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Is there any danger France won´t advance?
I think they will come together and play better. Remember Euro05? They lost to Slovenia, but finished better.
Oh, and by the way, Slovenia beat Lebanon by 61 points.
This game has clearly show France main weakness : they can't break a zone. Even France's shooters can't shoot, France finish with something like a 3/27 form 3pt line.
The scary thing is that Libanon has mised a lot of shoots too.
BTW, Fadi El-Khatib is a quite good player and deserve to get a training camp contract.
Is there any danger France won´t advance?
I think they will come together and play better. Remember Euro05? They lost to Slovenia, but finished better.
Oh, and by the way, Slovenia beat Lebanon by 61 points.
They need to win against Venezuella tomorrow to advance. It's a bad team but after the game against Lebanon, I can't say they will win.Is there any danger France won´t advance?
I think they will come together and play better. Remember Euro05? They lost to Slovenia, but finished better.
Oh, and by the way, Slovenia beat Lebanon by 61 points.
The biggest problem wiht this lost is that France will likely play against a good team in eight final like Spain or Germany.
Well, good luck to your team.
Thanks, good luck to Slovenia too.
Germany should be called Nowitzkia.
I'm looking on the bright side that this is a good thing
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So it looks like the following is possible.
Group A:
1. Argentina
2. Serbia & Montenegro
3. Libano
4. France
Group B:
1. Spain
2. Germany
3. Angola
4. New Zeland
That matches
France vs Spain
Argentina vs Kiwis
Germany vs Libano
SCG vs Angola
Group C:
1. Greece
2. Turkey
3. Lithuania
4. Australia. (If Brazil manages to beat Lithuania, they are in and Australia out)
Group D:
1. USA
2. Italy
3. Slovenia
4. Puerto Rico (I'm giving the edge to SLO in the final game of the group)
That makes:
USA vs Australia (or Brazil)
Greece vs PUR
Turkey vs Slovenia
Italy vs Lithuania
Quarter Finals would be:
Argentina vs Turkey
Spain vs Italy (or Lithuania)
Germany vs USA
Greece vs SCG
I got to say that if Libano beats Germany in 1/8 finals... they meet USA.
I dont want to be there.
Game Report, Argentina vs Nigeria 98-64, GROUP A
SENDAI (FIBA World Championship) - For those who were concerned, Andres Nocioni showed his ankle was just fine as he led Argentina to their third consecutive easy win, 98-64 over Nigeria.
Nocioni had 23 points in 18 minutes and didn't miss a single shot, going five for five from three-point land and four for four inside the arc.
"I don't think I've ever played a game where I didn't miss a shot - at least not for the national team," Nocioni said afterwards.
Argentina looked well-rested after their day off and each of their first three baskets were all three-pointers, Nocioni opening the festivities before Manu Ginobili hit one of his own and Nocioni hit another one. He would finish the first quarter with 12 points - all on shots from beyond the arc.
Nigeria were in good shape too in the early stages and tied the score at 9-9 on a three-point play by Ekene Ibekwe.
But, as had been the case in the Olympic champions' last two games, this prompted the start of a great run for Sergio Hernandez's men.
Ginobili had a three-point play of his own and a three-pointer that sandwiched Nocioni's third shot from downtown before Scola added a lay-up for the first double-digit lead of the day 20-9.
Nigeria fought back behind Gabe Muoneke and Ime Udoka who connected from long distance to close the gap to nine at the end of the first quarter, 29-20.
The second quarter was a bit flat for both teams. Nigeria settled for too many lazy shots and tried to overpower their opponents inside - to no avail.
As for Argentina, they didn't get quite the same lift from their bench as they did against Lebanon and Venezuela as their shooting and overrall organisation was a bit off.
This gave Sam Vincent's men a chance to get cut their deficit down to 11 at the end of the first half, 41-30, as the backcourt duo of Ebi Ere and Udoka combined for a 7-0 run.
However, after the break it was the turn of Argentina's backcourt to turn it on.
Ginobili had a personal 6-2 run - including a spectacular coast to coast lay up - and Pepe Sanchez made three shots from behind the arc as the lead all of a sudden jumped to 20, 62-42.
Sanchez's last three-pointer beat the third quarter buzzer and saw Argentina enter the game's last 10 minutes ahead 73-47.
Nocioni - who hadn't played since the first quarter - checked back into the game to put the finishing touches on a fine performance, as he hit two more three-pointers and several long jumpers.
Argentina were even able to put on a show for the fans as Fabricio Oberto threw a nice alley oop to Carlos Delfino who cut down the lane and caught it for a two-hand slam.
And Delfino then threw an alley oop to Nocioni who sofly guided the ball into the hoop.
