Olypics 2008 Basketball

[oneal32]

Does anyone know of any NBA players going to play in the 2008 Beijing Olypics

[Jugs]

Nobody goes to the Olypics. Its a dead event. unless this is the event

[oneal32]

Nobody goes to the Olypics. Its a dead event. unless this is the event

O.K

[The Other Kevin]

Jugs, you fucking spammer.

[Jugs]

I'm not the one that responded with an O.K

[Fitzy]

of course they are goin

[Scotty]

it's just been just announced Bogut will play for the Boomers in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and i think aggainst NZ in June(this year)

[Fitzy]

i think aaron bruce is in that squad

[Scotty]

You better hope he doesn't play C-They are revolving the team around Bogut, he'll play 48 min every game

[Gedas]

You better hope he doesn't play C-They are revolving the team around Bogut, he'll play 48 min every game

Unless you expect overtimes, he won't. Sheesh, FIBA rules
Anyways, it's not even interesting, cause we all know Lithuania is gonna take gold

[J@3]

You better hope he doesn't play C-They are revolving the team around Bogut, he'll play 48 min every game

Wtf... apart from what Gedas just said, Aaron Bruce is a point guard.

[Jing]

ohh my fucking god man. learn to at least spell

someone at least change the name to the proper spelling.

olypics...

[Gedas]

I didn't want to create a whole new thread for this, but I thought I'd write the possible final roster of the Lithuanian NT:


C-D. Lavrinovic, R. Javtokas
Our frontline has aways been a dominant force in international basketball, they even outplayed the USA team when they won in the Olimpycs. D. Lavrinovic, after an incredible season in the Euroleague (16points, 9rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists) is now hunted by many NBA teams. But he said, he will probably stay in my no. 1 team Zalgiris Kaunas. He is one of the most universal centers around, sort of a Rasheed Wallace, he is 7'2 and can hit turnoround threes (he shoots 44% from beyond the arc), very athletic, though skinny, has incredible ballhandling for a center/power forward.
The other one, R. Javtokas, is an absolutely different center. He is a defensive wall, proven to be the best defending center in Europe. Spurs have rights to him, and they said that he will most likely sign with them this summer. He averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks in the Euroleague, playing style very similar to Ben Wallaces. His offense is very limited, but his incredible athletisism allows him to just dunk the ball very easily. Most of his points come from dunks. He is also a terrible free point shooter, has NO range.
PF-K. Lavrinovic (the brother of Darjus), D. Songaila, L. Kleiza/P. Jankunas
Well, this is is where the coaches have the most difficulties to choose, beacause L. Kleiza and P. Jankunas are very similar and equal players. Well, K. Lavrinovic is almost the same as D. Lavrinovic, it's just that one likes the C position more, the other like the PF. D. Songaila is well known to you already, L. Kleiza also. Jankunas is a phisicaly weaker, but more basketball inteligence having L. Kleiza. Everything else is about the same.
SF-R. Siskauskas, S. Jasaitis.
In this position we don't have much choise, but we have two powerful selections. R. Siskauskas isn't called the "white Pippen" for nothing. He plays very similar to Pippen, although he is skinny, you should remember him from the Olimpycs, where he was a big part of our win against USA. The other player, S. Jasaitis, is still very young, but already is one of the best shooters in Europe, although his other strenghts are still lacking. He is physically strong for a SF, is a solid rebounder, a good team player, an incredible shooter, but that's about it.
SG-A. Macijauskas, R. Kaukenas
Even though Macijauskas sat on the bench because, in his and mine opinions, the Hornets coach is a racist, he is still "the kalashnikov", one of the best shooters. He pulled the team in that 3rd place game, whitch, sadly, we lost. If he would get traded, I'm sure he would get a lot more playing time. The other player is very similar to Macijauskas. He is skinny, but is an unstopable scorer. It's very rare for an European player to be so universal in offense. He can do it all. Shoot the threes, drive, get to the foul line, shoot from mid-range. An explosive scorer, but still I think Macijauskas will be the main SG for us.
PG-S. Jasikevicius (if he plays), G. Gustas/V. Ginevicius
Well, if Saras plays, I think we could go all the way, becasuse he is the key to our success. Lithuania always was known not for it's individual players, but for their team basketball, whitch helped us reach very high places in different competitions. Even though Saras didn't have a succesful season in the NBA, I'm sure next year will be better, because L. Bird said that there will be big changes in the Pacers. He is, in my opinion, the best clutch player in international basketball. When the team needs someone to step up and hit a shot, you know who is it. Saras drove the USA coaches crazy so many times ('00, '04 Olympics), that it's hard to remember them all. He just seems to be able to step up his game ta an all new level when in need. The other two point guards are much weaker, but still solid replacements for Saras for ~15 minutes per game.

