06 world Championships

[white tornado]

the 06 world Championships being held in Japan start on the 19th. In the world of international basketball the world Championships are as important as the olimpics maby more so. So far the U.S. has played for exibition games. The team beat Brazil by four points but blew out Purto Rico, China, and Lithuania.

I am going to do a scouting report on each team before the tornemet starts on the 19th.

heres the tv schedule

8/4/06 Friday 4:00 PM USA vs. Puerto Rico (Exhibition Game) NBATV
8/8/06 Tuesday 8:00 AM USA vs. Brazil (Exhibition Game) NBATV
8/9/06 Wednesday 4:00 PM USA vs. China (Exhibition Game) NBATV
8/13/06 Sunday 1:00 AM USA vs. Lithuania (Exhibition Game) NBATV
8/15/06 Tuesday 1:30 PM USA vs. Korea (Exhibition Game) ESPN
8/19/06 Saturday 1:00 AM USA vs. Puerto Rico ESPN
8/19/06 Saturday 4:00 PM Argentina vs. France NBATV/FOX
8/19/06 Saturday 6:00 PM Turkey vs. Lithuania NBATV
8/20/06 Sunday 6:30 AM USA vs. China ESPN
8/20/06 Sunday 4:00 PM USA vs. Puerto Rico NBATV
8/20/06 Sunday 6:00 PM France vs. Serbia & Montenegro NBATV
8/20/06 Sunday 8:00 PM Argentina vs. Lebanon NBATV/FOX
8/21/06 Monday 4:00 PM USA vs. China NBATV
8/21/06 Monday 6:00 PM Germany vs. Spain NBATV/FOX
8/22/06 Tuesday 6:30 AM USA vs. Slovenia ESPN
8/22/06 Tuesday 4:00 PM China vs. Puerto Rico NBATV
8/22/06 Tuesday 6:00 PM Italy vs. Senegal NBATV/FOX
8/23/06 Wednesday 6:30 AM USA vs. Italy ESPN
8/23/06 Wednesday 4:00 PM USA vs. Slovenia NBATV
8/23/06 Wednesday 6:00 PM Venezuela vs. Serbia & Montenegro NBATV
8/23/06 Wednesday 8:00 PM Nigeria vs. Argentina NBATV/FOX
8/24/06 Thursday 6:30 AM USA vs. Senegal ESPN
8/24/06 Thursday 2:00 PM USA vs. Italy NBATV
8/24/06 Thursday 4:00 PM Slovenia vs. China NBATV/FOX
8/25/06 Friday 4:00 PM Senegal vs. USA NBATV
8/25/06 Friday 6:00 PM Lithuania vs. Brazil NBATV
8/26/06 Saturday 12:00 AM Eighth Final ESPN
8/26/06 Saturday 7:00 AM Eighth Final ESPN
8/26/06 Saturday 4:00 PM Turkey vs. Greece NBATV
8/26/06 Saturday 6:00 PM Italy vs. Puerto Rico NBATV
8/27/06 Sunday 4:00 AM Eighth Final ESPN
8/27/06 Sunday 9:00 PM Eighth Final ESPN
8/29/06 Tuesday 3:30 AM Quarterfinal ESPN
8/29/06 Tuesday 6:30 AM Quarterfinal ESPN
8/29/06 Tuesday TBD Quarterfinal NBATV
8/29/06 Tuesday TBD Quarterfinal NBATV
8/30/06 Wednesday 3:30 AM Quarterfinal ESPN
8/30/06 Wednesday 6:30 AM Quarterfinal ESPN
8/30/06 Wednesday TBD Quarterfinal NBATV
8/30/06 Wednesday TBD Quarterfinal NBATV
9/1/06 Friday 3:30 AM Semifinal ESPN
9/1/06 Friday 6:30 AM Semifinal ESPN
9/2/06 Saturday 6:30 AM Bronze ESPN
9/2/06 Saturday 4:00 PM Semifinal NBATV
9/2/06 Saturday 6:00 PM Semifinal NBATV
9/3/06 Sunday 6:30 AM Finals ESPN
9/4/06 Monday 4:00 PM Finals NBATV

 

[Sark6354201]

I look forward to the scouting report

 

[white tornado]

Spain is one of the best teams in the tournament. The Spaniards are complete at every position and have great depth.Spain also has Spanish players if you know what I mean.

Pau Gasol plays center and is one of the worlds best players. He's a seven footer with great skills and athletism. Jorge Garbajosa 6-9 will start at power forward. Carlos Jiménez 6-8 will play small forward. Felipe Reyes should play well off the bench at the forward spot. Spain has great guards probable the best equipped to break the U.S. pressure defense. Juan Carlos Navarro the 6-3 shooting guard will be the Spanish teams seconded scoring option after Gasol. José Manuel Calderón 6-3 will play point. He started for the Toronto Raptors last year. Spain's second string Guards are great young talents. Rudy Fernandez is an explosive young 2 guard. Sergio Rodriguez is an incredible fast playmaker, though he has a tenancy for turnovers.Edited by: white tornado

 

[White Shogun]

Which of these teams, if any, have a real chance at beating the USA and / or winning the tournament?

 

[white tornado]

Argentina has the best shot then spain.

