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Thanks to Spain and USA for a great basketball game

August 24, 2008

So the Redeem Team won the gold medal in Beijing. What in the end looked like no surprise must actually be considered a deserved win by the best team of the tournament: Nothing more and nothing less. The final game showed that the gap between the USA and the rest of the world is not widening again, but that USA needs to prepare and bring their best players in order to beat a Spanish team by only 11 points.

The group phase was the All-Star showing for the USA, as the top teams did not go in with all their forces while Team USA tried to destroy anybody and amazed the (Chinese) fans with their dunks and blocks. While Europeans discussed traveling violations by LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and others, the US press and fans started to talk again about absolute domination of Team USA.

With the start of the medal round, the games were getting more intense and the level of playing increased. While Team USA had little trouble advancing to the semis, Australia showed that the Redeem Team was beatable, for one half. Argentina gave them a good fight and the game was as important for the US players as for the players around Manu Ginobili that ended the USA’s olympic run for gold in 2004. Missing Manu did not suppress the Argentineans’ hope until deep into the last quarter.

And then, this morning, a final for the ages. Two teams that were highly motivated, driven by success. Spain, the current world champion, led by a 17-year-old point guard against a US team that does not know the word “defeat.” And we saw a basketball beauty with wild three-point shots, hard fouls and spectacular plays. And a US team that had to give everything they had and go to very big plays of Kobe Bryant to win the gold medal back.

Despite the once-again questionable non-calls on the traveling, despite all the arrogant talk and look of Team USA, despite the Spanish flopping and all the other random stuff, this was one of the most exciting basketball games I have seen in a long time. I can’t wait for London 2012. but let’s first hope we will see this US team wanting to reconquer the World Championship title in 2010 in Turkey. In a way different atmosphere against even more pumped up European teams, everything is set for a big basketball party to come in two years.

Congratulations to Team USA for the gold medal, congratulations to Spain for never giving up and showing us the best plays of the finals, congratulations to Argentina and their bronze medal as a final punctuation on a tremendous generation. But finally also congratulations to Lithuania for their 5th Olympic semifinal in their fifth participation ever. Losing five times at this stage must be a tough feeling to handle.

We will see you all back in 2010 in Istanbul, or at latest 2012 in London. Thank you, Beijing, and goodbye China!

Aug 24, 2008ballineurope
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This post was published on August 24, 2008
Olympics Live: Argentina vs. Lithuania, USA vs. SpainMonday's cigarettes
Comments: 19
  1. migala
    17 years ago

    Congratulations for this report, Chistophe. I think it´s been the best Olympic basketball tournament in years (at least since I remember, circa 1984…), and the final has been the ice on the cake.

    This has been very entertaining.

    Can´t wait for the Euroleague and NBA and ACB and LEGA and… to start!!!!

    ReplyCancel
  2. john marzan
    17 years ago

    it wasn’t supposed to be close, but spain exposed the weakness of team USA.

    ReplyCancel
  3. Álvaro
    17 years ago

    We played as well as Serbia, Argentina and Greece did in the past, but unfortunately, US are stronger than in the past, and they have inproved so much.

    Pride

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  4. big daddy
    17 years ago

    Why is it that when europeans lose to the USA in group play they say they were “holding back and not showing everything”.That is a cowards brand of basketball and a convenient excuse.When we in America lose we never say we were “holding back”.In the good ol’ USA,”WE PLAY TO WIN THE GAME “.I’m glad the rest of the world is catching up to us.USA won 8 games by an average of 28 points.Is this catching up ?Lets face it,the only reason that game was close is because Team USA were overconfident and bored.You can bet,if Team USA played Spain 50 times,the USA would win 49 times.And Spain is a quality team.

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  5. king kobe
    17 years ago

    Was Spain “holding back” in the olympic final ?maybe they are saving thier best for london in 2012 or turkey in 2010.i agree with you big daddy.

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  6. ChicagoBull
    17 years ago

    USA dominated the world again.But lets get an NBA team in Madrid.

