Manu, Argentina lose opening game

[bigfundamental21]

For those following Manu in the Olympics....

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/basketball/men/recap?gameId=763

Argentina 75, Lithuania 79

Recap (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/basketball/men/recap?gameId=763)Box Score (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/basketball/men/boxscore?gameId=763)Play-by-Play (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/basketball/men/playbyplay?gameId=763)
1234TARGENTINA1119153075LITHUANIA1420172879Final




4:45 AM ET
August 10, 2008



Lithuania thwarts rally to stun 2004 gold winner Argentina

Reuters



Updated: August 10, 2008, 8:16 AM ET

BEIJING -- Argentina's defense of its Olympic men's basketball title suffered a blow when it was upset 79-75 by Lithuania in their opening game Sunday.
World champions Spain, in contrast, had too much firepower for Greece in its Beijing Games opener, rolling to an 81-66 victory.
Earlier, Dirk Nowitzki (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=609)'s Germany overpowered Angola, while European champions Russia thrashed Iran.
Led by Manu Ginobili (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=272), Argentina wiped out a 12-point deficit to tie the game at 75-75 before Denver Nuggets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=den) forward Linas Kleiza (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2770) nailed an off-balance 3-point shot with 2.1 seconds left to seal a nail-biting win for Lithuania.
The Lithuanians, three-times Olympic bronze medallists, went 60 percent from behind the three-point arc in the second half to keep Argentina at arm's length until a furious late fightback by the 2004 gold medallists.
"I wasn't on fire -- I was just three for three [on 3-pointers]," an underwhelmed Kleiza told reporters. "It was actually a simple shot. It's very special to beat Argentina in our first game."
Ginobili complimented Lithuania.
"You got to give them credit," said the San Antonio Spurs (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=sas) guard, who scored 19 points in a losing effort. "They made some unbelievable, tough shots.
"It's not an upset in the sense that we couldn't lose to them. They're a great team and we knew it."
Guard Rudy Fernandez (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3204) finished with 16 points in Spain's win over Greece, Jose Manuel Calderon added 13 and Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=996) had 11 off the bench in Group B.
"The first game of an Olympics is always the most difficult," Spain coach Aito Garcia Reneses told reporters. "But Pau Gasol is improving so the expectation is high."
Olympic hosts China were taking on the United States in a Group B blockbuster later on Sunday.

[bigfundamental21]

Here's some more coverage:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/basketball/news/newsid=191135.html#lithuania+beats+defending+champ ion+argentina

Lithuania beats defending champion Argentina 79-75


By The Associated Press
Posted Sunday, August 10, 2008 5:02 AM ET
Photos


http://www.nbcolympics.com/mm/photo/sports/general/19/13/51/191351_m07.jpg (http://www.nbcolympics.com/basketball/photos/galleryid=189420.html) Day 2 Images (http://www.nbcolympics.com/basketball/photos/galleryid=189420.html)

Images from Day 2 of Olympic basketball.
Related Stories


Spain takes down Greece (http://www.nbcolympics.com/basketball/news/newsid=190564.html#spain+takes+down+greece)
Germany routs Angola (http://www.nbcolympics.com/basketball/news/newsid=188255.html#germany+routs+angola)
Box score (http://www.nbcolympics.com/basketball/resultsandschedules/rsc=BKM400A02/index.html)


BEIJING (AP) - Lithuania upset defending Olympic champion Argentina Sunday in the opening game of the Summer Games for both teams.
Denver Nuggets forward Linus Kleiza (http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=565/bio/index.html) drilled a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to give Lithuania a 78-75 lead and Ramunas Siskauskas' free throw sealed the win.
Lithuania, which turned up its defense in the third quarter, took a 51-45 lead at the end of the period. Argentina had difficult scoring as San Antonio Spurs star Manu Ginóbili (http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=555/bio/index.html) and Luis Scola (http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=557/bio/index.html) of the Houston Rockets had just two points each in the period.
But Argentina battled back, and with 2:40 left, Ginobili sank a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to just four points. After a defensive stop, Ginobili bounced a 3-pointer off the rim, but Toronto Raptors guard Carlos Delfino was there for the offensive rebound and stick back to make it a two-point game. And with less than 90 seconds left, Scola's layup tied the game at 75-75.
Kleiza scored a team-high 13 points for Lithuania, the fourth place finishers at the 2004 Athens Games. Robertas Javtokas added 12. Ginobili led Argentina with 19 points, Delfino scored 13 points and Scola added 10.

