2010 World Championship

[Levenspiel]

Not exactly underdogs on this board. Im actually suprised that 39% thinks USA will win (12% margin from the second place): http://forums.interbasket.net/f71/wh...ill-win-13256/

The opinions actually vary significantly depending on users' location. You can see that among European members, the USA is not the favorite. Spain is.

[Levenspiel]

2002 usa team had Antonio Davis and Reggie Miller both at their early 70s playing meaningful minutes.Can't compare that team to this one talent wise,it's a blasphemy.Still it's not like Serbs blew them off the court.They needed Gurovic to go crazy from the 3 point line to steal that match.

Wasn't it Argentina who beat the USA first? And they had done it quite convincingly. Serbia's win was not that mythical anymore.

[Picek]

2002 usa team had Antonio Davis and Reggie Miller both at their early 70s playing meaningful minutes.Can't compare that team to this one talent wise,it's a blasphemy.Still it's not like Serbs blew them off the court.They needed Gurovic to go crazy from the 3 point line to steal that match.

nhf but talent wise when it comes to shooting abilities you can't compare any of todays members with Miller..
when I say today I mean this team that will represent USA on WC..
and not any of these players will reach that level..
ben wallace was then already one of the top defensive players in NBA..
Pierce was there as well..
back then you would probably be saying the same for that team as you are saying today for this team..
and the guys already mentioned Argentina game and that US team lost to Spain as well..
Spain back then was nowhere near the level they are now..

[Dtown]

Not exactly underdogs on this board. Im actually suprised that 39% thinks USA will win (12% margin from the second place): http://forums.interbasket.net/f71/wh...ill-win-13256/

To be fair that poll was made long before the entire Redeem Team jumped ship, and Amare and David Lee were removed from consideration.

As for the comparisons to the 2002 team, that team was better in the front court but far weaker in the back. Pretty much the opposite of this team. Under FIBA rules I'd rather have a weakness in the front court than in the guard spots.

Reggie was certainly the best pure shooter out there, but in 2002 wasn't the threat he was to drive the lane, he had Pierce but little else in the way of shooters to complement his game. Durant isn't the pure shooter Reggie was but has far more options to his game than Reggie had in the downside of his career, and more shooters around him to open the floor.

[khaledlebanon]

I hope SPain with gasol (McGasol )

Lebanon to win Fiba World Championship
GOOOO LEBANON




Visca el Barca :P Goo Messi

[wilo22]

Lebanon to win Fiba World Championship
GOOOO LEBANON




Visca el Barca :P Goo Messi

go lebanon !!! go barca!!!!

for lebanon we need to qualify to the second round and why not the 1/4 finals.

[bfpri]

Just wondering what some other Americans think, is anyone else kind of happy we're starting to become the underdogs (on this board at least). At first I was kind of pissed but now I'm kind of getting into the role. Course if the US does good in the friendlies that probably goes out the window...

You mean underdogs for the gold medal? The USA are certainly less favored, but i don't consider them underdogs at all in the WC at all. They are probably still highly favored to get at least a bronze, (which will probably be to the USA as not getting any at all).

[SportyHoopsGuy]

USA First Cuts Thoughts

I agree w/cutting Tyreke Evans - his game doesn't fit international bball strategy - but really wonder about cutting McGee. McGee would have been a matchup nightmare for international squads and is one guy who doesn't need plays run for him to make an impact. Would have been a great backup at the 4 or 5. Similar to Lamar Odom except taller and better shot blocker. This is one move that US team could regret...

[NorCal]

To be fair that poll was made long before the entire Redeem Team jumped ship, and Amare and David Lee were removed from consideration.

As for the comparisons to the 2002 team, that team was better in the front court but far weaker in the back. Pretty much the opposite of this team. Under FIBA rules I'd rather have a weakness in the front court than in the guard spots.

Reggie was certainly the best pure shooter out there, but in 2002 wasn't the threat he was to drive the lane, he had Pierce but little else in the way of shooters to complement his game. Durant isn't the pure shooter Reggie was but has far more options to his game than Reggie had in the downside of his career, and more shooters around him to open the floor.

We can go back and forth all day about comparing our current WC team to past teams.

Things going for this team- the coaching staff is intact, they understand the different tactics employed in the FIBA game versus the NBA game (and they presumably will make personnel choices based on those differences) they have taught U.S. players to respect the international competition and the scouting is much improved.

Things going against this team- youth. Inexperience with FIBA rules, FIBA refs, zone defense. They have more time to mesh prior to the WC with a tough schedule of games but they still don't have the years of experience playing together that other teams have.

The above factors will all be critical in how the US plays. The question is what will prevail? Will they fall due to their youth, inexperience and lack of cohesion or will they rise because of the changed mindset of U.S. basketball and the preparation of its coaching staff?

[NorCal]

Isnt the Spain without Gasol the team that destroyed Greece (Greece who destroyed USA a game before) in the last WC?

Really? Greece destroyed the U.S.? I believe the difference was 5 points

[Adon]

[QUOTE=wilo22;454921]

for lebanon we need to qualify to the second round and why not the 1/4 finals.[/QUOTE

1/4 finals ? What are you smoking dude?

[buterbrodas]

[/QUOTE]1/4 finals ? What are you smoking dude?[/QUOTE]

i hope you don't think he ment what he said

[Adon]

i hope you don't think he ment what he said

How could I knowFor example,70% of the Greeks believed that Greek NT would win against Argentina's NT -FIFA World Cup,one month ago.Of course we lost 2-0

I mean that some times is hard to distinguish between the desire and the probable.

[buterbrodas]

How could I knowFor example,70% of the Greeks believed that Greek NT would win against Argentina's NT -FIFA World Cup,one month ago.Of course we lost 2-0

I mean that some times is hard to distinguish between the desire and the probable.

sometimes shit happens in soccer Greeks were optimistic that's all. In BBall a lot less shits happens(usually favorites win). The Lebanese guy was beenig silly and he even put a laugthing smile in the end of the post...But if he really thinks about 1/4 i apologise my firiend and i feel sorry for Lebanese guy, his hopes will be crushed

[Picek]

In BBall a lot less shits happens(usually favorites win). The Lebanese guy was beenig silly and he even put a laugthing smile in the end of the post...

well, would you put money on them winning against France 4 years ago? no?
but they still won the game...
it's not realistic, yes.. but it's not impossible..