04/18/24
August 27, 2004
Argentina beats the US: and Italy beats Lithuania to reach the Olympic basketball finals. "Lithuania has won the last three Olympic Games bronze medals. If it earns a fourth, it will be the first time in Olympics history that the USA basketball team has failed to win a medal."
posted by kirkaracha to other at 07:08 PM - 25 comments
I just saw the fourth quarter, and I really felt bad for Tim Duncan. To have to watch that from the bench...
posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:10 PM on August 27, 2004
posted by Joey Michaels at 08:20 PM on August 27, 2004
Why was Duncan on the bench for the end?
posted by billsaysthis at 09:19 PM on August 27, 2004
He fouled out on a moving screen offensive foul with a decent amount of time left. Gotta say, Argentina whipped us. Their whole team could drill 3s and there was nothing the US could do about it.
posted by swank6 at 09:25 PM on August 27, 2004
He fouled out on a moving screen offensive foul with a decent amount of time left. Yeah, I gotta say I kinda thought he got robbed on that one, but it was going both ways. Gotta say, Argentina whipped us. Their whole team could drill 3s and there was nothing the US could do about it. The Argentinians were fun to watch. How 'bout Walter Hermann?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:38 PM on August 27, 2004
So now that it is over I call shame on Shaquille O'Neal. Shame on Mike Bibby. Shame on Kevin Garnett. Shame on all the originally select first-team Dream Teamers for not having the cojones to show up for a commitment they previously agreed to. SHAME!
posted by geekyguy at 09:55 PM on August 27, 2004
posted by swank6 at 11:11 PM on August 27, 2004
All the moves of Dr. J and all the hair of Fabio. Ladies, the line forms to the left to hook up with Walter. I watched most of this game, and it just reinforced everything most of us have been grousing about -- piss-poor defense, horrid shooting and a plain old passing clinic by the Argentinians. They were great to watch, and I hope I get to catch the gold-medal game. I also hope plenty of Americans tune in to watch two great basketball TEAMS square off. I will concede one point that was made at the end of the broadcast. The next team needs to be put together much farther in advance to give them a chance to bond and adapt to one another.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:29 PM on August 27, 2004
at the next olympics we should send the nba champions, the Pistons would have been a much better choice then these bunch of bricklayers.
posted by jbou at 11:45 PM on August 27, 2004
much better choice?!? I firmly believe that, international rules differences not withstanding, and a grueling 100 game seasons just behind them, that the Pistons would have slaughtered, absolutely slaughtered the competition.
posted by hincandenza at 02:46 AM on August 28, 2004
Someone has made a statistic:1992,Gream One won over 40 marks of their opponents,1996:over 30,but now,they not only can't win,but got lost!Anyway,they didn't dispatch the best team,several excellent players didn't come,such as Kobe Bryant,Shaq O'Neal,the power of this "Gream Team" must have been reduced.
posted by luckygirl9 at 05:03 AM on August 28, 2004
much better choice?!? I firmly believe that, international rules differences not withstanding, and a grueling 100 game seasons just behind them, that the Pistons would have slaughtered, absolutely slaughtered the competition. I have to digress here, because I keep hearing, here and from commentators and columnists and sportswriters and whatnot, how incredibly difficult it is for the NBA to put together a team because they've "just finished" their season, and about what a huge risk it is for players to commit to playing in the Olympics, because it could ruin them, absolutely ruin them, for the upcoming season. But let's look at the calendar. The NBA regular season ended in the middle of April, more than four months ago; the playoffs dragged on (for two teams) until the middle of June. That's two and a half months ago. The upcoming season starts on October 10, more than a month away. In contrast, the WNBA players had their last pre-Olympics regular season game on August 1. Their next regular season game is...this Wednesday. Three days after the closing ceremony. Every single member of Team USA has a game that day. So I guess I'm not quite getting why so much is being made of what an effort this is for the men, when the women are doing it in the middle of their season. Granted, it is a shorter season -- but remember that many (most?) WNBA players play in Europe during their offseason, and go straight from the winter season into the WNBA regular season, with barely a day's practice with their teams. They play year round. They don't get a break, and nobody exclaims about how exhausted they all are. Maybe because they don't look tired out there?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 05:50 AM on August 28, 2004
at the next olympics we should send the nba champions, the Pistons would have been a much better choice then these bunch of bricklayers. Are all the Piston players American citizens?
posted by grum@work at 09:00 AM on August 28, 2004
Thank you Grum... Just cuz you want to send the NBA champs doesn't mean you're going to be sending Americans. Very reminiscent to 1998 when Canada got shut out of the hockey medals at Nagano. A little attitude adjustment here, some personnel changes there, and an understanding that no one fears your skills anymore, and USA BBall will be back in business in no time.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:55 AM on August 28, 2004
Well in this year's case it would be the Pistons minus Darko and Okur... Which would still dominate the competition.
posted by swank6 at 10:14 AM on August 28, 2004
In contrast, the WNBA players had their last pre-Olympics regular season game on August 1. YAY HOORAY, WNBA!
posted by YukonGold at 10:31 AM on August 28, 2004
I hate to disappoint you all, but even if we sent the Pistons (minus Darko and Okur) we'd still have to root against them because we are all such racists.
posted by dzot at 11:19 AM on August 28, 2004
dzot, I root for my country, good or bad, nice guys or assholes. Don't lump me in with your grudges or dark fantasies.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:37 PM on August 28, 2004
billsaythis: I think dzot was referring (tongue in cheek) to this slightly ridiculous article.
posted by tieguy at 01:00 PM on August 28, 2004
yes, i was
posted by dzot at 02:44 PM on August 28, 2004
oh, well then say so dammit!
posted by billsaysthis at 02:52 PM on August 28, 2004
YAY HOORAY, WNBA! "Ooh, there's a New Mexico!" </HomerSimpson>
posted by yerfatma at 04:28 PM on August 28, 2004
Of minor consequence, the US did win the bronze, although only by 8 points.
posted by hincandenza at 08:01 PM on August 28, 2004
"Skill is colorless. All kinds of people can develop it, from Beijing to Vilnius."
posted by yerfatma at 06:47 AM on August 30, 2004
Comments by Argetina guard Emanuel Ginobili: