It was a great, unexpected win against the Magic yesterday, with Our Roko playing the entire fourth quarter and winning the game with a floater. Here’s a Ro-quote, courtesy Doug Smith:

If I have one special shot, for sure that’s it, going left and try to throw this floater. Since I’ve been here I’ve been trying to find the most effective way to finish. I had to completely change my finishes from the way I did in Europe because the first 10 games I got maybe 15 shots blocked. I just came up with this little floater, I try to work on it a lot and it just came.

I don’t know if he just came up with this shot. From a DraftExpress article, looking at Roko’s performance at the Euroleague Final Four 2006:

Roko Leni proved once again that is very hard to keep him out of the lane, as most of his points came from slashing all the way to the basket or pulling up for a reliable floater.

Ah, it’s all just semantics, ainnit? Let’s just enjoy the beauty of his floater (see 5:36 of the video).

Our Roko — new haircut? — yanks it from Yao and delivers a behind-the-backer as the Raptors rock the ‘kets. (By the way: Should Jake Voskuhl’s arm bend that way?)

Check out the scene, at the 4-minute mark:

The behind-the-back pass! Dare I say, Maravich/Nash-esque?

(Thanks, Hoop Doctors.)

And here’s an interesting little morsel from livebloggin’ Jay Onrait:

What! Roko Ukic’s father Zoran played drums in a famous Croatian Rock Band? Are you kidding me? Wow they just showed a shot of his Dad behind his drum kit wearing a bright yellow tanktop and a bright purple headband! I didn’t realize WHAM! was Croatian.

Zoran’s band was called Daleka Obala – translated “Far Coast” by Google. And based on the Wikipedia photo, it looks more like a tribute to Croatian WHAM!

Check out their discography here.

Here’s the latest video analysis from Coach Raul Jimenez. Perfect timing, after the Celtics easily handle our Rappies…

I really like some of the offensive situations from the champions, the Boston Celtics. This one is a special offense for the end of the quarter. They clear out for the point guard, and place their center and power forward on the opposite side. What they want using this offensive set is to assure that Glen Davis and Kevin Garnett’s defenders will help when the PG, Rajon Rondo, drives to the basket. As we can see, the defenders are ready to make that help. Then, Davis sets a back pick and Garnett goes to the corner to receive the pass for an open shot.

It could have been an easier shot had the PG gone harder towards the rim, but anyway, Garnett has time and space to make his shot, although this time he misses.

This is the first of many, many posts, I hope, by Raul Jimenez. Get set for video highlights and analysis of NBA and European players from a professional coach.

Rudy Fernandez has an important role for a rookie of the Portland Trail Blazers (currently 6-5, seventh in the Western Conference). Playing beside Brandon Roy, who makes a lot of shots and is the go-to guy in critical situations, we can say that Rudy is finding his place.

Some days ago, against Utah, Rudy showed some of the skills that allowed him to reach the NBA. Portland ran a diamond set for him, and he finished in three different ways, showing that it’s a hard task to stop him. He can go hard to the rim, he can give the extra pass, he can make his shots… a lot of options! He has the skills and the will. It’s not strange that Portland fans are already impressed by Rudy.

In the video we watch the three situations, the first two in consecutive plays. In the first one, he receives and drives to get fouled. In the second one, he curls and assists on LaMarcus Aldridge’s dunk. In the third one, he comes off the screen and hits the three (breaking a 0-9 run against Portland).