Olympic Basketball
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man, whateva-- Lisa Leslie just won her FOURTH GOLD MEDAL (DAMN!)
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=3550358
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&id=3550358
Haven't watched olympics hoops in some years, and had forgotten how fucked up the officiating was in "international" ball. Watching the first half of the US/Spain game (on videotape) the refs are calling every ticky-tack foul they possibly can on the US players while almost completely ignoring any and all Spain fouls. With about 3:30 minutes left in the half, Spain just picked up it's FOURTH team foul, while there are at least 5 US players with 2 fouls each. This has nothing to do with their country being the US (I suspect African countries get similar fouls called against them), it has to do with the fact that the ONLY way that they can keep Spain in the game against this team is by awarding them free points on the free throw line. So they call as many fouls as they can (making sure not to call too many on one particular player that they foul out), so the international team gets to go to the line very early
Also, while I have been digusted by the level of acting (flops) going on in the NBA the past 3, 4 years, it's NOTHING compared to the level of acting being done by Spain in the two games they've played against the US. They'll argue absolutely EVERY call being made against them like they've never committed a foul in their lives. And while they don't actually flop per se, they have perfected the act of the unbalanced bump. Touch one and they will flail their arms and you'll swear they just by hit with a baseball bat or a truck or something. And they will throw flops in there as well. Usually when they go to the basket. Not trying to make a bucket, but just throwing the ball up and falling down (a la Bubbachuck)
I was looking forward to the US busting that ass, but I can't watch this anymore, this ain't basketball. Can't stand cats that bitch all the time meanwhile, they the dirtiest mug on the court
In Brooklyn, at my home court, we call that "putting shit in the game" and I'm not having it. It might swing with mufuggas that dpn't know shit, but not with me.
**Click**
Also, while I have been digusted by the level of acting (flops) going on in the NBA the past 3, 4 years, it's NOTHING compared to the level of acting being done by Spain in the two games they've played against the US. They'll argue absolutely EVERY call being made against them like they've never committed a foul in their lives. And while they don't actually flop per se, they have perfected the act of the unbalanced bump. Touch one and they will flail their arms and you'll swear they just by hit with a baseball bat or a truck or something. And they will throw flops in there as well. Usually when they go to the basket. Not trying to make a bucket, but just throwing the ball up and falling down (a la Bubbachuck)
I was looking forward to the US busting that ass, but I can't watch this anymore, this ain't basketball. Can't stand cats that bitch all the time meanwhile, they the dirtiest mug on the court
In Brooklyn, at my home court, we call that "putting shit in the game" and I'm not having it. It might swing with mufuggas that dpn't know shit, but not with me.
**Click**
the officiating WAS horrible.
equally horrible was the US inability to guard the high screen roll. the way US defenders were unable to keep their opponents out of the paint OFF THE DRIBBLE was disgusting.
everyone already knows how i feel about euro players. what makes their acting/faking/flopping routines 1000 times worse (and even more obviously FAKE) is when they fall to the floor and put both hands on their faces, EVEN IF THE CONTACT OCCURRED ON THEIR LEG, BACK, OR FOOT.
equally horrible was the US inability to guard the high screen roll. the way US defenders were unable to keep their opponents out of the paint OFF THE DRIBBLE was disgusting.
everyone already knows how i feel about euro players. what makes their acting/faking/flopping routines 1000 times worse (and even more obviously FAKE) is when they fall to the floor and put both hands on their faces, EVEN IF THE CONTACT OCCURRED ON THEIR LEG, BACK, OR FOOT.
Maybe it's just me, but Howard was complete and utter garbage throughout the entire tournament. International play seems to have exposed him as an ineffectual big man where as Bosh's respect level should have at least doubled as a result of his performance.
Howard played like shit, but it was not his fault. Only saw two games (both against Spain) and the questions begs to be asked: Why against a team with two 7ft bigs do you play a frontline with one PF and 2 SFs?? Bad enough the US doesn't have a true center, but it's compounded by the big man being the ONLY rebounding/shotblocking presence in the paint. Not for a minute, or for a half, but for the entire touranment.