[sassystriker]

wow, that's a real bummer.
anyway, forget that!
win the next!

praying for Manu and the Argentines to win!

[TMTTRIO]

Argentina looked pretty bad. Well the good news for the Spurs is if they don't get better Manu may be done pretty soon.

[TDMVPDPOY]

wheres the boxscore, whats javtokas stats

fukn gino chokes again

[Hemotivo]

wheres the boxscore, whats javtokas stats

fukn gino chokes again

ginobili was on fire in the 4th
but in the last play he tried to draw a foul -no call- and then a 3 by lietuva

[1Parker1]

Damn, that sucks. Hopefully Aregentina goes undefeated the rest of the way :)

[DynastyBuilder]

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/basketball/men/boxscore?gameId=763

Javtokas 4-7fg 12pts 5reb

...

Honestly I wouldnt mind seeing Argentina go out in pool play :)

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

get used to it. Kleiza is going to beat Manu many times over the coming years :smokin :lol

[DynastyBuilder]

:nope

[jay014]

Damn, that sucks. Hopefully Aregentina goes undefeated the rest of the way :)

Untilhttp://www.uconnhuskies.com/AllStories/WBasketball/2006/05/09/USA%20Logo%20(Color).jpg

GOhttp://www.apfn.org/apfn/flag3-animated.gifGO

[MiamiHeat]

eat shit and die argentine american traitors


GO USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Probably would have won if Parker would have passed him the ball more... oh wait.

[Texas_Ranger]

Hopefully Argentina will not go to the second round, cause I don't want Manu to get injured.

[Spurtacus]

Argentina played very poorly in the first half. Delfino kept them in the game with his 10 points of their 30. Scola sucks. What exactly is his game? Spin around and throw up a wild shot. Ginobili didn't shoot the ball all that well but he had a nice second half. He doesn't look 100% though. For the Spurs sake, I hope they get bounced in group play.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I want Arg. to get bounced in pool play. Give Manu some more time to rest, he still doesn't look 100%.

[Trainwreck2100]

I told ya'll they was gonna miss Sanchez

[1Parker1]

Probably would have won if Parker would have passed him the ball more... oh wait.

:lmao

[nfg3]

wow, that's a real bummer.
anyway, forget that!
win the next!

praying for Manu not to get hurt and the Argentines to win!

Still doesn't look all the way back. The Spurs don't need Manu to get hurt or we're in deep trouble this coming year.


I want Arg. to get bounced in pool play. Give Manu some more time to rest, he still doesn't look 100%.

Agreed. Manu needs more R&R. This off season hasn't been a steller one, regardless of if the Spurs could have make a better signings or not, and there are alot of questions to be answered. Big 3 all need to be healthy if the Spurs are going to make a run at the title next year.

[RashoFan]

Caught a little bit of the game ... I am glad I fell asleep instead of watching Team Argentina get defeated. Team USA is off to a good start.

[samikeyp]

Manu will get them into the Medal round.

[ducks]

Damn, that sucks. Hopefully Aregentina goes undefeated the rest of the way :)

yes


only a few more games and manu gets to go home

[ducks]

I want Arg. to get bounced in pool play. Give Manu some more time to rest, he still doesn't look 100%.

wow a manu homer going off on manu

[Showtime24 LAKERS]

:lmao Argent sucks, go USA!!

[pad300]

:whine

Javtokas 4-7fg 12pts 5reb

...

Honestly I wouldnt mind seeing Argentina go out in pool play :)

So who is better, Javtokas, Oberto or Scola. Playing head to head :
STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
L Scola, F 28 4-11 0-0 2-4 1 5 6 0 0 1 2 4 10
F Oberto, C 34 4-6 0-0 1-2 4 7 11 3 0 0 4 4 9
R Javtokas, F 17 4-7 0-0 4-6 2 3 5 0 0 1 1 4 12

Playing only 17 minutes, Javtokas scored the most pts. Oberto was the best rebounder (on a per minute basis), with Javtokas a close 2nd... Javtokas fouled a lot, but Olympic fouls and NBA fouls are very different. Anybody have observations from the actual game they want to add?