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  7. Alberto
    17 years ago

    You don’t have to be very clever to see that Spain was, in fact, holding back in the first game. 37 points vs. 11 points… It makes me think. In fact, if you know a little bit about basketball, you should have noticed that watching the game. They were not giving their best, ‘cos you can only beat USA Team once in a championship, and it was better to do it in the final. Another fact is that you’re the first person who says “american players were bored…” I guess they prefer slam dunks instead of playing basketball… A slam dunk like that one of Rudy over Howard, I guess you saw it… Yeah, try to remeber… And yes, the world is catching you up, of course. Do I have to remember you the last time you won something, before this Olympics??? Maybe 8 years ago??? 8 years for magnificent Team USA?? Unbeatable Team USA? Man…

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  8. Moto
    17 years ago

    bid daddy… did you get the hint in the last play of the game?

    Navarro… walking like…

    he didn´t get a call… either

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  9. Phileus
    17 years ago

    Despite the very nice original post, some people (both US and otherwise) still have negative things to say?

    If you watched the BallInEurope.com live blog, you saw Europeans whining about calls.
    If you watched the NYTimes.com live blog, you saw Americans whining about calls.

    The fact is – and I think no sane person disputes this – that Spain gave the US a hell of a game, their best game, but still lost. They lost not because of calls or whatever – they lost because they faced a superior team.

    The degree of superiority is quite small (Team USA’s average margin of victory is only 24 points vs. Spain, compared to 30+ versus other Olympic teams) but it is still very real. I don’t think this US team wins 49/50 against Spain at all, but it is also nowhere close to only 25/50 yet. But it is obvious that the championship is not “for Team USA to lose,” but rather, for Team USA to earn.

    Alberto, nobody in the US has called it “magnificent, Unbeatable Team USA” for over five years now, and surely nobody will really say that again now. This was the best way for Team USA to win: win decisively, but in a tough and close enough game to prevent the team from slipping back into complacent arrogance. Do not believe in the ridiculous caricature that you seem to want to believe. Appreciate the game, and pray for your revenge in two years in Istanbul.

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  10. Álvaro
    17 years ago

    Strategy is also a big part of this game. I mean, what’s the differencia between playing Australia or Croatia on quarter finals? And between playing Argentina or Lithuania in semifinal? No such difference… so why should you fight to death in a group game?

    We knew we have a few chances, by playing some way to US… but we had to be claver, we don’t want to show our cards to them. We were quite confidents to be on the Olympic Final (respect to Lithuania and other temas) and then try to do our best.

    big daddy and king kobe, this is not about be a coward, it’s about know the right time to show your chances. I don’t really think americans were bored on the final game… 8/11 three point shoot on second quarter! looking to Kobe’s face during and after the game, he looked more excited than bored.

    We did the best we could, we played the best basketball we could, and we were closed to the win. I just have to enjoy our effort and say: Congratulations US

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  11. Alberto
    17 years ago

    Phileus, “I’m glad the rest of the world is catching up to us.USA won 8 games by an average of 28 points.Is this catching up ? Lets face it, the only reason that game was close is because Team USA were overconfident and bored”, by Big Daddy. I wrote that about “Unbeatable Team USA” answering to that man, not the whole U.S.A. country, do you understand?

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  12. Phileus
    17 years ago

    Ah yes I understand, and I only hope that USA Basketball does not start to think like that itself, or else the next few tournaments will be sad to watch again!

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  13. carlos
    17 years ago

    No doubt it has probably been the best basketball game I’ve ever seen. I was amazed of the speed the game had, the intensity. There was only one way Spain could beat the US team and it was the way they did it. But… when you play against the best players in the world you have all the number to loose.
    Just say congratulations to US! And we will meet again in Turkey 2010!

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  14. Scott
    17 years ago

    Congrats to the U.S.!!!
    Despite the world catching up, you still have the greatest pool of basketball players in the world by far. It is good to see you can learn from your past mistakes, adjust your outlook and adapt. (it took you long enough)

    I don’t think that was the best “team” could have put together – but it was sure an impressive collection of talent.

    I still believe the U.S. has enough talent to field 3 teams and win gold, silver and bronze (assuming they could play as a “team”). You could just put the Boston Celtics out there as team #3.

    Anyways – Spain, you played amazing. I couldn’t believe eyes watching Spain score at will, over and over again. Navarro was amazing! Too bad he couldn’t do that night in and night out in the NBA. I can’t wait to see “little Gasol” in the NBA.

    I still think in a 7 game series, Spain could only manage to win 1 game against that US team. But in a one game series anything could happen.