Ginobili added 20 points and was able to rest again, playing only 17 minutes. Scola chipped in with 12 points.
Gabe Muoneke led the way with 10 points for Nigeria.
Vincent admitted after the game that his team didn't play with the same intensity in the second half as it did before half-time as they looked ahead to their last group game against Lebanon.
"I give credit to Argentina for playing another great game of basketaball. I'd say they are a tribute to what you can do with a group of players who've been together for a long time. That's what we aim for. Today we played hard and smart for much of the first half but then we thought we'd try and save some of our energy for tomorrow's crucial game."
Hernandez emphasised how important this win was for his players.
"With this result, we now know that we will finish the group stages as the top team in our group and that's very important for our next round," he said.
"I don't think the final score does Nigeria justice. They are a very good and improving team and they really pushed us hard."
Germany - Angola in 3rd overtime
Nowitzki needs NBA ref now to salvage this game...
looks like it will be Australia vs USA in the next round
AUSSIE OI
AUSSIE OI
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI OI
That would be one great game to watch! Bogut against Howard...etc... Love it!looks like it will be Australia vs USA in the next round
AUSSIE OI
AUSSIE OI
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI OI
i wanna see how CJ Bruton goes vs NBA point guards coz i really think he has what it takes to at least make it
26th August at 3.00 1/8 finals (1) Argentina Nova Zelandija
26. avgust ob 6.00 1/8 finala (2) Turčija Slovenija
26. avgust ob 10.00 1/8 finala (3) Španija SČG
26. avgust ob 13.00 1/8 finala (4) Italija Litva
27. avgust ob 3.00 1/8 finala (5) Grčija Kitajska
27. avgust ob 6.00 1/8 finala (6) Francija Angola
27. avgust ob 10.00 1/8 finala (7) ZDA Avstralija
27. avgust ob 13.00 1/8 finala (8) Nemčija Nigerija
29. avgust ob 9.30 četrtfinale (1) zmag. (1) zmag. (2)
29. avgust ob12.30 četrtfinale (2) zmag. (3) zmag. (4)
30. avgust ob 9.30 četrtfinale (3) zmag. (5) zmag. (6)
30. avgust ob 12.30 četrtfinale (4) zmag. (7) zmag. (8)
That means
Slovenia:Turkey vs Argentina:New Zealand
Slovenia can beat Turkey, but I have doubts about about making to the semis. Ginobili and the rest crushed us in Singapur. It all on the forwards of all 4 teams. Guards will be meaningless until the semis.
Spain:SMN vs Italy:Lithuania
Spain and Italy are in for a treat. Spain will have to make Gasol dominate Darko, while young Italians will have to play against trigger happy and inspired shooters right after that poor shooting against PR. If they make it, I vote Spain and their anger.
Greece:China vs France:Angola
Greece cannot win against good centers; Ming can really win this game. But I doubt chinese guards are mature enough, so Ming will not get to demolish France, who really cannot handle China. France vs Greece will be one ugly game and Greece could very well win it, but my faith is with Diaw.
USA:Australia vs Germany:Nigeria
USA takes on revenge against the NBA champion. They will get to the semis, if the Aussies do not get them first on inspiration and pure ambition. Germany doesn't have a center, who could take on all this space to collect the rebounds. Offcourse it is still possible for a very bad 3pt night for the entire USA team, but that is just absurd.
it looks like a walk in a park for USA to reach semis.
By the way I heard that Manu hit 1000 points last night against S&M in all the international compe ions he's been in. Congrats to him
Props to the master of the game.By the way I heard that Manu hit 1000 points last night against S&M in all the international compe ions he's been in. Congrats to him
so now we have the following 1/8 Finals games :
ARG
NZL
FRA
ANG
ESP
SCG
GER
NGR
GRE
CHI
TUR
SLO
USA
AUS
ITA
LTU
I think Spain (once again) has the toughest second round game. Serbia & Monetenegro is playing very well right now.
ITA-LIT is the other tough game here considering it is a 2nd round game.
Last edited by Martin R; 08-24-2006 at 09:37 AM.
We aren`t playing Greece... We are playing against Turkey.Greece wont have problems with Slovenia.
And we`ve beaten Greece at the last EC...
Where did you get this info anyway? What is PUR? Puerto Rico? They are eliminated!
