Alex Murphy & U-20 Finnish National Team

[CDu]

Allegedly put up 36 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals in his first game with the Finnish team.

[MChambers]

Allegedly put up 36 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals in his first game with the Finnish team.

That sounds very promising, at least until I remember some of Nick Horvath's numbers from New Zealand.

[dcar1985]

Heck of a start for Alex...just wondering though, is there a big difference in the competition between the U20 Euro Champ Div A. and the Div B. Alex is playing in or is it broke down that way randomly? Monster game regardless

[Olympic Fan]

Murphy with 36 points (12 of 21 from the floor) in 28 minutes in Finland's 97-78 victory over Estonia. Added 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks and 1 assist.

Estonia is not the greatest compefition, but don't underrate the Baltic States. Although neighboring Lithuania was the lead, Estonia and Latvia played a large role in the success of the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. Most of the players who played for the USSR came from the Baltic States. It's a hot spot for the game.

Great trivia -- did you know that Estonia won the first Olympic basketball game ever played? They bea France in the first game of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

BTW: The Fins list Murphy at 6-8.3 inches tall and 220.5 pounds.

[awhom111]

Here is the boxscore for anyone interested:
http://www.basket.fi/maajoukkueet/ot...t:2-4400$t&0=1

The other players that reached double figures for Finland were Joonas Caven, who played last season in Spain's third-tier for Joventut Badalona's B team, and Villemati Kopio and Markus Molenius, who got decent minutes in Finland's second tier.

While Estonia may seem like weaker competition, they will be playing in the A division of the U20s while Finland will be playing in the B division. Each year the bottom 2 A teams drop down to B and the top 2 B teams get bumped up to the next year's A division. Estonia also has a stronger professional league than Finland.

Here is another article that the internet translation is great for. Apparently Alex had the best Finland debut ever for all age groups. I am also impressed by how many pictures of him in Duke gear that they have found.
http://www.basket.fi/uutiset/etusivu...33156=13490165

[Newton_14]

Heck of a start for Alex...just wondering though, is there a big difference in the competition between the U20 Euro Champ Div A. and the Div B. Alex is playing in or is it broke down that way randomly? Monster game regardless

Skepticism of the competition is certainly fair, but look at it this way, Alex dominated. Had he scored 14 or 15, then I would be far more skeptical. Even worse had he went for like 8 points or something. I take this as a very encouraging sign with his development. Reading between the lines over last year, one clear problem prior to redshirting, was confidence. Alex was not sure if he belonged, based mainly I think, on coming a year early, combined with being knocked back a bit with the size and strength of college players. Lack of confidence is a killer even to the best of players.

I am anxious to see how he fares as this competition progresses, and then where he is at in the early November games. This is a great first step for him though.

[Greg_Newton]

I remember when discussing the benefits of coming to Duke a year early and redshirting, Alex said something to the effect of. "It's just been a whole different level. If I were playing HS ball now, I could score 40-50 points a game."

Looks like he wasn't kidding.

[Newton_14]

I remember when discussing the benefits of coming to Duke a year early and redshirting, Alex said something to the effect of. "It's just been a whole different level. If I were playing HS ball now, I could score 40-50 points a game."

Looks like he wasn't kidding.

I thought about that very same comment. I think it came when he and Mason were watching one of the High School Christmas tourney's that were being played in the area.

[FerryFor50]

I think it's a great sign. Regardless of what you think the level of competition was, he still was playing against men his age and size. For anyone who's played pickup ball, it's not always a given that you're going to score, even against lesser competition. He's at least showing he's competent at scoring in a competitive game rather than being a practice star.

[westwall]

[QUOTE=Olympic Fan;583146]Murphy with 36 points (12 of 21 from the floor) in 28 minutes

Actually, Alex was 13 for 23 from the floor, with 1 for 2 from 3 plus 9 FT (out of 13 FTA) for his total of 36.

[Greg_Newton]

I thought about that very same comment. I think it came when he and Mason were watching one of the High School Christmas tourney's that were being played in the area.

