Argentina vs Lithuania Game Thread

[ace3g]

game is about to start

[Libri]

Go Manu!!

wait...

[ace3g]

most likely Kleiza vs Scola as the leading scorers for both teams

[ace3g]

Javtokas vs Scola,

Scola drives and scores in the paint, and then Lithuania makes a 3

[ace3g]

http://espn.go.com/extra/fiba/boxscore?gameId=300911932

[ace3g]

glad the Spurs didn't sign this Scola guy, he can't make anything in the paint and his midrange jumper isn't falling, lol, kidding aside....

Scola is having a bad game so far offensively

Lithuania up 17-10

[ace3g]

Hernan Jasen with a nice behind the back dribble around the sideline to avoid going out of bounds and getting by a defender for the dunk and the and1

[Man In Black]

Javtokas is a "wall" in this game so far.

[ace3g]

Lithuania is doing a good job keeping Scola out of the paint.

Javtokas played some nice D on Scola there

Delfino and Oberto have been the star players for ARG so far in this game

[ace3g]

Javtokas likes the sky hook, lol, hasn't made either attempts yet but both were decent attempts over Scola

Kleiza just knocked down a 3

Lithuania 38-24 with 5:29 in the 2nd quarter

[ace3g]

Lithuania can't miss from 3

[ace3g]

Javtokas blocks Scola, and Scola is getting really frustrated right now

[ace3g]

Lithuania up 50-30 at halftime, man this Scola guy sucks, lol lol lol

[Mel_13]

KD won't be able to beat Lithuania by himself.

[Man In Black]

That's some physical D. I miss that from the Spurs. Maybe Javtokas should come over and play here. He can't do any worse than Ian Mahinmi. He speaks perfect English and his pointy elbows could be useful against Bynum, Yao, Garnett, & both Gasols.

[DAF86]

Great game plan by Lithuania's coach, full court pression, doube and triple team on Scola and rotating his players a lot, taking advantage of our biggest flaws: lack of depth and scoring options behind Scola.

[urunobili]

lol Delfino saying that Brazil > Lithuania

[Jobbs]

this team could use Manu right now

[ace3g]

Scola can't make anything today

[ace3g]

66-36 now

[lebomb]

Lith layin tha wood to Argentina...............

[Libri]

Lithuania is toying with Argentina. Scola is shooting bricks.

[DAF86]

11-14 3pt for Lithuania, 1-11 for Argentina

[ace3g]

ARG starting to hit their 3s but Lithuania keeps answering

[Jason R]

Outside of a complete Lithuania collapse, I don't think Argentina is capable of making up this deficit.

[ace3g]

god bless the stalker cameramen this entire tournament when they find their leading lady/ladies in the stand;

today is the hot Argentina chick with the Argentina flag painted on her cheek

[DAF86]

Our players are death tired, no point on leaving them on the court, they have to play tomorrow.

[Libri]

Jasen talking trash.

[ace3g]

85-53 end of the 3rd quarter

[cheguevara]

Argentina is a disgrace. They should stop playing sports for a little while.

[Jason R]

Ever since 2004 I have a grudge against the Argentina team but I wouldn't have wished this sort of loss on them.

[ElNono]

Like I said in the Brazil thread, this Argie team can play real lazy, and the coaching is inexsistent. After being down 20 at the half, the 'adjustments' yield a 35 point third quarter for Lituania.
They shot lights out, but Argentina played lazy defense and had no ideas when Scola was doubled.
Prigioni's defense can also be only described as gambling for steals every time. You can't do that against good teams.

[ElNono]

Ever since 2004 I have a grudge against the Argentina team but I wouldn't have wished this sort of loss on them.

Should get the lousy coach fired, so thats a good start. Sometimes humbling loses like this one work in the long run.

[cheguevara]

Should get the lousy coach fired, so thats a good start. Sometimes humbling loses like this one work in the long run.

I don't think the coach is to blame for this loss :rolleyes

It's obvious Argentina are a one dimensional team that has no athleticism and no shooters. Scola can only carry you so far.

Hernandez might not be the best coach, but he is far from the reason they lost.

