Olympic Qualifiers Results: Brazil, Spain, Greece and Puerto Rico Off to Paris!

[durden_tyler]

I dont think Mavs fans need to worry, there's no way this Slovenia team gets past Greece in the SF and if by some miracle they do they'll have a rematch against Croatia.

Yup 2 miracles needed. That’s 70 minutes combined minutes as all the Mavs fans watch in horror. (Luka still playing with Slovenia trailing by 25 pts, Thibs must be a consultant for their NT. LOL)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's because every single point counts. If you can shave that 25 point deficit to 18, it can potentially make a huge difference in the final groups standings. That's Slovenia was eager to get 2 free throws at the very end of the game. The Euroleague and many domestic leagues are the same. Teams play until the final buzzer sounds.

That said, yes, some rest would probably do Luka good, though I believe he would just be lazy, drink and gain weight, but it could still help his overall health. Plus, the positive emotions from drinking booze and eating can still be beneficial.

i see that you even doubted what you’re saying mid-sentence. LOL.

Slovenia will likely plaster NZ by 30 pts, much to the chagrin of Dallas fans who want him to be eliminated already.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sunsbg]

Not used to watch basketball in July, but with all qualifier games on TV, rookies to watch in SL and Olympics at end of month, the new season won't feel as far away this offseason.

Go Bahamas.

[lambchop]

Kind of sad watching Miro Little play. He's another example of a Euro player that would have been better off just staying in Europe and getting good minutes over here. He isn't made for the NCAA and hasn't improved one bit due to a lack of playing time.

Anyway, the 18 year old Edgecomb looked really good. Draft boards have him as a lottery pick next year.

Watch on YouTube

[Muizha]

FYI, FIBA is putting out extended 10 minute highlights from these games, here's the extended highlights from Latvia-Georgia game:

Watch on YouTube

[RookieStar]

How did Goga do against Latvia?

[Muizha]

How did Goga do against Latvia?

I was much more invested in Latvia's play, therefore did not concentrate much on specific Georgian players, but to be honest the only time I noticed him was when he got into a scuffle with Smits and got a technical (which was his 4th foul, therefore was subbed out immediately). From the 2 Georgian NBA guys Mamu definitely popped out more to me.

To be fair though his statline doesn't look bad 7pts + 6rebs (with 2blks+2stls) on a 100% shooting. But yeah did not see anything special from him, which I guess would be expected in a -28 point blowout.

[RookieStar]

How did Goga do against Latvia?

I was much more invested in Latvia's play, therefore did not concentrate much on specific Georgian players, but to be honest the only time I noticed him was when he got into a scuffle with Smits and got a technical (which was his 4th foul, therefore was subbed out immediately). From the 2 Georgian NBA guys Mamu definitely popped out more to me.

To be fair though his statline doesn't look bad 7pts + 6rebs (with 2blks+2stls) on a 100% shooting. But yeah did not see anything special from him, which I guess would be expected in a -28 point blowout.

Yeah those stats are the same with his Magic stats.

[Pachinko_]

I love Latvia's game

[_jin]

Lithuania beats Mexico 96-81, 5pts lead at the half but they put the game away in the 2nd half.
Lithuania not looking very good, won thanks to their vastly superior talent. Grigonis continuing on his hot streak from the end of season with Panathinaikos. He's the only one who wanted to take charge of things, Jokubaitis, Sedekerskis, Motiejunas and Sabonis were all too passive.
Surprised by Mexico, didnt know much about the team but they played well and kept the game competitive.

They started the game 0-9. After that it was fine. Grigonis as often just flat out our best player, especially when Jonas is out. I think Lekavicius was very good, Butkevicius and Sedekerskis were good, I think team looked fine, could have won by 25, but let go of gas at the end. Defens is undoubtfully a problem tho, outside of Butkevicius, no one played good on defense.

Sabonis tho is just terrible. If he didnt have club numbers that justifies him being there, we would just say its nepotism. On court, it really looks like he doednt belong, but his name is Sabonis. There is a huge difference between dissapointing and just sucking.

In unpopular opinions thread, I have mentioned my friend, who completely quit on this guy, and thinks NBA is a joke. NBAs rep took another major hit in my country no doubt, because once again, NBA star player looks like he doesn't even belong to be on this team. I bet my friend will message me after he wstches this game, csuse just few days ago, I defended Sabonis, made every excuse.

Checked the boxscore, his stats werent the worst, if you just checked that, you would have thought he was fine. 5 TO in 22 minutes seems bad, but when watching, I thought he had way more. Almost everything he does is a turnover, no other player would be allowed to push the ball and try passes this guy does, but he is " NBA star" so he can do that.

Coach is a bit at crossroads, cause in theory, his career suggests he has the ability to be great player, and you play him through the struggles in hope he starts playing well, but on the other hand, he is pretty bad.

I dont think the guys I mentionned were bad, they were just way too passive in the 1st half. They are bigger, stronger, faster, longer and more skilled than their opponents but they watched Grigonis getting easy layups and decided it was better to shoot 3s and long 2s. It got better in the 2nd but I felt like they were too complacent. Sure they were playing a weak opponent but these are important games that you need to take seriously from the tipoff.
You guys are certainly going to qualify but I have a feeling Sabonis's stock is going to take a huge hit during the Olympics tournament, especially if he plays with the same lack of intensity as he did yesterday. He's going to get exposed so hard defensively and going to struggle offensively against big centers who can camp the paint.