 

[white is right]

Italy too, Spain traditionally has underachieved in this tourney. Also any of the former Yugo republics can do a one and out against the US. Really if Yugoslavia and the USSR hadn't split up they both could beat this version of team USA.....Edited by: white is right

 

[white lightning]

Italy had them beat today.They had the US down by 12 points but fell apart late in the game.The one frustrating thing was how the refs actually let the US Team get away with traveling so much like in the NBA.They need to call the rules by the International Rules.They cut the US alot of slack.The US team is a better team though as they play better together.They also don't fight over the shots as much as previous teams.Hinrich has done a good job at the point.C.Anthony just had an amazing game today.Italy will get a rematch.

 

[voice]

I wondered if the the Italian coach used his timeouts wisely when the US was making its run?

I didn't watch it so I don't know , but this is a great tactic to slow the brothers down.

BTW, How is Kirk Henrich doing?

 

[White Shogun]

Warning signs
By Steve Kerr, Yahoo! Sports
August 30, 2006

Steve Kerr
Yahoo! Sports
Wednesday's 85-65 quarterfinal win over Germany was a reminder of why the Americans - as good as they are - are still vulnerable as they advance to the final four of the FIBA world championships.

The U.S. hoisted 40 three-pointers - making only 10 - against Germany's zone defense and were unable to break the game open until late in the third quarter. Eventually, Team USA's pressure defense and overall depth was the difference, but this was not an impressive offensive performance by Mike Krzyzewski's squad.

Dwyane Wade's outside shooting was atrocious, once airballing a three and another time clanging one off the side of the backboard. He was just 1-of-11 on the night.

Warning Signs

 

[GreatLakeState]

How'd Dirk shoot?

 

[White Shogun]

How'd Dirk shoot?

Bad. 3-15, or something like that?

But Dirk wasn't praised for single-handedly winning the NBA Championship, either, nor crowned as the second coming of Michael Jordan, unlike the NBA's poster boy Dwayne Wade. So pardon me if I point out that the Emperor has no clothes.

 

[white is right]

Dirk had no shot to do anything. He is played similar to Yao Ming. Swarm Dirk and let the other players beat you. If the other guys play out of their minds Germany can play the best teams close if not it's a blowout. Really for the Germans to be a point down at the half was a victory there. This US team is vulnerable and all future teams will be. The rest of the world has caught up to the US in basketball and now they are no different than Canada in Hockey or Brazil in Soccer.Edited by: white is right

 

[Don Wassall]

The rest of the world has caught up to the US in basketball and now they are no different than Canada in Hockey or Brazil in Soccer.

Well put. Same thing in heavyweight boxing, the aura of blackinvincibility is gone.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Your aura's fading, I can feel it faaading...
Oh Ooh, I'm losing you!

 

[white tornado]

The simi finals are set, its Spain vs Argintina and Greece vs the U.S.A.Edited by: white tornado

 

[white lightning]

I see Argentina winning it all.They will beat the US.Spain and Greece are very good but the US is just a little better.I want to see Ginobli go crazy in the finals championship game if I'm right.He will need to have a big game along with Niocioni.

 

[KG2422]

I think Greece has a chance. At the least, they won't be pushed around.

 

[surfsider]

Greece 101-USA 95.

It was 20-14 USA at the end of the first quarter. The US defense was tough in that quarter but the Greeks went to pick and roll and the US looked helpless in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. It was close but the Greeks made their free throws in the last few minutes to hang on.Edited by: surfsider

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

excellent breakdown, surfsider.

Greece's high pick and roll completely tore apart the US defense, and i think Greece shot 14-18 from the floor in the third quarter. they were on fire!

furthermore, again the USA could barely hit the floor if they were outside the three-point line. they shot horribly, as they have for years. somehow their "athleticism" didn't equate to points.

ha!

i'm currently watching the Argentina-Spain game, and it is so refreshing to watch a bunch of white guys play basketball the way it's supposed to be played. there's not a single black player in the game!

 

[michiganblkman]

The U.S. can always play the "we didnt have Kobe or Shaq" card.

 

[Gary]

We won in hockey with Sweden,soccer with Italy and now Greece or Spain in basketball.I love it when the jock sniffers get beat.

 

[C Darwin]

I didn't see the USA / Greece game, but guess who ESPN spotlighted from the Greek team? The big black center who they referred to as "baby shaq". They showed him dunking and scrapping for an offensive rebound, then putting it in. ESPN portrayed him as a major participant in the victory over the USA. I wonder how much of a factor he really was? At the end of the report, they added the Greeks had good perimeter shooting.

 

[referendum]

The media can spin this anyway they'd like, but people aren't that stupid. Yahoo showed two white Greeks celebrating on its site this morning. Most fans will realize it was a predominatly white team that won, with a half black/half Greek player. Also, thru Tuesdays games, guess who the Championships top shot blocker was. Hint, first name Darko.

 

[C Darwin]

...but people aren't that stupid.

I wish I shared your optimism.

ESPN updated the game report. They now show "Baby Shaq" coming off the bench to lead the Greeks to victory. It's brutal.

 

[White Shogun]

So basically the lone black player on the Greek team, who apparently isn't even good enough to play in the NBA, was so outstanding in his performance that he single-handedly led the Greeks to victory over his African brethren on the US team.

Riiiight.

Wonder which NBA team will sign "Baby Shaq" to a contract next season...

There is a possibility that the US team will not even win a medal, right? Doesn't the US play the loser of the Spain v Argentina game for the bronze?

I caught a bit of Colin Cowturd on ESPN Radio this morning. He said that he has accepted the fact that the US will never win a championship in international basketball. He said its a given that the U.S. has the best 'athletes,' hands down, but the international teams play better team ball under 'international rules,' what ever that means.