[DAF86]

Argentina is a disgrace. They should stop playing sports for a little while.

Or only play Mexico.

[ace3g]

Lithuania with 7 players in double figures

[picc84]

Reminded me of the Argentinean soccer team's last game in the world cup this year.

[ElNono]

I don't think the coach is to blame for this loss :rolleyes

It's obvious Argentina are a one dimensional team that has no athleticism and no shooters. Scola can only carry you so far.

Hernandez might not be the best coach, but he is far from the reason they lost.

Certainly not the *only* reason, but he's been part of the problem, not the solution.

[Mel_13]

These last two games for Scola are perfect examples of why you can't predict future NBA performance based on these FIBA summer games. Two days ago, he was in "video game god mode". Today, he was completely neutralized.

Scola's value as an NBA player has been proved by his play over the past three years in the NBA. These summer tournaments say nothing about him as an NBA player.

[Pero]

I'm just happy that it wasn't just us that got embarassed. :lol
Though perhaps Argentina's loss was more embarassing.

[ace3g]

the only time you can "predict future NBA performance" is when these teams play against Team USA ; and when I saw Scola dominate the USA bigmen at the WC '02 with those nifty up and under moves around the basket, I knew he would be a good player

[Man In Black]

Lithuania with 7 players in double figuresThat's a concept called BALANCE. It's something I hope the Spurs will do more of. I'll take 7 guys in double figs with the Big 3 averaging 18 or so. That'd be 94 points per game :king

[DAF86]

the only time you can "predict future NBA performance" is when these teams play against Team USA ; and when I saw Scola dominate the USA bigmen at the WC '02 with those nifty up and under moves around the basket, I knew he would be a good player

Nah, not even then. A lot of players have shine against team US and then they couldn't make it to the NBA.

[Mel_13]

the only time you can "predict future NBA performance" is when these teams play against Team USA

Spanoulis says hi.

[cheguevara]

Spanoulis says hi.

so does jasikeviscious

[Blackjack]

Typical emotional letdown, seems to me.

Coming off playing their rival, in a game most didn't expect them to win (and one of the best rivalries there is), they just looked flat and Lithuania was able to capitalize.

Sucks. Was looking forward to seeing one of Argentina or Brazil playing the States

[cheguevara]

Was looking forward to seeing one of Argentina or Brazil playing the States


not me. Lithuania was clearly better team than either. USA needs at least a little test.

[rjv]

scola lives by his medium range shot mostly. in that sense, he is a lot like david west from the hornets.

[DAF86]

scola lives by his medium range shot mostly. in that sense, he is a lot like david west from the hornets.

That's not true, his post moves are as good as it gets.

[ace3g]

and I wasn't speaking of just point totals, talking about how well they play on defense, if they can stay with their man, their post up moves and passing skills; how they handled the pressure of Team USA , etc.

Sure anyone can have a great game offensively against USA but that isn't what I was talking about, and you have to be more cautious with perimeter players when you start making judgment calls like that.

[Blackjack]

not me. Lithuania was clearly better team than either. USA needs at least a little test.

I was more so hoping for the individual matchups, and specifically hoping to see Splitter go up against the States again.

But maybe Javtokas can go 20-20 and put the board into full-meltdown. That could be entertaining . . .

[rjv]

That's not true, his post moves are as good as it gets.

scola has great footwork but he can be ineffective in the post at times because he is not all that strong and his height effects his ability to score down low. that is why i say that his scoring is built on his ability to be hitting his jump shot and not the other way around. he does have great post moves though.

[DesignatedT]

Well atleast the Scola threads are now gone.

[temujin]

Well atleast the Scola threads are now gone.

Till the next Houston game.

[DAF86]

scola has great footwork but he can be ineffective in the post at times because he is not all that strong and his height effects his ability to score down low. that is why i say that his scoring is built on his ability to be hitting his jump shot and not the other way around. he does have great post moves though.

Scola was one of the most efficient low post scorer in the NBA last season.

[Brazil]

Well atleast the Scola threads are now gone.

wait scola is no more the reincarnation of kareem ?