spain’s flash is the fact that they have a set play designed to get Rudy Fernandez a lob, and the fact that they run it a fair amount of the time (once or twice a game):

The play starts with Ricky Rubio bringing the basketball up and as that happens, Rudy Fernandez comes up to meet Rubio and get in position to set a ball screen (at times, Spain runs this with a pass to Fernandez and a quick handoff back to the point guard instead of a screen).

However, Fernandez has no interest in setting a screen, and he quickly cuts after showing the screen, flashing around Serge Ibaka and cutting to the rim.

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