Argentina vs Brazil right now on ESPN3

[ace3g]

http://espn.go.com/fiba/boxscore?gameId=310910068 here is the boxscore.

Anyone else getting the error "There was an
error loading the event." I've gotten it ever since ESPN3.com turned to WatchESPN

[ElNono]

Brazil got this. Stupid Nocioni twisted his ankle on the tip off jump, and Scrubla fouled out with a tick tacky foul.

[bbarry]

works fine for me

and manu just rejected tiago going for a dunk couple mins ago

[ElNono]

Tiago actually didn't play much at all, at least in the second half. Foul trouble and coach probably scared he has to shoot free throws.

[bbarry]

OMG ITS NOT OVER. A BANKER 3 PT BY ARG

2 pt game.

BRAZ SHOOTING FTS

[bbarry]

Its over

2fts good

[Spurs Brazil]

Tiago isn't playing well in the last 3 games.

In 2 or 3 key moments of the game when Argentina had a chance to take the lead Delfino took bad shots and Manu didn't touch the ball

Rafael came from nowhere and had a monster game for Brazil

[ElNono]

Tiago isn't playing well in the last 3 games.

In 2 or 3 key moments of the game when Argentina had a chance to take the lead Delfino took bad shots and Manu didn't touch the ball

Rafael came from nowhere and had a monster game for Brazil

Rafael was money in the bank

[SplitterHook]

works fine for me

and manu just rejected tiago going for a dunk couple mins ago

lol that was the most clear foul ever in the history of bball.

in fact, only when you're cheering against manu you understand how people can hate him that much.:bang

he's a damn artist. :lol

[TMTTRIO]

is it true Manu fell hard on that arm again? Is he ok?

[Venti Quattro]

Is Leandrinho playing?

[Manu-of-steel]

is it true Manu fell hard on that arm again? Is he ok?

Yep, Manu fell but not on his arms. He was bumped on the right side of his chest. He was ok, but he didn't have a supermanu game. He had two ugly turnovers, but he was the secon best player of Argentina on this game.

[Manu-of-steel]

Rafael was the catalyst in this win by Brazil. Scola can't contain him.

[Manu-of-steel]

Tiago isn't playing well in the last 3 games.

In 2 or 3 key moments of the game when Argentina had a chance to take the lead Delfino took bad shots and Manu didn't touch the ball

Rafael came from nowhere and had a monster game for Brazil

True. I was hoping Manu would be given the ball but Delfino tried to play hero in the fourth quarter. in two possessions, Delfino was called for an offensive foul. On the next possession, he tried to barge inside but his shot was blocked. Brazil did an excellent job defending Argentina.

[Martin R]

Ruben Magnano (Brasil Coach) has done an AMAZING job with this brazilean team, specially in defense !!! I just can't remember a Brasil team with this defense intensity. They were more like a hit & run team, more centroamerican style than this sort of Arg/Europe one.

[Venti Quattro]

Is Varejao still flopping? crofl

[sinok]

Well, not that much actually, considering that he isn't part of the team currently...

[elemento]

Is Leandrinho playing?

No.

No Barbosa, Varejao or Nene. The only NBA player playing for Brazil is Splitter.

[Martin R]

Is Varejao still flopping? crofl

maybe at his home or at his backyard, not in the Brasil team since he's not part of it anymore.

[hater]

:lol argentina. losing in their homecourt not only in soccer

damn Manu :(

[hater]

Splitter still sucks.

Argentina's national team is really old and washed up. They will be lucky to make it out of the Olympics group stage unless they start implementing some younger players into their team.

that argentina team was one in a century kind of team. No way they can get something even close to it. So they are riding them till the wheels fall off which is the correct decision.

[ElNono]

They have some younger players that could help them though. For example, Cequira is a much better point guard than Sanchez right now.

They have taken the old players too far at this point.

Not really. Cequeira is super green.

The renewal of the team will come in due time. Either after this tournament if they don't qualify to the Olympics, or after the Olympic games.

This generation of players earned to call it quits whenever they want, period.

What Argentina can be proud of is that it didn't need American born players to be a top tier team.

crofl

[Amuseddaysleeper]

They need Messi

[Mel_13]

Splitter still sucks.

Argentina's national team is really old and washed up. They will be lucky to make it out of the Olympics group stage unless they start implementing some younger players into their team.