I think that if we will have this roster, we have good chances of having succesfull championships. I would like if someone could write the roster of the USA, Australia, other countrys.

[J@3]

I'm guessing the Australian starting 5 will be:

C: Andrew Bogut
PF: Chris Anstey
SF: Matt Nielsen
SG: Jason Smith
PG: C.J Bruton

Obviously there's alot of size there, Bogut and Anstey are both 7ft and Nielsen isn't far behind. I don't trust Bruton at PG, never have. He's a good player but I don't think he's enough of a weapon in international competition. I think Bogut and Anstey will work well together, if Anstey was a better defender, younger and more athletic he'd be the exact kind of guy the Bucks want to pair Bogut with for next season.

The main bench guys I'm thinking will be:

David Andersen
Brad Newley
Sam Mackinnon
Glen Saville
Steven Markovic
Stephen Black

That's a REALLY strong bench... that's not even taking into account other guys like Bruce, Kickert etc. Could be a surprise team in this tournament but alot will come down to the PG, in the past we've had Shane Heal to drag the team around but CJ isn't as good in any aspects really.

[Gedas]

I'm guessing the Australian starting 5 will be:

C: Andrew Bogut
PF: Chris Anstey
SF: Matt Nielsen
SG: Jason Smith
PG: C.J Bruton

Obviously there's alot of size there, Bogut and Anstey are both 7ft and Nielsen isn't far behind. I don't trust Bruton at PG, never have. He's a good player but I don't think he's enough of a weapon in international competition. I think Bogut and Anstey will work well together, if Anstey was a better defender, younger and more athletic he'd be the exact kind of guy the Bucks want to pair Bogut with for next season.

The main bench guys I'm thinking will be:

David Andersen
Brad Newley
Sam Mackinnon
Glen Saville
Steven Markovic
Stephen Black

That's a REALLY strong bench... that's not even taking into account other guys like Bruce, Kickert etc. Could be a surprise team in this tournament but alot will come down to the PG, in the past we've had Shane Heal to drag the team around but CJ isn't as good in any aspects really.

Nielsen over Andersen? Now that's interesting. Nielsen played in Lithuania last season, so I know his capabilities very well. But I don't think he's better than Andersen. Although he's C, I think Andersen is mobile and could play SF. But yet again, I don't know much about the Australian NT. But still I think that Andersen at least should play PF over the guy I never heard of. Anyway, I don't really care, now that I think of it, I really don't know why I wrote this.

[J@3]

I prefer Andersen over Nielsen these days too, but I'm not 100% sold on his ability to play SF. Nielsen's done it before, and he has decent range... at least he did before he went to Europe, I haven't seen him play since. In all likelyness they'll have Newley or Mackinnon starting over Nielsen either way.

[Gedas]

Well Nielsen has range, he might be able to play SF even though it's hard to imagine that. He has that one strange drive move (a quick step to the left and then drive), but besides that I really doubt his ballhandling as a SF. He made a couple of threes, but they werent often. in Lithuania he mostly played PF, sometimes C, but I didn't see him play SF. While Andersen is one of the top players in Europe, very mobile, I think he could play SF, even though that's not 100% certain either. So I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
By the way, it's strange not to see anyone post the USA's roster. I guess Americans are not too interested in international basketball, as usual.

[Srbija]

The main bench guys I'm thinking will be:

David Andersen
Brad Newley
Sam Mackinnon
Glen Saville
Steven Markovic
Stephen Black

That's a REALLY strong bench... that's not even taking into account other guys like Bruce, Kickert etc. Could be a surprise team in this tournament but alot will come down to the PG, in the past we've had Shane Heal to drag the team around but CJ isn't as good in any aspects really.

Used to go to my school before he started playing in the NBL

[OuT KasT]

I like Bruttez at PG, what's wrong with him in international comps?

[oneal32]

The main bench guys I'm thinking will be:

David Andersen
Brad Newley
Sam Mackinnon
Glen Saville
Steven Markovic
Stephen Black

That's a REALLY strong bench... that's not even taking into account other guys like Bruce, Kickert etc. Could be a surprise team in this tournament but alot will come down to the PG, in the past we've had Shane Heal to drag the team around but CJ isn't as good in any aspects really.

yeh Aaron Bruce went to the School I'm at

Used to go to my school before he started playing in the NBL

[Gedas]

Nielsen won't play in the WC??? Theres something about insurance right?