Olympic Game Blog: Australia vs. Brazil

[timvp]

The game starts at 5:15 AM CST. It looks like it's going to be shown on NBC Sports Network.

It should be a good game. Brazil is favored but Australia has looked better than expected in the friendlies.

Obviously, Spurs fans will be most interested in Patty Mills vs. Tiago Splitter. Brett Brown is the head coach of Australia, while Brazil has former Spur Alex Garcia and is coached by Ruben Magnano, the famous Argentine coach of the 2004 gold medal winners.

I'm going to attempt to wake up early enough to watch it live :wakeup









P.S.

David Andersen, center for Australia, supposedly wants to come back to the NBA. He could be an option for the Spurs if he plays well in the Olympics (and if he's willing to take a minimum salary).

[ElNono]

FWIW, Dish Network here has a channel specifically for Olympic Basketball (NBCBSK)... it's on channel 147 here... not sure if the number is the same for all Dish subscribers...

[ace3g]

timvp this was from July 23rd:

Emiliano Carchia ‏@SportandoBasket

David Andersen is close to signing a contract with Fenerbahce, a source told Sportando. Deal is not finalized yet but the parts are close

[Stabula]

5:15? Damnit...

[turkish spurs fan]

love from turkey to brazil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeveY0aW1Qg&feature=player_embedded

[ace3g]

timvp are there any other PF/Cs at the Olympics who could be worth a shot if they play well?

Ike Diogu currently has 13 pts , 9 boards in the 4th quarter

[mattyc]

Just starting at 8pm Melbourne time.

Alex Garcia is a bit of a blast from the past.

I reckon Tiago/Nene/Verejao will cause some problems for my lot. Wouldn't be surprised to see them score pretty highly.

[turkish spurs fan]

will harry kewell play?

[timvp]

About to start :wakeup

[ace3g]

live stats for game can be found here:

http://london2012.fiba.com/extSTATIC/fiba-live/?event=6232&game=7

[ace3g]

at least Patty makes himself easy to spot with those shoes

[mattyc]

Matt Neilson trained with the Spurs many years ago, I think.

I still reckon Joe Ingles could make it in the NBA too.

[justinandimcool]

Patty is so awesome.


lol Aussie's offensive sets looking almost exactly like the Spurs.

[mattyc]

For those interested in further Spur connections, Andrew Gaze is commentating this game in Australia.

[justinandimcool]

Patty is killer on the open floor!!! One man fast break

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

damn mills is doing decent

[ace3g]

nice scoop layup by mills, high off the glass

[smaka]

Can I watch it on the internet?

[justinandimcool]

nbcolympics.com/liveextra

[ivanfromwestwood]

Mills is looking great.

[Nathan89]

Mill doing work early.

Splitter shitting the bed. He's had a couple of good move but he just has zero touch.

[turkish spurs fan]

Can I watch it on the internet?

if it is legal http://coolsport.tv/kiwi2.php

[timvp]

-Mills looks like he was shot out of a cannon. Against Huertas, he looks like the fastest man on earth.

-Splitter has been bad to start. Weak finishing around the basket.

-The movement Magnano has put into the Brazil offense is impressive.

-Splitter and Varejao starting with Nene off the bench is an interesting arrangement.

-Mills is going to get up about 30 shots :lol

[smaka]

nbcolympics.com/liveextra


for non Americans?

[Nathan89]

Sick pass. Damn Mills is officially the backup.

[mattyc]

Mills throwing passes like TP.

[justinandimcool]

what a pass Patty!!!!!!

[ace3g]

for non Americans?

try this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/live-video

[Nathan89]

-Mills looks like he was shot out of a cannon. Against Huertas, he looks like the fastest man on earth.



Yes, he looks so quick out there. Had me thinking of a nickname. The first that came to mind was "The Coyote" until I realized that was our mascot.

[smaka]

http://atdhe.tw/watch.php?id=359895

found it

[racm]

Millsanity looking like a legit PG. How the hell did Portland let him go and let him fall into the Spurs' lap after he played in China?

[justinandimcool]

I could listen to these Aussies talk all day

[ace3g]

Hopefully in his new contract it states he has to wear those neon green shoes with the black unis

[timvp]

timvp are there any other PF/Cs at the Olympics who could be worth a shot if they play well?

Ike Diogu currently has 13 pts , 9 boards in the 4th quarter

I don't know of too many. Most players finalized their club contracts before the Olympics. Good find on that Andersen deal. I'm guessing that if he signed it, he has some sort of NBA out because he's definitely trying to get back in the league.

I've always thought he was too soft for the NBA and the start of this game hasn't changed my mind . . .

[racm]

Only problem is his FG%.

[mattyc]

One thing is clear. If Australia is going to win this game, it will becaue of Patty Mills.

[ace3g]

Splitter just got his shot blocked all the way back to Brazil

[timvp]

Wow. Splitter has been horrible.