Bookmarked.

[Mel_13]

That's funny seeing how those American born players are a third selection C team of Greece and sure the hell is not a "top team", and yet that team would kill this current Argentina team easily.

You need to put some younger players in there immediately. You are being totally delusional and just as retarded as NBA only fans to even attempt to argue that.

There is no way in hell that guys like Sanchez and Oberto could ever make Argentina's senior A national team if there was an open training for all the players.

Again

[Mel_13]

Shut Grinder. You are the biggest troll here.

Shut grinder?

Wth does that even mean?

lol KBP meltdown.

[ElNono]

That's funny seeing how those American born players are a third selection C team of Greece and sure the hell is not a "top team", and yet that team would kill this current Argentina team easily.

Greece has no A team and Greece can't "kill" anybody seeing that in order to be moderately mediocre they need American born players.

Argentina can probably walk with the 1950 team and still school those greek bois.


There is no way in hell that guys like Sanchez and Oberto could ever make Argentina's senior A national team if there was an open training for all the players.

Please, Sanchez in one leg and one arm >>>>>>>>>>> VSpan.

This is their farewell tour. Considering what they've done for the country, they can do whatever they want.

See, unlike Greece, this team won not one, but two medals at the Olympics.

[Mel_13]

See, unlike Greece, this team won not one, but two medals at the Olympics.

:lol

[Mel_13]

Your user name is Grinder. On one of your other troll accounts. Like you have anyone here fooled. :nope

lol KBP posting as Manu_Forever calling out anyone as a troll.

[ElNono]

Sanchez is Prigioni sub right now, so I'm not sure why you're bitching.

[Mel_13]

You can always tell when KBP is getting his ass kicked....his English gets better and better.

[ElNono]

Your comments about how good Sanchez was were truly ridiculous and you know it. He was never, even in his prime, nearly as good as Prigioni, let alone someone like Spanoulis.

Sanchez in his prime was much better than both Prigioni and VSpan, and by a long margin. Sanchez is a pure point guard, not a scoring guard. He's a cerebral player, and Manu himself said he was the most talented guy he's seen growing up.

He was the starting guard at Temple for a long time. Which is part of the reason you might not know much about him, since I don't know if you all could afford TVs to watch NCAA basketball back then.


Regardless of your total bull shit here, Argentina needs to bring in some younger players. They didn't even select Mainoldi, even with Gutierrez being out they took another older center instead.

No. Argentina will wait until these guys decide not to play anymore, then they'll bring the kids, which are likely going to suck, considering how good this past generation was.


I hate to break it to you, but the current Greece (which will NOT be the Greek team at 2012) mind you, would rape this Argentina team, not to mention just about any other European team that will at the Olympics.

Not really. Greece sucks at basketball. I mean, Argentina is shitty as they come in basketball and it took only two generations of players to win gold and bronze medals at the Olympics and a gold medal at the Worlds.

I mean, Greece doesn't have any of that, and they even organized the Olympics.

Hopefully now that Greece has American born players they can start winning something important.

[ElNono]

And BTW, this Argentina team of old farts can still run circles around anything Greece has out there. Last Worlds was what? Two years ago? We didn't even have Nocioni and we push your shit in.

[ElNono]

Anyways, why is a greek talking about basketball in a Argentina-Brazil thread?

Adults talking here.

[Mel_13]

You did not play Greece since 3 years ago genius.

2010 World Championship

Argentina: 5th

Greece: 11th

[ElNono]

You did not play Greece since 3 years ago genius.

Whatever, 3 years. One team ended with a medal and one didn't.

[ace3g]

Splitter having a strong game against Puerto Rico: http://espn.go.com/fiba/americas/boxscore?gameId=310911074

[ElNono]

Semifinals this Saturday:

Argentina - Puerto Rico
Brazil - Dominican Republic

The winners of those games earn a berth in the London Olympics.
Basically, game of the year for all teams involved. Should be really good games.

[SplitterHook]

Argentina always force huertas to be a scorer and take away Splitter in the paint. Still SPlitter was great defensively...

It used to work but yesterday Rafael heittsheimer stepped up

[SplitterHook]

hey guys, I don't know much about basketball history so can you guys tell me how many gold medals the superpower Greece won in the olympics and world championships?

It must be a lot...

[LkrFan]

Tiago actually didn't play much at all, at least in the second half. Foul trouble and coach probably scared he has to shoot free throws.