[ducks]

Manu will get them into the Medal round.

how he is hurt still

his looks will not get it done:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol

[2centsworth]

U.s.a. , U.s.a.

[Brutalis]

I want Arg. to get bounced in pool play. Give Manu some more time to rest, he still doesn't look 100%.

[ElNono]

The Argentina coach doesn't look 100% and he's not even playing. But I guess the upside is that if you were to lose a game, you better lose it in pool play.

[Magic_Johnson]

they miss pepe sanchez,
i don't think they can beat usa, spain and greece.
Now with this loss there is a good chance they'll meet one of these teams in the QF.

[SuperManu!!!]

Pepe Sanchez please come back!!! PRigioni can't even defend me and i don't want to start talking about his scoring %

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

LMFAO over and over again at the retard brigade.

On the game:

- Yes, as we all expected, the point is a big problem. When Prigioni has a bad game, there's no natural backup. Manu, Delfino and Quinteros had to bring the ball upcourt several times during the game. I don't like Hernandez style of coaching, but apart from that, taking Porta to the Olympics has to be one of the dumbest decisions he ever made.

- The team is having awful 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarters, and is only capable of getting back into the game by playing solid defense in one end and moving the ball better in the other in the 4th quarter. What the team needs to do is to come out strong, because against poor quality that trend can bring a victory, but against good teams it will mean an early exit. This is a do or die tournament, you can't relax for one game, so hopefully some of the players and the coach take their heads out of their asses soon.

- Among those things that need improvement early in the game is defensive rotations. Too many easy three pointers and basket cuts. We need better man-to-man defense and stop using zone that much.

- Another thing to improve is ball movement. There were many possesions were there was too much dribbling and very few picks without the ball. Without ball and player movement, players like Scola or Oberto will struggle to score against good defensive teams, because they look for good positions and open spaces to get their shots. They won't score 20 points backing down their defenders. The team got only a lousy 10 assists for the game, while turned the ball over 18 times, those are ridiculous stats.

- Since the ball movement was awful in the first half, the team fell in love with contested three-pointers. The team shot 22 three-pointers, and made 5 of those, that's a 22.7%. Needless to say, that's not the best way to win a practice game, nevermind the Olympics. Chapu, Manu and Delfino were the ones who took the worst shots in this area. I think it's related with the lack of solid distribution from the point. If Prigioni doesn't man up and take his head out of his ass, it's going to be an awfully short tournament.

- Good news is that Oberto is out of his Spurs mindset and looks good as usual with the National Team.

The good part is that there is room for improvement, because the team can't play much worse than they did in the first three quarters. They showed that when they put their things together, like in the fourth quarter, they can still aim for a medal.

[ducks]

I thought manu could play point though

[Sean Cagney]

eat shit and die argentine american traitors


GO USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Co sign, wow Manu is from there so you have a bond to him now? Tim and D Rob played for us, forget the traitors on here.....

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

I thought manu could play point though

Nice bait.

He can. Better than you know who.

But what he can't do is play point and shooting guard at the same time. Prigioni needs to step up.

[whottt]

I always thought de nile was in Africa...

[timvp]

Nice analysis, Manu'sMagicalLeftHand. Every Argentina game I've seen leads me to the same conclusion -- they don't have a chance unless a miracle happens at point guard. Prigioni has gotten horrible over the last few years. I'm not sure what has happened to him but he sucked in Tau last year the games I watched him and he's sucking even more now.

The answer might be moving Delfino into the starting lineup and moving Ginobili over to point guard. Although I don't think that will work because it will tire out Ginobili and he's still a little slowed by that ankle so his ballhandling isn't where it could be.

It sucks for Argentina that both Sanchez and Monteccia bailed. I don't care what type of shape those two guys are in, they are both miles better than Prigioni.

Speaking Prigioni, I remember when whottt wanted him on the Spurs (http://spurstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1939045). ROFL.

[Mark in Austin]

Probably would have won if Parker would have passed him the ball more... oh wait.

:lol Nicely played, sir.

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

Nice analysis, Manu'sMagicalLeftHand. Every Argentina game I've seen leads me to the same conclusion -- they don't have a chance unless a miracle happens at point guard. Prigioni has gotten horrible over the last few years. I'm not sure what has happened to him but he sucked in Tau last year the games I watched him and he's sucking even more now.

