2024 Paris Olympics Basketball | IBN PH Discussion Thread

[ja.he]

The thing with game assumptions is...

Absolutely no one was expecting us to beat Latvia. Especially using the Kai-JMF tandem. On paper, they would kill us because we will be too slow to defend their shooters and quick ball movement. Not to mention, pound for pound, the quality of their players are way higher.

Like Tyson famously said, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."

Everyone is glossing over Japan's World Cup wins.

You better analyzed the games. Finland was the worst European team last year.

Venezuela was the worst team Latin Americas last year. They were really pretty short of a team and a horrendous team from the perimeter.

Cape Verde was also the worst African team last year.

[Metta]

Everyone is glossing over Japan's World Cup wins.

You better analyzed the games. Finland was the worst European team last year.

Venezuela was the worst team Latin Americas last year. They were really pretty short of a team and a horrendous team from the perimeter.

Cape Verde was also the worst African team last year.

Part of why those teams are considered bad is because they lost to Japan. Japan still had to win those games.

In hindsight, Latvia was in very poor form this OQT, but we still needed to pull it off and beat them. And we beat them convincingly. Georgia did not and got clobbered. And then Georgia almost clobbered us.

My point is, correlating team quality based on who beat who is mostly fortune-telling. A win is a win.

[CoJ]

Cooper flagg led us select team vs team USA IMG_1491.jpg

[ja.he]

Part of why those teams are considered bad is because they lost to Japan. Japan still had to win those games.

In hindsight, Latvia was in very poor form this OQT, but we still needed to pull it off and beat them. And we beat them convincingly. Georgia did not and got clobbered. And then Georgia almost clobbered us.

My point is, correlating team quality based on who beat who is mostly fortune-telling. A win is a win.

No, Venezuela dropped all their preparation matches last year (0-9), including those games against Asian teams. I was able to watch their games against France, Spain and Australia and Venezuela was horrible on those three matches.

Cape Verde dropped their only two prep games - both by 20 points or more, including the one against China (I was able to watch this as well).

Finland went 2-2 in their prep matches.

Looking at the preparation games alone, those teams were clearly heading to be the worst in their zones.

[Dotch]

Cooper flagg led us select team vs team USA IMG_1491.jpg

White Flag for Cooper Flagg! Right, IPC?

[Silent Killer]

Japan's Olympic Basketball Team

450353102_1057633572386557_5436106798867997499_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s640x640&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=833d8c&_nc_ohc=DxGqFTvLzSMQ7kNvgGYWXYc&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAK_lOn7JRV3DSSPaNSYVx4ccikfsTOYVEdip0L8yVfNg&oe=6692

8 from that “low level league”

[ja.he]

8 from that “low level league”

B.League accounted for 18 players in the last year's FIBA World Cup.

9 - Japanese
4 - Filipinos
2 - Brazilians
1 - Latvian
1 - Australian
1 - New Zealand

This 2024 OQT:

2 - Filipinos
1 - Brazilian
1 - Ivorian

[CoJ]

White Flag for Cooper Flagg! Right, IPC?

Ohh, bulls tanking for flagg?? They have the ideal tank commander in lavine

[greenarcher]

July 11 USA v Canada
July 16 USA v Australia
July 18 USA v Serbia
July 21 USA v South Sudan
July 23 USA v Germany

[Metta]

No, Venezuela dropped all their preparation matches last year (0-9), including those games against Asian teams. I was able to watch their games against France, Spain and Australia and Venezuela was horrible on those three matches.

Cape Verde dropped their only two prep games - both by 20 points or more, including the one against China (I was able to watch this as well).

Finland went 2-2 in their prep matches.

Looking at the preparation games alone, those teams were clearly heading to be the worst in their zones.

Prep games are prep games. It's called preparation for a reason. Teams are allowed to figure it out, improve and peak later on.

Do-or-die short tournaments are a totally different animal. That's why there's a thing called March Madness. A win is a win.

That's why in my book, rankings are mostly fortune-telling. Actual games are what truly matters.