Splitter can't get PT on his national team. And he supposed to shit on the Lakers? :lol

[ElNono]

Splitter can't get PT on his national team. And he supposed to shit on the Lakers? :lol

If JJ Barea can shit on the Lakers, then anything is possible, tbh :lol

[ElNono]

hey guys, I don't know much about basketball history so can you guys tell me how many gold medals the superpower Greece won in the olympics and world championships?

It must be a lot...

Well, they hosted the Olympics in 2004, and had a 15 point lead against Argentina...

:lmao

[LkrFan]

If JJ Barea can shit on the Lakers, then anything is possible, tbh :lol

I can't even :downspin: that shit. Damn. :(

[Venti Quattro]

They need Messi

:lol joshdaboss
:lol 34/0

[Bruno]

At least Argentina doesn't try to buy some referees:
http://www.eurobasket2011.com/en/cid_4,w7QjPeH-M,ty138LH2l3.pageID_TMxceqSxIGkQKxVLshFZ-3.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2011.coid_G VLp4ocrHtMQIZMV6jZIs2.articleMode_on.html

[temujin]

The terrible news that the EU is wasting >100 billions EUros to bail out useless greece is further worsened by the obvious evidence shown here that the even more useless KBP can now pay the internet connection once again.

[ElNono]

Top FIBA tournaments by level of competition:
1. EuroBasket
2. World Championship
3. Olympics
4. Americas


Nope. More like:

1. Olympics
2. World Championship
3. EuroBasket
4. Americas

It's not complicated: In Olympics and Worlds you have both Euro an Americas, and at least for the last few iterations Americas has managed to place at least one team in the top 3 (sometimes two, like last couple of Olympics).

It's not much different with leagues:

1. NBA
2. NBA
3. NBA
4. Spanish League
5. Turkey League
6. Russian League
7. NBDL
8. Greek League

[ElNono]

Maybe not Argentina, but Spain, Turkey, and USA sure do. USA rigs every single tournament they play in.

Maybe they're just the better team. Not difficult when playing Greece, tbh.

[MmP]

Argentina's biggest accomplishment was beating USA twice. Not with full best roster in those years, but pretty close. I remember Paul Pierce, Ben Wallace, Reggie Miller, Iverson, Duncan, Marbury. (2002/2004).

I recall them being down just by one in 2003 against full fledge USA.

I think their best strenght is being a tought smart team.

[SplitterHook]

Top FIBA tournaments by level of competition:

1. EuroBasket

2. World Championship

3. Olympics

4. Americas




are you trying to say that a tournament on a continental level > a tournament on world level?
:rollin
-----:rollin
----------:rollin
---------------:rollin
--------------------:rollin
-------------------------:rollin
------------------------------:rollin
-----------------------------------:rollin

[SplitterHook]

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/2355/yugos.jpg

lol at the superpower greece tied in the 9th place with turkey haha

Brazil >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> greece

therefore

splitter >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> any trash from greece.

:D

[The ADMIRAL 50]

anyone else got a different link to a stream? espn3 isnt working for me bc i dont have my time warner login information. any help would be much appreciated, thanks

[ElNono]

anyone else got a different link to a stream? espn3 isnt working for me bc i dont have my time warner login information. any help would be much appreciated, thanks

http://www.afccanal1.blogspot.com/

[Mel_13]

The game is also on ESPN2.

[The ADMIRAL 50]

hahaha, wow. thanks el nono, that link definitely worked, and thanks a lot mel...probably shouldve realized that..

[itzsoweezee]

another broken nose?

[ElNono]

Scrubla just taking over

[ElNono]

another broken nose?

Just a cut, I think. From last night.

[Martin R]

Scola is such an amazing player. I can't believe SPURS passed on him. I just cant believe it.

[ElNono]

Great game. I wonder if ARG is going to have gas left in the tank at the end.

It almost cost them the game last night.

[DAF86]

Other than Nowitzki, is there a bigman in the World that makes scoring look easier than Scola?

[Budkin]

Scola is such an amazing player. I can't believe SPURS passed on him. I just cant believe it.

As Spurs fans we'll never stop talking about it. It was the worst move this franchise has ever made but hopefully it will stay that way.

[GB20]

this brazil team is really good.

