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**JGX** · 07-27-2021, 05:52 AM

Japan handed the US their first loss of the tournament in the last group game, 20-18. The US had been ahead 14-9.

Article about the Mongolian team:

For Mongolia’s three-on-three women’s basketball team, two losses but a trail blazed

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/07/24/mongolia-three-on-three-basketball-tokyo-olympics/

For the first time, the country is in an Olympic team sport. Here's how it happened.

**Hepcat** · 07-27-2021, 04:31 PM

Going into the Olympic Men's 3x3 competition, I expected Serbia to be the team to beat followed by Latvia. I expected Netherlands, Russia and Belgium to contend for the Bronze. I thought Poland, China and Japan would be also rans.

Serbia indeed dominated with a 16-15 victory over the Netherlands being the only game in which Serbia was seriously challenged. Otherwise there was a large element of unpredictability to the games which is not surprising in these ten minute matches.

Nonetheless Russia's 21-19 victory over the Netherlands in the QF surprised me a bit since Netherlands had beaten Russia 18-15 in the round-robin.

I'm still predicting that Serbia will get the Gold, Latvia the Silver and Belgium the Bronze.

**Katastroika** · 07-28-2021, 12:39 PM

You are right for medals but not for rankings. Serbia broke psychologically apart in semis and after winning 7 of 8 games didn't win gold but bronze. Hands were shaking, nothing worked out, pressure ate them alive. I feel sad for the guys because they were and are clearly best team in the world. Anyways, one more time proven phrase that real champions first must overcome their own head in favourite situations. But a medal is a medal. Congrats for all teams for a good tournament, real fun games.

**Hepcat** · 07-28-2021, 02:20 PM

Russia 21 Serbia 10
Latvia 21 Belgium 8

Yes, quite the collapse by Serbia.

Serbia 21 Belgium 10 (Bronze)
Latvia 21 Russia 18 (Gold)

**reamily** · 07-28-2021, 02:49 PM

Saw that game, it was "imo" definitely more than the nerves, heck Serbia maybe the best 3x3 nation but definitely the mix of Novi Sad and Liman certainly made latvia a deserving gold medalist as Riga team were perennial bridesmainds in 3x3 circuit..

**Katastroika** · 07-28-2021, 03:05 PM

Originally posted by reamily View Post

Saw that game, it was "imo" definitely more than the nerves, heck Serbia maybe the best 3x3 nation but definitely the mix of Novi Sad and Liman certainly made latvia a deserving gold medalist as Riga team were perennial bridesmainds in 3x3 circuit..

Exclusively nerves. Wrong rotations, shaky hands, Bulut huge choke and giving away responsibility by trying to feed Majstorović non stop in the post. This is what you call counterrhythm and panic. Russians were beaten the day before by Serbia in group by taking their center out of comfort zone under basket - this set failed twice at beginning when Bulut began to flat nerves.

Serbia whiped floor with Latvia. It was one crucial mental breakdown against Russians that were destroyed 24h before. Serbia scored 10 points - lowest ever (!) in 3x3 for both Liman and Novi Sad.

Of course deserved gold for Latvia - who wins wins always deserved - but effectively Serbia took the Bronze for Latvia's Gold.

People here know I am always objective and don't tend to superlatives when it comes to zvezda or Serbia but here the best team - by all parameters - simply went in autodestruction mode. It happens sometimes when you are huge favourite. Not just in streetball. They were that dominant that they simply couldn't overcome the pressure.

**JGX** · 07-28-2021, 05:25 PM

US took the women's gold with an 18-15 win over Russia after defeating France 18-16 in the semis. Final was not as close as the score may indicate as Russia never got closer than three points. US faded defensively late in both games, but ability to draw early fouls and get in the bonus was crucial.

**reamily** · 07-28-2021, 06:09 PM

I still believe Serbia over achieve with their lineup, they dont have the 6'6 above athletic youg guys like lasmanis, vervoot or van der horst or big bulky guys like karpenkov..Serbia was a good 3x3 team but they have weaknesses that had always been covered by their success..

