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Olympic Basketball thread
Topic Started: Jul 16 2008, 06:28 AM (1,617 Views)
Gunners
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I didn't know where else to put this, but anyone following the Olympic Basketball Qualifying Tournament? I know we have some members who follow basketball.

The U.S., Argentina, Spain, Lithuania, Russia, Australia, China, Iran, and Angola are already in. They will be joined by the top 3 finishers from a Qualifying Tournament that began on Monday. Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Germany, Canada, Puerto Rico, Brazil, New Zealand, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, and Lebanon are competing in the Qualifying Tournament. Traditional powers Italy, France, Serbia, and Turkey have already been eliminated.

Going in, Greece was the big favorite in the Qualifying Tournament. The other favorites to win a berth into the Olympics include the 3 other European sides, Puerto Rico, and Brazil, with Canada and New Zealand as long shots. Thus far, things have basically gone according to script, with all of the favorites moving on to the single-elimination phase. The only close call was Canada, which beat South Korea by two points this morning after getting blown out by Slovenia yesterday. Unfortunately, Canada is missing top players Steve Nash and Jamaal Magloire.

Before the tournament, I picked Greece, Slovenia, and Germany to prevail.

Thoughts, comments?
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hobbes
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I was up late last night and watched the first half of Canada-South Korea. It was the worst performance I had ever seen from Canada ever. I mean we're talking much worse than the pre-Nash era.

No passion, no movement, we kept turning the ball over in the half court offence because no one was moving and we kept letting Korea hit threes. Despite our size advantage down low we were also being out-rebounded.

And I woke up to find that we won 79-77. We were down 18 in the third quarter and down 76-66 with 2:06 left. It's being replayed tonight and I'm curious how that is even possible. I have to assume Korea soiled their sheets down the stretch.

We also kicked Samuel Dalembert of the 76ers off the team before the game. Or he left. Leo Rautins said he wasn't into it and now the team only has players who want to be there.

35-year-old Rowan Barrett scored 22 for Canada to keep us alive. He came off the bench in the first half and looked like the only guy with a clue. He was one of my favourites from the Sydney team, but we need some of the kids to step up.

Frankly this team doesn't deserve to be anywhere near the Olympics and won't be unless things really change quickly.

cheers,
hobbes
Saskatchewan for the CPL: multis e gentibus vires
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Merengue
Administrator
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Good idea for a thread Gunners. Is there interest in a separate forum for discussing other sports? If so I can set one up, let me know either by replying here or by sending me a PM. Alternatively I could set something up for Olympic discussion of any and all sports, including soccer in a separate forum.

I had forgotten about this pre Olympic qualifying tournament, keep us posted on the results please. This could be one of the US' best prepared teams and certainly will be one of it's most cohesive as a main group of players will have now played together for 3 straight summers. If the US doesn't win the Gold Medal with this team then I don't know when they ever will again without completely revamping their national team set up.

I am looking forward to watching defending world champions Spain play this summer. Due to a conflict between the coach and federation, there is a new national team coach but it is essentially the same team that won the world title two years ago as the young players on that squad have matured. Plus added is Spain's teen aged sensation Ricky Rubio. Remember that name.
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Gunners
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Merengue, you're correct that this U.S. team is the favorite to win the gold medal. Even without Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce, this is fairly close to the U.S.'s top side. Moreover, with Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony, and Lebron James, there is some legitimate international experience on this team.

However, when you have a single-elimination format, the best team often doesn't win. I think 5 or 6 teams have a legitimate chance to knock off the U.S. in a one-off format. For me, the best bet is Spain. Jose Luis Calderon will be able to handle the U.S.'s pressure and actually might be able to exploit Jason Kidd off the dribble. Rudy Fernandez and Juan Carlos Navarro will provide plenty of offense from the perimeter, and Gasol is as good as any of the U.S. big men. I can't wait to see Ricky Rubio. For those who aren't aware, he is a 17-year-old prodigy who began playing professionally at 14 and will likely be the first pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He will likely come off the bench in this tournament to spell Calderon, Navarro, and perhaps Rudy.

There are a few other countries who have the talent to give the U.S. some problems. Defending champion Argentina has 5 NBA regulars in Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, Fabricio Oberto, Andres Nocioni, and Carlos Delfino, plus point guard Pablo Prigioni could be in the NBA if he wanted to. Lithuania has great scoring guards in Jasikevicius and Siskauskas, although they'll miss having Zydrunas Ilgauskas (whose NBA club, the Cleveland Cavaliers, isn't allowing him to play). Greece (if they qualify) plays a great team game led by guards Papoulakis, Diamantidis, and Spanoulis. You also can't count out Russia or Slovenia (if they qualify). However, I think Spain is the best bet to upset the Americans.
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enganche
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I always enjoy talking international basketball. I am looking forward to this tournament but it probably will be the last hoorah for Argentina's core players. It is a talented and experienced team but I have my doubts if the team isn't a little too old? Pablo Prigioni, however, could become one of the unsung stars of the tournament. He's a very good point guard.
Prefiero morir de pie que vivir arrodillado
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Hector
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You are right enganche, Prigioni is a very good guard. He's always in control, know how to distribute play well and can hit a 3 point shot when needed. In an aging Argentina team he and Carlos Delfino are the future.

