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Argentina 99, USA 90.
Well, we will play for a medal anyway
Argentina 99, USA 90.
I am leaning to Lebronze living up to his name in this game
Lebronze....
I am leaning to Lebronze living up to his name in this game
Whatever happens I bet it will be an exciting game.
i think it'll be a blow out either way.. dont make me eat crows if it turns out tight
USA wins this one. In a close game.
GO SPAIN!!!
What's coming up? September 2: Third Place, Argentina vs United States
SAITAMA (FIBA World Championship) - Had you asked a number of people before the FIBA World Championship for their matchup for the final, many would have said the United States against Argentina.
Well, those observers got their much-anticipated game. Only it turned out being the bronze medal game in Japan.
Both Argentina and the United States now must bounce back from tough semi-final losses and suit up again less than 24 hours later.
The reigning Olympic champions Argentina lost a heart-breaker to Spain 75-74 as Andres Nocioni missed an open-look jumpshot with time winding down.
And Team USA couldn't hold a 12-point second quarter lead in losing 101-95 to the European champions Greece.
The approach for most of the players is just find enough energy and effort to grind it out one more time for the bronze medal.
"Each game is very important for us. We don't care what place we play for. We want to win every day. We want to get a bronze medal," Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez said.
"Both teams are very tired, but we don't care. If we need to play without our legs, that's what we are going to do, and we'll try to win."
Manu Ginobili, who scored a game-high 21 points in the semi-final loss but shot just six of 21, agreed with his coach.
"It's going to be really hard because we had a very tough game. We were so close making it to the finals. It's going to be hard for our heads to be ready to face a great team like the USA," said Ginobili, who missed the final in 2002 against Serbia & Montenegro with an injury.
"We can bounce back from this tournament. But from one game to another in less than 24 hours is not that easy, especially because it was such a big effort and we're all banged up. So, it's not going to be easy. But what the heck, it's just one game. Then we're going to have some rest."
Shane Battier gave a similar reponse: "Now we just want to come away from this with some hardware. But we're going to have to try our best."
The United States have won nine of their 13 Olympic or FIBA World Championship encounters with Argentina. But Argentina have captured the last two.
The South Americans knocked off Team USA 87-80 on the final day of the second round at the 2002 FIBA World Championship. That loss snapped the United States' 58-0 record while using NBA players at the Olympics or the FIBA World Championships.
Two years ago, Argentina beat the Americans again - this time 89-81 in the semi-finals as Team USA went on to capture the bronze medal.
"We're going to have to bounce back and play a lot better than we did tonight. That's for sure if we're going to win and bring home the bronze," Kirk Hinrich said. "There's a big picture here. We're getting ready for the (2008) Olympics, then at the same time we've got to come back tomorrow and send a message."
For the Americans to have a good chance, they must finally shoot better from the outside. Mike Krzyzewski's team made just 32 percent of their three-pointers in the semi-final loss to Greece - below their mark of 37 percent for the tournament.
The Argentineans for their part must find their shooting form. Sergio Hernandez's team made just 36 percent of their shots against Spain, lowering their average to 48 percent for the tournament.
The biggest key, however, could be which team is more mentally into the game.
And the Americans may have the advantage, knowing this tournament is the start of a process with the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the ultimate goal.
"This is a first step. We're not saying that we're crying over losing. No," Dwyane Wade said. "We wanted to win, and it didn't help. We have to try to win the next game."
Their best? Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and the prom queen.Shane Battier gave a similar reponse: "Now we just want to come away from this with some hardware. But we're going to have to try our best."
At this point, I'm just looking forward to Coach K's homeboy Battier getting lit up like the Fourth of July by Manu. The management of Team USA was and still is a joke.
It hurts that Argentina lost -- I normally love watching them, and it is likely the Ginobili Era is over. But tommrow's game is pretty much pointless vs USA.
Its going to be weird to root against Manu but I have to go for my team. Lets hope for a good game with no injuries. Go USA!!!
I was hoping Argentina would win today and I could root for the USA to get Bronze.
But since there is only one medal to be had, I hope Gino and Fabri get it.
I think the US will lose. Carmelo is the only one playing with heart and he threw his lost Bronze medal in the ocean, so I don't think he wants another one.
USA by 20
Have to hope ARG beats the crap out of the prima donnas. Go SPURS GO!
I think USA will win this one easily. Our players will be in bad shape, both mentally and physically.
Saludos.
Are they show in it on TV?
I can't find it.
ESPN!
I think the US will lose. Carmelo is the only one playing with heart and he threw his lost Bronze medal in the ocean, so I don't think he wants another one.
I never liked Carmelo much, but in this tournament he has shown me a new side of him - not so much by how he played but how he approached the games and how he behaved on court.
Lebron on the other side...
My thoughts exactly.
It's not even gonna be a good game to watch. 2 teams that came to Japan to win the gold, and now that they know that they're done, bronze doesn't mean .
Argentina by 1 because of Oberto!
I don't know -- Chris Bosh sounds really hungry.
"I want to go home with something. Fourth place, I'll be walking home with a sandwich."
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/wbc200...ory?id=2568543
Argentina has no depth, Wolkowyski and Oberto are scrubs. It will be close though as long as their starting five can play close to 40 minutes. TeamUSA is deeper, but their psychology will be worse than that of Argentina's.
I doubt that. I expect Lebron and Wade to ball it up now that the pressure is off them.
Wolkowyski and Oberto were in the last two Argentina teams that beat the US.
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