The 2010 FIBA Basketball World Championship Turkey

[air gordon]

i can't stand this Rubio talk. i'd rather hear more about what team Carmelo Anthony is going to this year

i just wish Rubio was playing in '92 so Pip & Jordan could give him the "hey toni kukoc- welcome to the nba" treatment

[Lamrock]

Who cares where Melo ends up? He's not a real superstar. If the Nuggets can trade him for Anthony Randolph and Danilo Gallinari, they'll still be a 50 win team.

[air gordon]

following where 'Melo may end up is easily more interesting then over analyzing/hyping some punk kid who doesn't even start for his national team. OMG! he did a no look pass!

at least Nocioni dunked on kG before he came to the NBA and he actually paid part of his buyout with his own $. take that, Dick Rubio

[Axel The Great]

Anyways, Rajon Rondo quit before he could be cut. Too much pride to be told he's cut. Not very gracious.

I read on NBA.com that he quit out because of a family problem. But maybe due to his lack of being a shooter, he probably saw it coming.

[Fresh8]

Anyways, Rajon Rondo quit before he could be cut. Too much pride to be told he's cut. Not very gracious.

I read on NBA.com that he quit out because of a family problem. But maybe due to his lack of being a shooter, he probably saw it coming.

He said he sat down with Coach K and said he felt like he was on the bubble. He cited that he would go back to the USA for some family issues and NBA issues. My impression is that he didn't feel like he could make the final team, talked to the coaching staff and asked to be cut loose. The family issues/NBA issues were probably used to explain his absence because sounds a lot better than 'I quit'.

[The X]

Anyways, Rajon Rondo quit before he could be cut. Too much pride to be told he's cut. Not very gracious.

I read on NBA.com that he quit out because of a family problem. But maybe due to his lack of being a shooter, he probably saw it coming.

He said he sat down with Coach K and said he felt like he was on the bubble. He cited that he would go back to the USA for some family issues and NBA issues. My impression is that he didn't feel like he could make the final team, talked to the coaching staff and asked to be cut loose. The family issues/NBA issues were probably used to explain his absence because sounds a lot better than 'I quit'.

I think Stephen Curry would've been cut. But it's better to have Curry in international form of game than Rondo.

[Lamrock]

Losing their second best player (and best defender) really hurts Team USA's cause. Will be interesting to see if role players like Tyson Chandler and Eric Gordon can get it done.

[Fresh8]

Lamrock, he wasn't the second best player on Team USA. as an NBA player, maybe. As a member of this Team USA, he was not the second best player. He lost his starting spot to Rose because his lack of shooting abiliy was not compensated by his rebounding and perimeter defence for a player his size. US has too many PG's and I think that Rondo was a chance to be cut. Not a big loss for the States. However, my money is still on Spain to win gold.

Eric Gordon might not play much but he is being praised by the coaches as one of the most consistent players on the squad and a surprising proposition. Chandler needs to use his size but looks sad if Odom is forced to start at C. Lack of size in the frontcourt, too many point guards, and KD not being aggresive may well be the downfall these championships. I would not be surprised if the US didn't medal.

[George7]

Rose is better than Rondo!

[Hellasbasketball]

today is the big game: GREECE VS USA... Let's see what greece can do today... i hope 2
see basketball and not kick-boxing today...

[Fresh8]

today is the big game: GREECE VS USA... Let's see what greece can do today... i hope 2
see basketball and not kick-boxing today...

I want to see how Baby Shaq matches up with Odom!

Anyways, my prediction for the Championships:

1st - Spain
2nd - USA
3rd - Argentina
4th - Australia

The next 4: Greece, Brazil, Russia, Serbia

That's just off top of my head... will do a more in-depth guess before tourney starts in a few days!

[George7]

today is the big game: GREECE VS USA... Let's see what greece can do today... i hope 2
see basketball and not kick-boxing today...

I want to see how Baby Shaq matches up with Odom!

