FIBA WORLD CUP 2019 | SPAIN are new WORLD CHAMPIONS

[Bomba Navarro]

BTW, hats off to our friends the Argentinians. Marc had words for each and every one of them in the postgame interview —you can see both teams respect each other a lot. This Argentinian NT is as hard hat, lunch pail as you can get, and it paid off for them in this tournament. See you in Tokyo!

[DWadeno3]

So much for the overrated NBA, it was NBA players who won Spain this world cup.

[LuDux1]

Respect the World Champions, young man.

This young man happens to watch basketball for 20 years and have seen all kinds of **** up decisions from the refs in Spain's favor. Do you happen to remember Luigi Lamonica butchering Croatia in that Spain vs Croatia game in 2005 (Belgrade)? It was one of the biggest scandals in FIBA history with officiating. You should check your memory before replying to me.

Speaking of Luigi, he was invited to ref at Lithuanian Cup final. Refereeing was pretty much perfect. Then FIBA banned all Lithuanian referees from WC

[ensiferum]

Sore losers. That's all I can say. So sad. Are you not going to talk about the refs in the final?

[Danitovic]

Respect the World Champions, young man.

This young man happens to watch basketball for 20 years and have seen all kinds of **** up decisions from the refs in Spain's favor. Do you happen to remember Luigi Lamonica butchering Croatia in that Spain vs Croatia game in 2005 (Belgrade)? It was one of the biggest scandals in FIBA history with officiating. You should check your memory before replying to me.

That game was an scandal, not happy for this. But I always thought Serbia could not accept Croatia to get a medal in their home (Serbia was out yet).

About Australia, that game had tones of refs mistakes in both sides. Not only those two “not” faults.

I feel like being Yugoslavian at 80’s. It’s nice.

[minami]

The fact that some people are losing sleep on Spain winning this fair and straight says it all about the exceptional dominance they have shown for 13 long years (Dream Team II and a couple of exceptions apart). It really seems to hurt some poor souls out there.

Then bringing in some long-forgotten game from 2005 to demonstrate some sort of pro-Spanish conspiracy must be the most ridiculous thing I´ve heard in a long time. I wish we were so influential! Just please take your meds and get over it;

Spain was the best team by some margin, plus they happen to be a thoroughly decent group of human beings who put their egos aside for the common goal, not to mention an incredible work ethic and impeccable behaviour in the court. I don´t know where you whiners come from but let me tell you that your comments stink of envy and loserism of the worst kind, while our country is rightly celebrating a most deserved victory in the World Championship, against all odds.

AGAIN!

[jason bourne]

So much for the overrated NBA, it was NBA players who won Spain this world cup.

Ricky Rubio = MVP. Marc Gasol = Only player to win NBA Title and FIBA gold.

And to think reading this board, ARG was gonna win. Someone else set me straight that ESP was heavily favored.

[Genjuro]

Spain was the best team by some margin, plus they happen to be a thoroughly decent group of human beings who put their egos aside for the common goal, not to mention an incredible work ethic and impeccable behaviour in the court.

You're falling for the Spanish media hype. We don't really know them.

It was an amazing victory, one of the most impressive defensive performances I remember, if not the greatest, at NT competition. But that's it. I hate that need to trascend the sport stage to enter the personal area, the need to build heroes of immaculate qualities that we have to look up to. They are human beings, and likely some of them will be jerks, up to a certain degree. And that's fine.

[minami]

Spain was the best team by some margin, plus they happen to be a thoroughly decent group of human beings who put their egos aside for the common goal, not to mention an incredible work ethic and impeccable behaviour in the court.

You're falling for the Spanish media hype. We don't really know them.

I didn´t follow any Spanish media for the whole tournament, apart from the very same games on TV (which I seldom see otherwise). I am just putting some thoughts of what I see in the court, past interviews, etc against the sustained brushing of the Spanish players as floppers, cheaters, pussies and worst. Which they are not. I totally stand by my comment, as most of them seem to be perfectly decent human beings. You don´t need to live with Trump to know he is a jerk.

They are human beings, and likely some of them will be jerks, up to a certain degree. And that's fine.

Couldn´t agree more. I wrote this during the game in fact, for reference;

I'm happy for all the Spanish players except for Rudy Fernandez which I hate

Rudy is a little bastard but he is our bastard.

I think you misunderstood my comment in the context of the last page(s) 'trolling' from some pretty pathetic sore losers, who you don´t seem to have a problem with...

[KG Leonard]

Good to see Rubio proving haters wrong.

Dont overdo it He avreaged like 6 turnovers a game,forced bad shots,shut uneven %. Spain went on runs every time LLull came in for him. Rubio was just the first scoring option because Gasol was unselfish playmaker. I dont follow Rubio in NBA but this WC showed while he has talent,skill why he wont ever become all NBA level like Pau and Marc.

Spain was a great team,their bench was almost as good as starting 5 in every game. They won because of that depth and Marc Gasol offence och stifling defence was the real MVP.

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[minami]

They won because of that depth and Marc Gasol offence och stifling defence was the real MVP.

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I agree this was absolutely a team effort; Llull, Rudy and others have been fantastic with Marc possibly the best of them all (imo). Yet Rubio hasn´t played this solid ever, and is also a deserving MVP.