The answer might be moving Delfino into the starting lineup and moving Ginobili over to point guard. Although I don't think that will work because it will tire out Ginobili and he's still a little slowed by that ankle so his ballhandling isn't where it could be.

It sucks for Argentina that both Sanchez and Monteccia bailed. I don't care what type of shape those two guys are in, they are both miles better than Prigioni.

Speaking Prigioni, I remember when whottt wanted him on the Spurs (http://spurstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1939045). ROFL.

Sanchez quit because he felt like he had given the best years of his career to the National Team and that made him struggle at club level. During his career, he has shined in short, intense tournaments with Argentina, but struggled in long seasons with several clubs. He is 31 years old and has already played for 12 different clubs.

Montecchia retired from the National Team after Athens 2004. Then he retired from professional basketball altogether a couple of seasons ago because he tore his ACL. But he came back last year and now plays in the Argentinian League. He would have been nice as a 3rd option at the point, but I don't think he could be the answer.

The main mistakes by Hernandez are taking Porta, who is still struggling to come back from knee surgery, and taking only two point guards. There were more options, I'm not going to list them, because probably most people won't know who they are because they play in the Argentinian League. But any of those point guards could have been with the team and give an option at the point in case Prigioni chokes like he is doing.

[duncan228]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/NotebooK_Ginobili_says_ankle_is_fine.html

Notebook: Ginobili says ankle is fine
David King

The Spurs’ Manu Ginobili told Spanish-speaking reporters that his problematic ankle gave him no problems during Argentina’s tournament-opening loss to Lithuania on Sunday.

“The ankle was perfect, just fine,” he said. “There was little stiffness for a few minutes, but when I got warmed up, it was fine.”

Ginobili led Argentina with 19 points but missed a shot in the final minute of the defending gold medalists’ 79-75 loss.

“We’ll be fine,” he said of the loss, which came in the first of five pool-play contests. “We’ve had similar games to these before. We just have to keep working, play hard in the next one, with more pressure, the ways we’ve won before. I’ve got to cut down on my mistakes.”

Four of the six teams in the pools will advance to a single-elimination tournament, with the medal games scheduled for Aug. 24, the last day of the Games.

[midgetonadonkey]

I watched the game last night and they looked like shit. Argentina will be out of the game soon and I'm glad they will be because Gino looks hobbled. Any rest he gets is a plus.

[ElNono]

Speaking Prigioni, I remember when whottt wanted him on the Spurs (http://spurstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1939045). ROFL.

I guess senile is not a river in Africa...

[wildchild]

So who is better, Javtokas, Oberto or Scola. Playing head to head :
STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
L Scola, F 28 4-11 0-0 2-4 1 5 6 0 0 1 2 4 10
F Oberto, C 34 4-6 0-0 1-2 4 7 11 3 0 0 4 4 9
R Javtokas, F 17 4-7 0-0 4-6 2 3 5 0 0 1 1 4 12

Playing only 17 minutes, Javtokas scored the most pts. Oberto was the best rebounder (on a per minute basis), with Javtokas a close 2nd... Javtokas fouled a lot, but Olympic fouls and NBA fouls are very different. Anybody have observations from the actual game they want to add?

One game isn't the answer.
Oberto did a pretty good job. 9 points 11 rebounds 3 ast while Scola with 10 points and 6 rebounds I think maybe he was weak in the argie boards 'cause he's a more offensive player than Oberto and both finished with the same points.


Javtokas fouled a lot, but Olympic fouls and NBA fouls are very different

Why the Olympic fouls and NBA fouls are very different? I think Olympic fouls are five not six like NBA but I don't know more differences.

[romain.star]

and who's next for Argentina?

[amy020]

and who's next for Argentina?

Australia

[hater]

they played like shit. Nocioni was trash.

I am shocked they only lost by 3.

They will make the medal rounds and then we'll see how they do. nothing to be worried about.

[urunobili]

argentina had 2 shots to win this game when they were tied at 75... none of those fell... Kleiza had his career 3... Lith Wins... they should have taken a younglin to run the point.. taking Porta was a huge mistake...

[florige]

argentina had 2 shots to win this game when they were tied at 75... none of those fell... Kleiza had his career 3... Lith Wins... they should have taken a younglin to run the point.. taking Porta was a huge mistake...



Manu looks like he's lost alot of weight too.

