FIBA World Championship 2006

[spurschick]

I'm getting quite the chuckle out of the Argentine players having a Topper patch on their shorts that says BEEF.

[diego]

Ahh but if you'd try argentine beef you'll never go back...

[angel_luv]

End of game

Argentina 88 - Lithuania 87

Lithuania was leading most of the game but with 20 seconds left, Manu scored the game-winning layup!

Thanks for the update. I was wondering how Gino and company were doing.

[angel_luv]

I'm getting quite the chuckle out of the Argentine players having a Topper patch on their shorts that says BEEF.

That is funny.

Thanks M for the Slovenia article.

[spurschick]

TUR - Turkish delight as French lose third on the bounce

BERLIN, August 5 (Supercup) - Serkan Erdogan poured in 22 points to lead Turkey past France 89-76 in the third-place game of the Supercup in Berlin.

Les Bleus, who are supposed to be among the gold medal contenders at the FIBA World Championship which tips off in just two weeks, have now lost three games in a row.

France coach Claude Bergeaud believes tiredness was a factor with his players having had hard workouts in a month-long training camp as part of their preparation for Japan.

“Mentally and physically, it is difficult after four weeks but tonight we were very motivated to play a good game,” Bergeaud said.

“It was the same during our last three losses: a good first half but still we lost.

“It was a tough situation because we are going down from the beginning of the preparation.

We are going down and we don’t know why.”

France led by 37-27 with just three minutes left in the first half but Turkey shaved five points off the deficit and trailed 43-38 at the break.

Bergeaud’s men still led 60-58 after the third quarter when a spectacular four-point play sparked the Turks into life.

Erdogan, whose knee problems made him a doubt for Turkey this summer, buried a three-pointer from the top of the key and was hit on the arm.

He converted the free throw to give his troops the lead for good at 64-62.

“Today it was my duty to pull the team but tomorrow it will be someone else,” Erdogan told PA Sport.

“I am very happy we won. Today we played good offence but not good defence but still we beat a good team and now we are hopeful.”

Erdogan isn’t the only Turkish player who can hit from long range.

Leading 72-70, Ibrahim Kutluay and Ender Arslan hit back-to-back three-pointers.

A three-point play from Ermal Kurtoglu then made it 84-74 to assure Turkey a third-place finish.

Tony Parker was yet again France’s leading scorer with 16 points, while fellow starters Joseph Gomis and Cyril Julian added 10 apiece.

Boris Diaw, the French captain, had five points and eight rebounds.

Bergeaud will announce his 12-man roster on Sunday morning.

“We will decide it tomorrow morning, the 12 players we choose for Japan,” he said.

“But we will go to China with 13 players. We will decide it between three guys on the pivot - between Cyril Julian, Ronny Turiaf and Johnny Petro.”

[gus]

Argentina played like today and still won. Those Lituanians are the to play, they are big, they close the rim with a very close zone and shoot the lights of the 3.-

Argentina won because Manu, Nocioni and Delfino didn't want to loose. Nothing else.

[Martin R]

here you are Manu play, closing the game. You can hear people's "OOHHHHHHH" !!!!. Quality is not good but enough.

http://rapidshare.de/files/28351980/..._play.avi.html

M

[Mavs_man_41]

Anyone have any ideas why manu is a star in the NBA, but a superstar in international basketball? What is so different about it that makes him succeed. Hes a great player playing against normal NBA teams, but when he plays an All-Star team like team usa he does even better than he would against, say a poor team like the magic. Anybody have any ideas?

[Martin R]

because he plays better under pression.

[Mavs_man_41]

^its almost like hes the Michael Jordan of international basketball. Leading a less talented Argentina team to a victory against the stacked team usa 89-81 and going on to win the tournament.

[Solid D]

Anyone have any ideas why manu is a star in the NBA, but a superstar in international basketball? What is so different about it that makes him succeed. Hes a great player playing against normal NBA teams, but when he plays an All-Star team like team usa he does even better than he would against, say a poor team like the magic. Anybody have any ideas?

Different roles - Spurs vs. Argentina NT. With the Spurs, Tim is the go-to guy with a heavy dose of hub and spoke offense. On the Argentina NT, the passing, the back-doors, it's all enhanced by the relationship and chemistry the Argentine players have with each other since they were teens. Manu is the leader and the go-to guy in big moments.

[Martin R]

^its almost like hes the Michael Jordan of international basketball. Leading a less talented Argentina team to a victory against the stacked team usa 89-81 and going on to win the tournament.

he's the MJ of international basket? maybe yes. He was once called the euro Kobe.

[Mavs_man_41]

Different roles - Spurs vs. Argentina NT. With the Spurs, Tim is the go-to guy with a heavy dose of hub and spoke offense. On the Argentina NT, the passing, the back-doors, it's all enhanced by the relationship and chemistry the Argentine players have with each other since they were teens. Manu is the leader and the go-to guy in big moments.

