Running FIBA World Championships thread

They barely won the game, the Brazilian missed his first free throw, than his second on purpose, chased his own rebound and then they couldn't score with 3.5 seconds left. The Americans were lucky this game didn't go to overtime.

 

Brazil has one current NBA player, Barbosa, on the roster, a marginal starter for a marginal team (Toronto).

Very very un-good. : : :

 

You're underrating Barbosa, he's never really been giving a chance to shine since he's been playing behind Steve Nash most of his career. Barbosa is an explosive player that can score at will. He's deadly from the three-point line.

 

Well, Barbosa was 3-13 from 3-point land (5-18 overall), so he wasn't exactly "deadly" in Monday's game.

Defense was not the problem. The U.S attempted 55 FGs to 64 for Brazil, despite having seven more net possessions (steals + rebounds + opponent turnovers). Sludgeball strikes again.

 

I like Barbosa, but you're overrating him pretty dramatically. He's quick and explosive, but the Suns realized long ago that he wasn't going to be an effective point guard for them. He can't score at will. He is not deadly from the 3 point line.

 

Barbosa's alot of things but "marginal" isn't among them. He may not be elite, but he's pretty good offensively. And Tiago Splitter is an NBA guy as well. But good points all, concerning the fact that Brazil isn't elite.

Still, have to give the US credit for playing much better defense in the second half. Brazil made everything they threw up in the first two quarters

 

Then Barbosa and Splitter can be traded for Durant? Come on now.

The USA has to play smart basketball to win. No matter how much talent you have, you have to play semi-smart to win, and that means passing, setting good screens, playing good positional defense and boxing out. When the USA does not do this, they can lose, but their best game will always beat any other nation's best game.

 

They have a two-time MVP as their starter, obviously they realized a while back that he's not the point guard for them.

Barbosa did his job well though, he's a 40% career three point shooter which I say is pretty good. Averages 13ppg in 25mpg, which is a pretty good rate for a career backup.

I'm not saying he's a stud, but he's a good player to have on your team.

 

This is a bit misleading. Splitter is the best center in Europe and would have been starting in the NBA the last couple years if his European team hadn't offered him a contract paying him several times what he would've made under the NBA rookie salary scale. He'll be the Spurs starting center this year, and he'll be a good one.

And he was the best big man on the floor yesterday. I know this small lineup thing has been working for Coach K in international ball, but Lamar Odom as your starting center might be taking it a bit too far. Odom's too soft for that role.

 

Major gack job in progress by Spain right now. They dominated the first three quarters but Lithuania roared back from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter and is up three with 16 seconds left.

EDIT: Lithuania wins, 76-73. Trailed by as much as 18 in the second half.

 

Noon, U.S. vs. Iran. ESPN. Be there.

Prediction: U.S. 67, Iran 64.

U.S. roundly congratulated by media for "outstanding sportsmanship."

 

More like USA 104, Iran 57.