Olympic Quarterfinals

by plinytheelder on Aug 18, 2008 3:59 PM CDT

Ed: Thanks to Pliny for getting a discussion going!

The matchups are as follows:

Spain-Croatia
Lithuania-China
USA-Australia
Argentina-Greece

Australia's the only team that's given the US any trouble so far (in an exhibition), but I still don't think it will be close - the Aussies will win easily ;) seriously though, Americans by 30 or so. Lithuania could have a tricky time - China obviously has home-court, and the Lithuanians, very strangely, were just hammered by the Australians. I still think Lithuania wins, I even think it will be by a fairly comfortable margin. Finally, I think Argentina wins big - I could be wrong about the Greeks, but I think their reputation is still inflated from the win over the US 2 years ago.

Spain-Croatia, to me, is the most intriguing matchup. José Calderón says this at his website (for which he needs to hire a new translator):

Sincerely, I see Croatia as a difficult rival. They beat us last year in the Eurobasket Championships and we had a very complicated game against them in the previous one, when we were close to losing against them. They are a team very similar to us: They have good players in all of the positions, a very broad rotation and players with international experience. They have height, technical and physical. The proof is that in the last competitions the games against Croatia have been very equal. We have to be aware that it is going to be a very complicated and hard game against a great team.

The Croatians also know the Spaniards extremely well, as many of their players have experience in the Spanish league. Could be a very interesting game, the Croatians have looked good in every game except the one against Argentina, and pulled off an upset against Russia. Spain, on the other hand, seem shaky to me, even though they only have one loss - this might sound hokey but I wonder if the infamous team photo hasn't given them some bad karma. I hate to pick against Spain, given their talent level and how long they've been playing together, but I think I'm going to go with Croatia in an upset.

0 recs | Comment 21 comments

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That would be a nice upset...

…it will also be interesting to see how the US plays against the Aussies this time around. They really got slowed down last time and the Aussies played some very nice offensive sets that kept the game close. Also, Spain has to be happy that Argentina isn’t in their bracket.

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by Stop-n-Pop on Aug 19, 2008 10:24 AM CDT 0 recs

And Bogut was out last time the US played Australia, right?

by wyn on Aug 19, 2008 1:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

correct

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by Stop-n-Pop on Aug 19, 2008 2:08 PM CDT 0 recs

It may seem impossible, but I remember as a young 'un.....

we won the unwinnable America’s Cup. I can still see Dennis Connor’s face to this day!

but I still don’t think it will be close – the Aussies will win easily ;)

I agree. Seriously…….

I have no expectation of winning, but I do expect my boys to give it a red hot go.

Brian Goorjian is a very clever coach and he has a group of guys who are now working well together. It really just comes down to looking after the ball and working hard for your teammates. And perhaps taking a leaf out of Nancy Kerrigan’s book pre-match. Twelve times.

by Auswolf on Aug 20, 2008 4:41 AM CDT 0 recs

If they win...

…I fully expect a front-page fan shot :)

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
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by Stop-n-Pop on Aug 20, 2008 6:22 AM CDT up 0 recs

Also...

…if you want to write about Australian b-ball in general, it would be much appreciated.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Aug 20, 2008 6:22 AM CDT 0 recs

Apparently the game has already started....

but Australia are currently locked in a tense softball match with Japan (it’s the top of the 13th innings right now), so the game ISN’T ON. Needless to say, unimpressed.

by Auswolf on Aug 20, 2008 7:30 AM CDT 0 recs

Oh

and we lost the softball. Bronze for us.

by Auswolf on Aug 20, 2008 8:00 AM CDT up 0 recs

You think that's bad...

At least you’re getting the Olympics. Instead of Usain Bolt’s record 200m win, we just got a Today Show feature on pandas.

by plinytheelder on Aug 20, 2008 9:50 AM CDT up 0 recs

Now I’m getting f***ing pissed, Bolt just beat one of the greatest records in track (M. Johnson’s 19.32), he’s on every damn website in the universe…and the nbc jackasses don’t show it live? What a joke.

by plinytheelder on Aug 20, 2008 9:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

I love watching that guy run...