Yup:

The discrepancy between levels stood out to him two weeks ago when he watched St. Mark's, his high school team, play at the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational in Raleigh.

"I feel like I've gotten a lot better since I've been here," Murphy said. "Put me in that game right now, I might score 40 or 50 points.

lol... gotta love the swagger.

We could very quietly be adding a very, very good starter on the wing this year. Great performance vs. Estonia or not, I really think all indications are and have been pointing to him being a standout, core player in our lineup at the 3 spot this year. I know that common perception is that SF will be a big question mark for us, but I have a feeling any such concerns will quickly be put to rest.

He was already really, really good last summer/fall, despite some China jitters; if he's made another big leap since then and added a little swagger, he's going to be really fun to watch for ~30 MPG this year. I really think he'll be the best true wing slasher we've had in a while, with a real nose for the rim and tremendous footwork/timing in his approaches; the 13 FT attempts might be the most telling part of that box score. He's not one to settle for a jumper.

[wk2109]

Yup:

We could very quietly be adding a very, very good starter on the wing this year. Great performance vs. Estonia or not, I really think all indications are and have been pointing to him being a standout, core player in our lineup at the 3 spot this year. I know that common perception is that SF will be a big question mark for us, but I have a feeling any such concerns will quickly be put to rest.

Does anyone know what position he's playing for Finland? I'm wondering if he's spending most of his time on the wing or if he's playing any 4.

[MChambers]

Does anyone know what position he's playing for Finland? I'm wondering if he's spending most of his time on the wing or if he's playing any 4.

Maybe the Finnish don't have positions?

[flyingdutchdevil]

I think the competition has a lot to do with Alex's points. Here are the stats from Marty Pocius's 2006 U-20 Euro tournament:

2pts 3pts FT Rbds
Match Min M/A % M/A % M/A % O D Tot As PF To St BS Pts
vs GRE 27 2/5 40 2/5 40 3/4 75 0 0 0 1 5 3 0 0 13
vs BUL 34 10/15 66,7 1/2 50 9/10 90 0 1 1 2 3 5 3 0 32
vs ESP 27 1/6 16,7 2/4 50 3/4 75 0 3 3 1 1 1 1 0 11
vs SCG 29 7/12 58,3 1/1 100 3/3 100 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 20
vs SLO 44 12/19 63,2 2/3 66,7 4/5 80 2 7 9 3 5 5 1 0 34
vs FRA 17 4/8 50 1/2 50 0/1 0 1 1 2 3 5 2 1 0 11
vs CRO 26 7/10 70 0/2 0 0/0 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 0 1 14
vs GRE 32 9/13 69,2 1/5 20 4/6 66,7 2 3 5 0 2 2 1 0 25

Given, Marty didn't ever score 36, but he did have one 32 point game and one 34 point game.

If Alex continues this success, then consider me a believer. But right now, I think we need to take Alex's game with a grain of salt.

[BD80]

Maybe the Finnish don't have positions?

Its not where you start, its where you ...

[sagegrouse]

I think the competition has a lot to do with Alex's points. Here are the stats from Marty Pocius's 2006 U-20 Euro tournament:

 	 	2pts	3pts	FT	Rbds	 	 	 	 	 	 
Match	Min	M/A	%	M/A	%	M/A	%	O	D	Tot	As	PF	To	St	BS	Pts
vs GRE	27	2/5	40	2/5	40	3/4	75	0	0	0	1	5	3	0	0	13
vs BUL	34	10/15	66,7	1/2	50	9/10	90	0	1	1	2	3	5	3	0	32
vs ESP	27	1/6	16,7	2/4	50	3/4	75	0	3	3	1	1	1	1	0	11
vs SCG	29	7/12	58,3	1/1	100	3/3	100	1	0	1	0	1	2	0	0	20
vs SLO	44	12/19	63,2	2/3	66,7	4/5	80	2	7	9	3	5	5	1	0	34
vs FRA	17	4/8	50	1/2	50	0/1	0	1	1	2	3	5	2	1	0	11
vs CRO	26	7/10	70	0/2	0	0/0	0	0	2	2	0	0	3	0	1	14
vs GRE	32	9/13	69,2	1/5	20	4/6	66,7	2	3	5	0	2	2	1	0	25

Given, Marty didn't ever score 36, but he did have one 32 point game and one 34 point game.