Anyways, my prediction for the Championships:

1st - Spain
2nd - USA
3rd - Argentina
4th - Australia

No Love for Greece Sit?
We will be at least 3rd,if we play as we are in the finals

[Fresh8]

today is the big game: GREECE VS USA... Let's see what greece can do today... i hope 2
see basketball and not kick-boxing today...

I want to see how Baby Shaq matches up with Odom!

Anyways, my prediction for the Championships:

1st - Spain
2nd - USA
3rd - Argentina
4th - Australia

No Love for Greece Sit?
We will be at least 3rd,if we play as we are in the finals

I got you guys as on the bubble.

I had to choose between Argentina and Greece, so I went with the Argentines. I'm a fan of Delfino. Greece has a solid team, I cannot deny that.

[Alpha_]

USA all the way!!!

[Hellasbasketball]

final score greece-usa 59-87. schortsianitis and bourousis didn't play for greece because they were injured.

[Rip32]

Why don't we have any real big men? Not that Kevin Love isn't a real big, but he's not the defensive stopper we need. I hate watching Chandler swing his arms at everything that comes near him. I'm not sure I'd be any happier to see McGee on the team, but why did Dwight Howard turn down this tournament?

He could use the practice as a leader and scorer.

But I'm being negative for a pretty good effort today, I just wish they had a better big down-low who could be a good sized help defender.

[Fresh8]

All of the 08 tea declined to play because they wanted to rest. And the States didn't seem to invite many centers to play. I mean a few were invited but couldn't make it i.e. Bynum and Oden because of injury I believe. McGee was actually looking good on a needs basis... But you can see that the final roster has been constructed with quickness as its main strength. Hopefully it doesn't backfire.

I can't wait for the championship to begin! And american fans will have their hopes dashed and realise they don't have the best team in the world

About today's game, Greece didn't have their big men and the team didn't chase down their turnovers that were converted into fastbreak buckets. They will probably play harder if they meet again though.

[Andrew]

And american fans will have their hopes dashed and realise they don't have the best team in the world

I wouldn't count them out just yet. Besides, wouldn't they have to field the best possible roster for that point to be fairly proven?

[Fresh8]

And american fans will have their hopes dashed and realise they don't have the best team in the world

I wouldn't count them out just yet. Besides, wouldn't they have to field the best possible roster for that point to be fairly proven?

Well, I didn't say they couldn't win. I was merely saying that there will be games closer than expected in the latter stages of the tourney. I hate reading comments online with people thinking it will be a romp to the finals.

They better watch out cause they are on a collision course with Spain if both teams go undefeated in the group stages.

[George7]

Greece was not the team they are in reality yesterday. We were bad. Not many runs on defence and many turnovers.

If we play like we can play and Spain with Usa play in a previous stage we may proceed to the final. We don't play with anyone of those two if we get first in the groups?

[The X]

Spain is looking good to win it, US 2nd, Aussies 3rd & Slovenia getting 4th. Greece is also a possibility in the top 4.

[Andrew]

Aussies third? Here's hoping, though I fear they'll choke it away.

[Fresh8]

Well, if the group stage falls their way, Aussies could well make it all the way to final round. I am hoping we can make gold medal match =]

[NovU]

Uh... ok. Here's my hoping, to see USA vs Canada in the Finals.

[Fresh8]

Uh... ok. Here's my hoping, to see USA vs Canada in the Finals.

I'm not only hoping, Aussies have a solid squad that has had a good run leading up to the tourney. Bogut's absence is a bit tough but now that we have a coach who has some NBA experience (instead of Goorijan who was an idiot), I'm thinking we can return to the Gaze Era and continue making top 4s.

We have Andersen, Nielsen, Maric who are All-European bigs, we got Patty Mills who will prove that he is deserving of a big role somewhere (whether in the States or in Europe). All of our players (except 2 guys who prob won't play much) play in Europe. The key is for our wing players like Brad Newley and Joe Ingles to play well on defence and score buckets (both have been NBA prospects... Newley was drafted by Houston and went to Greece...).