[ElNono]

I wonder if ARG is going to have gas left in the tank at the end.

Looks like the answer is no.

[GB20]

they have a nice group of big man with tiago , nene and anderson.

[GB20]

scola has no legs right now. they need him the whole game.

[ElNono]

Playing on balls only right now... they've done a good job on Huertas so far

[DAF86]

Is it just me or does Huertas look like Barea?

[DAF86]

Scola would be the Spurs best player right now.

[ace3g]

big basket by Splitter , he is going with the fauxhawk this game, Splitter getting some practice at the FT line

[Mel_13]

Playing on balls only right now... they've done a good job on Huertas so far

big balls

[ace3g]

FT costing Brazil now

[024]

scola with a clutch game. oh scola....

[Mel_13]

Looks like the answer is no.

24-7 run after this post. Excellent reverse jinx.

[DAF86]

Huge win for this team. Only tournament that was missing on Argentina's resume :flag:

[024]

lol what a turn around.

[DAF86]

crofl

Massive choke coming?

[ace3g]

what a 3

[ElNono]

lol Brazil choking the Argentina choke

[024]

fitting end for scola to seal the game.

[SplitterHook]

Hehe congrats argies.


Is it just me or does Huertas look like Barea?

in what way? physically?

Because their play is nothing alike.

Huertas is a true pg. in this team he needs to look for his shot a lot because we don't have many options but he's a pass first pg.

barea is just a maniac pg that luckily played on a team with 4 scorers everytime so teams had to leave him open off PnRs.

[ElNono]

24-7 run after this post. Excellent reverse jinx.

:hat

[Ice009]

Good win for Argentina. Tough loss for Brazil.

I also just want to thank the Spurs front office people for trading Scola. How do you not bring over Scola and spend money to reload after winning it all in 2007 is beyond be.

Total joke from the Spurs front office. FUCKING JOKE.

[Mel_13]

Just like it was scripted. A championship in their homeland. Great game and great celebration.

[Martin R]

Brasil is clearly a rising team. If you asked me, it is a TOP 10 World Team nowadays.
Argentina (without Nocioni) had to battle A LOT to beat this team.
Magnano is clearly developing a new world force in Brasil.

[ElNono]

Like I said...

Prigioni > Sanchez > Huertas >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> vspan

:hat

[ElNono]

:lol

[Martin R]

Like I said...

Prigioni > Sanchez > Huertas >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> vspan

:hat


can't agree. Sanchez can't shoot, it is just an mazing passer and ball handler, but he can't shoot.
There were lapses were Argentina was playing with Sanchez-Manu-Delfino-Kamerich-Oberto, what meant there were just 3 out of 5 players that could shoot the ball and Magnano read that perfectly double teaming these 3.

[DAF86]

in what way? physically?

Yes.

[Cherry]

Scola MVP:princess

[Ice009]

Scola MVP:princess

For the game or the tournament?

How did Splitter play?

[SplitterHook]

Team of the tournament:

1 - Huertas; 2 - Arroyo; 3 Manu; 4 - Scola; 5 - Horford

MVP: Scola.

Well deserved.

With Nene, Varejão and Barbosa in the olympics we can do some damage if they follow Magnano lead.

[SplitterHook]

For the game or the tournament?

tournament.

[Cherry]

With Nene, Varejão and Barbosa in the olympics we can do some damage if they follow Magnano lead.

Brasil will kill us. Magnano got this.

[Ice009]

How does Arroyo always seem to do well outside of the NBA in these tournaments.

[Ice009]

Why didn't Nene and those guys play in this tournament?

[AnotherArgie]

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great team Brazil, will be a powerhouse soon (real soon). Just not today.

[ElNono]

can't agree.

shhhh :lol

[ElNono]

Why didn't Nene and those guys play in this tournament?

Nene and Barbosa basically quit. I was reading on Lance that they might not be called for the Olympics. Varejao showed up but he was injured.

[ElNono]

http://i56.tinypic.com/30lctja.png

:lol

[BRs.Ganso]

Why didn't Nene and those guys play in this tournament?

Nene - contractual and personal problems
Barbosa - injuried
Varejao - injuried
Larry Taylor - problems with citizenship


Nene and Barbosa basically quit. I was reading on Lance that they might not be called for the Olympics. Varejao showed up but he was injured.