If Alex continues this success, then consider me a believer. But right now, I think we need to take Alex's game with a grain of salt.

Great table -- adjusted the format. -- sagegrouse

[phaedrus]

I think the competition has a lot to do with Alex's points. Here are the stats from Marty Pocius's 2006 U-20 Euro tournament:

2pts 3pts FT Rbds
Match Min M/A % M/A % M/A % O D Tot As PF To St BS Pts
vs GRE 27 2/5 40 2/5 40 3/4 75 0 0 0 1 5 3 0 0 13
vs BUL 34 10/15 66,7 1/2 50 9/10 90 0 1 1 2 3 5 3 0 32
vs ESP 27 1/6 16,7 2/4 50 3/4 75 0 3 3 1 1 1 1 0 11
vs SCG 29 7/12 58,3 1/1 100 3/3 100 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 20
vs SLO 44 12/19 63,2 2/3 66,7 4/5 80 2 7 9 3 5 5 1 0 34
vs FRA 17 4/8 50 1/2 50 0/1 0 1 1 2 3 5 2 1 0 11
vs CRO 26 7/10 70 0/2 0 0/0 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 0 1 14
vs GRE 32 9/13 69,2 1/5 20 4/6 66,7 2 3 5 0 2 2 1 0 25

Given, Marty didn't ever score 36, but he did have one 32 point game and one 34 point game.

If Alex continues this success, then consider me a believer. But right now, I think we need to take Alex's game with a grain of salt.

Sure, but no one really doubted Marty's ability as a pure scorer on the college level, either. If Alex is as good a scorer as Marty, he will be a competent scorer; it's in the other elements of the game I hope he surpasses Marty.

[awhom111]

Does anyone know what position he's playing for Finland? I'm wondering if he's spending most of his time on the wing or if he's playing any 4.

Looking at the lineup, it appears he was the 2nd tallest player on the court and he is the 4th tallest player in their squad for this weekend. Of course the no positions response might be accurate as well given that their tallest player launched 7 3s in the game and hit 4 of them.

The team now heads to Serbia for the week as they face the hosts on Friday, Turkey on Saturday, and Israel on Sunday. The first 2 games are against U20 teams playing in the A division while Israel will also be a B division team.

Here is the article with their lineup:
http://www.basket.fi/uutiset/etusivu...33156=13497890

Remember that in addition to trying to do as well as possible for this team, Alex is also trying to prove himself for a future senior national team spot. The team has to navigate qualifiers for Eurobasket 2013 later this summer, but if Alex could fight his way to a place next summer, that would be an absolutely fantastic experience for him.

[awhom111]

Against tougher competition, Finland lost 90-63 to Serbia. Alex led the team again with 20 points and 3 rebounds. Villematti Kopio and Aleksi Akpaso, who is in the rotation for a top division Finnish team had 12 points each. Players with good games for Serbia included the 2nd leading scorer in Austria and Stefan Nastic, who plays for Johnny Dawkins at Stanford. Here is the boxscore with points and rebounds only:
http://www.basket.fi/maajoukkueet/ot...season_id=6353

[awhom111]

Alex and Finland got a very nice 86-68 win over Turkey's U20s. Alex had 26 points and 8 rebounds to lead the team again. Villematti Kopio had 25 points, Aleksi Akpaso had 13 points, and Joonas Caven had 10 points and 6 rebounds. Here is a boscore with limited information:
http://www.basket.fi/maajoukkueet/ot...season_id=6353

Turkey is playing in the A division championships next month, so it was a pretty good test for the team. Next they have Israel, who will also be in the B Division.