FIBA World Championship - Thread Retired

[Fresh8]

dont rub it in our faces. or ill find u and ur house and stone it

- Let him be, he's just happy his team won!

Sit, I forgot to mentionI told 2 guys that they could play next week if their team forfeits again, but that's an if....so we don't really need the extra man at this time....although, numbers are likely to vary closer to the date....my brother has car problems & might not make it again....I'm not sure....I'll let you know Monday or Tuesday for what it is looking like numbers wise...

- Kool then! Yeh, the travel is a bit of a mission... but yeh, u likely to be moving closer to my side of town next year?

China is most likely not going to advance. They should rest Yao and Wang and just let the bench players go to town.

- Why rest Yao and Wang??? Even if we win and dont advance, why would you rest your players? We should fight to the end and not give in because we know that even a win can't put us in the next round... I prefer to see my team going down... fighting...

[Joker.]

Hahah Congratulations China fans, 78-77 China won!! Shipeng Wang is a hero Go China Go

[Fresh8]

FIBA Real Life Tournament Watch... Day 6

Just a bit of random ranting from me!

Wow, great I did aight in my test... coming home to the good news of both my teams was just Bliss

Once again Yao Ming leads the Chinese to a big win and thanks to a buzzer beater from Wang who's really fitting into the team with our depleted backcourt. Wang has impressed me and what I've read is that he's really confident in the system

Yeah well, I just wanna take this opportunity to write to all the critics of Yao. I seriously think this is the year he takes and leads the Rockets. It's not TMac who will lead them, it will be Yao. I been waiting a long time for this and I am really happy with what's happening with him.

Back in 2004, I think I wrote something about how everyone expected too much of Yao and stuff. I wanna say that it's not that we expected too much but it was rather that we expected too much; too soon... This is the time though and before I was admittedly disappointed... now I'm pumped.

Yeah, after Athens I thought Yao was better but it didn't really translate into the NBA... however, last season after the All-Star break, we got a preview of what is to come...

Yao Ming is finally the best Centre in the NBA... Not the best regular season centre as I thnik Steve Kerr put it... he's the best big man... in the NBA... Period.

And other related good news, Aussies beat Qatar... so they may make the next round too... the rest of the big games for me is Italy-Puerto Rico and New Zealand-Panama.... lets go teams!!!

EDIT1: Italy's winning by 4 with 3 mins left... go Puerto Rico.. dig in deep!!!

EDIT2: Puerto Rico losing by one with 24 secodns left...

EDIT3: Fuck, end of tournament... Puerto Rico doesnt win And China is surely out...

EDIT4: Brazil lost and Aussies advance... now waiting on the Kiwis... oh yeah, Aussies book a game vs Team USA and will do well as always lol But lose in the end of course

EDIT5: NZ beat Panama and should be thru assuming Spain beats Japan

- - -

OK, I will be doing a FIBA Knockout Round review now!!! Yeh, sorry this wasnt such a big post and it was boring too but i had other things to do including talking to gf Thanks boys!

[pHLo]

haha, my man Dirk won the triple-OT thriller against Angola

he scored 47 on 4/8 3-Pointers and 17/17 Ft and had 16 Rebs as well in the 108-103 triumph

[Joker.]

haha, my man Dirk won the triple-OT thriller against Angola

he scored 47 on 4/8 3-Pointers and 17/17 Ft and had 16 Rebs as well in the 108-103 triumph

Yeah... Dirk is amazing

[The X]

I told you guys that Angola was for real

glad we got the win over Panama....won the games we should have won & 4th in the group is where we deserve to be....provided Spain don't give the game away....good to see Aussies advance....shame if China don't....they just started slow in the tournament like NZ....

[Fresh8]

Eighth-Finals Preview ::: Part One

A1 Argentina v B4 New Zealand

- No matter how much we like upsets, I don’t think I can say New Zealand will beat Argentina. Argentina are way too strong for the Kiwis; who had to scrape through into this next round. Good that they made it this far but I count the chances of going further extremely slim.

