Preparation Game: USA vs Australia

[Unimane]

This is an awful game by the US. No intensity at all. This incursion into Shanghai tells me they are just waiting to start playing in Beijing.

[Unimane]

Maybe you should think less and trust those who know the international game.

It's travelling, for god's sake. How difficult is it to understand? What is this mystical knowledge international basketball have? I know basketball very well, thank you.

[each way]

This is an awful game by the US. No intensity at all. This incursion into Shanghai tells me they are just waiting to start playing in Beijing.

We'll see in Beijing if that is true or not. They have a lot of work to do as far as I can see especially defensively.

[Remon]

It's travelling, for god's sake. How difficult is it to understand? What is this mystical knowledge international basketball have? I know basketball very well, thank you.

oh ffs, it's the mystical knowledge of having different rules that you don't seem to know or understand.

[Picek]

This is an awful game by the US. No intensity at all. This incursion into Shanghai tells me they are just waiting to start playing in Beijing.

I've expected comments like this 15-20 minutes ago..
excuses, excuses..
I guess you'll all be bending over by the end of the OG
again

[Phantim3dx]

(WHOA, Stuart)

Maybe you should think less and trust those who know the international game.

[Unimane]

oh ffs, it's the mystical knowledge of having different rules that you don't seem to know or understand.

IT'S TRAVELLING!! You understand the rule is the same everywhere, right? I mean, yes, we in America joke about travelling never getting called in the NBA, but I'm not seeing it here. I'm also very well aware of the international rules. Exactly what is it that I am not understanding? Hmm?

Ugh, you all talk about the arrogance of American players, yet sit there and exhibit the same hypocritical attitude. I'm making a valid point about the lack of intensity in the last two games, it couldn't be more obvious-the sloppiness, the lack of execution, etc. and I'm "making excuses." Absurd.

[KWSN-Men]

I don't think that USA travels any more than any other team. It seems to be another whiny complaint by the international people. The illegal pick comment comes from the observation that a lot of the picks set involve the fact that the person setting the pick is often moving in international basketball. You are supposed to be stationary when setting a pick in basketball, but I guess the international refs forgot that part of the rulebook.

LOL!!!

That's just a great comment, thank you.

[JGX]

Can't we just start a sticky thread for arguing about refs so the rest of us can ignore it and talk about the games?

Anyway, ugly game as expected. The players will get a few days of rest and be ready to play against China on Sunday, but I am not sure about the coaches.

Patty Mills might be this year's Stephen Curry.

[Lietuvis]

Australia played really well today and I think all teams need to consider them as a major threat. Look at their preparation so far and you will notice they have done extremely well to date.

The loss against Argentina was since Bogut went off after half time with ankle injury after they were leading by 19 pts, they lost against Croatia in some real tight games and this loss being the smallest any team has come against the US so far. This game has actually made me realise how far Australia has come and I think now they will be the sleeping dog as if we read all the posts to date they have been rated as a non contender for medals, but maybe, maybe they can actually get to final 4.

PS: I got sick of the commentators saying in this game how bored they thought the US players were in the game. Wake up you were truly challenged here without Australias Bogut.

In short: BEWARE Australia do not take them lightly.

[bobo81]

I won't take any credit away from Australia they were great...but US didn't look alive during the game. I mean they looked like they actually didn't care at times. I don't care whether they are tired or just not caring they need to take this chances seriously.

...And somewhere Greece and Spain are smiling

[Victorious]

After having watched the US for 4 games, I can say that the greatest weapon of the US is the pressure defence and fast-break. In other words they still arent a team. When things get a little bit tough, the superstar gene takes over. But they are so talented, so they still are the great favorite for the gold.

Analysis of the results:
Canada sucks, Young Turkey team didn't play D, Lithuania played the same style as the US so they paid the price, because the Americans are much more athletic while the ageing Jasikevicious had to control the pace of the Liths. Russia and Australia figured out how to play the US. However, it is difficult to say whether the US had a motivation problem the last two games.

Ofcourse the US will be much more focused during the big match ups, but I'm just curious to see how the US will play when they face Greece and especially Spain in a KO game.

P.S. I don't think that the original Dream Team was much more of a team than this one. They just didn' t have a lot of competition.

[KWSN-Men]

IT'S TRAVELLING!! You understand the rule is the same everywhere, right? I mean, yes, we in America joke about travelling never getting called in the NBA, but I'm not seeing it here. I'm also very well aware of the international rules. Exactly what is it that I am not understanding? Hmm?

Ugh, you all talk about the arrogance of American players, yet sit there and exhibit the same hypocritical attitude. I'm making a valid point about the lack of intensity in the last two games, it couldn't be more obvious-the sloppiness, the lack of execution, etc. and I'm "making excuses." Absurd.

It's the so-called "half-step". Rules say you can't lift your pivot foot from the ground before you dribble the ball. In the NBA, players are allowd to do that to make the game quicker.

As for the moving pick, it is not so often called in "international" play. Why? I don't know. But it's not, same as the "half-step" isn't called in NBA.

But since this tournament is played by FIBA rules, the "half-step" should be called and the moving pick should be allowed for all, as in all tournaments.

You see it is USA vs 213 international federations. So I guess we will play the game OUR way. If you don't like it, you can start sending NCAA players again.

[L8DBACK]

As usual another boring game Preparation games done Let the real games begin! I believe once the official games starts, the level of intensity from the top teams would be unimaginable in my opinion What we saw in the preparation games is far from what the real games are. Looking forward in having a healthy & competitive posting when the games begin. PEACE

[kestas]

blargh - this is not what I wanted to do at 10am in the morning. -Stuart

man, you should look at yourself. and what you should see is overreaction. if this traveling thing is so unimportant, then why three replies to a simple mention of it? such reaction will always triger counteractions and thus result in an argument.. say, we could now start counting the times refs did not call an illegal Lithuanian pick versus American traveling in LTU:USA game. who needs that? and those endless accusations of whining are kids talk. you don't have to be Einstain to realise that people will complain less aobut such things when their team wins and vice versa. I can guarantee you that if LTU loses to Argentian by 30 in their opening game, you wil see no complaints about the non-called traveling by Argentinians.

regarding the game.. Australia played without their best big man, without any stars in the backcourt, and still all I saw is an equal game for most of the time. I personally have no doubts USA is voulnerable (still the favourite though). even if today was not the best day for US (3/15 from outside the arc, although this number is from espn boxscore, which is clearly foulty), we must realise that good days are not a given in sports.