[ace3g]

lol Patty was already backing up before the contact

[Bruno]

I'm' no timvp but a PF/C to follow is Pops Menash-Bonsu!. He has had a very good season in Turkey. He is still a free agent even if he is said to be close to sign with a team in Russia.

[justinandimcool]

oh my god Tiago sucks balls

[racm]

Trade Tiago(TM)

[timvp]

Splitter flops on a Mills screen :lol

The incompetent FIBA refs gives him the call :lol :lol

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

What the fuck i dont care about womens swimming

[justinandimcool]

is Patty in foul trouble or just resting again?

FIRE BRETT!!

[smaka]

I want Patty's shoes lol.

[justinandimcool]

Are they allowed to show coach strategies/diagrams like this? I know ABC/ESPN/TNT wired stuff aren't.

Pretty damn cool.

[ace3g]

Splitter FT sighting coming up

[racm]

This is FIBA ball, where minutes are evenly distributed.

Though it IS amusing that the Brazilians went on a run when Mills sat.

[smaka]

Nice D and then finish for Tiago.

[timvp]

Brett Brown not sending double-team help against Splitter on the block is telling :depressed





http://www.nbcolympics.com/liveextra/ <--- Thanks to whoever gave this link. Especially useful when NBC switches to swimming, tbh.

[justinandimcool]

lmao ugly ass finish Tiago

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

i hate nbc

[ace3g]

Brett Brown not sending double-team help against Splitter on the block is telling :depressed





http://www.nbcolympics.com/liveextra/ <--- Thanks to whoever gave this link. Especially useful when NBC switches to swimming, tbh.


while I was using the 4 hour preview, which just ended at the start of this game, that link was working, are all the sports on the down menu showing swimming?

[timvp]

One bad thing about Mills is that Brazil is able to the ball out of his hands by simply applying slight pressure in the backcourt.

[justinandimcool]

running hook from the free throw line brick, brilliant Tiago

[justinandimcool]

One bad thing about Mills is that Brazil is able to the ball out of his hands by simply applying slight pressure in the backcourt.

He can easily fight the pressure by slowing it down, I don't think he has a gear below 5th though, tbh

[ace3g]

Patty 4 pt play chance

[smaka]

Nice 3 pt and1 Patty!

[justinandimcool]

Patty 333333333 AND ONE

[mattyc]

4 Point Play Patty!

[racm]

Millsanity!

[timvp]

The Splitter flop on Mills has been huge. That was Mills' second foul and Brett Brown has been petrified since then. Australia has probably played better but it looks like they'll be down at halftime.

[justinandimcool]

so many moving screens wtfits

[ace3g]

Ingles turns into Toni Kukoc, point forward mode when Patty is on the bench

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

booooooo that sucks

[ace3g]

that was a nice inbounds play by Brazil

[timvp]

Aron Baynes is a big ol' dude. He's been pretty impressive against the talented bigmen of Brazil so far.

[turkish spurs fan]

12 p 5 r 3 as from mills. beautiful.

[justinandimcool]

I understand press is almost non existent in the NBA because you can automatically advance the ball, but I wonder if that out of bounds tactic has been used

[MR-Clutch]

Im so drunk and tired. Can't believe I stayed up for rhis. God bless amurica.

[timvp]

Splitter 1-for-8 in the first half. He's been all about that weak, weak hook shot in the first half.

If Brown doesn't play Mills the entire second half, he'd be crazy. Mills doesn't play enough defense to foul out, tbh.

[justinandimcool]

Splitter 1-for-8 in the first half. He's been all about that weak, weak hook shot in the first half.

If Brown doesn't play Mills the entire second half, he'd be crazy. Mills doesn't play enough defense to foul out, tbh.

Splitter's terrible hook is pretty much instinctual. Never going away no matter how bad it is.

:depressed

[ace3g]

dang, 40+ PPG for Andrew Gaze

[smaka]

Patty now really should be our backup PG, not Neal...

[100%duncan]

Isn't it too low scoring?

[ace3g]

Tiago hits his first basket of the 2nd half

[racm]

Patty now really should be our backup PG, not Neal...

I think the only reason Pop didn't use him in the playoffs was his "veterans first" mentality.

Eventually he should realize using Neal as anything apart from a microwave scorer is folly.

[smaka]

Damn Brazil is on fire now.. 3/3 from the field.

Who are you rooting for anyways?

[ace3g]

well that was a crappy foul call

[smaka]

Splitter unsportmanlike foul on Patty :lol

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

leandro barbosa is playing kind of bad

[Paranoid Pop]

Just tuned in, Australia looks pretty horrible on offense.

[justinandimcool]

lol refs

[timvp]

Brazil threatening to turn this into a blowout. Mills hasn't really reacted well to Brazil pressuring him. And no one else on Australia is stepping up.

[racm]

Let's be fair - Brazil has a very good frontcourt, and the Australians are basically led by a 6 foot point guard.

[Paranoid Pop]

Mills is the only one who can score for Australia, and even then it's mostly on transition.