Maybe, but I don't believe... would be idiot not call this guys... Brazil would be much better with them, the olympic level is higher, so we need that guys. :toast

[ElNono]

Maybe, but I don't believe... would be idiot not call this guys... Brazil would be much better with them, the olympic level is higher, so we need that guys. :toast

That's what the president of CBB said to Lance last night. He did say though that it was ultimately a decision Magnano would make.

[ElNono]

If anything, the team knows they don't need them as badly. So they're going to have to tune down the egos, and come in and fit on a team that's a winner already.

[BRs.Ganso]

That's what the president of CBB said to Lance last night. He did say though that it was ultimately a decision Magnano would make.

yeah I know, but the president don't have the final voice... Magnano will take the right choice... We can't miss the chance to play with our best players, would be idiot do this.

[BRs.Ganso]

If anything, the team knows they don't need them as badly. So they're going to have to tune down the egos, and come in and fit on a team that's a winner already.

I don't think so

Nene and Barbosa are good people, they knows how to play for the team, especially Nene, and they're not like Iverson... :lol

[ElNono]

I don't think so

Nene and Barbosa are good people, they knows how to play for the team, especially Nene, and they're not like Iverson... :lol

Barbosa was a black hole last time he played with Brasil though. Not saying they're bad people, but sometimes they think they need to take over.

[Cherry]

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/4045/1428226.jpg


http://www.clarin.com/deportes/FELICIDAD-Scola-Ginobili-Prigioni-EFE_CLAIMA20110911_0261_1.jpg

http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/1707/1428227.jpg

[BRs.Ganso]

Barbosa was a black hole last time he played with Brasil though. Not saying they're bad people, but sometimes they think they need to take over.

yes he was, but that was ordained by coaches... if he plays natural would be a great addition, he's an open mental player.

[BRs.Ganso]

I think he would accept his role position on team... just this... in my opinion like I said...

now I've to go, good night! :sleep

[TMTTRIO]

did Manu break his nose again? He probably needs to do something about it :lol

[Fernando TD21]

I think that the Brazilians players who play on the NBA should be invited to the team, but I don't believe Nene will play for brazil again.

Some players took a lot of criticism when brazil finished the game against Dominican Republic. Some guy on ESPN was saying that he thinks the players who are on the team right now deserve to stay on the team, he even thanked nene for not going because that opened an opportunity to Rafael to step up his game. But I think these players are free to do whatever they want.

And Manu was amazing against Puerto Rico! But unfortunately I couldn't watch the game yesterday.

[Brazil]

I think that the Brazilians players who play on the NBA should be invited to the team, but I don't believe Nene will play for brazil again.

Some players took a lot of criticism when brazil finished the game against Dominican Republic. Some guy on ESPN was saying that he thinks the players who are on the team right now deserve to stay on the team, he even thanked nene for not going because that opened an opportunity to Rafael to step up his game. But I think these players are free to do whatever they want.

And Manu was amazing against Puerto Rico! But unfortunately I couldn't watch the game yesterday.

Manu has been quite during last night game. The clear mvp of Argentina and the tournament is with no doubt Scola. Great game yesterday for him.

Brazil has a very good generation coming but they need everybody in particular Nene to be a force.

I was quite disapointing by Splitter, Scola killed and toyed him all night long.

[SplitterHook]

Manu has been quite during last night game. The clear mvp of Argentina and the tournament is with no doubt Scola. Great game yesterday for him.



Edit: misread it.

Yeh I agree. Scola is a boss.

[Cherry]

did Manu break his nose again? He probably needs to do something about it :lol

He needs surgery.

[Bruno]

Doing a final in a tournament like that is kinda pointless. It should be either a Olympic qualifying tournament without a final or a true continental tournament with the USA. Argentina getting a trophy and being called " FIBA Americas Champions" is laughable.

[ElNono]

Doing a final in a tournament like that is kinda pointless. It should be either a Olympic qualifying tournament without a final or a true continental tournament with the USA. Argentina getting a trophy and being called " FIBA Americas Champions" is laughable.

Not ARG's fault, tbh. Also not sure FIBA didn't invite the US to participate. IIRC, rumors a while back were that the US was going to send some mix of college/NBA team.

[Bruno]

Not ARG's fault, tbh.

I never said it was.

[Fernando TD21]

Manu has been quite during last night game. The clear mvp of Argentina and the tournament is with no doubt Scola. Great game yesterday for him.

