BASKET Four field goals attempted; four field goals made. Three free-throws, three points. Elapsed time on the court, 10 minutes! The Vaudois (a Swiss Vaud district native - editor's note) was perfect for his first regular season game in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls. News coverage in Miami.
» For his first game in the NBA, the Veveysan (a Swiss Vevey city native, editor's note) of the Chicago Bulls scored 11 points in ten minutes on the Miami court and contributed to the broad victory of his team against the NBA Champions and the superstar O'Neal (108-66).
There is in his big strides at the time when he gets on the court the eagerness of the young man to see his childhood dream coming true. There is also the hunger of the basketball player in a hurry to take part to this game which he followed from the bench so far. On Tuesday evening in Miami, the Veveysan Thabo Sefolosha had to wait until two seconds from the end of the first half before being able to officially inaugurate his first Swiss NBA player status. At this time it is 9:23 PM. Pointed out by Scott Skiles, his coach, the number 2 of the Chicago Bulls takes off hastily his red tracksuit. He runs to the space reserved to the players who are going to come on the court and gesticulates to draw the referee's attention. These two little seconds, he wants them.
At the half-time, back to the start case, on the substitutes bench. The physiognomy of the second period will however be completely different for the Vaudois. There remain 10 minutes 32 seconds to play in the game when Thabo makes his true entry on the court. The Bulls lead 80-54 against a Miami team apathetic and totally choked by the collective of Chicago. On his first action of the game, the Veveysan losts the ball, stolen by Dwayne Wade, one of the superstars of the Heat: 80-56. Instant timeout asked by the coach of Chicago.
Fourth scorer
During this break, Skiles decides to reiterate his trust in Thabo. A plebiscite which will allow the Veveysan to explode. In an American championship keen on statistics, Thabo shakes the figures. Four field goals made on four attempted. Three free-throws made on three attempted. 100% of success. With his 11 points in 10 minutes 34'' on the court, the Vaudois player ends fourth best scorer of his team and scored four points more than Shaquille O'Neal, monument of the US basketball.
dr - HISTORICAL: Thabo Sefolosha scores here his first two points in the NBA. The Vaudois succeeded then three others as many of attempts. 100% of success!
For the last eight minutes of the game, Sefolosha even orchestrates the Bulls' game. « Thabo was good. » At the end of the game, easily won by the Bulls (108-66), Scott Skiles congratulates his new player. « I'm happy to have been able to give him a bit of time to play. I hoped such a scenario to let him take a bit the NBA temperature and to relax himself on the court. I'm happy for him. » Similar compliments from Ben Wallace, the star of the Bulls came this year from Detroit: « I like the way that Thabo plays. He's a great defender and a good guy. It's always a benefit. »
In the changing-room, Sefolosha relativizes his performance. He talks about a « good first experience » and his first lost ball against Wade as a « happening thing ». « I didn't thought I was going to come out, he explains about this action. I think that I succeeded to relax myself too and to bring an offensive benefit. » Thabo smiles to the one who mentions his 100% of success against the Miami Heat, but the mask doesn't fall down. The one that Ivica Dunkan, the Bulls' recruiting agent, describes as a boy « possessed by his desire of making his place in the NBA », has already his eyes turned to Orlando, where he was to play yesterday night.
In the bays of the American Airlines of Miami, a spectator was on Tuesday evening particularly careful to the perfomance of Thabo Sefolosha. Big guy to the shaven cranium, Ivica Dukan, Bulls' recruiting agent in Europe, is the man who noticed the Vaudois player when this one played in France. «One of my Swiss friends had called me at this time to talk to me about him, he told. When the name of Thabo appeared in France, I said myself that I was going to see what he had in the belly. One glance was sufficient. I immediatly liked what I saw.»
Ivica Dukan talk about his pleasure to be able to recruit Thabo but also about the adjustments that he must now proceed: «He must develop his muscular mass. He must also learn to be more relaxed on the court.»
Ancient player of Bellinzone in the 80's, Ivica Dukan estimates that the transition between the European championships and the NBA can take one or two seasons. «Thabo is someone who loves the competition and who's not afraid to take his responsabilities, he continues. In this moment, he is learning what he can do and what he cannot. On the bench, he observes and memorises everything.» The recruiting agent of the Bulls doesn't dry up praises about «his» Swiss player: «Thabo must be accustomed to the life in the United States, he concludes. But his dream was to play here. Thabo has the ability to become a big player in the NBA and I think that the next season will be his own.» (jcde)
The NBA is a big circus and each season opening is a media event. On Tuesday, the game Miami Heat-Chicago Bulls was played at closed counters. Champions, the Heat receieved the day before yesterday their trophy and an imposing diamonds ring, at the time of a pre-game ceremony. «I try to not think much about the game and everything which surrounds it», said Thabo Sefolosha a little earlier, at the time of heating. Some meters further, Boris Becker, orange dye and fair hair platinums, recorded in a corner of the court an emission for a Deutsch channel. From the kick-off of the game, the Bulls have immediately imposed their collective. During a second quarter in which they outclassed their opponents, they have dug a close to 30 points gap which never could be filled. The second half has even turned to the correction for some Heat quickly deserted by their public. While incliding 108-66, the players of Miami have taken the biggest slap of the NBA history in an opening season game.
Jean-Cosme Delaloye
Extract from the 24 Heures n°255 - Nov 2, 2006. All rights reserved.