[hater]

Manu needs to take charge of this team or they are not going anywhere. He needs to run most plays, he needs to handle the ball.

[GeraldGovan]

:downspin:If you ever hope to see Javtokas in Spurs uni, keep track of the U.S. $$ valuation, re. Euro. Sucking U.S. economy is killing NBA. Colangelo should ban W from watching Team USA games in Beijing.

[pad300]

One game isn't the answer.
Oberto did a pretty good job. 9 points 11 rebounds 3 ast while Scola with 10 points and 6 rebounds I think maybe he was weak in the argie boards 'cause he's a more offensive player than Oberto and both finished with the same points.


Yeah, one game isn't everything, but Javtokas seems to play effectively against NBA level competition.



Why the Olympic fouls and NBA fouls are very different? I think Olympic fouls are five not six like NBA but I don't know more differences.

The rulebook is almost exactly the same, but what actually gets called is quite different in international play. Look at travelling (almost never called in the NBA, strictly enforced internationally), moving screens (again almost never called in the NBA) for obvious examples. International tends to be very picky about blocks for bigs on smalls, but much more permissive of off-the-ball contact big on big in the paint... Generally international play rewards learned skills over athleticism. Depending on what Javtokas is getting his fouls for, he might not be accumulating fouls anywhere near as fast in the NBA.

[hater]

Javtokas remidns me of Biedrins. I don't see a reason why Spurs shouldn't try to sign him ASAP

[urunobili]

Javoktas has a hot head... he got his 4th foul when Roman Gonzales got into his brain... sadly that was Roman's only positive contribution to the game... Also... Nocioni got tangled up with him a couple of times... fuck Javoktas... he doesn't have spur fodder

[hater]

Javoktas has a hot head... he got his 4th foul when Roman Gonzales got into his brain... sadly that was Roman's only positive contribution to the game... Also... Nocioni got tangled up with him a couple of times... fuck Javoktas... he doesn't have spur fodder

"hothead"?

you mean after Nocioni dirty elbowed him to the groin? :lol

[MajorMike]

Good. The argies had their one run at playing over their head. Let them see what it is like to play as a favorite with everyone gunning for you instead of the underdog sneaking up on people.

[cheguevara]

Good. The argies had their one run at playing over their head. Let them see what it is like to play as a favorite with everyone gunning for you instead of the underdog sneaking up on people.

FAIL :bang

Argentina was favorite to win Athens after USA.

Actually this time around they are not even the 3rd place favorites to win it all.

they are underdogs this time.

[ploto]

Unfortunately for Spurs fans every team plays 5 games in the first round against all the other teams in their group. Then, the top 4 teams from each group advance and it is highly improbable that Argentina gets bumped when they have Iran and Australia in their group. Even if they lost in the QF that would only mean 2 fewer games.

A big part of the exhaustion from a summer with a national team is all that leads up to the tournament- the practices, the warm-up games... It seems to me that Argentina may have agreed to take things a little easier this time to get the NBA players to agree to play and now they simply are not as prepared as last Olympics.

I missed the game but what about Delfino at the PG spot to start?

[MajorMike]

FAIL :bang

Argentina was favorite to win Athens after USA.

Actually this time around they are not even the 3rd place favorites to win it all.

they are underdogs this time.

lol, talk about fail. argie wasn't even the fave in their own bracket - that was Spain who had beaten argie a few days before and was undefeated. Spain got hosed because they were the #1 seed in the medal round and met up with USA who played their one inspired game of the tourney against Spain and beat them or they would have beaten argie in the semis (as they did earlier by double digits). They also did not have to play the NEXT best team in Lith because they were upset by Italy in the semis. Everything fell perfect for argie, which you know they did what they needed to do, but in no way were they the best team in the tourney. They best team doesn't always win.

If you think they were, then the Cards were the best team in baseball when they won the WS in 06, George Mason was one of the 4 best teams in all of the NCAA when they went to the Final Four and the NY Giants were better than every team in football last year. Sometimes it just happens that way, and it did for argie.

In fact, if not for Manu's miracle runner against Serbia, argie wouldn't have even made the medal round.

[cheguevara]

They best team doesn't always win.


:lol what does this have to do with anything??

