FIBA 2010, USA vs the World

[dangermouse]

Abercrombie is quite good, but rather inconsistent. Ive seen him throw down one of the biggest alley-oops on my Aus NBL team's home court in the history of australian basketball. He can certainly fly for a big fella. definite bright euro career ahead for sure.

Penney 25 points on 40% shooting, 3 assists and 10 fouls drawn.
Batum 6 points at 25%, 5 rebounds and 3 assists

Penney can be a tough cover, especially when hes locked in. If anyone could do it I thought Batum should have been able to cover this guy with his length alone. I know int. ball and NBA are two different kettles of fish but it seems like he has a lot to learn. Not going to say his D is over-rated by any margin just from one world champ. game, but I think Portland should look for veteran help at his position if they want to be a contender.

[closg00]

The elimination round starts at 11AM, the Spain vs Greece game @ 2PM will be must-see.
http://espn.go.com/extra/fiba/schedule

[Kanyewest]

3 more wins for the championship. BTW, the poll should be locked now (was 12-13 before the tourney started)

[closg00]

3 more wins for the championship. BTW, the poll should be locked now (was 12-13 before the tourney started)

Thanks, I did close the poll. Next-up, 17th ranked Russia.

[hands11]

http://turkey2010.fiba.com//pages/eng/f ... /game.html

121 to 66

Angola just didnt bring their A game...

[closg00]

The Brazil vs Argentina game on right now is a real battle, I hope Argentina wins. Splitter appears to be out this game???

[fishercob]

The Brazil vs Argentina game on right now is a real battle, I hope Argentina wins. Splitter appears to be out this game???

Scola was unbelievable.

[closg00]

The Brazil vs Argentina game on right now is a real battle, I hope Argentina wins. Splitter appears to be out this game???

Scola was unbelievable.

Indeed Scola was incredible, what a steal for Houston........ and on the other side Marcelo Huertas nearly carried Brazil with 34 points.

[fishercob]

absolute classic here between Serbia and Spain! Incredible game.

[fishercob]

Milos Teodosic just hit the Gilbert v Utah 3 with 3.1 to go to put Serbia up 3.

[fishercob]

Serbia wins. Unbelievable game. Adios Espania.

[closg00]

Amazing, Spain is out, the knock-out round has been great! Russia will try to slog-through to a win against us with their half-court game tomorrow. Everyone saw what Brazil was able to do against us in the half-court. Someone is going to make us work for a medal.

[fishercob]

Pretty huge dud of a tournament for Ricky Rubio. He's very talented and he;s a nice prospect for sure, but he has two huge problems:

1) He's not in the same galaxy athletically as elite young PG's like Rose, Williams, Wall, Westbrook, Rondo, etc.

2) He can't score -- sort of a combo between his lack of shooting acumen and his lack of athleticism. EVen if he improves his stroke (which I expect, he's but a pup after all) he's going to struggle to put the ball in the hoop enough to open up his playmaking ability in the NBA.

If his name was Jimmy Davis and he played for Iowa, I don't think there'd be half the hubbub over him. He's basically Rondo without the elite athleticism. He's a nice guy to have on your team, but he isn't turning anyone's franchise around, IMHO.

[closg00]

Pretty huge dud of a tournament for Ricky Rubio. He's very talented and he;s a nice prospect for sure, but he has two huge problems:

1) He's not in the same galaxy athletically as elite young PG's like Rose, Williams, Wall, Westbrook, Rondo, etc.

2) He can't score -- sort of a combo between his lack of shooting acumen and his lack of athleticism. EVen if he improves his stroke (which I expect, he's but a pup after all) he's going to struggle to put the ball in the hoop enough to open up his playmaking ability in the NBA.

If his name was Jimmy Davis and he played for Iowa, I don't think there'd be half the hubbub over him. He's basically Rondo without the elite athleticism. He's a nice guy to have on your team, but he isn't turning anyone's franchise around, IMHO.

Ricky was exposed, you can't be a drive and dish guy on very possession, you HAVE to be a threat to score and Ricky isn't yet, that's why he isn't getting more minutes yet.

Derrick Rose also wasn't much of a shooter and his 3-point % is putrid, now he spends hours practicing 3-pointers. Ricky is going to have to adjust his game, the kid is only 19 though, his game will evolve.

Edit: As an aside, JCN has certainly proved that he has NBA talent, too-bad it didn't work-out for him here...of-course he is handsomely paid in Spain.

[KiNgSbOi]

I am glad to see Serbia is putting it all together and playing solid as a team. Pau did his country dirty by not playing, but ah well, theres always next time.

[fishercob]

Pretty huge dud of a tournament for Ricky Rubio. He's very talented and he;s a nice prospect for sure, but he has two huge problems:

1) He's not in the same galaxy athletically as elite young PG's like Rose, Williams, Wall, Westbrook, Rondo, etc.

2) He can't score -- sort of a combo between his lack of shooting acumen and his lack of athleticism. EVen if he improves his stroke (which I expect, he's but a pup after all) he's going to struggle to put the ball in the hoop enough to open up his playmaking ability in the NBA.

If his name was Jimmy Davis and he played for Iowa, I don't think there'd be half the hubbub over him. He's basically Rondo without the elite athleticism. He's a nice guy to have on your team, but he isn't turning anyone's franchise around, IMHO.

Ricky was exposed, you can't be a drive and dish guy on very possession, you HAVE to be a threat to score and Ricky isn't yet, that's why he isn't getting more minutes yet.

Derrick Rose also wasn't much of a shooter and his 3-point % is putrid, now he spends hours practicing 3-pointers. Ricky is going to have to adjust his game, the kid is only 19 though, his game will evolve.

Edit: As an aside, JCN has certainly proved that he has NBA talent, too-bad it didn't work-out for him here...of-course he is handsomely paid in Spain.

Here's the thing, if Rose never improved his jumper he'd be on par with Rondo -- and still much better than Rubio. Rose's elite athleticism and explosiveness allow him to get to and finish at the rim in a way that Rubio never will.

For all of EG's mistakes -- and there have been many -- not drafting Ricky Rubio at #5 last year was not one of them. I am not -- repeat, NOT -- defending the trade, I'm just saying that missing out on Rubio was no franchise-altering loss.

[no D in Hibachi]

You gotta feel a little bad for Minna-Soda, well maybe not, screw them, but I'm pretty sure they were just hoping for Rubio to look great during the FIBA tourney thereby increasing his stock a little more. Deep down inside they have to know Rubio isn't going to play for them and with a good FIBA tourney they could really use him as a good trade chip. Now you have to question who has more trade value; Ricky Rubio or Fran Vasquez...Okay, maybe not that bad, but if I'm a GM I'm certain I wouldn't trade a lotto pick for Rubio.

[nate33]

For all of EG's mistakes -- and there have been many -- not drafting Ricky Rubio at #5 last year was not one of them. I am not -- repeat, NOT -- defending the trade, I'm just saying that missing out on Rubio was no franchise-altering loss.

We wouldn't have drafted Rubio anyhow. IIRC, Curry was highest on our draft board at #5.

[closg00]

For all of EG's mistakes -- and there have been many -- not drafting Ricky Rubio at #5 last year was not one of them. I am not -- repeat, NOT -- defending the trade, I'm just saying that missing out on Rubio was no franchise-altering loss.

We wouldn't have drafted Rubio anyhow. IIRC, Curry was highest on our draft board at #5.

Oh-man Nate, you really now how to hurt a guy

[closg00]

Talk about clutch, you have to see Milos Teodosic's game-winning 3-pointer against Spain. Remind you of anyone on our team?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvdhBmLHhQY