Olympic Basketball Tournament

[iamSamke]

Great game by Serbia against Team USA. 94-91 only. So proud!

[Stress Fracture]

Can France finally beat the US?

[Andrew]

I read a Tweet the other day claiming that the current Team USA is the best ever, because they won their first two games by an average of 51 points - more than the 43.8 point differential the Dream Team averaged - and the rest of the world is better competition than it used to be. There are a couple of problems with that logic, of course. The current Team USA takes more threes, which no doubt impacts the point differential to some extent, and even if the world has caught up somewhat, that doesn't mean every one of their opponents is necessarily at their strongest, or playing their best right now, in this tournament.

Then of course, the last couple of games have been closer affairs, where Team USA has been tested somewhat. That's dropped the point differential, and somewhat reduced the air of invincibility. It reminded me of all the talk that the Warriors were the best team of all-time and would mop the floor with the 1996 Bulls, before they'd won the title, and of course ultimately blew a 3-1 series lead to let it slip away. Let teams actually accomplish their ultimate goal before putting their performance into historical perspective, and making comparisons and declarations.

[Patr1ck]

I read a Tweet the other day claiming that the current Team USA is the best ever, because they won their first two games by an average of 51 points - more than the 43.8 point differential the Dream Team averaged - and the rest of the world is better competition than it used to be. There are a couple of problems with that logic, of course. The current Team USA takes more threes, which no doubt impacts the point differential to some extent, and even if the world has caught up somewhat, that doesn't mean every one of their opponents is necessarily at their strongest, or playing their best right now, in this tournament.

Then of course, the last couple of games have been closer affairs, where Team USA has been tested somewhat. That's dropped the point differential, and somewhat reduced the air of invincibility. It reminded me of all the talk that the Warriors were the best team of all-time and would mop the floor with the 1996 Bulls, before they'd won the title, and of course ultimately blew a 3-1 series lead to let it slip away. Let teams actually accomplish their ultimate goal before putting their performance into historical perspective, and making comparisons and declarations.

Yeah, really. Especially from commentators. Every great performance is compared to history within 15 seconds of it happening and it just kills the excitement.

[Jeffx]

I read a Tweet the other day claiming that the current Team USA is the best ever, because they won their first two games by an average of 51 points - more than the 43.8 point differential the Dream Team averaged - and the rest of the world is better competition than it used to be. There are a couple of problems with that logic, of course. The current Team USA takes more threes, which no doubt impacts the point differential to some extent, and even if the world has caught up somewhat, that doesn't mean every one of their opponents is necessarily at their strongest, or playing their best right now, in this tournament.

Then of course, the last couple of games have been closer affairs, where Team USA has been tested somewhat. That's dropped the point differential, and somewhat reduced the air of invincibility. It reminded me of all the talk that the Warriors were the best team of all-time and would mop the floor with the 1996 Bulls, before they'd won the title, and of course ultimately blew a 3-1 series lead to let it slip away. Let teams actually accomplish their ultimate goal before putting their performance into historical perspective, and making comparisons and declarations.

This "latest is greatest" attitude drives me nuts......most of it comes from young cats with no knowledge of history.

I'll take Dream Team 1 over the rest. Yes, Magic & Larry were past their prime, but the rest weren't. It's hard to bet against a team with Jordan at his apex.

Don't even get me started on that silly "Warrios would smash the '96 Bulls" talk.

[Jackal]

It's one of the reasons I can't take a lot of the guys over at Reddit/NBA seriously. When the majority answer "Lebron, no competition" to the GOAT questions, I just backpedal and browse other shit.

Really? No competition. Crazy kids.

[Andrew]

I'll take Dream Team 1 over the rest. Yes, Magic & Larry were past their prime, but the rest weren't. It's hard to bet against a team with Jordan at his apex.

That's the funny thing about Kobe's quote in 2012. The man does know his basketball history, but his remark that most of the Dream Team were at the end of their careers really only applied to Magic and Bird, so he didn't do the math on that one. Well, Laettner was at the end of his college career, I guess.

It's one of the reasons I can't take a lot of the guys over at Reddit/NBA seriously. When the majority answer "Lebron, no competition" to the GOAT questions, I just backpedal and browse other shit.

Really? No competition. Crazy kids.

Yeah, once "no competition" comes out - or "hater", for that matter - there's no chance of a reasonable discussion/debate. At this point, LeBron has to be considered one of the greatest of all-time, but unquestionably head and shoulders above everyone else as the greatest? That's selling some great players very short.

[[Q]]

Magic was at the end of his NBA career (technically it was already over in 1992 right) because he liked having sex with women. Had he kept playing, stayed in shape I think he could've played well into the mid or late 90s

Plus on a team like that, all he'd have to do is find the open man which you don't need superior athleticism to do

[Andrew]

I agree. He didn't play too badly at all when he attempted that comeback in 1996. As it was, Karl Malone sabotaged his comeback attempt prior to the 1993 season, something I wasn't aware of until years later. Bird was definitely more or less done at that point due to his back, but on a healthy day, he could still go in 1992.

Another funny thing about Kobe's remark about the Dream Team being at the end of their careers: not only was that inaccurate for most of them, but at age 33 (almost 34) in 2012, Kobe himself was older than everyone on the Dream Team was in 1992, except for Bird.

[big-shot-ROB]

WSatched today USA-Serbia. Dam. I had never seen so many puss*es together. Everything USA players were doing was crying and whining while the lead they had built in the 1st quarter was starting to decrease. That's the problem of the NBA, a league who overprotects their players because they don't want there stars injured. Olympics is a sport, NBA is a business.

I admire all of these players, but if they call themselves the best of the world, that goes along with a certain attitude. Btw, Irving and Lowry should take a closer look at Teodosic, maybe this way they'd learn how to run something more than just P&R and ISOs.

In addition, european basketball "crème de la crème":

Minute 9:05
https://www.vidio.com/watch/419757-usa-vs-serbia-full-game-highlights-men-s-basketball-rio-olympics-ximo-pierto-hd


EDIT: A rookie scored 25 on the best centers of the US. Not only that, but most of those points came from completly dominating points in the post/paint. Radjulica also had his moments embarrasing Cousins.

[Jeffx]

Yeah, once "no competition" comes out - or "hater", for that matter - there's no chance of a reasonable discussion/debate. At this point, LeBron has to be considered one of the greatest of all-time, but unquestionably head and shoulders above everyone else as the greatest? That's selling some great players very short.

I can't put LeBron ahead of Jordan, the three centers(Wilt, Russell, Kareem) & Oscar, but he is in the top ten.

[Andrew]

I agree, at this point he has to be top ten.

Meanwhile, Australia continues to have its best run in the Olympic tournament. Still optimistic that they'll have a shot at the Silver or Bronze.

[Phil89]

Meanwhile, Australia continues to have its best run in the Olympic tournament. Still optimistic that they'll have a shot at the Silver or Bronze.

I haven't really been watching the other countries play, but it looks like we are on the slightly easier side of the draw. Fingers crossed we can finally bring home a medal.

[koberulz]

Meanwhile, Australia continues to have its best run in the Olympic tournament. Still optimistic that they'll have a shot at the Silver or Bronze.

Optimism really ought to be for gold at this point; failing to medal would be a huge disappointment given how they've played thus far.

[koberulz]

Meanwhile after five straight medal-winning campaigns, the Opals have bowed out in the quarter finals for the first time since 1984.

[iamSamke]

Meanwhile after five straight medal-winning campaigns, the Opals have bowed out in the quarter finals for the first time since 1984.

73-71, Serbia won.

[Murat]

Such a dramatic loss by Turkish women's team against Spain. Horribly played last 3 minutes due to low stamina. It sucks.

This will be the last Olympic run of current generation of Turkish players. 3 of the players will retire from National Teams after Rio.

[Andrew]

Meanwhile after five straight medal-winning campaigns, the Opals have bowed out in the quarter finals for the first time since 1984.

Definitely unusual to see the Opals out, while the Boomers are having such a great run; a reversal of what we're accustomed to seeing. A shame both teams can't compete for a medal, but here's hoping the Boomers' run will continue.

[koberulz]

If the Boomers don't medal, it'll be Australia's first Olympics without a team sports medal since 1984. Pressure's on.

[big-shot-ROB]

Any webpage where I can see Australia vs Lithuania?

[iamSamke]

Boomers in semis! I did not see that coming. They are good, but I really thought Lithuania will advance. And I definitely did not see 90-64.

[Andrew]

It was another fun game to watch, at least from my perspective. Hoping they can keep it up. Thought Baynes was going to tear the backboard down a couple of times. Mills still thrills and pays bills.

[iamSamke]

It was another fun game to watch, at least from my perspective. Hoping they can keep it up. Thought Baynes was going to tear the backboard down a couple of times. Mills still thrills and pays bills.

I hope not, because we (Serbia) are probably next one

[koberulz]

Damo, man. I love seeing guys with a huge height advantage trying to post him up and he just murders them. So much fun!

I think even bronze would be a disappointment at this stage. Gold certainly not an impossibility.

[Andrew]

That was a long final minute with the free throw shootout, but Serbia prevails.