So the qualifying tournament for Bejing is still going on and they are at the semifinals. The matchups are:

Germany-Croatia
Greece-Puerto Rico

The semifinal winners advance to Beijing, the losers playoff against each other to determine the third team advancing to the Olympics. I think whichever of these three teams advance could be considered a possibility for a bronze medal in the games.

This is the team Spain's coach Aito Garcia Reneses will take to the Olympics:

Pau Gasol (Los Ángeles Lakers), Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies), Rudy Fernández (Portland Trail Blazers), Ricky Rubio (DKV Joventut), Juan Carlos Navarro (F.C. Barcelona), José Manuel Calderón (Toronto Raptors), Jorge Garbajosa (sin equipo), Felipe Reyes, Raúl López y Alex Mumbrú (Real Madrid) y Carlos Jiménez y Berni Rodríguez (Unicaja).

To me it is an even better team than the one which won the world championship two years ago. Calderon and Navarro are better while the young players two years ago, Marc Gasol, Rudy Fernandez and Alex Mumbru are much improved. And then there is 17 year old Ricky Rubio, Spain and world basketball's next star. This will be his debut with Spain and he'll be a secondary player on the team, for now. But watch out because he is spectacular. And Aito knows him well as he was his coach with Joventut.
iPuerta amigo, Sevilla esta contigo!
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rosarino
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Croatia (76-70 vs Germany) and Greece (88-63 vs Puerto Rico) won today to qualify for Beijing. Germany and Puerto Rico will play off for the final qualifying spot. Greece are at home so were expected to qualify but I agree with Hector that they, in particular, are a real medal contender.

I am surprised the NBA hype machine hasn't been working yet but I don't know much of anything about the US team's training or any scheduled friendlies. Does anyone else? You would think US basketball will have learned it's lesson and will get it's team practicing for the games and playing preparatory matches but I am sure many of the NBA players are instead thinking of their beach vacations!
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enganche
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Germany defeated Puerto Rico to become the third and final qualifier from this prequalifying tournament.

So this is how the groups will look like in Beijing:

Group A: Argentina, Australia, Croatia, Iran, Lithuania and Russia
Group B: Angola, China, Germany, Greece, Spain and USA

Neither group is going to be easy at all even with the top four in each advancing to the quarterfinals. I feel a little sorry for Iran and Angola having to compete against these other teams. This has the possibilities to be the best Olympic basketball tournament yet.
Prefiero morir de pie que vivir arrodillado
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Gunners
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enganche,Jul 20 2008
10:17 PM
Germany defeated Puerto Rico to become the third and final qualifier from this prequalifying tournament.

So this is how the groups will look like in Beijing:

Group A: Argentina, Australia, Croatia, Iran, Lithuania and Russia
Group B: Angola, China, Germany, Greece, Spain and USA

Neither group is going to be easy at all even with the top four in each advancing to the quarterfinals. I feel a little sorry for Iran and Angola having to compete against these other teams. This has the possibilities to be the best Olympic basketball tournament yet.

While the groups are as evenly-matched as could be expected, I definitely think Group B is stronger -- 3 of the top 5 sides IMHO. While Iran almost certainly won't win a game, at least they didn't get drawn against the U.S. That would have been a 50 or 60 point defeat. Angola is actually respectable. Most of the Angolan team is made up of Portuguese-based professionals, and several also played college basketball in the U.S. I doubt they'll win a game (and their games against Spain and the U.S. will probably be ugly), but they have the ability to make things tough on China, Germany, and possibly Greece, at least for a little while.

Predictions....

In Group A, Argentina and Lithuania should be the top sides, with Croatia, Russia, and Australia fighting it out for the remaining Quarterfinal spots. I'll pick the Croatians and the Russians to survive. In Group B, the U.S., Spain, and Greece should move on to the Quarterfinals, with Germany and China contesting for the final spot. With the big home-court advantage, I'll take the Chinese.

QFs: Argentina over China; Greece over Lithuania; Spain over Croatia; U.S. over Russia

SFs: Spain over Argentina; U.S. over Greece (Revenge!!!)

Bronze: Greece over Argentina (mainly b/c the bronze medal would mean more to the Greeks)

Gold: U.S. over Spain

Yes, when it comes to my country, I'm a homer. :)
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Merengue
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I've moved this topic to a new forum for the Olympics as I didn't think a discussion on Olympic basketball really belonged in the "General Soccer Discussion" forum. But I know there is interest in the Olympics here and other than just talking about football so I created this new forum.