A2 France v B3 Angola

I smell an upset… not that Angola is doing great but more like, France is playing like shit. Without Tony Parker, the French team is playing very horrible and ok ok, I will admit that Angola is turning a few heads. If Angola will get to the Quarter Finals, it will have to be with a win against France. I’m going with Angola.

A3 Nigeria v B2 Germany

Germany was one of my picks to win this tournament. After seeing a game of theirs, if Dirk isn’t their first option, they aren’t even credible as a team. Well, they’re still good but not oober great! (See, I know German!) Still, I think Nigeria can surprise a few people and take Germany down to the wire. Dirk will sock it to them though and win the game for the Germans!

A4 Serbia v B1 Spain

If anyone thinks Serbia is still good; like I’ve read on a few basketball articles, think again. Those writers are just overrating them. Darko? Please… and yeah, that Igor fella? Man, the Serbians needed Peja and even he wouldn’t have helped too much. Chemistry problems and lack of depth is hurting them. Their journey is over with red hot Spain who will look to avenge their unlucky bowing out in Athens and reach the gold medal match.

Part Two Out Later!

[The X]

what do you mean Angola aren't playing great?!? they pushed Germany to brink & were unlucky not to be matched up against the Nigerians & moved to the last 8....I think Angola-France game will be great & could go either way....Spain should dismiss Serbia, however Spain have disappointed in the past, but they should be fine....as for Argentina-New Zealand, I don't think we realistically stand a chance....it would take huge games from the main guys (Pero, Penney, Bradshaw, Dickel & Jones) to have a chance to win....granted, I think we're capable, but Argentinas will be too talented in the end....I just hope we give them a good game....

[hova-]

sry for double post ..... lag

[hova-]

Germany will win over Nigeria. I am watching this team since 2001 and the roster did not really change in the last years, because that is the best class we have. At the moment we cant really find our rhythm and play very inconsistently, but we have always been a team which gets better game by game. And Dirk will be hot. He seemed to be a lil bit tired in the first games, but the Angola game was his WC breakout game.

[Joker.]

And what is yours thoughts about Lithuania - Italy game?

[Jing]

OHOOHH YEAA!

China advances! YES!

[Fresh8]

what do you mean Angola aren't playing great?!? they pushed Germany to brink & were unlucky not to be matched up against the Nigerians & moved to the last 8....I think Angola-France game will be great & could go either way....Spain should dismiss Serbia, however Spain have disappointed in the past, but they should be fine....as for Argentina-New Zealand, I don't think we realistically stand a chance....it would take huge games from the main guys (Pero, Penney, Bradshaw, Dickel & Jones) to have a chance to win....granted, I think we're capable, but Argentinas will be too talented in the end....I just hope we give them a good game....

- No no, I didn't mean that. I meant that the bigger reason I see France losing is cause theyre playing bad without Tony Parker. I know Angola's playing good but I see this game as a loss to France cause they arent playing that great. I should have really rephrased that lol But its good constructive criticism France has been pretty flat in some games and decent in the others... without Tony it hasn't helped them.

And Spain was just heaps unlucky back in Athens, I know they want to win the gold

Germany will win over Nigeria. I am watching this team since 2001 and the roster did not really change in the last years, because that is the best class we have. At the moment we cant really find our rhythm and play very inconsistently, but we have always been a team which gets better game by game. And Dirk will be hot. He seemed to be a lil bit tired in the first games, but the Angola game was his WC breakout game.

- Well, Dirk's been struggling to fit back into the team but it seems that he's really foudn his comfort zone in the last two games, I'm looking for a big performance from him! Still, I think Nigeria may be able to push the Germans for at least the first three quarters and the game will depend on Dirk's hotness

And what is yours thoughts about Lithuania - Italy game?

- I will write them soon!

OHOOHH YEAA!