[Muizha]

Cameroon up by 3 at the half against Montenegro. If Montenegro lose this, they are out of the tournament!

[UcanUwill]

Montenegro is a very bad team. Simonovic is carrying them entirely. Why is Kendrick Perry even on their team, hes not even good. I really hate when Lorenzo Brown or JR Holden wins you Euro medals, but I get why they are there, for that very reason. Also, they were very good. Montenegro could just play one of their young guys and what would really be different?

[_jin]

Kendric Perry is the worst player in those OQTs, he's just a low level chucker.

[lambchop]

Montenegro is a very bad team. Simonovic is carrying them entirely. Why is Kendrick Perry even on their team, hes not even good. I really hate when Lorenzo Brown or JR Holden wins you Euro medals, but I get why they are there, for that very reason. Also, they were very good. Montenegro could just play one of their young guys and what would really be different?

It was one of the few bad games Perry has had for them since 2022. He is usually one of the teams top scorers and they would have been significantly worse without him in all of the major tournaments they've participated in. Montenegro doesn't have any exterior threats that can actually create their own shot or run a pick n roll.

There are no young Montenegrin prospects that would make sense in that role, unless your goal is just to lose intentionally and get Vucevic annoyed in the process. Their U18 national team was in the B-division last year competing against teams like Albania and Hungary, while their U20 team finished 13th in Eurobasket play.

[UcanUwill]

If these 2 Cameroon superstars actually played, they would have a serious chance at Olympics, hell, they probably would have clinched it the year before. Hate these guys get excuses like there is no point for them to play, because it is just a lie. It is their choice, but do not make excuses. I wonder are they even watching this game or they just dont care, two African patriots, to a point one begged Macron for papers but then still became True American hero as soon as that chance was presented. Will never respect that dirty perenial loser.

[tysanity]

Raul Neto is injured out of the qualifier.

Huge blow for Brazil. It would be a hard job to have a win against Latvia. Without him, almost impossible. Only a miracle.

Sent from my SM-G996B using RealGM Forums mobile app

[UcanUwill]

Raul Neto is injured out of the qualifier.

Huge blow for Brazil. It would be a hard job to have a win against Latvia. Without him, almost impossible. Only a miracle.

Sent from my SM-G996B using RealGM Forums mobile app

Do Santos, Huertas and Caboclo are still balling and aint worse than anyone on Latvian side really. How much in shape Neto even was, didnt he miss entire year? Brazil are underdogs, but not to a point their win would be miraculous.

[_jin]

If these 2 Cameroon superstars actually played, they would have a serious chance at Olympics, hell, they probably would gave clinched it the year before. Hate these guys get excuses like there is no point for them to play, because it is just a lie. It is their choice, but do not make excuses. I wonder are they even watching this game or they just dont care, two African patriots, to a point one begged Macron for papers but then still became True American hero as soon as that chance was presented. Will never respect that dirty perenial loser.

With both of them they'd already be qualified, or at worse they'd have a good chance to make it through the OQTs.
They'd definitely beat that Montenegro team that doesnt deserve to be in the Olympics. Winning by 4 pts against a squad of mostly amateurs is shameful.

[_jin]

New Zealand putting a better fight than Slovenia against Croatia so far. I dont know much about that team but from what I read they're a top12 team in those OQTs, very unlucky to be drawn into that tournament and in that group in particular.

[MrTribbiani]

If these 2 Cameroon superstars actually played, they would have a serious chance at Olympics, hell, they probably would gave clinched it the year before. Hate these guys get excuses like there is no point for them to play, because it is just a lie. It is their choice, but do not make excuses. I wonder are they even watching this game or they just dont care, two African patriots, to a point one begged Macron for papers but then still became True American hero as soon as that chance was presented. Will never respect that dirty perenial loser.

Cameroonian players don't have to represent Cameroon just because they were born there.

No player has any obligation to play for the country in which they were born.

[UcanUwill]

If these 2 Cameroon superstars actually played, they would have a serious chance at Olympics, hell, they probably would gave clinched it the year before. Hate these guys get excuses like there is no point for them to play, because it is just a lie. It is their choice, but do not make excuses. I wonder are they even watching this game or they just dont care, two African patriots, to a point one begged Macron for papers but then still became True American hero as soon as that chance was presented. Will never respect that dirty perenial loser.

Cameroonian players don't have to represent Cameroon just because they were born there.

No player has any obligation to play for the country in which they were born.

Yes, I know, I said it is their choice. But people often say that there is no point for them to play, because it wouldn't make any difference, but it is simply not true at all. Also, wouldn't bother me much at all, if they weren't such proud Africans, will appear in every quick NBA Africa promo, but when actual dedication is needed, they don't have to do anything of course.

Also, in most cases, country took at least some part in players becoming success anyway. Most countries arent USA, and instead take great care of their people at all times. Hartenstein said he will not play, but he promised he will open academies in Germany to give back something. He doesnt need to do that also, but he has such privilege, he at least promises something.