…it’s absolutely amazing. To be that tall and quick off the block and to run that fast with that big of a stride is amazing.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Aug 20, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

It's on line...

…at www.nbcolympics.com

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Aug 20, 2008 7:35 AM CDT 0 recs

It's on now..

and I saw most of the second quarter.

My boys are sticking at it; Worthington is doing a good job on LeBron and Brad Newley (rights owned by Houston) is having a brilliant tournament. And the more I see David Andersen, the more my thoughts are confirmed. He has a niche in the NBA.

As for your lads – well class will see it out in the end. Disgraceful shooting, particularly free throws. Have control of the glass. One or two “star calls”; that one Kobe got was ridiculous. He could have signed the damn ball and shot it after the whistle.

Australia is keeping the pace down, being (mostly) patient with the ball and shooting well. The task for the coaching staff is to get them to keep their head even as the margin increases.

I asked for an effort and I’m getting it. Pleased.

by Auswolf on Aug 20, 2008 8:01 AM CDT 0 recs

I will say that the US...

…is getting some favorable calls. There have been a few muggings on the defensive end that have went uncalled against your guys. However, after a wonderful 1st, you guys started turning the ball over and missing some gimmies. They have to limit turnovers, spread the floor with a high set and keep running their cuts and picks. Also, that mowhawk’d guy needs to shoot less. Ugliest. Shot. Ever. :)

The US has gone to a hard man d in the 2nd half and it’s starting to look like an NBA game….which is not good for the yellow and green.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Aug 20, 2008 8:07 AM CDT 0 recs

Mohawk..

…think thats David Barlow. Local league guy.

Yeah, it’s getting ugly.

The patience is wearing out and they are trying to match tempo. All goes to hell from there.

by Auswolf on Aug 20, 2008 8:14 AM CDT 0 recs

The US is just...

…going to wear teams down. It will be a tall order to beat them.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Aug 20, 2008 8:16 AM CDT 0 recs

Interested in your opinion....

on Patrick Mills. One year of NCAA ball but looks comfortable at this level. Has he got an NBA game?

by Auswolf on Aug 20, 2008 8:24 AM CDT 0 recs

The bench are all getting a chance to be on court with the USA and have a taste of playing against the very best.

And I had better go to bed.

by Auswolf on Aug 20, 2008 8:35 AM CDT 0 recs

We didn't see too much of Patty Mills

here in the US as his team is considered a mid-major conference and he plays way out on the west coast so most of his games come on late here in the midwest. I’ve only seen a game or two of him in college and again here in the Olympics. He’s a tad undersized but he can handle and finish with both hands and I think if he can prove that he can run a team for another year or two in college he could be a nice backup point a’la Kyle Lowry in the NBA. I do think that the Australian program has made the right decision to put some of its better younger players in college rather than go to the Euro League or stay in the Australian League. If the goal is to get to the NBA, I think that’s the right way for Aussie players….which is funny considering that it’s starting to look the opposite for top level American high schoolers like Brandon Jennings.

PS: How cool would it be to be a bench player to say you had a crack at the best 20-30 years down the road? I had the chance to play against some guys that made it to the NBA but never on a level like the guys on team USA. It was more along the lines of Sam Jacobsen and John Thomas (former Gophers).

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Aug 20, 2008 2:46 PM CDT 0 recs

Do you think he would move programs or stick with St.Marys? I guess the danger is getting ahead of yourself.

Mills is from the same little island that has given Toronto Nathan Jawai. Thursday island, popn, 3500.

PS: How cool would it be to be a bench player to say you had a crack at the best 20-30 years down the road? I had the chance to play against some guys that made it to the NBA but never on a level like the guys on team USA. It was more along the lines of Sam Jacobsen and John Thomas (former Gophers).

Absolutely.

by Auswolf on Aug 21, 2008 5:08 AM CDT up 0 recs

I think he'll stick there...

…I think some international players are figuring out that they can look pretty damn good in college if they give it a 2-3 years. If he continues to play like he has, they should do well in their conference and make it to the NCAA tourney and he will catch the eyes of some NBA scouts.

The World's Leading Exporter of Small Area Quickness
www.canishoopus.com

by Stop-n-Pop on Aug 21, 2008 7:21 AM CDT up 0 recs