So if he was the go-to guy on the spurs, then they would be able to beat the all-star team? Team usa almost entirely consists of all-stars. I think thats part of the reason but not all. Basically you are saying he would be the best player in the league if he was the go to guy. I think it has alot to do with the Euro style of play. Less power and more finess maybe?

[Nikos]

Anyone have any ideas why manu is a star in the NBA, but a superstar in international basketball? What is so different about it that makes him succeed. Hes a great player playing against normal NBA teams, but when he plays an All-Star team like team usa he does even better than he would against, say a poor team like the magic. Anybody have any ideas?

Well he did play real well vs USA in one game. Mediocre in two others. He just happens to be one of the best International players period. So of course he is going to seem like a superstar in that competetion. It is because he is simply one of the best players on that stage. Coincidentally he more often then not steps up his game in the playoffs (except against Sacto).

[orhe]

Manu's body and play isn't geared for the NBA season... its too long and hard but once the playoffs begins i really think Pop must slightly change the playcalling to adopt more to manu...

[orhe]

btw thanks for the Vid that was a sick crossover

[Solid D]

So if he was the go-to guy on the spurs, then they would be able to beat the all-star team? Team usa almost entirely consists of all-stars. I think thats part of the reason but not all.

No, that's not what I'm saying, but it is a possibility. It has more to do with familiarity and an unrestricted style of play.

Basically you are saying he would be the best player in the league if he was the go to guy. I think it has alot to do with the Euro style of play. Less power and more finess maybe?

No, that's not what I'm saying. Manu is not a Euro. He is Argentine and so are his teammates. Many of them grew up playing together and are used to playing together in the Flex and other motion offenses. They play fearlessly.

[rasho8]

I love the handgrab-heartthump-salute they do after they jam the orange off the ball.

[angel_luv]

TUR - Turkish delight as French lose third on the bounce

BERLIN, August 5 (Supercup) - Serkan Erdogan poured in 22 points to lead Turkey past France 89-76 in the third-place game of the Supercup in Berlin.

Les Bleus, who are supposed to be among the gold medal contenders at the FIBA World Championship which tips off in just two weeks, have now lost three games in a row.

France coach Claude Bergeaud believes tiredness was a factor with his players having had hard workouts in a month-long training camp as part of their preparation for Japan.

“Mentally and physically, it is difficult after four weeks but tonight we were very motivated to play a good game,” Bergeaud said.

“It was the same during our last three losses: a good first half but still we lost.

“It was a tough situation because we are going down from the beginning of the preparation.

We are going down and we don’t know why.”

France led by 37-27 with just three minutes left in the first half but Turkey shaved five points off the deficit and trailed 43-38 at the break.

Bergeaud’s men still led 60-58 after the third quarter when a spectacular four-point play sparked the Turks into life.

Erdogan, whose knee problems made him a doubt for Turkey this summer, buried a three-pointer from the top of the key and was hit on the arm.

He converted the free throw to give his troops the lead for good at 64-62.

“Today it was my duty to pull the team but tomorrow it will be someone else,” Erdogan told PA Sport.

“I am very happy we won. Today we played good offence but not good defence but still we beat a good team and now we are hopeful.”

Erdogan isn’t the only Turkish player who can hit from long range.

Leading 72-70, Ibrahim Kutluay and Ender Arslan hit back-to-back three-pointers.

A three-point play from Ermal Kurtoglu then made it 84-74 to assure Turkey a third-place finish.

Tony Parker was yet again France’s leading scorer with 16 points, while fellow starters Joseph Gomis and Cyril Julian added 10 apiece.

Boris Diaw, the French captain, had five points and eight rebounds.

Bergeaud will announce his 12-man roster on Sunday morning.

“We will decide it tomorrow morning, the 12 players we choose for Japan,” he said.

“But we will go to China with 13 players. We will decide it between three guys on the pivot - between Cyril Julian, Ronny Turiaf and Johnny Petro.”

Is Hedo playing or is he still hurt?

[Pero]

I think Turkoglu won`t play at all. Because he˙s "hurt".

[angel_luv]

I think Turkoglu won`t play at all. Because heÿs "hurt".

Aw, that is too bad.
hvala for letting me know.

[kolko]

First loss for Argentina

End of game: Argentina 67 Spain 79

Oberto 16 pts 13 rebs
Nocioni 15 pts 8 rebs
Ginobili 1 pt
Scola 5 pts 5 rebs

[Cherry]

First loss for Argentina

End of game: Argentina 67 Spain 79

Oberto 16 pts 13 rebs
Nocioni 15 pts 8 rebs
Ginobili 1 pt
Scola 5 pts 5 rebs

...Oh...well, they will play again in Singapur



.

[velik_m]

Spain is one of my favourites, they have a really good team.
USA, Argentina, France and Spain (and maybe Greece) will fight for medals.

[Martin R]

Spain without Gasol, has kick Arg asses badly. Congrats for Spain !!!