Jordan Posted 30 July 2012 Posted 30 July 2012 Over here, so much of the talk leading up to the men's basketball tournament in London was about whether or not the current incarnation of the U.S. Olympics team could beat the 1992 Dream Team in a hypothetical game. Never mind whether or not the U.S. can beat the real-life teams lined up in front of them in London, of course--everybody seems to think the U.S. winning the gold medal is a foregone conclusion. But that kind of thinking can sometimes be toxic, and the U.S. learned that the hard way in Athens 2004, when we lost three games (including an ass-kicking by Puerto Rico to start the tournament) and went home with a bronze medal. There is no doubt that the U.S. team is the favorites to win gold once again--I'd bet the farm on it. There really aren't any weaknesses on the team besides their stupid uniforms. This squad is even better and more well-balanced than the 2008 "Redeem Team" but I can't say that any of the other medal-contending teams are better than they were four years ago besides perhaps Russia (Spain doesn't have Pau Gasol anymore, and Argentina has gotten older). It took a little while for the USA to get into a good rhythm today against France, but they rolled to an easy win. Argentina's wily veterans in the backcourt looked great shredding Lithuania today. I'd have said they were a good pick to make it to the semifinals before, but after today, they're almost a lock to finish in the top two of Group A. Any team in Group B that can top Spain will have done very well for themselves, but all signs point to a rematch of the 2008 final. Russian F Andrei Kirilenko isn't really known for lighting up the scoreboard but I've got serious questions about what kind of defense the AK-47 was facing against Great Britain today, scoring 35 points in 35 minutes. Unfortunately, it's going to take a hell of an effort and a lot of luck for GB to finish in the top four of their group. It seems to me that interest in basketball in the UK has been rising over the past few years, so the star-studded Olympics tournament should do a lot to popularize the sport there. On the women's side, I'll pick the USA to win, too (shocking!). But the biggest news on that side is that the Australian women's team has ditched their (in)famous unitards for the more traditional tank top-shorts combination.
ozleicester Posted 30 July 2012 Posted 30 July 2012 Watch out for the Aussies, although a disapointing loss to Brazil yesterday might have put an end to that. As for the girls.. think thevye a shot too... Lauren Jackson is fantastic.. well she was last time i saw here 2-3 years ago now...the loss of the unitard ( we call them "Mumblers"...i cant hear what your saying.. but i can see your lips moving).. is a disaster.
marko Posted 2 August 2012 Posted 2 August 2012 They couldn't stop hitting 3's at the end. Shame they couldn't quite pull it off.
kingfox Posted 2 August 2012 Posted 2 August 2012 Proper Basketball is on in 10 minutes. Nothing like the rubbish earlier on. Great Britain are rubbish.
I am Rod Hull Posted 2 August 2012 Posted 2 August 2012 Proper Basketball is on in 10 minutes. Nothing like the rubbish earlier on. Great Britain are rubbish. Really? I was hoping for at least a silver . What words of sporting wisdom will you divulge next, kingfox? Mexico are shite at table tennis?
Jordan Posted 2 August 2012 Author Posted 2 August 2012 They couldn't stop hitting 3's at the end. Shame they couldn't quite pull it off. They would have had a chance had they fouled Spain after they brought it to within 1. It was a great effort, but seriously, you can't just let then run out the clock like that. GB could have given themselves about 4 seconds at the end to go for the tie or a win.
Jordan Posted 2 August 2012 Author Posted 2 August 2012 Oh god, Carmelo Anthony is such a ****. USA up by over 30 vs Nigeria, then Melo launches (and makes) five 3s in a row so early into each possession. He's clearly playing to set records. The game's over, boys; pass the ball around for a bit and run out the clock.
Jordan Posted 9 August 2012 Author Posted 9 August 2012 Grudge matches in the semifinals: USA vs Argentina and Spain vs Russia. USA is almost scoring at will. However, one difference between this squad and the 1992 Dream Team is that nobody would have dared punch one of those guys in the nuts, like Argentina's Facundo Campazzo did to Carmelo Anthony in the USA-ARG group stage match. Charles Barkley would have murdered him.
welck12 Posted 9 August 2012 Posted 9 August 2012 Grudge matches in the semifinals: USA vs Argentina and Spain vs Russia. USA is almost scoring at will. However, one difference between this squad and the 1992 Dream Team is that nobody would have dared punch one of those guys in the nuts, like Argentina's Facundo Campazzo did to Carmelo Anthony in the USA-ARG group stage match. Charles Barkley would have murdered eaten him. Fixed
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