I'm watching Spain's bigs constantly pounding the paint (and getting away with some really cheap fouls) and I kept thinking: What is Coach K (ain't spellin all that shit) saving Carlos Boozer for?? The NCAA tournament?? What would have been wrong with using TWO bigs and taking the pressure off that poor lone guy?? Are you worried about not having enough ball handling?? IMHO, that was the DUMBEST strategy that the coach could have deployed. And if not for the mental implosion of a 17 year old in the last 30 seconds (not even discussed by the idiot announcers....could you imagine the discussion if a 17 year old black kid had done what Ricky Rubio did?), the US might lost. How many inside points did the US get down the stretch off of set plays? Except for one broken play, absolute zero. Playing a Boozer/Bosh tandem with Wade, Paul and Lebron would've solved all that.
Also....other team's playing a zone, daring US players to shoot 3's. They were making them in the 1st half, but not the second. Spain is packing it into the paint deeper and deeper. So who is sitting there on the bench gathering dust?? Only fucking Michael Redd that's all. WTF is Coach KKK thinking?? Mr halftime adjustment?? coaching his way OUT of a gold medal. Dude looked nervous as hell to me
One more thing, I think I finally understand Kobe. He is an idiot. That degree of difficulty shit he employs into the offense is another reason why that game was so close (besides the one sided officiating, Coach KKK's dumbass and Spain's flops). Kobe is most effective when the ball is NOT in his hands. Filling the lanes, and finishing breaks off catching alleyoops. Put him in the middle of the break, and the break, breaks down. For a team full of stars, that game was not pretty. But not because of defense. Their fast break looked HORRIBLE. Like CYO backups or something. I sincerely believe the game would've been a blowout had the bitch assed coach manned up and played Redd instead.
Oh yeah, on that dunk (Fernandez over Howard), the euro used his off ARM to ward off the defender. But no one....not the officials, nor the totally oblivious (on purpose), idiot announcers said a blithering word.
This has been on my mind and I want to know what you all think (was going to make a new thread but just put it here)
What does the US winning the gold even mean anyway?
Seriously I don't want to hear "the resurgence of USA basketball" b/c that is bullshit. All it seems is that if we get players and have them play together for more that 3 months we could win gold. US spent 3 yrs working to achieve it and that is the correct way to go about it. Maybe I'm saying all of this b/c the media loves to put titles to everything, ala the "Redeem Team". US will always be the top basketball nation (and yes foreign countries are getting better) but this gold just shows we were more dedicated this time around and took it more seriously.
Just my lil rant, interested in what you guys think as well
What does the US winning the gold even mean anyway?
Seriously I don't want to hear "the resurgence of USA basketball" b/c that is bullshit. All it seems is that if we get players and have them play together for more that 3 months we could win gold. US spent 3 yrs working to achieve it and that is the correct way to go about it. Maybe I'm saying all of this b/c the media loves to put titles to everything, ala the "Redeem Team". US will always be the top basketball nation (and yes foreign countries are getting better) but this gold just shows we were more dedicated this time around and took it more seriously.
Just my lil rant, interested in what you guys think as well
My OP was only in regards to everyone going on about the USA Basketball team. When the USA amateurs were playing, to be honest they were getting their assess beaten big time. Now the USA are sending professionals to play in a competition which was originally designated for amateurs to play.
My second point on this was that if other countries see this, they may use this as a signal to ask professional sportsmen and women from other sports to come and participate in the Olympics.
Well isn't that what other countries doing, sending their pros to play...in terms of basketball. Yao played, Manu, etc. I won't admit I knows who are the tops players in those countries outside the ones in the NBA but I would go off the assumption that they are sending their best pro players to go represent their country.
For the other sports I'm not sure if the countries even send their best/their pros but if they are, the US is showing that we could win w/ amatures (look @ baseball)
Not sure if you were watching the same baseball game as I was but didn't the USA got whooped 10-2 by Cuba in the semi finals.
Don't forget, baseball has the World Games now. And pros take part in it. You gotta remember that the majority of the best baseball players are NOT from the United States but from "Latin" America
Now if it were continent against continent, North America would be a lock to take the world baseball title, but there wouldn't be many players from the States on the team
Now if it were continent against continent, North America would be a lock to take the world baseball title, but there wouldn't be many players from the States on the team
Redeem team it is.
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