    One thing no one talks much about here is the disparity among the rules in FIBA and the NBA (traditionally a huge handicap for NBA players in international tournaments)

    Do you think with the efforts to move them closer together it makes the U.S. even more powerful?

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  15. DTC
    17 years ago

    Can some of you help me understand this “US players travel without getting called” thing? Watching many of the Olympic games, I never noticed it, perhaps because I’ve been conditioned by how NBA calls its traveling violations.

    What do NBA players routinely do that should be traveling in FIBA rules? If you have links to video, that would be even better.

    And a separate question – does being able to get away with travel give the US an unfair advantage? Because after all, they weren’t calling Spain for traveling either. So would it be a better game if the US lost because it gets called for travel 15-20 times?

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  16. Alberto
    17 years ago

    I guess if Americans moves toward Europeans, they will be less powerfull. In all the tournament, the referees dind’t call travelling never… They could hit in defense anytime they wanted… And that’s a huge advantage for the Americans, but… I don’t think this years those different rules were a handicap for US players; in fact, I think they even got benefits…

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  17. Alberto
    17 years ago

    If you make travelling, or whatever it’s said, it’s an advantage por you, of course. You only have to play basketball to realize it. You can react faster than if you first have to put the ball on the floor, so you can scape from you defender easily, you can give 3 or 4 steps instead 2, like we do in Europe, and covering more ground. For example, US players got lots of 2+1 fault, they were always in movement, and in 2 steps more they were near the basket, and they did that 4 times in every game… Of course is an advantage.

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  18. Patrick
    17 years ago

    USA sent the best players available. For me, the best team would have been: Paul, Williams, Bryant, Wade, Pierce, LeBron, Carmelo, Garnett, Stoudemire, Bosh, Howard, Duncan (that is, I would not have chosen Kidd, Redd, Prince and Boozer). They are the best players. Only a team with the best (non-American) players of the world would have had chances. For example: Nash, Parker, Calderon, Ginobili, Rudy, Turkoglu, Deng, Stojakovic, Nowitzki, Kirilenko, Gasol, Ming.
    USA has enough players to make 4 or 5 rosters that would win the gold medal without problems: Paul, Iverson, Williams, Davis, Kidd, Billups, Miller, Arenas, Bryant, Wade, Carter, Iguodala, Martin, Roy, Maggette, Hamilton, LeBron, Carmelo, Marion, Butler, Pierce, Artest, McGrady, Stoudemire, Boozer, Garnett, Bosh, Jefferson, West, Odom, Brand, Howard, Duncan, Camby, Bynum, Chandler, O´Neal, etc.
    Nevertheless I have to say that Spain played very well and deserved the silver medal. USA players had to play at a 100% to beat Spain.

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  19. dox
    17 years ago

    the rules difference is huge, I played college basketball and have competed in international amateur competitions and it’s one of the few things american’s complain about when playing international ball. The refereeing is totally different (both usa and int’l are bad though) which only adds to the rules changes.

    If the American’s fielded their C team, AND put them together and prepared the way they did for this Olympics, they would still win. Re Scott’s post: the top team in the NBA probably could win Gold because they are a ‘team’. Team USA still consists of guys put together that not only rarely play together but are also being asked to play a modified game.

    It’s largely due to the differences between American and FIBA rules, it’s the same reason that the VAST majority of Euros that come to the NBA turn into flops. For every Nowitzki, Parker, or Ginobili, I could name ten awful players an NBA team took a chance on because he showed promise in Europe.

    No doubt Int’l basketball is very strong and impressive to watch, but it’s just different. We play by FIBA rules and still win because we have the best athletes plain and simple. We play at and above the rim more often than any other nation.

    One major reason Int’l won’t ever be on the same level is because the majority Euro youth live and breathe football, not basketball. American youth live and breathe basketball, you go to playgrounds in America and see high level basketball, in Europe you see high level football.

    Bottom line is USA is still far ahead of the world because of the depth of their talent pool. But everybody has taken a huge step to catch up and now USA has to intensely prepare to win big… or at all.

    I live in Europe and watch a lot of Euro Ball, it really is a step slower, and 6 inches closer to the ground.
    I want to see the international all-stars vs USA
    Dox

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17 years ago 20 Comments FIBA, More, NBA/NCAAKobe Bryant, Lebron James, Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Team Spain, Team USA
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