US-Germany hoops

[Starman]

As usual, a world-class power****ing by the refs under way. I mean, where do they dig these ****heads up?

 

[FlyOnTheWall]

international game is notoriously more physical than NBA, and that's why refs call 'em the way they do.

 

[Starman]

You gotta be kidding. The NBA is sumo wrestling in shorts, especially in today's clutch-and-grab sludge-ball stall-ball incarnation. International ball is patty-cake compared to the NBA.

The reason the refs are calling them they way they do, is they're trying to **** the U.S. Successfully so far -- the margin is 12, and should be about 30. Same story, ever since Munich.

 

[Football_Bat]

What channel is this on?

 

[Starman]

It's on the deuce.

(With the added bonus of expert commentary by "Granny Clampett" Fraschilla, who continues to monotonously kvetch about 'taking chances' on defense. Whereupon, usually, the U.S. rips off about 4 steals and 10 points in a row.)

 

[Football_Bat]

Just put it on ... and USA up 18. Damn, hoped I'd see a game.

Spain vs. the Argies will be good.

 

[Starman]

Now Fraschilla is blithering that the U.S. should start running clock.

Jesus.

 

[Blitz]

No need to worry. U.S. has had this in hand since 2nd-half began.
There are no squads out there that can beat this current U.S. team.
Ain't happening

 

[Football_Bat]

Dirk must've seen Dwyane Wade on the other team, and the gag reflex kicked in.

 

[RAMBO]

Who do they play after they win this one?

 

[Starman]

Greece. Semifinals Friday morning. Argentina-Spain at 3:30, US-Greece at 6:30.

 

[RAMBO]

Greece. Semifinals Friday morning. Argentina-Spain at 3:30, US-Greece at 6:30.

I hope Spain wins and plays the US.

 

[Twoback]

Now Fraschilla is blithering that the U.S. should start running clock.

Jesus.

I'm sure you know more hoops than he does, Starman.
Gambling and stealing are not the same thing. When the U.S. gambles by jumping into a passing lane, it exposes its defense in unnecessary ways. Most of the success the U.S. had taking the ball was with traps or just flat picking guys off the dribble.
A coach will tell his players, if you're going to gamble, you better get the ball. So it's not a gamble -- it's a sure thing. Otherwise, do it too often and you're hurting the team.
Maybe it's just that you're up too early. Maybe that's why you're missing the fact that Fraschilla is the best hoops analyst this side of Hubie Brown.

 

[Barsuk]

Didn't see the game, but LeBron just said the U.S. did a good job in the third half, so I guess that's good.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Jeebus, for all the griping about the refs, the USofA got a sweet draw in this tournament. How'd Spain and Argentina -- who, I've heard, are the two other best teams in the field -- get stuck playing each other in a semi?

 

[PeteyPirate]

Jeebus, for all the griping about the refs, the USofA got a sweet draw in this tournament. How'd Spain and Argentina -- who, I've heard, are the two other best teams in the field -- get stuck playing each other in a semi?

If you are assuming the USA to be the No. 1 seed, then it would make sense for Nos. 2 and 3 to be playing in the opposite semifinal.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Should we assume that, given the USA's recent record in international play? Not saying that you're wrong but, if you're right, how'd we get seeded that high?

 

[Pastor]

Should we assume that, given the USA's recent record in international play? Not saying that you're wrong but, if you're right, how'd we get seeded that high?

I don't know for certainty how they do the ranking in international basketball, but if it is anything like how FIFA does its ranking, you end up with Mexico seeded, having accomplished jack squat over the years, with the USA shoved in a group of death.

 

[Starman]

Now Fraschilla is blithering that the U.S. should start running clock.

Jesus.

I'm sure you know more hoops than he does, Starman.
Gambling and stealing are not the same thing. When the U.S. gambles by jumping into a passing lane, it exposes its defense in unnecessary ways. Most of the success the U.S. had taking the ball was with traps or just flat picking guys off the dribble.
A coach will tell his players, if you're going to gamble, you better get the ball. So it's not a gamble -- it's a sure thing. Otherwise, do it too often and you're hurting the team.
Maybe it's just that you're up too early. Maybe that's why you're missing the fact that Fraschilla is the best hoops analyst this side of Hubie Brown.

If his on-air output is any indication, I DO know more about hoops than he does.

He's a ****ing idiot who either has no idea, or more likely, completely disagrees with what the U.S. is trying to do on the court. He's the voice of Conventional Wisdom, the reincarnation of Norman Dale, Hank Iba (and, dare I say it, Larry Brown??) continually hand-wringing and pissing his diapers every time the U.S. takes a shot with more than 5 seconds left on the shot clock.

Of course, every coach everywhere in the world is gonna say, "if you're going to gamble, you'd better get the ball." Duhhh.

The primary objective of ANY U.S. team in any international basketball competition must ALWAYS be to run up the score as much as possible, to pump the margin as widely as you can, to eliminate the possibility of another game-fixing ****ing by the refs. They did their best today -- the final margin was 20, and it should have been 40-50.

The U.S. follows Granny Fran's advice, starts running clock with 8:00 left, and the final margin is 7 points with 2:00 to play. Then, two phantom foul calls, a bogus turnover or two, a mystery goaltending, Germany nails a couple 3-pointers, and you're down the toilet again.

 

[Twoback]

You're just paranoid enough, Starman, that the 9/11 conspiracy theory thread might be right for you.
International refs might be incompetent, but all you needed to see was D. Howard's continuation play to know there hasn't been a strong anti-U.S. bias.
Fraschilla clearly is on board with what the U.S. is doing, but he's got to analyze a game. And if he sees the U.S. rushing some shots (which it has done) or gambling too much (which it has done), it's his job to say it. When the U.S. is patient on offense and does not gamble on defense, there is no way even the best international teams can compete with them.