FIBA WORLD CUP 2019 | SPAIN are new WORLD CHAMPIONS

[Pachinko_]

You look at those Argentine players and they're just like the fans, if they weren't players on the court they'd gladly be in the crowd singing. Thats what it's all about...

[Calvin Klein]

Most of you underrate teamball, chemistry, hard work and lack of ego so much. Keep doing that please.

[lambchop]

Most of you underrate teamball, chemistry, hard work and lack of ego so much. Keep doing that please.

In the NBA, players want to win on their own terms and it's not truly about winning as much as it is about perception. So much emphasis is put on touches, shots per game, starting etc.

In FIBA it's just about getting the win. But then again, shoesales, endorsement deals, supermax contracts etc. aren't tied to FIBA play

[Ferulci]

Congrats Argentina, deserved W for you ! I hope you win the finals.

[rale93lfc]

Lot of people laughed when Serbia lost to Spain and Argentina. Now they both are in finals. I guess our road to finals was not that easy after all...

[minami]

I paid a little homage to Scola here in the boards before today happened, but it got somehow buried by the Serbia-USA game. So now it seems fitting to let real class come on top again;

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.

Well done Argentina, enjoy for a couple of days but hopefully not any longer! The Final is going to be fun.

[jason bourne]

FIBA rules are way better when it comes to foul calls. Like waaaaaaaaaaaaaay

I still like 6 fouls b/c fans pay to see the stars. The FIBA tech rule is good. The NBA won't change the goaltending. The big diff is the defensive 3 secs. I doubt NBA will change the foul shots b/c that's so ingrained. Another big diff is the NBA wants to expand the 3-pt line.

http://www.fiba.basketball/rule-differences

[cojayar]

Giannis NBA MVP, Scola the MVP of FIBA. It's like two different sports.

The NBA game changed with the rule changes. FIBA is behind the times.

With FIBA rules, then Team USA would like to get someone like DAJ in the pivot. Old guys get to play again.

Current NBA rules are a disgrace. This is a team sport. A contact sport. NBA is nowadays a pussy 3pt shoot contest and sometimes a jumping and dunking contest on 1 on 1. It is neither a team sport nor a contact sport. A 145-140 game in the NBA is really terrible. Impossible to watch without eating or drinking. Boring than baseball.

[Sgt Major]

FIBA rules are way better when it comes to foul calls. Like waaaaaaaaaaaaaay

I still like 6 fouls b/c fans pay to see the stars. The FIBA tech rule is good. The NBA won't change the goaltending. The big diff is the defensive 3 secs. I doubt NBA will change the foul shots b/c that's so ingrained. Another big diff is the NBA wants to expand the 3-pt line.

http://www.fiba.basketball/rule-differences

That's another difference. People in Europe and South America cheer for the teams, not particular players. I'm paying to watch my team and I'd never miss a game because this or that guy ain't playing today.

[The Rodzilla]

Lot of people laughed when Serbia lost to Spain and Argentina. Now they both are in finals. I guess our road to finals was not that easy after all...

but we never lost to spain or argentina, the record is 0 wins 0 losses 1 draw

[jason bourne]

Giannis NBA MVP, Scola the MVP of FIBA. It's like two different sports.

The NBA game changed with the rule changes. FIBA is behind the times.

With FIBA rules, then Team USA would like to get someone like DAJ in the pivot. Old guys get to play again.

Current NBA rules are a disgrace. This is a team sport. A contact sport. NBA is nowadays a pussy 3pt shoot contest and sometimes a jumping and dunking contest on 1 on 1. It is neither a team sport nor a contact sport. A 145-140 game in the NBA is really terrible. Impossible to watch without eating or drinking. Boring than baseball.

There are plenty of people in the US who will agree with you. The big men have had to go to the perimeter instead of being down low to play back-to-basket on offense and stay inside on defense. However, fans wanted more offense, athleticism, speed, and open floor. It is a different game. It's why guys like AD don't want to play C but PF. Will the NBA ever change back to put the focus on big men again? Prolly not in the near future. It's lob dunks and chase down blocks.

[UcanUwill]

FIBA rules are way better when it comes to foul calls. Like waaaaaaaaaaaaaay

I still like 6 fouls b/c fans pay to see the stars. The FIBA tech rule is good. The NBA won't change the goaltending. The big diff is the defensive 3 secs. I doubt NBA will change the foul shots b/c that's so ingrained. Another big diff is the NBA wants to expand the 3-pt line.

http://www.fiba.basketball/rule-differences

That's another difference. People in Europe and South America cheer for the teams, not particular players. I'm paying to watch my team and I'd never miss a game because this or that guy ain't playing today.

But that would probably change if those leagues had players like LeBron or Steph, just saying.

[lambchop]

Giannis NBA MVP, Scola the MVP of FIBA. It's like two different sports.