[smaka]

Some random thoughts:

- Patty shoots too much
- Patty and Tiago draw so many fouls on each other :lol
- Huertas has UGLY shot
- Brazil killing Boomers

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

lol patty trying to lift those two guys up

[ace3g]

here is an easier boxscore to read: http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/basketball/mens-preliminary-round-group-b-bkm400b01.html

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

put tiago back in before its too late!

[justinandimcool]

lol holy shit aussies

[racm]

Mills with 16 points on 7-19 shooting so far.

[Spurs Brazil]

Magnano is a great coach. Brazil never played defense but since he find a way to change the culture and now Brazil is very solid on D

Nene playing very well

[racm]

If BR upsets team USA (long shot but still) I'll credit Magnano. :lol

[ace3g]

do the Aussies have 1 more run in them

[smaka]

That was offensive foul on Mills I think...

3 3s for Aussies, nice.

[jiggy_55]

What a shot by #7!

[jiggy_55]

Nice splitter tip in as well.. good position but hes been poor

[ace3g]

the aussie blur, Mills with the layup

[Spurs Brazil]

Barbosa is a joke. Always a choker

[Spurs Brazil]

Why Nene is on the bench?

[smaka]

Ginobili-like pass imo.

[elemento]

Leandrinho is such a dumb player it's not even funny. If we lose, it's totally on him. Took a dumb contested 3 and then made an offensive foul.

Machado is our Matt Bonner. If he is not hitting 3s, he is freaking useless. Putrid defensively.

[SanDiegoSpursFan]

splitter is in there over nene and varejao

and splitter ended up having the most rebounds on his team with 8.

[ace3g]

time for some rest before the USA v France game

[Spurs Brazil]

I don't know why Machado is still on the team

[racm]

Surprisingly competitive game. Just more proof the Spurs have a good backup PG

[justinandimcool]

Patty shot a little bit too much, but his teammates were ghost the first 3 quarters. The comeback was awesome though. Textbook press and chip away.

Brett Brown = god.

Aron Baynes > Splitter

[racm]

Patty shot a little bit too much, but his teammates were ghost the first 3 quarters. The comeback was awesome though. Textbook press and chip away.

Brett Brown = god.

Aron Baynes > Splitter

Remember the 2001 Sixers team?

[benfti]

Patty shot a little bit too much, but his teammates were ghost the first 3 quarters. The comeback was awesome though. Textbook press and chip away.

Brett Brown = god.

Aron Baynes > Splitter


I seriously think we should sign Baynes, he would be worth about 50 bucks and he just bangs down low. Would open up holes all day long

[Slippy]

Patty shot a little bit too much, but his teammates were ghost the first 3 quarters. The comeback was awesome though. Textbook press and chip away.



Patty is the focal point. When he's aggressive shooting and not much creating except when letting the ball go. It's always going to make his teammates look MIA on offense.


Ultimately , 19 turnovers killed it for the Aussies.

[TE]

Splitter's hook shot is still shit

Smh

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Pity we can't swap Varejao for Splitter. That would be pretty much perfect for us.

Are the Mills doubters disappearing now? Guy was already a legit backup PG when he came to us, now you can see how TP is mentoring and helping him improve his finishing. Mills will surprise people next season and run the second team seamlessly. He'll also have the odd 20pt game and allow Pop to give TP more rest. Mills was a great pickup for us. Mark my words. ;)

[TE]

Damn Mills you gotta knock that down

[TE]

That was very spur-like back door cut execution tbh

[racm]

Pity we can't swap Varejao for Splitter. That would be pretty much perfect for us.

Are the Mills doubters disappearing now? Guy was already a legit backup PG when he came to us, now you can see how TP is mentoring and helping him improve his finishing. Mills will surprise people next season and run the second team seamlessly. He'll also have the odd 20pt game and allow Pop to give TP more rest. Mills was a great pickup for us. Mark my words. ;)

Probably better than Jeremy Lin tbh :downspin:

[TE]

Valiant effort by Australia.

[benfti]

One wonders what that team could do with a healthy Andrew Bogut.

[MI21]

Joe Ingles impressed me.

[Mel_13]

Portland beat writer interviewed Mills after the game:

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2012/07/canzano_video_patty_mills_weig.html

[benfti]

If there were a rest of the world team based on the Olympics so far. Would tiago or patty be on it?

[smaka]

I seriously think we should sign Baynes, he would be worth about 50 bucks and he just bangs down low. Would open up holes all day long

There are rumors Baynes will sign in Slovenia, so I guess he won't sign in NBA.

[guilhermercf]

If there were a rest of the world team based on the Olympics so far. Would tiago or patty be on it?

No way.

Parker/Huertas
Ginobili/Navarro/Batum
Deng/Kirilenko
P.Gasol/Scola/Kleiza
M.Gasol/Nene

[spursfaninla]

No way.

Parker/Huertas
Ginobili/Navarro/Batum
Deng/Kirilenko
P.Gasol/Scola/Kleiza
M.Gasol/Nene

You forgot all of those great greek players.