FIBA Americas Championship Day 4

[reamily]

There are teams in this tournament that are either bringing in new players (Argentina, Canada) or missing key players due to injury or fatigue (Brazil), so there's no question the quality of play has been affected. But the top four teams, Canada, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Mexico, have played good, competitive basketball considering the short training camps they've had. I've watched a lot of basketball this summer from Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and overall, the FIBA Asia tournament had the best quality of play followed by the Americas then Africa....my opinion of course.

Yeah it would be unfair though that FIBA would give Taiwan that wildcard entry as they are playing really well in majority of their games except for 3 games.. Although this 3 games are the games that matter.. they also won 2 crucial games (1 against Philippines and one against china) and if ever China gets the wildcard.. Taipei has just beaten 2 wbc bound teams.. really how unlucky..

And who knows if ever Philippines played this American teams we might be experiencing what Mexico is experiencing now or maybe Jamaica's

[Federoy]

I can't say for Greg, but Im pretty sure Junmar would not get said criticisms. These bigs has the lowest basketball Iq I have seen or rather they just don't feel like giving their all.

Sorry to say this, but Americas tournament this year is one of the weakest tournaments I have seen in fiba. Not much quality basketball. Can't wait for Eurobasket.

There are teams in this tournament that are either bringing in new players (Argentina, Canada) or missing key players due to injury or fatigue (Brazil), so there's no question the quality of play has been affected. But the top four teams, Canada, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Mexico, have played good, competitive basketball considering the short training camps they've had. I've watched a lot of basketball this summer from Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and overall, the FIBA Asia tournament had the best quality of play followed by the Americas then Africa....my opinion of course.

[lbj_19]

As if our big guys Greg Slaughter and Junmar Fajardo aren't we might hear more mean criticisms when they saw the 2 play lol

I can't say for Greg, but Im pretty sure Junmar would not get said criticisms. These bigs has the lowest basketball Iq I have seen or rather they just don't feel like giving their all.

Sorry to say this, but Americas tournament this year is one of the weakest tournaments I have seen in fiba. Not much quality basketball. Can't wait for Eurobasket.

[J-Mart]

[reamily]

that point guards of Argentina Lapravitolla and Campazzo are good....

[Dtown]

yeah I don't learn my own lessons, mentioned that in the day 3 thread. Still I thought that was they'd finish 4th not that'd they'd be winless!

Anyway Argentina comes back and beats Venezuela. Game against Mexico should be good, this is not your typical Argentina, and while they're not as bad off as Brazil they are by no means a lock.

[Federoy]

Awesome...awesome game!!! Heartbreaking loss for Venezuela, but they guided their own fate. They were controlling most of the first three quarters until they got complacent and wore out as the fourth quarter unfolded. They had umpteen possessions towards the end of the fourth that they didn't capitalize on. Big props to Argentina's guard Fucando Campazzo for hitting some big shots down the stretch.

[saalsapr]

Uruguay wins a close one. Brazil 0-3 and in an elimination game tomorrow. Can't believe I had them winning the tournament.

The Rules learned in the Prediction game.
1: Brazil is always disappointing

..................

[Federoy]

I thought new ruling is a fiba zone can only get at most 2 wildcard entries thus preventing wildcard entries to be eurocentric if one of the big 4 teams did not qualify for Fiba.. taipei would be out if not.. Taipei would be in Spain..

Hmmm...I wasn't aware of any rule chances, but if that's the case, than Brazil still has to finish well in the tournament to be considered over the other American teams and others outside the zone.

[reamily]

Not sure. But given Brazil's body of work over the last three major tournaments (9th @ 2010 WC, 2nd @ 2011 TOAM, and 5th @ 2012 OLYM), I think they deserve consideration if they don't secure one of the top four spots. Having said that, Europe will probably command three of the four spots, so in essence, if Brazil should place 5th in the tournament, they'll most likely be competing against Ivory Coast, Chinese Taipei and maybe a flip between Dominican Rep., Venezuela, and Uruguay depending on how they finish.

I thought new ruling is a fiba zone can only get at most 2 wildcard entries thus preventing wildcard entries to be eurocentric if one of the big 4 teams did not qualify for Fiba.. taipei would be out if not.. Taipei would be in Spain..

[greenarcher]

Another loss for DR and Brazil. Can they still make it? Balkman playing like the tournament's MVP.

[Federoy]

this might not be the thread for it, but does Brazil get a wild card? Most years I'd say they're a lock but with China losing...

I mean it's not over yet, but they basically need to win out to be in a good spot.

Not sure. But given Brazil's body of work over the last three major tournaments (9th @ 2010 WC, 2nd @ 2011 TOAM, and 5th @ 2012 OLYM), I think they deserve consideration if they don't secure one of the top four spots. Having said that, Europe will probably command three of the four spots, so in essence, if Brazil should place 5th in the tournament, they'll most likely be competing against Ivory Coast, Chinese Taipei and maybe a flip between Dominican Rep., Venezuela, and Uruguay depending on how they finish.

[Federoy]

44-37, Venezuela leads at the half.

Venezuela has been zone busting with the outside shot.

[reamily]

Uruguay wins a close one. Brazil 0-3 and in an elimination game tomorrow. Can't believe I had them winning the tournament.

Lesson learned.. send your best roster possible you can't have a b level player(ahem Benite..) as your scorer..

[reamily]

everything is bad for DR. their bigs as I said is same as Jamaica's bigs, they are playing basketball because they are tall and not because they want to. If you count how many times the guards of Mexico drove the lane only to make uncontested layups. martinez, flores and baez are all the same, no secondary defenders. I'd like to see how these guys would fare against Puerto Rico and Canada. Should be a cake walk for the 2 teams.

So far among all the teams, PR, Mexico, Canada and Argentina are the best teams and probably the best bets for the world cup stints. DR players look like unmotivated players except for Garcia and Baez.

As if our big guys Greg Slaughter and Junmar Fajardo aren't we might hear more mean criticisms when they saw the 2 play lol