FIBA WORLD CUP 2019 | SPAIN are new WORLD CHAMPIONS

[darmani]

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[GroundBound]

I just watched the extended highlights of the Serbia vs Argentina game - and the one thing I noted one about the Argentinian offence - all the 'makes' were at the rim or the 3pt line. Given I only saw the highlights - can somebody who watched the game confirm whether they even took a midrange shot???

It seemed like Argentina never settled for a midrange jumper - they swung the ball back outside for a 3 attempt or hit a cutter with a pass for a layout/dunk. Every Serbian double team was punished, with player and ball movement. Very hard to defend - great job Argentina!

[DWadeno3]

I really don’t understand how it’d be an upset if we lost to France today, at least not with our current national team. This France side is good, really good with lots of talent. At this stage of the tournament, every game can go either way. With this roster, we simply aren’t these overwhelming favorites anymore.

[EmperorLocky]

I really don’t understand how it’d be an upset if we lost to France today, at least not with our current national team. This France side is good, really good with lots of talent. At this stage of the tournament, every game can go either way. With this roster, we simply aren’t these overwhelming favorites anymore.

It would still be an upset and you are still the overwhelming favourites. Just not as big a favourite if you had Steph/KD/Kawhi insert other superstar names as you wish.

[a-French-Fan]

I really don’t understand how it’d be an upset if we lost to France today, at least not with our current national team. This France side is good, really good with lots of talent. At this stage of the tournament, every game can go either way. With this roster, we simply aren’t these overwhelming favorites anymore.

It would still be an upset and you are still the overwhelming favourites. Just not as big a favourite if you had Steph/KD/Kawhi insert other superstar names as you wish.

Actually I stopped to follow NBA 3 years ago, so except Kemba Walker and Donovan Mitchell I have no Idea of the level of other players.
Even without its superstars, team USA is still team USA.
But I don't think US roster is so much better than French roster. Until Moerman's injury (a nobody for NBA fans, but a top euroleague player), I thought we were better in the paint. About Forwards, do you really have better than Batum ? For guards and PGs, of course you have Kemba and Donovan. But don't underestimate the level of our PGs for defense.

So Team USA is still favourite, no matter with this, but it would'nt be an upset if France wins.

[stoo]

I just watched the extended highlights of the Serbia vs Argentina game - and the one thing I noted one about the Argentinian offence - all the 'makes' were at the rim or the 3pt line. Given I only saw the highlights - can somebody who watched the game confirm whether they even took a midrange shot???

It seemed like Argentina never settled for a midrange jumper - they swung the ball back outside for a 3 attempt or hit a cutter with a pass for a layout/dunk. Every Serbian double team was punished, with player and ball movement. Very hard to defend - great job Argentina!

That is pretty much what was happening. People here are blaming Serbia, but in reality, Argentina simply played so well

[Higgs Boston]

I really don’t understand how it’d be an upset if we lost to France today, at least not with our current national team. This France side is good, really good with lots of talent. At this stage of the tournament, every game can go either way. With this roster, we simply aren’t these overwhelming favorites anymore.

France best player is a elite defensive center like Gobert, and their other best players are people like de colo, fournier, washed batum, poirier etc come on. This france team can't compete with france's best teams with parker, let alone with usa. If usa had a better backup C they should be able to beat france using their bench.

[MagicFrenchie]

I really don’t understand how it’d be an upset if we lost to France today, at least not with our current national team. This France side is good, really good with lots of talent. At this stage of the tournament, every game can go either way. With this roster, we simply aren’t these overwhelming favorites anymore.

USA is still better overall.
Our starting 5 is NBA playoffs Caliber level but the rest is average especially on the guards except Decolo who is an euroleague mvp.

[Nuntius]

Watch on YouTube

I have to be honest I saw this last night and thought what is wrong with my TV. Which team was this... I don't think I could take a coach seriously that sounded like he had sucked helium before the timeout

That's Poland. The players in this video are Adam Hrycaniuk and A.J. Slaughter. The coach's name is Mike Taylor. He's an American coach.

[Gooner]

Very intrigued by this game. USA faces an elite team for the first time, wouldn't shock me if they lose.

[Gooner]

I really don’t understand how it’d be an upset if we lost to France today, at least not with our current national team. This France side is good, really good with lots of talent. At this stage of the tournament, every game can go either way. With this roster, we simply aren’t these overwhelming favorites anymore.

France best player is a elite defensive center like Gobert, and their other best players are people like de colo, fournier, washed batum, poirier etc come on. This france team can't compete with france's best teams with parker, let alone with usa. If usa had a better backup C they should be able to beat france using their bench.