China advances! YES!

- You serious??? Wow man, thats greeat news

[Fresh8]

Eighth-Finals Preview ::: Part Two

C1 Greece v D4 China

- This will be a tough game for China but I’m still going with an upset win over the Greeks. I think Yao and Co. will surprise many and take the Greeks to the final whistle. If the Greeks start off slow, China has a great chance. With Yao as pumped up as ever… I’ve never seen him this motivated (a thought shared by Coach K and I), China is a very tough team to play against. And you know what they did to Slovenia with their backs against the wall! Greece however aren’t slouches and their last 10 second win over the Aussies really hurt and it shows that they are a very mentally tough team who can get it done. Tough match up for China but if China is focused and come out with their foot in front, I’m going with a win for China.

C2 Turkey v D3 Slovenia

- I remember telling Marquis how he shouldn’t underrate the Turks before this tournament. Thanks to their performance so far, I’ve proven Marquis wrong! Well, I think this one will go to Turkey who only narrowly got beat by Greece. Slovenia can make it close and even win but I still think Turkey has a higher chance at a win than Slovenia does. Turkey should win.

C3 Lithuania v D3 Italy

- Another interesting game but Italy is my dark horse to win at this tournament. I think Italy will just be too strong for the young Lithuanians who are still missing Saras and Siskauskas will have trouble with the Italians. Lithuania has won two in a row so they do have momentum leading into the next round. However don’t be fooled because the two wins have been against two struggling teams in Australia and Brazil. They still pose a small threat but I can’t see Lithuania beating Italy. Sorry Lithuanian fans but I seriously can’t fathom a Lithuania over Italy upset.

C4 Australia v D1 USA

- Remember back in Athens when Australia led up to the first half before Team USA finally woke up and tried to take control of the game? Well, I think this Australian outfit will be just as motivated to try and beat Team USA. Andrew Bogut was effective back then but he will have a tough time against the USA’s interior defenders. C J Bruton who is pretty on and off will have to be shooting well for the Aussies to stay close. And Brad Newly may even be playing even harder as he’s going to be trying to impress the Americans. However, in my perfect world, I would tip the Aussies but this isn’t my perfect world. You can’t ignore how Carmelo is playing and how Team USA has D Wade coming off as a sixth man for some games. And the team is sharing the ball, playing suffocating full court presses. Team USA should have no problem winning the game; even if they have to win it in the second half. And one last point, the Aussie backcourt really scares me so I don’t want to think about whether we will get shredded by the USA’s press.

What are your thoughts? Comments please on my views or writing would be appreciated!

[Buckley]

USA will kick ass in the round of 16.

good read.

[Joker.]

I hope that Lithuania will advance to next round, because they have to revenge on lose in Athens olympics.

[Fresh8]

If you can get past Italy, you won't beat your next opponent

Oh yes, Winner of China-Greece plays winner of Angola-France... should be interesting if China wins And meets France or Angola whom I think they can beat! That means we could be lucky and get to the Semis

[Joker.]

If you can get past Italy, you won't beat your next opponent

Oh yes, Winner of China-Greece plays winner of Angola-France... should be interesting if China wins And meets France or Angola whom I think they can beat! That means we could be lucky and get to the Semis

Haha you don't know yet

[Fresh8]

yeh i know

[Joker.]

Ok, will see which is right

[The X]

Everyone from Group B, with exception of New Zealand (I hope I'm wrong), will advance....Argentina from Group A....USA, Italy, Greece & Slovenia from the other games....

[Fresh8]

Anyone else wanna have a tip?

[Mark.]

Ill say:
Argentina (Would rather be proved wrong though)
Italy
Turkey (Depending on wether Kutluay and Ilaysova get to play)
Spain
Germany
USA
Angola
China

[Anthony15]

Quite an easy W for USA against Aussies, unless Bogut will get like 50 points in the game!

[Fresh8]

You will see, we will keep it close with the Yanks!