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Jzh wrote:

JonFromVA wrote:

kosmonauts wrote:This tournament was another great example that the world has caught up (to some extent) with US. It can be argued that rules are different, but, let's be honest, starter level + 6-8th guys are not good enough to win and/or get a medal at Fiba. That is great for news for sport of basketball and I have to say, I enjoyed the balance between how balanced offense/defense is called. This rough type of Fiba basketball is exciting to watch.

Also, NBA bench guys (6-8) are better than top Euro guys, but the real difference is becoming marginal, especially in the short tournament format. About 9-12th guy on NBA roster - often it is the question of context, fit with the team, potential/age and other factors than only the skill.

Fiba just had to get their **** together - this stupid qualification system did not allow to see some truly good European teams.

We'd already seen a slapdash team of NBA players lose back in 2004. The only thing we've learned from this is that FIBA is out of control.

Whoever wins this tournament will likely celebrate it like it actually meant something, but you really can't claim to be the best unless you beat the best - and FIBA made that impossible.

Exactly this. i'm French and I couldn't careless we won that game. It will be meaningful if they score the gold but the world cup miss too much talent to mean anything.

The only upside is the direct spot to the Olympics where hopefully we'll face real team USA like in 2000.

Danny1616 wrote:

kosmonauts wrote:I mean look at France's starting line-up:

Gobert was the best defensive player on the court, Fournier is a legit 18-20ppg scorer in the NBA, Batum is a solid level NBA level player, Ntilikina is an NBA caliber player and Nando De Colo is one of the best Euro league players out there who could play in the NBA. That team is almost as talented as the American starting line-up this year.

It's an upset, but I'm not shocked at all.

Catchall wrote:Rudy Gobert's +/- was +26. He had 21 pts, 16 rebs, and 3 blks. He was 9/10 from the foul line.

USA thought they could guard him with Harrison Barnes. Not a good call.

Ballerhogger wrote:So a US team with Kemba Walker and Donvan Mitchell got beat by France team with Frank Ntilikina how sad ..... Dont send boy to do mans work i guess..We put C team out there but Kemba suppose to be some all star max type player.. Doonvan suppose to be a upcoming all star...

The Rodzilla wrote:

Catchall wrote:Rudy Gobert's +/- was +26. He had 21 pts, 16 rebs, and 3 blks. He was 9/10 from the foul line.

USA thought they could guard him with Harrison Barnes. Not a good call.

i think they thought that gobert couldnt guard barnes

The Rodzilla wrote:

Catchall wrote:Rudy Gobert's +/- was +26. He had 21 pts, 16 rebs, and 3 blks. He was 9/10 from the foul line.

USA thought they could guard him with Harrison Barnes. Not a good call.

i think they thought that gobert couldnt guard barnes

UcanUwill wrote:

GREY 1769 wrote:What does tomorrow's game between Team USA and Serbia mean, practically speaking? Is anything on the line besides a moral victory or what?

Nothing is on the line, just 5th. place. France and Spain clinched olympics, meaning that Serbia playing for nothing, meanwhile USA and Argentina clinched so USA also playing for nothing

a-French-Fan wrote:

MrSparkle wrote:

cloudXXI wrote:The best thing about FIBA games. This game was 95 minutes long.

NBA games are toooooooo long

Way too long. The commercial timeouts and extended referee rituals at the end of games make me want to puke. As does the in-game entertainment during all the breaks.

So, do like me, watch euroleague
Of course best players are in NBA, but the basketball I love is euroleague, and some euroleague players are better than the average NBA player (ok, Nando de Colo, no one is able to know why he failed in NBA)

maradro wrote:

JonFromVA wrote:

We'd already seen a slapdash team of NBA players lose back in 2004. The only thing we've learned from this is that FIBA is out of control.

Whoever wins this tournament will likely celebrate it like it actually meant something, but you really can't claim to be the best unless you beat the best - and FIBA made that impossible.