My point was that this time around Argentina is more of an underdog than back in Athens.

on the other hand you say they are favorites this time around.. :rolleyes

[vander]

eat shit and die argentine american traitors


GO USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:lol

yeah, I'm kinda glad they lost

[Robinzine]

I want Arg. to get bounced in pool play. Give Manu some more time to rest, he still doesn't look 100%.
So are you suggesting that a team that still has a chance to medal in the Olympics should tank to protect your precious Manu? Are things that desperate in San Antonio?

[MajorMike]

:lol what does this have to do with anything??

My point was that this time around Argentina is more of an underdog than back in Athens.

on the other hand you say they are favorites this time around.. :rolleyes

argie is the defending Gold Medal winner... if you think every swinging richard in the field that knows they most likely won't win it all doesn't want the distinction of saying, "I knocked of the reigning champs" then you aren't very smart. This puts a huge target on their back and everyone is gunning for them.

To say favorite, I mean to get to the medal round. I don't think they WILL medal, however. I expect it to be USA, Spain and Lith. I wuoldn't be suprised if argie finished 3rd in their group behind Russia, too; however they finished 3rd in '04 as well.

[Bartleby]

eat shit and die argentine american traitors


GO USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"argentine american traitors"? :lol


I don't think these guys have dual citizenship. How can they be "traitors"?

[Manufan909]

Just ignore MH, he's an idiot, who seems to post only when he is drunk/stoned.

[Fabbs]

Are those grey hairs on Manu?
http://images.chron.com/photos/2008/07/31/12253538/600xPopupGallery.jpg

[Manufan909]

Who knows? But now that you mention it, I do kinda notice them.

[MiamiHeat]

"argentine american traitors"? :lol


I don't think these guys have dual citizenship. How can they be "traitors"?

spurs fans that were born in america but root for argentina to beat team usa

[urunobili]

spurs fans that were born in america but root for argentina to beat team usa

so why don;t you share your marvelous sociological knowledge with us of why that happens?

[Hemotivo]

The answer might be moving Delfino into the starting lineup and moving Ginobili over to point guard. Although I don't think that will work because it will tire out Ginobili and he's still a little slowed by that ankle so his ballhandling isn't where it could be.
Delfino was the best pg for argentina

[Hemotivo]

ginobili is more important as sg

[angel_luv]

I was sorry to hear about Argentina losing. I am rooting for them to win it all.

I definitely want them to win tomorrow. It's my birthday. :)

[Darthkiller]

manu single handedly brought argentina back into the game but then Delfino lost that inbound pass.

[nkdlunch]

manu single handedly brought argentina back into the game but then Delfino lost that inbound pass.

Delfino also kept Argentina in the game the entire 1st half.

[Oh, Gee!!]

I am rooting for them to win it all.

whatever happened to rooting for your own country?

[smeagol]

manu single handedly brought argentina back into the game but then Delfino lost that inbound pass.

Manu also had the chance to win it with 20s and did a bone headed play that would have many Spurs fans insulting him in ancient persian . . .

[Hemotivo]

ginobili was fouled

[ducks]

ginobili was fouled

if he misses he also gets an excuse?

[smeagol]

if he misses he also gets an excuse?

fuck you are annoying. :bang :bang :bang

[duncan228]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/buck_harvey/Emotionally_Manu_has_left_Athens.html

Emotionally, Manu has left Athens
Buck Harvey

BEIJING — The ankle looks better. The magic doesn’t.

Four years ago, Manu Ginobili started his Olympic run with a buzzer-beater that defined his charmed basketball prime. Sunday, in another opener, he put up a last-minute shot that looked like May against the Lakers.

One loss shouldn’t matter in an Olympic pool where everyone but Iran seems to advance to the medal round. But Ginobili has always been at his best when he feels things are going his way, and now he has reason to wonder.

He says as much, too. “Losing was not that important,” he said. “But it was emotionally important.”

For the Argentines, the emotions have changed. Four years ago, they were overachievers diving for a medal of any color. Argentina had never claimed one in basketball.

Ginobili was their lone NBA star. They were long-haired, bangers who played the right way. And when they beat a U.S. team playing the wrong way, they won a lot of American fans and one gold medal.

This is also how Ginobili came to carry his country’s flag during the opening ceremonies. Argentines care less about how many titles he’s won with the Spurs.

Now all expectations are reversed. Argentina began the second half Sunday with five players who were in the NBA last season, among them Fab Oberto, and they seemed to play as if the American’s one-on-one game had worn off on them.