Fournier and De Colo can carry a scoring load, Batum is still an all round player, even though he is not in his prime. They key is Gobert, he has disappointed so far in the tournament, Valanciunas and especially Baynes have outplayed him. He has to impose himself physically against this small USA team. Turner is not a very physical player, and he is not a great rebounder, he has to take advantage of that.

[Nuntius]

Congratulations to Argentina. That was a great performance and a great win. It's very nice to see Scola still be very effective despite his age. Experience matters a lot in FIBA and Scola has always been good at leveraging his experience against younger players. That's probably why he's still performing so well at 39.

I also want to congratulate Poland for a very respectable WC performance. They got a big win over Russia and they reached the quarterfinals. I bet that they're very happy at how they played in this WC, much like the Czechs.

[UcanUwill]

Watch on YouTube

I have to be honest I saw this last night and thought what is wrong with my TV. Which team was this... I don't think I could take a coach seriously that sounded like he had sucked helium before the timeout

That's Poland. The players in this video are Adam Hrycaniuk and A.J. Slaughter. The coach's name is Mike Taylor. He's an American coach.

From all the building about his voice, I expected something much worse. SO his voice is high pitched when he screams, I dont see anything silly here.

[minami]

Hats off to Luis Scola, still bringing it 15 years after a 2004 Olympic Gold Medal and victory over a LBJ/Duncan/Carmelo/Wade/Iverson USA Olympic team.

And he played the final match against Yugoslavia in Indianapolis 2002 World Cup

Anecdotally he was also the top scorer at 2010 WC in Turkey (27.1 points per game).

One of my favourite players, period (and I say this as a Spaniard). I really enjoyed those parts in the Argentinian golden era when Boss Manu was choosing a younger Scola to talk with instead of the coach, as games heated up with big-time silverware at sight. And for good reason.

I might be biased because I did actually met him, and shared beers/talks with him and our girlfriends (his was a Ukrainian beauty) a couple of times during his time in Vitoria (Spain). A thoroughly nice guy, humble and unassuming. Yet (bias or not) any decent Spanish basketball fan will remember his duels against Reyes during that era, and how he was a pain in (most powerful) Real Madrid´s ass, which he overwhelmed several times almost by himself. Definitely an all-time great from a 'local' point of view.

Always thought he was slightly underrated in the NBA as he was sheer class in the post, plus had an excellent mid-range shot and extreme competitiveness. Very happy for him doing well and having a sweet goodbye from FIBA.

[limbo]

Expecting the US to come out strong defensively

[Nuntius]

Hats off to Luis Scola, still bringing it 15 years after a 2004 Olympic Gold Medal and victory over a LBJ/Duncan/Carmelo/Wade/Iverson USA Olympic team.

And he played the final match against Yugoslavia in Indianapolis 2002 World Cup

Anecdotally he was also the top scorer at 2010 WC in Turkey (27.1 points per game).

One of my favourite players, period (and I say this as a Spaniard). I really enjoyed those parts in the Argentinian golden era when Boss Manu was choosing Scola to talk with instead of the coach, as games heated up with big-time silverware at sight. And for good reason.

I might be biased because I did actually met him, and shared beers/talks with him and our girlfriends (his was a Ukrainian beauty) a couple of times during his time in Vitoria (Spain). A thoroughly nice guy, humble and unassuming. Yet (bias or not) any decent Spanish basketball fan will remember his duels against Reyes during that era, and how he was a pain in (most powerful) Real Madrid´s ass, which he overwhelmed several times almost by himself. Definitely an all-time great from a 'local' point of view.

Always thought he was slightly underrated in the NBA as he was sheer class in the post, plus had an excellent mid-range shot and extreme competitiveness. Very happy for him doing well and having a sweet goodbye from FIBA.

I absolutely believe that Scola will be voted in the International HoF. His accomplishments on the FIBA stage are very, very important.

[Nuntius]

It's obvious now Serbia was overrated. I don't even know where players like Jovic, Lucic, Micic played last season and I have watched some EL games.

With Serbia out, teams like France and Argentina can still give a trouble to USA team, so still an interesting tournament.

I can see you watched for sure. Micic played Euroleague final and was best player of Efes whole season. He wasn't expected to play at tournument at all because his mother was sick, but after injuries of Teodosic and Milosavljevic he stayed with a team to help. His mother died yasterday.

Man, that really sucks to hear

[Promezclan]

Really a grinding game so far, but not ugly.

[KqWIN]

Mitchell came out firing, haven't seen that yet. Ntlikina+Gobert have been massive on defense so far.

[Jellybeans]

Kemba.....