Preseason 2005-06

After three games, Medvedenko is averaging 11 minutes, 3.3 points, 2 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 0.33 steals. Upcoming games, Thursday 20 October vs Denver and Friday 21 October vs Charlotte or Washington.

vs Washington, 18 October, 111-108 OT
in just over 11 minutes, Slava went 1-4, had on off and one def rebound, an assist, a turnover and two fouls for 2 points

vs Golden State, 12 October, 81-112
in 12 minutes, went 1-2 and 4-4 from the line, two defensive rebounds, 4 fouls and a turnover for 6 points

vs Golden State 11 October, 101-93
went 1-4 with one off and one def rebound, 2 turnovers and two steals for 2 points in 10 minutes of play

EuroBasket 2005

- Slava's bio from tourney site, I believe he may be wearing #15 for this

- Ukraine's national basketball page

-Games for UKR are:
16 Sep v Russia
17 Sep v Germany
18 Sep v Italy

- Scheduling can be found here

UKR - Zaschuk waits for word on Drozdov
BELGRADE (Eurobasket) - Ukraine coach Gennady Zaschuk is waiting on the fitness of Artur Drozdov as he continues his preparations ahead of next month's EuroBasket.

Zaschuk currently has 14 players in his squad but could add Drozdov if his club, French side Pau-Orthez, pass the small forward fit.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Stanislav Medvedenko is included after agreeing in July to represent his country at the tournament.

Former Golden State Warriors centre Serhiy Lishchuk also provides NBA experience after starring in the qualifying rounds last year, guiding the Ukraine to second spot in Group C behind Germany.

Zaschuk must trim his squad to a final 12 before the tournament begins.

Ukraine squad: Stanislav Balashov, Artem Butskyy, Kyrylo Fesenko, Roman Gumenyuk, Volodymyr Gurtovyy, Viktor Kobzystyy, Volodymyr Koval, Igor Kryvych, Rostyslav Kryvych, Andrii Lebediev, Serhiy Lishchuk, Oleksiy Pecherov, Yevgeniy Podorvannyy, Oleksandr Rayevskyy.


Ukraine: Medvedenko Links Up With National Team

Ukraine: Zaschuk Names Squad For Friendlies

Pecherov Looks to Medvedenko for Ukraine

NBA "Read to Achieve" Class Visit

In January, Slava visited a CA school as part of the league's "Read to Achieve" program. The kids were amazed that he had to duck to enter the classroom and had a chance to ask all sorts of questions. They learned that Slava's favorite subjects were biology and history, both his parents are 6'2" and that he speaks five languages (including Polish, Russian and Ukrainian). I would assume English is 4th... so what would be the fifth?

Here are some photos from that day...

Late April

The Lakers cleaned out their lockers earlier this week, had their exit interviews, and now begin a very long summer vacation.

After this weekend I can update all the games I've missed since March or so. I have box scores, pictures from a lot of the games and more, just had a lot to do and couldn't really update after every game.


On TV of note this week:
Monday, 25 April on ESPN2 @ 8:30p and again on 5/2 @ 8pm (both NY time), a new show called "Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame..." and this one is subtitled "Kobe Bryant and the Breakup of the Lakers." Other features include Art Modell, Steve Bartman and John McEnroe.

Friday, 29 April on G4-Tech TV @ 11:30am (NY) a show called "Players" with the episode title "Got to Hal" with Fear Factory, Hal Sparks, Luke Walton and Dat Phan.

Week Twenty-Five

Well, this is it, the final week of a very long season. Take a look at this team, it won't be the same for next year. The Lakers play their final home game and then finish the season with two on the road. They are 34-45 on the year and now fourth in the division.


Sunday, 17 April vs Dallas
12:30pm PDT; Regional ABC Coverage

Monday, 18 March @ Golden State
7:30pm PDT; NBA TV

Wednesday, 20 March @ Portland
7:00pm PDT; NBA TV

Week Twenty-Four

The Lakers - in official NBA-speak known as "Eliminated from Playoffs contention" - have three games this week. The team is 34-42 overall, with a 22-16 home record and that torturous, nail-in-the-coffin 12-26 on the road.

The Lakers will particiapte in the Second Annual Casino Night on Thursday, a benefit for and hosted by the Lakers Youth Foundation. Action starts at 7:00pm at Santa Monica's Barker Hangar.


Wednesday: Slava was in the yellow jersey for practice today, with the usual sweats too

Sunday, 10 April @ Sacramento
12:30pm PDT; ABC partial National Coverage

Monday, 11 April vs Phoenix
7:30pm PDT; Actual NBA TV

Friday, 15 April vs Sacramento
7:30pm PDT; ESPN National Coverage

Week Twenty-Three

The Lakers, according to the numbers are still alive, but it isn't looking good. They continue their road trip this week with two away games, then a back-to-back pair of home and road games.
Currently LA is 33-39 on the year, 11-24 away and 22-15 at home. Minnesota is 2.5 games out of the 8th spot, the Lakers are 7.5 and the Clippers are at 8.5 games back.


Monday, 4 April - Slava's Birthday

Friday, 8 April - ESPN Outside the Lines on Lakers
"8 Is Not Enough" - 10pm PT on ESPN
After last year's season of discontent, Lakers management was forced to decide whether to keep Shaquille O'Neal and risk Kobe Bryant leaving as a free agent or sign Kobe and trade Shaq. Kobe got his wish, a seven year Lakers contract and no more Shaq, but he didn't bargain for a free fall from grace. The Lakers will be out of the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 1994 and Bryant's popularity has plummeted. Outside the Lines examines the Lakers collapse and their prospects for the future. Jeremy Schaap hosts. Guests include: Bill Walton, Basketball Hall of Famer & J.A. Adande, Los Angeles Times Sports Columnist


Sunday, 3 April @ Memphis
5:00pm PDT; NBA TV

Tuesday, 5 April @ Phoenix
7:00pm PDT; NBA TV

Thursday, 7 April vs Houston
7:30pm PDT; TNT National Coverage

Friday, 8 April @ Seattle
7:30pm PDT; NBA TV

Week Twenty-Two

LA, though technically still in the playoff hunt, appears to have a long summer ahead of them. The team is 10th out of the 11 still in contention for the postseason, a half game ahead of the Clippers and trailing Minnesota by three and 8th-place Denver by 6.
The Lakers have four games this week, three at home before hitting the road for a short stretch the start of April. Los Angeles is 32-36 overall, 21-13 at home and 11-23 on the road, and have lost seven in a row.

Saturday: Slava in purple and giant gray sweats
Sunday: Game notes has Medvedenko as probable starter for Philly game tonight, though Grant ended up with the start

Sidenote: On Friday, 1 April HBO will re-air "Chernobyl Heart" (see sidebar for more) on HBO (4:30pm NY time) and then HBOW (7:30pm NY time)

Sunday, 27 March vs Philadelphia
4:30pm PST; ESPN National Coverage

Tuesday, 29 March vs New York
7:30pm PST; NBA TV

Thursday, 31 March vs Minnesota
7:30pm PST; TNT National Coverage

Saturday, 2 April @ San Antonio
5:30pm PST; Actual NBA TV