Only 10 assists to go with 18 turnovers in a 79-75 loss said a lot, and this was repeated, too, among the press: They look too old to repeat, and Ginobili and Oberto have heard these things somewhere.

Trailing by a dozen points to a rugged Lithuania with about five minutes left, they also looked done. But then Ginobili became Ginobili again, throwing in twisting drives and three-pointers. Argentina went on an 11-0 run, and the official Olympic release credited “some key plays from Emanuel David Ginobili.”

The Spurs should be concerned with one aspect about Emanuel David. He said his ankle was fine after he warmed up, and it looked fine. Still, needing to get the joint loose suggests he’s not fully healed.

At least he’s healed mentally from the Lakers series. Then, Brent Barry said, “We had ‘Ma,’ but we were missing ‘Nu.’.”

Playing for the first time in a meaningful game since then, the syllables joined together once more. After shooting Argentina back into the game, Ginobili found Luis Scola to tie.

Maybe they can build on this and get better. They did in Athens. As remarkable as everyone remembers them in 2004, they lost twice in the preliminary round.

But they began the 2004 Olympics with a moment that made them believe anything was possible. Then, behind against Serbia with just a few seconds left, Ginobili took a pass and – running to his right yet coming back to bank with his left – did a Derek Fisher.

“After it went in,” Ginobili said that day, “I didn’t know what to do.”

He opted to fall on the floor, spreading out face down, where his teammates piled on him. Ginobili’s Argentine coach circled the floor, and Gregg Popovich, watching in the stands with the other USA coaches, shook his head in amazement.

Argentina knew it then. Something special was happening.

Sunday, Ginobili was in a similar position. With the ball, the game tied, Ginobili was isolated. He made a move, and somewhere along the way he says a Lithuanian hand grabbed either him or the ball.

“It could have been a foul,” he said, and he shrugged more than he complained.

He lost control of the ball, then had only enough time to take what he called an “uncomfortable” shot. He missed, and the Denver Nugget, Linas Kleiza, followed with the game-winner.

Now the Lithuanians see the magic coming their way. Robertas Javtokas, the center whose rights are still owned by the Spurs, said, “This gives us trust now.”

Ginobili says these games between equal teams often come down to one play. “We’ve had it go our way before,” he said.

He did four years ago. When everything was going his way.

[Brutalis]

ginobili was fouled

So was TD all through the 2004 Olympics.

Your point?

[Hemotivo]

TD fouled a lot

[Sean Cagney]

TD fouled a lot

Not really, they called stupid fouls alot and took the big man outta the game under Fiba rules.

[LakerLanny]

Not really, they called stupid fouls alot and took the big man outta the game under Fiba rules.

Bottom line is Timmy was lost without NBA refs bailing him out over and over again with touch fouls.

Fact.

[violentkitten]

the bottomline is that you haven't been laid since the carter administration. fucking middle aged white piece of shit.

[T Park]

TD fouled a lot

Wrong.

[MiamiHeat]

Bottom line is Timmy was lost without NBA refs bailing him out over and over again with touch fouls.

Fact.

The bottom line is Tim Duncan has several championships and Finals MVPs while Kobe has 0 finals mvps and rode Shaq's coattails.

he got embarrassed out of the finals by the celtics.

Fact.

[LakerLanny]

The bottom line is Tim Duncan has several championships and Finals MVPs while Kobe has 0 finals mvps and rode Shaq's coattails.

he got embarrassed out of the finals by the celtics.

Fact.

Tim's statue should be made out of Bronze outside the arena.

Kobe will lead the USA to the Gold medal for sure this year, something Tim could not do as he was the leader of the most embarrassing US team ever. Losing once is one thing, but three times? Ugh.

[Manufan909]

Fuckers don't have rewind for the first Arg game. Assholes. Even all of the first women games have the rewind feature, that's just bullshit.

[MiamiHeat]

Tim's statue should be made out of Bronze outside the arena.

Kobe will lead the USA to the Gold medal for sure this year, something Tim could not do as he was the leader of the most embarrassing US team ever. Losing once is one thing, but three times? Ugh.

kobe 4-13 fg 0-8 3pt he is shooting 37% in the olympics and taking twice as many shots than lebron or wade

LOL

kobe SUCKS

he will never stack up to duncan or shaq