NBA Thread

[Higgs]

Hoping for a Slovenia/USA final in basketball.

USA will be playing for bronze, friend.

[Monkey_Driven]

Hoping for a Slovenia/USA final in basketball.

USA will be playing for bronze, friend.

We will see!

[Higgs]

I just don't get Australian basketball. We have a legitimately great team, specifically defensively. We play excellent team ball at both ends throughout the tournament and do the same for the first quarter and a half tonight.

Then we just fully drop our collective bundle for the entire rest of the game.

Credit to the US for sure - absolutely turned it up and played a great 2nd half to come back from 15 down and blitz us. Offensive and defensive improvements, no question.

But fuck it pisses me off.

Our commentators were saying that in the last 5 Olympics we have reached this quarter final game, today's loss was the first of those 5 that was under 20 points. I mean, what the fuck is that all about? Get there then just shit the bed, every time.

So now watch us lose the bronze medal game continuing our streak of never once medalling at an Olympics or World Champs.

By God am I salty right now.

[bada]

I don't know Higgs bronze feels like a max out best case for the Boomers. It's not some 'Merico jingo bullshit to say they only reason anyone beats the US is if they beat themselves. The talent level is way lopsided. The World has certainly caught up to the US but individual countries are still at a major disadvantage at least for now. AAU is destroying American Basketball though so don't worry it will all end soon. Other countries actually know how to play the game.

[Monkey_Driven]

Yeah, roster continuity and an actual system can only get you so far when the other team has Kevin Durant.

[Higgs]

The US are the most talented team without question, and it ain't even close. But still, a boy can dream right?

It's partly luck of the draw too though. No idea why FIBA thought it a good idea to have the number 1 (US), 2 (Spain), 3 (Aus) and 4 (Argentina) ranked teams in the world ALL ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE DRAW.

I dunno, I'm pretty devastated by this one. Not losing to the US - no shame there of course. More that it just seems like Australian basketball's legacy at this stage seems like its going to be not being able to step up when it counts.

And after that game no way are we beating Slovenia either.

[Monkey_Driven]

The US are the most talented team without question, and it ain't even close. But still, a boy can dream right?

It's partly luck of the draw too though. No idea why FIBA thought it a good idea to have the number 1 (US), 2 (Spain), 3 (Aus) and 4 (Argentina) ranked teams in the world ALL ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE DRAW.

I dunno, I'm pretty devastated by this one. Not losing to the US - no shame there of course. More that it just seems like Australian basketball's legacy at this stage seems like its going to be not being able to step up when it counts.

And after that game no way are we beating Slovenia either.

The seeding for the knockout games are based on group play records I believe.

[Higgs]

Yeah there's a draw dependent on positions at the end of group play.

I'm STILL salty.

[Higgs]

I wanted to post this before the bronze medal game is played. I know I was pissed off yesterday after the US/Aus game, and to be honest I'm still at a loss as to the way our coach went about things (no time-out whilst US were running over us in the last 4 minutes of the 2nd Qrtr?? No timeout when the US continued to run over us during the next 5 minutes of the 3rd?? Keeping Thybulle on the bench throughout as KD toyed with us?? Playing Dellavodova and Sobey, like, at all??).

BUT...I have to say that I have honestly gotten so much enjoyment out of watching this team go about their business that I feel I have given out the wrong impression in my comments here. They have played with an awesome intensity and aggression, have had a ton of fun and have all played for each other all the way through the lead ups and tourney itself. I respect that and have loved watching all the way.

I'm not fussed that Ben Simmons didn't suit up. I think its a shame that he will never get to have played alongside the FIBA goat that is Patty Mills, nor enjoyed the obvious buzz that this particular team has built and grown over the past 5 or 6 years, but that is totally his loss. I don't ever expect to see Simmons line up for Australia at this point. Hell, he's not even my favourite Aussie on the 76ers these days!

From here though I so hope that Patty Mills gets his bronze medal. By God does he deserve it. Heart and soul of the team. Heart and fucking soul. And I doubt that this will mean much to many here, but the fact that he is an Aboriginal Australian just makes it all the better. He stands for so many and does it so well.

If we don't get it done on Saturday night yeah, I'll be devastated for sure, and yes I'll continue to question our legacy when it comes to the pointy end of these big tournaments, but I don't want to knock this team and what they've done so far and how much I've enjoyed watching them play.

I wanted to say this now because if we lose to Slovenia I'll likely be looking at the world from a different perspective for a few days.

[bada]

I would think Ben Simmons game would translate pretty poorly in international play. I was hoping Patty would end up on the Celts.

[Higgs]

Oh thank fuck. I am soooooo happy!

Patty Mills you legend.

[Monkey_Driven]

congrats Highs!

[Higgs]

And of course congrats USA - great team, still just too good.

[Bammer]

Is there a more oxymoronical name in the sporting world than the state of Utah and the music genre Jazz?

Terribly worded post. I KNOW.

[bada]

NBA should make Utah sell the name back to NOLA. The Pelicans is the worst.

[Bammer]

Rank the more appropriate names for the Utah team

[verb_to_trust]

Canyons

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Canyons

call me

[Monkey_Driven]

NBA should make Utah sell the name back to NOLA. The Pelicans is the worst.

The Pelicans is a great name. Way better than some generic bird.

[spike]

It’s cool people are spoiling Olympic results in the NBA thread. Thanks.