SF: Australia vs Serbia

[CoachZ]

I wasn't predicting the outcome of the game. Serbia is not a champion team because they haven't won anything since 2002 (and there's no one left from that squad). Meanwhile Australians are the current Oceania champions. So the heart of a champion, if it really exists and has any influence, belongs to Australia and not Serbia.

As a side note, I'm always amazed at how easily Serbian fans overestimate their team stature and crunch-time prowess. It's like they project the successes of the past century into the current incarnation of their national team. When the reality is they haven't won squat for a really long time, and each and every tournament they take a sound beating sooner or later.

Winning a local pickup game in my block is a bigger deal than winning a Oceania Champioship. Are you fucking serious???

I agree, we are not a championship team. We need to move to Oceania or Africa and rack up titles...

[Shawshank]

The winners gets silver,looser of this games ends up 4th.Usa/Spain are obviuosly better teams and dont see chances in bronze match for looser of this semifinal.

Australia played alot better in this Olympic games than Serbia overall and have better team.But to beat same team twice in same tournament is very dificult,this why i go with Serbia in this one an upset...

I dont like Serbia,but they have stronger mentality and if they wont allow Australia get 10+ lead,they should win in the end.

That Parker game winner againts Serbia was one of the worst Parker shots he ever made

[Darrell Armstrong]

Winning a local pickup game in my block is a bigger deal than winning a Oceania Champioship. Are you fucking serious???

I agree, we are not a championship team. We need to move to Oceania or Africa and rack up titles...

How disrespecting. If Serbian basketball is so great and even local leagues are better than Oceania's main competition, how did they manage to lose against Australia in the first round? Everyone from your block was too busy to play?

[Boomer]

This is an absolutely fair comment.

So I'll break down my, and I believe the greater US psychology in this (cue CHBB to give me shit any second now)

Respect/admiration/fear is earned, and with the US it is slow to happen for obvious reasons. Not every team that gives us a close game in the group stage typically earns that respect.

The teams that do earn that respect, do it in the knockout stage.

Argentina was a shell of the team that won it all on '04, but US media, US fans gave them far more respect than the team probably deserved in terms of threat level and that's because they earned it in the past.

Spain, though never having beaten the US in a knock out stage, has scared the living bejesus out of the US in back to back Olympic finals, and won a world championship besides.

Australia has had a fantastic tournament so far, but a damn fantastic group stage and beating Croatia don't breed worry/fear. It breeds respect. Australia has another step to take before that.

Same goes for Serbia really. The last time Serbia faced the US in a knock out stage they got murdered, absolutely and totally, the game they had in the group stage breeds cautiousness but nothing beyond that.

The knock out stage is what really matters. Australia (and Serbia also) is oh so close to that next level, from presumptive power (*cough* Canada* *cough*) to actual legit global power.

To use NBA terms think Atlanta Hawks 2014-15. Fantastic regular season, but no one would respect them until they did something in the playoffs. They did nothing in the playoffs and got no respect.

Comparatively think 2014-15 Golden State Warriors (hey Bogut's team), no one respected them until the playoffs, but they proved it.

So to Serbia/Australia are you Warriors or are you Hawks?

I fucking like this guy ! 👍, we are the golden state warriors my friend. I'm pumped about my national team, we have what it takes , and I'm backing them, if the euros don't agree well, we pumped your arse in the group stage lol, deal with it, we will do it again, I'm backing my team, if Serbia can step up and beat us I'll pay respect to that ! But until you do , I want another crack at America , all of Australia does, Australia believes in this boomers team, they have what it takes to hammer this Serbia team.

[Boomer]

It's doing wonders for the sport here , the run we are on. Just see what happens when basketball becomes a mainstream sport here , America might have some real competition

[aussieasker]

Australia played alot better in this Olympic games than Serbia overall and have better team.But to beat same team twice in same tournament is very dificult,this why i go with Serbia in this one an upset...

This is what I'm worried about as an Australian. Can't see us beating a team as good as Serbia twice in one week.

[Boomer]

This is what I'm worried about as an Australian. Can't see us beating a team as good as Serbia twice in one week.

Hand in your national badge son lol

[Sakamoto]

Australia go for the Gold ! lets go Boomers !

[Silent Killer]

It's doing wonders for the sport here , the run we are on. Just see what happens when basketball becomes a mainstream sport here , America might have some real competition

NBL teams should get the same amount of financial support the way others supporting AFL.. 2 of the famous sports in the world is not popular here in australia, footy is. AFL has 18 teams while soccer and basketball has more or less 18. Another thing is cricket and rugby gets the free airtime over basketball wherein you need to get a foxtel to watch basketball games. Others will see basketball and soccer as minor sports compare to footy.

[Mindozas]

If Australia won't win this, they has a great chance to repeat it's historical success of finishing 4th everytime they're in Olympic semis. But I hope it won't be the case, I need them to make a final, to guarantee 1st place in prediction game among my friends and win 2 beer-boxes (20 each), so don't screw up ffs, I love beer too much to put it all in jeopardy and wait for final day

[Boomer]

If Australia won't win this, they has a great chance to repeat it's historical success of finishing 4th everytime they're in Olympic semis. But I hope it won't be the case, I need them to make a final, to guarantee 1st place in prediction game among my friends and win 2 beer-boxes (20 each), so don't screw up ffs, I love beer too much to put it all in jeopardy and wait for final day

Haha nice mate

[LDK]

Macvan, Markovic or Jovic? Need one player from for fantasy team. Wich one has most chances to have good game? I am thinking about Macvan. Any opinions? CoachZ maybe?

[CoachZ]

Macvan, Markovic or Jovic? Need one player from for fantasy team? Wich one has most chances to have good game? I am thinking about Macvan. Any opinions? CoachZ maybe?

Markovic plays well in big games. Against USA and Croatia he had fantastic games. The rest he didn't show up. Even if he doesn't score he will have rebounds, steals, assists. Jovic will probably not light it up.

Macvan is X factor, depends on the gameplan. He could be a nothing, but if Aussies try to force a 2 big lineup Bogut and Baynes at the same time then we will see a lot of Raduljica-Macvan, Jokic-Macvan and Raduljica - Jokic time so he could be a factor. This is all depending on the gameplan from both sides. Taking all that into account I would go with Markovic.

[LDK]

Markovic plays well in big games. Against USA and Croatia he had fantastic games. The rest he didn't show up. Even if he doesn't score he will have rebounds, steals, assists. Jovic will probably not light it up.

Macvan is X factor, depends on the gameplan. He could be a nothing, but if Aussies try to force a 2 big lineup Bogut and Baynes at the same time then we will see a lot of Raduljica-Macvan, Jokic-Macvan and Raduljica - Jokic time so he could be a factor. This is all depending on the gameplan from both sides. Taking all that into account I would go with Markovic.

Thanks. I have Bogda+Teo and Bogut+Baynes from this game. I have a feeling that your coauch will prepare good defence against Mills. Bogut should dominate against Raduljica

[Italian Pride]

Go Macvan,Miro,Jokic and Sasha