The NBA game changed with the rule changes. FIBA is behind the times.

With FIBA rules, then Team USA would like to get someone like DAJ in the pivot. Old guys get to play again.

The game is just different. In the NBA even guards and wings can thrive without being able to shoot, like Giannis and Simmons. In international play that's almost impossible, unless you're getting fast break buckets at will.

[Sgt Major]

I still like 6 fouls b/c fans pay to see the stars. The FIBA tech rule is good. The NBA won't change the goaltending. The big diff is the defensive 3 secs. I doubt NBA will change the foul shots b/c that's so ingrained. Another big diff is the NBA wants to expand the 3-pt line.

http://www.fiba.basketball/rule-differences

That's another difference. People in Europe and South America cheer for the teams, not particular players. I'm paying to watch my team and I'd never miss a game because this or that guy ain't playing today.

But that would probably change if those leagues had players like LeBron or Steph, just saying.

Doubt. I've never met anyone who changed the team he rooted for because his favorite player went somewhere else or stopped going to the games because, for example, Ronaldo left Manchester or Kaka went to Madrid.

[Sgt Major]

Read on Twitter

[MrSparkle]

Giannis NBA MVP, Scola the MVP of FIBA. It's like two different sports.

The NBA game changed with the rule changes. FIBA is behind the times.

With FIBA rules, then Team USA would like to get someone like DAJ in the pivot. Old guys get to play again.

Current NBA rules are a disgrace. This is a team sport. A contact sport. NBA is nowadays a pussy 3pt shoot contest and sometimes a jumping and dunking contest on 1 on 1. It is neither a team sport nor a contact sport. A 145-140 game in the NBA is really terrible. Impossible to watch without eating or drinking. Boring than baseball.

It's amazing watching FIBA again after not watching for a while. Seems the 3-10 roster depth has gotten stronger for the top 10 teams or so.

But man, the ball moves SO MUCH. And the off-ball/screen movement. Argentina was amazing today in that regard. It's just regrettable that besides for teams like the Warriors, NBA is such a sluggish iso 3P-popping contest.

[Calvin Klein]

However, fans wanted more offense, athleticism, speed, and open floor. It is a different game. It's why guys like AD don't want to play C but PF. Will the NBA ever change back to put the focus on big men again? Prolly not in the near future. It's lob dunks and chase down blocks.

You can't trust people (or those fans).

Watch on YouTube

[The Rodzilla]

Australia is better team, but they chocked in the 4th. That’s the difference when you have players, who have won it all against nobodies.

what is the all thing that you can win and are you sure the australian players arent the ones who have won it?

if the all is eurobasket then yes australia have nobody who have won it but if its nba titles the aussies have won it all

[JonFromVA]

Hit a sore point did I?? For all your country's patriotism, you'd think players would love representing the USA. It's not brave to play basketball at a World Cup, but it does show patriotism and pride. Brave is serving your country either in the Forces or emergency services.

It's so inconsequential that your on this board defending your country's poor showing and making excuses. When you get called out on it, all of a sudden no one cares

Don't send anyone, I couldn't care less. One less team to beat and one less group of fans making excuses

Providing free labor to FIBA in return for a chance to win a shiny medal has nothing to do with patriotism, and cheering for Cedi and Delly because they play for the Cavaliers is not anti-patriotic.

But hey, feel free to check my posting history before Team USA lost ... or maybe you should just be replying to someone your points might actually apply to?

Look Jon, I'm not trawling back through pages and pages of your posting history, I'm not that interested in you. I directly replied to YOUR comment, so it was to you. And yet you keep replying and arguing. Don't like it, stop replying to me.

I love how you have now turned this tournament into countries providing free labour, really clutching at straws. Ask the players who went if they cared, I'm damn sure they did.

Patriotism doesn't mean you can't cheer for other players?? where did I draw that conclusion? Fans cheering on have nothing to do with players representing a country. There are several players on Team USA that I hoped had good tournaments, as well as players on many other countries. I love good basketball and watch to see that, no matter what country is playing. I love watching Spain (maybe not tonight!) and Argentina play.

Keep turning my comments into something they are not to make yourself feel better.

I have a better idea ... if you don't mean to direct your remarks at me personally, then try stop using the word "you".

[Bob8]

Australia is better team, but they chocked in the 4th. That’s the difference when you have players, who have won it all against nobodies.

what is the all thing that you can win and are you sure the australian players arent the ones who have won it?

if the all is eurobasket then yes australia have nobody who have won it but if its nba titles the aussies have won it all

Fiba tournaments, semis, finals, or Euroleague titles than those players were key men. It’s different to be role player in Nba, even in winning team or you was the man even though in lesser competition. It looked to me that Australians mostly disappeared in crucial moments. Mills was last and only man standing in last 5 minutes in Q4 and overtime. Ingles the biggest disappointment.