As I type this Spain are playing an exhibition in Madrid against Argentina. Argentina are just getting a few players, notably Ginobilli back to health so aren't at full strength but this should be a good warm up for them both. Spain are coming off a 35 point win over Russia a few days ago, partially revenging their loss in last summer's European championship final.
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Hector
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Spain with a 2 point win over Argentina in a good warm up for both teams going into the Olympics. While there are good teams in Group A, look at Group B with Spain, Greece and USA, the three medalists at the last World Championships. That I think has to be considered the more difficult group. Add in Germany and host nation China and there should not be many easy games in the group stage there.
iPuerta amigo, Sevilla esta contigo!
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Johnbuildr
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Gunners,Jul 16 2008
07:28 AM
I didn't know where else to put this, but anyone following the Olympic Basketball Qualifying Tournament? I know we have some members who follow basketball.

The U.S., Argentina, Spain, Lithuania, Russia, Australia, China, Iran, and Angola are already in. They will be joined by the top 3 finishers from a Qualifying Tournament that began on Monday. Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Germany, Canada, Puerto Rico, Brazil, New Zealand, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, and Lebanon are competing in the Qualifying Tournament. Traditional powers Italy, France, Serbia, and Turkey have already been eliminated.

Going in, Greece was the big favorite in the Qualifying Tournament. The other favorites to win a berth into the Olympics include the 3 other European sides, Puerto Rico, and Brazil, with Canada and New Zealand as long shots. Thus far, things have basically gone according to script, with all of the favorites moving on to the single-elimination phase. The only close call was Canada, which beat South Korea by two points this morning after getting blown out by Slovenia yesterday. Unfortunately, Canada is missing top players Steve Nash and Jamaal Magloire.

Before the tournament, I picked Greece, Slovenia, and Germany to prevail.

Thoughts, comments?

My thought is that you must be a German homer, Gunners!! LOL!

The Germans barely made it into the field, and any pick of the top three favs that doesn't include the US team is betting agasint one of, if not thee, top favorites!

My top three are US, Croatia, and Spain.

But as someone has mentioned, with single elimination, not to mention reffing that can often be irritatingly pivotal, anything can happen and any team can find themselves out of it in an instant. It certainly makes every game count and exciting!
Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum



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rosarino
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The pressure will be on the US to win in Beijing with their "Redeem Team" as some are calling it. LeBron James has already gone on record as "guaranteeing" a US Gold Medal which won't win him much sympathy elsewhere. Bottom line is the pressure will be on the US, not for what James has promised but because the US has not won an Olympic Gold Medal or won the World Championshp since 2000. That is three major championshiops without a championship.

It should be an enjoyable tournament. US, Argentina, Spain and Greece are the four favorites for me. I'm less certain about Russia and Croatia but they should add to the excitement of the event and make this one of the more competitive Olympic basketball tournaments ever.
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Gunners
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Johnbuildr,Jul 24 2008
04:49 AM
Gunners,Jul 16 2008
07:28 AM
I didn't know where else to put this, but anyone following the Olympic Basketball Qualifying Tournament?  I know we have some members who follow basketball.

The U.S., Argentina, Spain, Lithuania, Russia, Australia, China, Iran, and Angola are already in.  They will be joined by the top 3 finishers from a Qualifying Tournament that began on Monday.  Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, Germany, Canada, Puerto Rico, Brazil, New Zealand, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, and Lebanon are competing in the Qualifying Tournament.  Traditional powers Italy, France, Serbia, and Turkey have already been eliminated.

Going in, Greece was the big favorite in the Qualifying Tournament.  The other favorites to win a berth into the Olympics include the 3 other European sides, Puerto Rico, and Brazil, with Canada and New Zealand as long shots.  Thus far, things have basically gone according to script, with all of the favorites moving on to the single-elimination phase.  The only close call was Canada, which beat South Korea by two points this morning after getting blown out by Slovenia yesterday.  Unfortunately, Canada is missing top players Steve Nash and Jamaal Magloire.

Before the tournament, I picked Greece, Slovenia, and Germany to prevail. 

Thoughts, comments?

My thought is that you must be a German homer, Gunners!! LOL!

The Germans barely made it into the field, and any pick of the top three favs that doesn't include the US team is betting agasint one of, if not thee, top favorites!

My top three are US, Croatia, and Spain.

But as someone has mentioned, with single elimination, not to mention reffing that can often be irritatingly pivotal, anything can happen and any team can find themselves out of it in an instant. It certainly makes every game count and exciting!

John,

I just picked Greece, Slovenia, and Germany to qualify for the Olympics out of the recent Qualifying tournament.

My picks for the actual Olympics are the U.S. for the Gold, Spain for the Silver, and Greece for the Bronze.
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Merengue
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Spain sure are looking good in their pre tournament warm up games. Last night they beat Lithuania by 25 ponts! Curiously Espana are doing it while their previously two top front court players Pau Gasol and Jorge Garbajosa have been pretty quiet. Neither are yet in top form yet but Gasol's brother Marc has really improved to give the front court more depth but the big difference between this team and the one from two years ago is the speed and dynamism added by playing Rudy Fernandez and Ricky Rubio. They've brought a new dimension to Spain's basketball team that had previously been missing.
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