Brazil has a very good generation coming but they need everybody in particular Nene to be a force.

I was quite disapointing by Splitter, Scola killed and toyed him all night long.
I was expecting a lot more from Splitter too. :depressed

[Brazil]

I was expecting a lot more from Splitter too. :depressed

In offense he did what we could expect but his defense has been awful against Scola, just awful: he shot something like 9/12 against him. I found him slow, late, not well positionned. Brazil was better with him on the bench, big disapointment.

[kaji157]

Doing a final in a tournament like that is kinda pointless. It should be either a Olympic qualifying tournament without a final or a true continental tournament with the USA. Argentina getting a trophy and being called " FIBA Americas Champions" is laughable.

It is not Argentina´s fault that USA decided not to participate.
They were invited not only by FIBA but also by the Argentine federation.

[ElNono]

With the lockout in progress, though, it would probably cost Team USA an arm and a leg to insure contracts, and they probably didn't want to send a college team.

[Bruno]

It is not Argentina´s fault that USA decided not to participate.
They were invited not only by FIBA but also by the Argentine federation.

Once again, I never said it was Argentina's fault.

Even if they have nothing to do with it, winning a continental title in a tournament where the best team of the continent wasn't playing is weird. If FIBA America wanted to have a tournament with some kind of credibility, they should have forced USA to bring a team.

[will_spurs]

So, in short, Argentina beat Brazil in a 1-game series. The rest is irrelevant.

[Pistons < Spurs]

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg640/scaled.php?tn=0&server=640&filename=oyqlky.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640

[smeagol]

Once again, I never said it was Argentina's fault.

Even if they have nothing to do with it, winning a continental title in a tournament where the best team of the continent wasn't playing is weird. If FIBA America wanted to have a tournament with some kind of credibility, they should have forced USA to bring a team.

Bruno, give me a break!

The NBA champion is also known as "Wordl Champios" and the only team they beat outside the US is a Canadian team.

[Brazil]

Bruno, give me a break!

The NBA champion is also known as "Wordl Champios" and the only team they beat outside the US is a Canadian team.

il dit qu'il voit pas le rapport...


So what smeagol ? It is still weird to have an Americas champion w/o the US, it is also weird to call the nba champion world champion.

Bruno is not saying Argentina doesn't deserve it.

[DAF86]

http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg640/scaled.php?tn=0&server=640&filename=oyqlky.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640

Everybody looks kinda the same except Jasen (number 14).

[Dex]

Everybody looks kinda the same except Jasen (number 14).

That's because they are all "Italian".

/KBP

[DAF86]

That's because they are all "Italian".

/KBP

Kinda the same to what they look in real life, not that one looks similar to the other. Sorry for the bad writing.

[Dex]

Kinda the same to what they look in real life, not that one looks similar to the other. Sorry for the bad writing.

Ah, my bad. I thought they all looked pretty close to real life too....except Manu looks blitzed!

[Bruno]

Bruno, give me a break!

The NBA champion is also known as "Wordl Champios" and the only team they beat outside the US is a Canadian team.

Well, some teams like Spurs aren't using the "world champions" label. They even changed their old banners form "world champions" to "NBA champions". Teams using the "world champion" label are wrong.

But, you don't get it. It's not a label problem.

USA sometimes plays the FIBA Americas tournament, sometimes they don't. It tremendously hurt the value of this tournament since the best team that can play it consider it only as a step to play biggest events. How you can take a tournament seriously when, for example, USA win it in 2007 and they don't even show up in 2009 to defend their title?

[ElNono]

Well, some teams like Spurs aren't using the "world champions" label. They even changed their old banners form "world champions" to "NBA champions". Teams using the "world champion" label are wrong.

But, you don't get it. It's not a label problem.

USA sometimes plays the FIBA Americas tournament, sometimes they don't. It tremendously hurt the value of this tournament since the best team that can play it consider it only as a step to play biggest events. How you can take a tournament seriously when, for example, USA win it in 2007 and they don't even show up in 2009 to defend their title?

I think the reality is that basketball really isn't that big in America outside the NBA itself. So I'm not really sure FIBA has much interest in raising the value of the tournament itself. Wouldn't surprise me to hear they didn't make money with this last tournament. The arena was almost completely empty in the first round games (even in some ARG games they didn't have a full arena IIRC).