The game vs Turkey is on Teletekst on 10 AM.
new timetable from Sportal:
1/8 Finals
Saturday:
03.00 Argentina - New Zealand
06.00 Lithuania - Italy
10.00 Turkey - Slovenia
13.00 Spain - S&MN
Sunday
03.00 Germany - Nigeria
06.00 USA - Australia
10.00 France - Angola
13.00 Greece - China
1/4 Finals
Tuesday
09.30 Argentina/New Zealand - Turkey/Slovenia
12.30 Spain/S&MN - Italy/Lithuania
Wednesday
09.30 Greece/China - France/Angola
12.30 USA/Australia - Germany/Nigeria
August 24, 2006
Sports of The Times
A Team Worth Waving the Flag For
By SELENA ROBERTS
AMERICA’S pride-reclamation project is not assembled with high-maintenance basketball players who find accommodations like the Queen Mary 2 too cramped for their night-crawling habits.
That was Athens, the Olympics and the distracted Allen Iverson. This is Japan, the FIBA world championship and the delightful Chris Paul.
The United States team of redemption does not possess a roster of players whose faces pucker and slacken like day-old balloons when they’re seated on the bench.
That was 2004, and the persecuted Stephon Marbury. This is now, and the grateful Elton Brand.
The N.B.A. players in the U.S.A. jerseys are not being publicly henpecked for their ball-hog ways by Coach Larry Brown, a career blues act
What a steal: an embraceable, huggable United States basketball team. The players occasionally salute as a shout-out to American troops when they score and refer to the team’s director, Jerry Colangelo, as Mr. Colangelo.
United States officials have heard no player complaints about the thread count at the team’s business-class hotel and no complaints from the hotel staff about players conducting themselves without a thread of class.
They’ve all but rescued butterflies from windshield wipers and written thank-you notes to their opponents.
Need a patriotic pick-me-up that is not on the banned-substance list? Weary from a cycle of American lab-work flunkies? Still waiting for soccer, baseball or Bode Miller to make the podium?
Here is a United States team that will jump through hoops for you.
“I do feel we can give a boost to our nation,” Brand said yesterday after the United States won its pool group with a 94-85 comeback victory against Italy. “They want something positive, something good to root for, and that’s what Coach K and Mr. Colangelo, and the entire staff, have been talking about from the start. Show our country and fellow citizens and the armed forces that we’re going to give our heart, and we’re going to do it the right way.”
Is the right way enough to win in Japan? And is winning the only route to America’s heart?
Every superstar on the team, from LeBron James to Dwyane Wade, has happily committed this summer and the next two off-seasons to restoring respect for United States basketball in the run-up to the 2008 Games.
“Yes, you really miss home and family, and I’m sure everyone I know in Peekskill, N.Y., was up early to see our game,” said Brand, referring to his hometown.
He added, “But this is an honor and a privilege — especially with everything going on.”
He was referring to Iraq, the Middle East and America’s missing diversion from reality: a United States team to cheer and trust and like. And this trifecta would be a first in men’s hoops.
The original Dream Teamers who dunked and mocked the world in the 1992 Barcelona Games won the gold medal, but they never evoked a warm, fuzzy feeling when they continually flunked etiquette. Charles Barkley flattened a meek Angolan player for kicks and called it a “ghetto thing.”
Some of those same humiliated international players put ice on their pride, then asked Barkley & Company for autographs and dinner dates. The American audience forgave the boorish behavior, because being No. 1 meant never apologizing for bad manners on a global scale.
Comeuppance has been delicious revenge, though. America’s worldwide intimidation factor has withered in compe ion, and its margin for superiority has vanished inside the trapezoid lane on the court.
It was there for all to see yesterday during a game broadcast at 6:30 a.m. The United States defeated a rebuilding Italian team, but it needed 35 points from Carmelo Anthony to come back after being 12 points behind early in the second half.
Brand said: “The perception is that these international guys are not as talented as we are, that they’re soft and all kinds of stereotypes. But that’s totally not true — as the U.S.A. has learned.”
The lessons have been embarrassing. There was the bewildering sixth-place finish at the 2002 world championship and a disappointing bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Games that seemed like a token to the players for not losing their cool amid a hostile environment — not in the arena, but next to their coach.
Everyone’s image was tainted in Athens, from the petulant players to the peptic Coach Brown.
Japan could be a recovery zone for the United States. But what if this team doesn’t win? It is very possible that the international game — of pinpoint jump shooting and zone defenses and backdoor picks and Argentine dominance — is still out of America’s reach.
The players could do everything right. They could pass with unselfishness, rebound with effort and react with integrity — all qualities rarely associated with an American team filled with N.B.A. players — and they could still lose.
Victory may be the only acceptable outcome to some. But here is an alternative: In the American climate of athletic gloom, freighted by cheats and louts, a group worth feeling good about is a team redeemed.
E-mail: [email protected]
Last edited by boutons_; 08-24-2006 at 12:40 PM.
boutons, that is one great find. They are a great team, they are.
Now let us see are they champions...
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