[cloudXXI]

I´m so happy reading a discussion about Marc or Ricky deserving MVP of a World Championship!

[KG Leonard]

They won because of that depth and Marc Gasol offence och stifling defence was the real MVP.

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I agree this was absolutely a team effort; Llull, Rudy and others have been fantastic with Marc possibly the best of them all (imo). Yet Rubio hasn´t played this solid ever, and is also a deserving MVP.

Yeah he was good,solid in this WC but he wasnt great to prove anyone wrong when you compare to how he plays in NBA.

He doesnt play in NBA teams where he has all around legendary big man like Marc,10 deep talented team.

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[KG Leonard]

I was wondering what is the story with Llull? The Swedish commentators said he was drafted by NBA team but never went to NBA. Anyone know the reason he stayed?

I dont follow Euroleague and i was impressed how he played, the way he moved like trickster ala Manu Ginobli and also hitting big shots. There are many PGs on NBA roations not that skilled,smart.

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[minami]

And before this turns sour I´ll end my day with some nice words from Sergio Hernández (Argentinian coach) after the game, who is not only a brilliant one but could show a thing or two on elegancy (in defeat) to the 'conspiracy brigade';

"Spain dominated us from end to end, it was just superior. It has a tremendous team and everything that Argentina did bad was because of them. We were not relaxed or satisfied. Everything that happened was the merit of Spain. We didn´t lose the final, we won the silver. "

Thanks Argentina, it´s been a real pleasure to watch your run here. Easily the most fun/exciting in the whole tournament.

Nos vemos en Japón...

[juli_rc]

Since the first years of the new century, there was a dispute, between Argentina and Spain for the second best team in the world (USA is first, obviously).

After this tourament, there is no doubt.

ARG:
2002 2°
2004 1°
2006 4°
2008 3°
2010 5°
2012 4°
2014 11°
2016 8°
2019 2°
Average 4,5°

SPA:
2002 5°
2004 7°
2006 1°
2008 2°
2010 6°
2012 2°
2014 5°
2016 3°
2019 1°
Average 3,5°

USA:
2002 6°
2004 3°
2006 3°
2008 1°
2010 1°
2012 1°
2014 1°
2016 1°
2019 7°
Average 2,6°

What you think?

[HeartBreakKid]

So much for the overrated NBA, it was NBA players who won Spain this world cup.

Ricky Rubio = MVP. Marc Gasol = Only player to win NBA Title and FIBA gold.

And to think reading this board, ARG was gonna win. Someone else set me straight that ESP was heavily favored.

I wouldn't say Spain was heavy favorites, but they were favored on every betting site that I visited. If we are talking before the tournament started than Spain's odds of winning were galaxies ahead of Argentina.

Not sure where this narrative is coming from that Argentina were the favorites. I'm guessing fans of Spain might think this due to selective memory because I haven't seen much evidence of it. Even with Argentina's momentum they were not favorites to win the World Cup.

[AussieCeltic]

The thing is Spain is the WC like it or not. Australia had their chances, and kill spain in rebounds. Mills had a ft to win it.
So it's stupid to not give credit to Spain. They finished 8-0 and beat Serbia, Australia and Argentina. They weren't favs in any game. Argentina beat Serbia too and France who beat USA. So props to Spain, and to Scariolo.

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They were favourites in both the Australian & Argentinian game according to the sports books.

[DWadeno3]

Since the first years of the new century, there was a dispute, between Argentina and Spain for the second best team in the world (USA is first, obviously).

After this tourament, there is no doubt.

ARG:
2002 2°
2004 1°
2006 4°
2008 3°
2010 5°
2012 4°
2014 11°
2016 8°
2019 2°
Average 4,5°

SPA:
2002 5°
2004 7°
2006 1°
2008 2°
2010 6°
2012 2°
2014 5°
2016 3°
2019 1°
Average 3,5°

USA:
2002 6°
2004 3°
2006 3°
2008 1°
2010 1°
2012 1°
2014 1°
2016 1°
2019 7°
Average 2,6°

What you think?

Spain is closer to us than to Argentina. They're an outstanding basketball nation and their league is considered the second best in the world for a reason. What impresses me the most about them is their ability to up their game during the knockout stages. This wasn't the first tournament when they didn't perform that well in the group stages, only to get better when it mattered the most.

[Bob8]

Since the first years of the new century, there was a dispute, between Argentina and Spain for the second best team in the world (USA is first, obviously).

After this tourament, there is no doubt.

ARG:
2002 2°
2004 1°
2006 4°
2008 3°
2010 5°
2012 4°
2014 11°
2016 8°
2019 2°
Average 4,5°

SPA:
2002 5°
2004 7°
2006 1°
2008 2°
2010 6°
2012 2°
2014 5°
2016 3°
2019 1°
Average 3,5°

USA:
2002 6°
2004 3°
2006 3°
2008 1°
2010 1°
2012 1°
2014 1°
2016 1°
2019 7°
Average 2,6°

What you think?

Spain is closer to us than to Argentina. They're an outstanding basketball nation and their league is considered the second best in the world for a reason. What impresses me the most about them is their ability to up their game during the knockout stages. This wasn't the first tournament when they didn't perform that well in the group stages, only to get better when it mattered the most.

Second best league in the world is Euroleague and by a very big margin.