2008 Olympics Basketball Tournament

[Andrew]

I'm hoping I see more from Bogut, ahh well, it's still enjoyable to watch youngsters like Mills & Rubio starring at the games.

Me too, he picked a hell of a time to tweak his ankle.

[Leander]

Bogut cannot lead his team. I am really disappointed because of his performance so far.

Patrick Mills has a bright future though. He is fast, can drive, is athletic...he played really, really well against Argentina.

[Andrew]

I think he's capable of leading the Australian squad, he was doing well in the preliminary games but it seems his ankle is bothering him so he's not having the tournament they need him to have.

[debiler]

I'm just angry now. How did we lose to Spain? I mean, our guys just gave away the game. We had so many chances to get back into the game and we blew it all. And the referees were ridiculous in some situations. But Spain are hardly an opponent for the U.S. if they keep playing like that.

[Scorer--20]

lets see tomorrow against Australia

If I were you, I'd like Argentina's chances in that one. Not to sell my own country short but when our only NBA player is struggling with an ankle injury it doesn't bode well for us.

Yes , Bougut is not playing well at all

But i saw gome good players like Andersen and Mils ( the pg ) that boy is the future of Australian basketball

I guess Bougut could shoot less shoots and try to play with the others.

Anyway , i think USA will crush us anyway

[Andrew]

I reckon Mills will try for the NBA though, if he doesn't make the cut I reckon he might look at playing in Europe. The NBL is struggling at the moment with teams folding and little exposure outside subscription television, I think he'd probably rather try his luck at the big time.

[Leander]

Germany had another huge loss. If they don't improve they will be out soon.

Finally, Yao Ming had a good game with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. 10/11 shooting. It was against Angola but it doesn't make his performance smaller...the Chinese fans finally got a good game from their star player.

[Andrew]

Good news for Australia, we finally picked up a victory in the game against Iran.

[The X]

Yes it is, although they now have to win their final 2 games to secure a quarter finals berth....if they beat Russia & Russia doesn't beat Argentina, then they will go through....although Australia would prefer to win both & avoid the US (assuming they win Group A), to help their chances of advancing to the semis....

[Taddis]

LTU vs RUS 86:79

Sweet victory by Lithuania. Revenge for the seminal in Eurobasket 07 and 3rd win in a row in tournament. Even when main pg and 'soul of the team' Sarunas Jasikevicius was fouled out team didint broke and took very hard victory !

[Andrew]

Yes it is, although they now have to win their final 2 games to secure a quarter finals berth....if they beat Russia & Russia doesn't beat Argentina, then they will go through....although Australia would prefer to win both & avoid the US (assuming they win Group A), to help their chances of advancing to the semis....

Here's hoping.

[Taddis]

Whata a fantastic basketball day tday.
First : the Australians victory gainst Russian . Thats probably means russians out after group stage.
Secondly : Probably most fantastic 4th quater in tournament in Cro vs Ltu match. -4pts before 4th quater and +13 after buzzer to Lithuania. And the last game wont mean anything becouse 4 wins in a row give 1st place in group.

USA vs Spain today too ! I just hope it will be another fantastic match as these 2 before

[Leander]

Congratulations to all Australians! What a win against russia. Andrew Bogut had a good game finally.

[Andrew]

It'd be even better if we could avoid the USA in the quarter finals. It doesn't assure the Boomers will advance but I like their chances a little better if a possible meeting with the USA is delayed.

[Taddis]

It'd be even better if we could avoid the USA in the quarter finals. It doesn't assure the Boomers will advance but I like their chances a little better if a possible meeting with the USA is delayed.

Spain in quater final isnt much better either...

[Andrew]

No, not particularly.

[Leander]

What a joke. This is so hilarious. Germany loses again and is out. I cannot believe it. China is definitely not better than Germany but advances.

[debiler]

We got robbed!!! Germany had a horrible game, but we should have won it anyway. The refs were clearly in favor of the host team. And not only with little stuff: There were at least five major decisions that were all called incorrectly in favor of China:

1. Dirk ties the game with a two, they call travel. DIRK DOESN'T TRAVEL ON THAT MOVE! He does it at least ten times every game.
2. Yao travels, then makes the layup. No call.
3. Dirk makes the 3, they call 3 in the key against Femerling.
4. Yi blocks Dirk's layup that had already hit the glass.

And the best one:

5. Dirk drives, gets PUSHED from behind right into Yao, who MOVES towards Dirk, makes the basket ANYWAY, they call offensive foul.

I'm done with this, I can't even enjoy USA-Spain right now...

[The X]

It'd be even better if we could avoid the USA in the quarter finals. It doesn't assure the Boomers will advance but I like their chances a little better if a possible meeting with the USA is delayed.

Spain in quater final isnt much better either...

I think it's a lot better....Team USA is practically unbeatable for a team with Australia's lack of firepower....as for Spain, that's a different story....they have shown lapses in games against China & at other times of the tournament....if Australia played at their top level & Spain was off their game, Australia could narrowly edge them out....

all that being said, it's an unlikely matchup....it will take Croatia losing to Iran (go Iran) & Australia beating Lithuania (tough, but considering Lithuania has tied up 1st place in Group, it might be an easier ask) for Australia to meet Spain in quarter finals....

[cro_2pac]

We lose of Iran that will not happen in a dream! We beat them in a frendly 101-79!

[The X]

We lose of Iran that will not happen in a dream! We beat them in a frendly 101-79!

Anything is possible. We beat Croatia 82-80 in a friendly before the tourney & got our arses whooped by what looks to be a very average Croatian outfit that relies on the 3-ball

[shadowgrin]

That Ricky Rubio kid is something. With his skill he be like Steve Nash, only bigger, or at worst like a Tinsley.

[cro_2pac]

We Won against Iran 91-57!

[Cornerthree]

Australia beats Lithuania, badly... By 31 points...

Now that's hard to believe, but Lithuanian's admit it that they came unprepared, the approach to the match was really wrong and Australia had their best offensive performance in the last three years, all that adds up to an embarrassing loss to Australia.

[The X]

probably a good wakeup call for Lithuania....I didn't rate them as best team in group anyways....I'd rate the teams in the group Argentina, Lithuania, Australia, Croatia & Iran....

I'm glad Australia is firing at the right time, shame we screwed up against Croatia otherwise we would have an easier quarter finals....the key for the Boomers is to get out to a very quick start & very hot shooting against the US & try to build a double digit lead, try to hold it & hope the US is shooting horribly....then we might have a chance....I rate Australia a 2% chance to advance to semis....so anything is possible