And for those unimpressed and questioning Japan's quality. Look at their youth development program, their pro league and their ability to produce homegrown D1 and NBA players. Those are valuable and long-term indicators of true sustainable quality. No get-rich-quick luck involved. Then you juxtapose that with their recent World Cup run.

[TheRodster21]

I’ve seen rumours online the bleague is trying to get a partnership going with the nba similar to the cba where nba scouts will be able to watch bleague games. Their goal seems to be like Europe to act as a pipeline to the nba

[ja.he]

Prep games are prep games. It's called preparation for a reason. Teams are allowed to figure it out, improve and peak later on.

Do-or-die short tournaments are a totally different animal. That's why there's a thing called March Madness. A win is a win.

That's why in my book, rankings are mostly fortune-telling. Actual games are what truly matters.

And for those unimpressed and questioning Japan's quality. Look at their youth development program, their pro league and their ability to produce homegrown D1 and NBA players. Those are valuable and long-term indicators of true sustainable quality. No get-rich-quick luck involved. Then you juxtapose that with their recent World Cup run.

What these teams that Japan has beaten figured out was they will not go far last year. The same thing happened to us whenever we have a losing record in our prep games before FIBA-Asia.

Yes, prep games are just prep games but these games are very vital to build confidence and overall cohesion.

Japan may did well against mid to lower Europeans, Latin Americans and African teams but against the top teams in the region? I find it delusional. Brazil, France and South Sudan are top teams for a reason.

Make mistake about it, Japan's run last year is impressive but to say that they can beat the likes of South Sudan and Brazil, that's wishful thinking.

[Metta]

What these teams that Japan has beaten figured out was they will not go far last year. The same thing happened to us whenever we have a losing record in our prep games before FIBA-Asia.

Yes, prep games are just prep games but these games are very vital to build confidence and overall cohesion.

Japan may did well against mid to lower Europeans, Latin Americans and African teams but against the top teams in the region? I find it delusional. Brazil, France and South Sudan are top teams for a reason.

Make mistake about it, Japan's run last year is impressive but to say that they can beat the likes of South Sudan and Brazil, that's wishful thinking.

Yes, wishful thinking...like ragtag Philippines (without Edu and a PG) giving Latvia a total beatdown in their house. Hell will freeze over before that happens.

[ja.he]

Yes, wishful thinking...like ragtag Philippines (without Edu and a PG) giving Latvia a total beatdown in their house. Hell will freeze over before that happens.

But Brazil took both Gilas and Latvia down. However, I'm still impressed with our Gilas since no one in Asia (excluding Australia and New Zealand) were able to make it close to beating the Brazilians. Tayo lang.

These are the results of games of Brazil against Asian teams since 2000:

2002 - Brazil 102 - Lebanon 73
2006 - Brazil 97 - Qatar 66
2008 - Brazil 94 - Lebanon 54
2010 - Brazil 81 - Iran 65
2012 - Brazil 98 - China 59
2014 - Brazil 79 - Iran 50
2023 - Brazil 100 - Iran 59
2024 - Brazil 71 - Philippines 60

[Metta]

But Brazil took both Gilas and Latvia down. However, I'm still impressed with our Gilas since no one in Asia (excluding Australia and New Zealand) were able to make it close to beating the Brazilians. Tayo lang.

These are the results of games of Brazil against Asian teams since 2000:

2002 - Brazil 102 - Lebanon 73
2006 - Brazil 97 - Qatar 66
2008 - Brazil 94 - Lebanon 54
2010 - Brazil 81 - Iran 65
2012 - Brazil 98 - China 59
2014 - Brazil 79 - Iran 50
2023 - Brazil 100 - Iran 59
2024 - Brazil 71 - Philippines 60

Okay bro, if you think Japan has absolutely zero chance against Brazil then good for you. I wish I had that much clarity and certainty so I can bet the farm on a game.

Latvia should've looked at the record of the Philippines against European teams for the last 60 years. That way they would have known that they were supposed to win with absolute certainty.