(#22 Ron Lewis givin' em the business -5.12.2010: Image - CEZ Basket)So many individuals are great at this sport, yet only the best teams play into May. This notion rings true after watching hours of International & NBA Playoff basketball where only the teams with the best chemistry advance. With Brian Brown recently winning a title in Switzerland, guards Scoonie Penn & Ron Lewis remain in Europe as the last two survivors in the road to a championship.
In the Czech Republic, CEZ Nymburk entered the playoffs as the favorites and has played accordingly. They swept 8th seed BC Kolin in three games (quarter finals from 4.24.2010 to 5.1.2010) And then followed that up with a recent 3 to 1 Semi finals series win over fourth seeded BK Pardubicie (from 5.12.2010 to 5.22.2010)
The Pardubicie series was interesting because the competition was a step up from the previous round, and Nymburk was also without starting point guard Arthur Lee for two games. Game One on May 12th was perhaps one of the funnest games we viewed all season. Ron Lewis immediately set the tone from the jump with an explosive 13 point first quarter (just about showing the whole repertoire in the process) . For some reason Pardubicie initially elected to put a smaller guard on Lewis which resulted in a couple post up buckets & trips to foul the line. #22 would go on to covert a 3 and a nice transition layup where he went coast to coast after a rebound...
..Late in the 1st quarter is when it got real serious though. After a missed 3 (his only miss from long range of the night 3/4) Lewis hustled back on defense and swatted a dude's stuff near the rim. And then came the statement play..Ron caught the ball just a little bit to the right of the top of the key..he blew past the defender with his signature first step and banged on the help side D with a one hander. Lewis remained hot from 3 point range & in transition in the 2nd half, ending the game with 29 points in the W.
Nymburk played the next two games without guard Arthur Lee. Mike Lenzly been hooping out as well) & Ron Lewis helped out with ball handling and offense initiation. Lew did a lot of damage from the foul line in Game 2, and was able to nail three huge 3-pointers int he 4th quarter to help Nymburk in a road victory.
It looked like the defending champs were on their way to a sweep at home in gm 3, but Pardubicie pulled ahead late in the game and stole a victory. (Lewis 21pts) Yet, Nymburk responded to their first playoff loss with a convincing 70-56 gm4 victory to clinch the series. They ended up winning one game at home & two on the road, but Pardubicie's home court is exactly foreign to Nymburk because that is where they played their home Eurocup games.
(Some Lewis clips from the 2 home games vs Pardubicie)
5.28.2010 - (2) BK Prostejov at (1) CEZ Nymburk (Czech Finals-Game 1)
CEZ Nymburk will now look to continue their Championship Dynasty (this squad has won the Czech title like the last 4 or 5 years) by defeating BK Prostejov in the Czech Finals. Prostejov is the #2 seed in the tournament, and challenged Nymburk in every meeting this season. Like the Greek final, this should be another evenly matched series (except Prostejov doesn't have the x-factor..#22)
2010 Playoff Center
In the Czech Republic, CEZ Nymburk entered the playoffs as the favorites and has played accordingly. They swept 8th seed BC Kolin in three games (quarter finals from 4.24.2010 to 5.1.2010) And then followed that up with a recent 3 to 1 Semi finals series win over fourth seeded BK Pardubicie (from 5.12.2010 to 5.22.2010)
The Pardubicie series was interesting because the competition was a step up from the previous round, and Nymburk was also without starting point guard Arthur Lee for two games. Game One on May 12th was perhaps one of the funnest games we viewed all season. Ron Lewis immediately set the tone from the jump with an explosive 13 point first quarter (just about showing the whole repertoire in the process) . For some reason Pardubicie initially elected to put a smaller guard on Lewis which resulted in a couple post up buckets & trips to foul the line. #22 would go on to covert a 3 and a nice transition layup where he went coast to coast after a rebound...
..Late in the 1st quarter is when it got real serious though. After a missed 3 (his only miss from long range of the night 3/4) Lewis hustled back on defense and swatted a dude's stuff near the rim. And then came the statement play..Ron caught the ball just a little bit to the right of the top of the key..he blew past the defender with his signature first step and banged on the help side D with a one hander. Lewis remained hot from 3 point range & in transition in the 2nd half, ending the game with 29 points in the W.
Nymburk played the next two games without guard Arthur Lee. Mike Lenzly been hooping out as well) & Ron Lewis helped out with ball handling and offense initiation. Lew did a lot of damage from the foul line in Game 2, and was able to nail three huge 3-pointers int he 4th quarter to help Nymburk in a road victory.
It looked like the defending champs were on their way to a sweep at home in gm 3, but Pardubicie pulled ahead late in the game and stole a victory. (Lewis 21pts) Yet, Nymburk responded to their first playoff loss with a convincing 70-56 gm4 victory to clinch the series. They ended up winning one game at home & two on the road, but Pardubicie's home court is exactly foreign to Nymburk because that is where they played their home Eurocup games.
(Some Lewis clips from the 2 home games vs Pardubicie)
5.28.2010 - (2) BK Prostejov at (1) CEZ Nymburk (Czech Finals-Game 1)
CEZ Nymburk will now look to continue their Championship Dynasty (this squad has won the Czech title like the last 4 or 5 years) by defeating BK Prostejov in the Czech Finals. Prostejov is the #2 seed in the tournament, and challenged Nymburk in every meeting this season. Like the Greek final, this should be another evenly matched series (except Prostejov doesn't have the x-factor..#22)
2010 Playoff Center
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