2004 team had the 03 and 01 MVPs, a couple of guys that were a year away from being all NBA, legendary coaches, and was formed specifically to avenge the 02 team (that was also much better than this team).

Your excuses are pathetic, I guess my spurs have never REALLY lost because the years they did, it was just pop and the front office not playing/signing the best possible players :rolleyes

GREY 1769 wrote:

UcanUwill wrote:

GREY 1769 wrote:What does tomorrow's game between Team USA and Serbia mean, practically speaking? Is anything on the line besides a moral victory or what?

Nothing is on the line, just 5th. place. France and Spain clinched olympics, meaning that Serbia playing for nothing, meanwhile USA and Argentina clinched so USA also playing for nothing

Ok thanks. But how does Serbia qualify now? Surely they're not out of the Olympics?

UcanUwill wrote:

niQ wrote:A couple months ago Woj reported that Nando De Colo was planning an NBA return.

Read on Twitter

Was hoping he would return back to the Raptors as they hold his rights but it looks like he signed with Fenerbahce.

Nando is great player, top 3 player not in the NBA. That said, he didnt have a very good game today, the whole tournament he was on par with Fournier, but FOurnier proved his superiority in this one.

kosmonauts wrote:

Jzh wrote:

JonFromVA wrote:
We'd already seen a slapdash team of NBA players lose back in 2004. The only thing we've learned from this is that FIBA is out of control.

Whoever wins this tournament will likely celebrate it like it actually meant something, but you really can't claim to be the best unless you beat the best - and FIBA made that impossible.

Exactly this. i'm French and I couldn't careless we won that game. It will be meaningful if they score the gold but the world cup miss too much talent to mean anything.

The only upside is the direct spot to the Olympics where hopefully we'll face real team USA like in 2000.

This loss pretty much guarantees that we will see US super-star team forTokio and hopefully next WC as well.

JonFromVA wrote:

maradro wrote:

JonFromVA wrote:

We'd already seen a slapdash team of NBA players lose back in 2004. The only thing we've learned from this is that FIBA is out of control.

Whoever wins this tournament will likely celebrate it like it actually meant something, but you really can't claim to be the best unless you beat the best - and FIBA made that impossible.

2004 team had the 03 and 01 MVPs, a couple of guys that were a year away from being all NBA, legendary coaches, and was formed specifically to avenge the 02 team (that was also much better than this team).

Your excuses are pathetic, I guess my spurs have never REALLY lost because the years they did, it was just pop and the front office not playing/signing the best possible players :rolleyes

Yeah, I guess you're right. That 2004 team was the best America had. No wonder we kept losing every year after we decided to change how the program was organized and players were recruited.

Oh, wait....

Fun fact here... I have little interest in the FIBA WC beyond following the players on my NBA team who are involved in it and they both play for international teams.

JonFromVA wrote:

kosmonauts wrote:

Jzh wrote:
Exactly this. i'm French and I couldn't careless we won that game. It will be meaningful if they score the gold but the world cup miss too much talent to mean anything.

The only upside is the direct spot to the Olympics where hopefully we'll face real team USA like in 2000.

This loss pretty much guarantees that we will see US super-star team forTokio and hopefully next WC as well.

Meh ... Americans don't care about the FIBA WC let alone FIBA. I'm not sure what's going to make that change, certainly not FIBA if they continue to schedule tourneys and qualifiers during or so close to the start of the NBA season.

UcanUwill wrote:

GREY 1769 wrote:

UcanUwill wrote:
Nothing is on the line, just 5th. place. France and Spain clinched olympics, meaning that Serbia playing for nothing, meanwhile USA and Argentina clinched so USA also playing for nothing

Ok thanks. But how does Serbia qualify now? Surely they're not out of the Olympics?

I believe 24 teams from this cup (I think), will be split to 4 mini tournaments, and every winner will get in. Only 4 those spots are left. Argentina, USA, Spain, France, Australia, Japan, Iran, Nigeria already have 8 out of 12 spots