**Hepcat** · 07-28-2021, 06:42 PM

Originally posted by Katastroika View Post

Exclusively nerves.... shaky hands, Bulut huge choke....

...simply went in autodestruction mode. It happens sometimes when you are huge favourite. Not just in streetball.... they simply couldn't overcome the pressure.

Interesting! Every single one of the top four teams in group action suffered from playoff jitters in the first game it played in the Elimination Round. Consider:

Russia 21 Netherlands 19 (QF)
Latvia 21 Japan 18 (QF)

Russia 21 Serbia 10 (SF)
Latvia 21 Belgium 8 (SF)

Only Latvia won its first playoff game but with a less than impressive 21-18 victory over Japan.

**Katastroika** · 07-28-2021, 08:03 PM

Originally posted by reamily View Post

I still believe Serbia over achieve with their lineup, they dont have the 6'6 above athletic youg guys like lasmanis, vervoot or van der horst or big bulky guys like karpenkov..Serbia was a good 3x3 team but they have weaknesses that had always been covered by their success..

You overachieve with 3 World Championships and 2 semifinals in last 5 years? Okay! Lucky Serbian streetball - I hope I can overachieve simmilarily in my working career

Here everyone plays street ball - key is that you don't need a above athletic young guy. You need combo guards and swingmen for winning at streetball. All those neandertalic big men a la Netherlands 2019 have less impact than you might think. Lasmanis is more exception of the rule than the rule as he is a pure shooter who is mobile on the legs and can cover drives. There is no player with his qualities in 3x3 World League which makes him really dangerous but besides all calling this an overachievement is pretty big madness, bro. It's an underachievement.

**Katastroika** · 07-28-2021, 08:06 PM

Originally posted by Hepcat View Post

Interesting! Every single one of the top four teams in group action suffered from playoff jitters in the first game it played in the Elimination Round. Consider:

Russia 21 Netherlands 19 (QF)
Latvia 21 Japan 18 (QF)

Russia 21 Serbia 10 (SF)
Latvia 21 Belgium 8 (SF)

Only Latvia won its first playoff game but with a less than impressive 21-18 victory over Japan.

Believe me after seeing Serbia - Russia day before semifinal (when Russia wasn't qualified so they didn't have possibility to test Serbia - it was must win for them and Serbia was already 1st in group stage - they qualified with quite surprising win afterwards that day) I couldn't believe that this would be a contest if our guys don't autodestroy. Especially if we take into consideration that Novi Sad beat the Russians a million times in last 3 years. Not one loss against them - but the best player(s) - especially Bulut - showed nerves and had worst game in last years at most import game. Which shows that he is no true champion besides incredible career. Simple as that. Big players win big games.

**reamily** · 07-29-2021, 01:06 PM

Originally posted by Katastroika View Post

You overachieve with 3 World Championships and 2 semifinals in last 5 years? Okay! Lucky Serbian streetball - I hope I can overachieve simmilarily in my working career

Here everyone plays street ball - key is that you don't need a above athletic young guy. You need combo guards and swingmen for winning at streetball. All those neandertalic big men a la Netherlands 2019 have less impact than you might think. Lasmanis is more exception of the rule than the rule as he is a pure shooter who is mobile on the legs and can cover drives. There is no player with his qualities in 3x3 World League which makes him really dangerous but besides all calling this an overachievement is pretty big madness, bro. It's an underachievement.

Well, I also feel the disappointment but the game is race to 21..wish that games have where its best of 3 sets.. where its really a game of skills and not game of fouls and momentum (serbia got 4 quick fouls to russias none that sets the tone)

As for the bold part we tried that in OQT level and we get worse results

Yup on the Russian didnt win anything other than denying Serbia their Olympic crowning glory..

**Katastroika** · 07-29-2021, 02:13 PM

I am speaking about top streetbasket teams of course.

And what you mean by "Russians didn't win anything" - Olympic silver?!

**reamily** · 07-29-2021, 02:31 PM

Originally posted by Katastroika View Post

I am speaking about top streetbasket teams of course.

And what you mean by "Russians didn't win anything" - Olympic silver?!

They didnt win anything before that "silver"

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