Can someone explain why the standings use a Point system rather than just W-Ls? You get 2 pts for a Win and 1 pt for a Loss ... why not just 1 "pt" for a Win and 0 "pts" for a loss ... you know like W-Ls? Check out the Standings. The Point column is all the way to the right. http://www.fiba.com/olympics/2016/groups
You actually get 0 pts if you don't attend or refuse to compete for whatever reason. Has been an issue in FIBA afaik.
I thought they were using the pts. system if there are any tiebreaker scenarios on who advances to the next round. Right now, Spain is beating Argentina by a big margin and if Croatia beats Lithuania tonight, 4 teams will be tied with 3-2 records.
I didn't mean Pt Differential. Look at their standings. They have a "Point" column, where a Win is 2pts and a Loss is 1 pt. That won't help them break ties anymore than using W-Ls would.
One could make the argument that 2012 & 2008 Spain teams were the best international teams of all time? I would take them over '04 Argentina. This years teams are all less talented: Aussies don't have their full squad even (Simmons, Exum). Spain missing Marc and Pau aging. Many, many other Euro stars aging. We are noticing the same things, but I believe you are more optimistic about their situation than I am. I'm not predicting doomsday, but some of these guys haven't really had to play in a situation when they are not the focal point. That mindset does not change: old habits die hard. The mental engagement is lacking: one can see that with all the missed backdoor cuts. It's too late for a wake up call now: if they lose, they are out (iirc?). It is very Harden-esque. There's a combination of this and just lack of elite defensive talent that plagues the team I mentioned prior. But you are right when saying by just being engaged should get them through: the MoV won't be 32 ppg like '12 however.
I see what you're saying. Yeah I agree the margin of victory will no where near the last two US teams. Just hoping at this point that they battle through it and get the gold to avoid embarrassment.
Croatia defeated Lithuania, that means there's a 4-way tie between Argentina, Spain, Croatia, & Lithuania. Croatia wins the group/division on having better head-to-head record against the other 3 teams. Croatia gets 1st place, Spain gets 2nd place (coming back from a 0-2 start and then winning the last 3 games in dominant fashion), Lithuania finish 3rd and Argentina is 4th (and gets to play vs. USA). Quarterfinal matchups: USA vs. Argentina Spain vs. France Croatia vs. Serbia Australia vs. Lithuania
Dang, what I wouldn't give for D-Mo to be fighting fit and going hard at these Olympics. I would be cheering for him so hard to eliminate Australia.
:grin: Ha! I just spat my chewy on the floor. LOL. He's alright. I mentioned in another thread that I met him earlier this year when he ran a clinic here in Melbourne which my son attended. I've heard stories about his personality, but he seemed ok and had some good advice for the kids and took the time to get pictures with anyone who asked. I also loved how he was one of the only Aussies who was pissed about losing to the USA and whether it's a 1 point of 100 point loss, a loss is still a loss. I love that attitude!
Would be interesting if Yugoslavia never broke down. They'd be fielding quite a team this year with the way Crotia and Serbia have been playing. Add Goran Dragic from Slovenia on top of that...
Interestingly enough, if you look at the numbers from the former Yugoslav countries and combine it with the number of when Yugoslavia existed, they have the most non American players in the league by far.
He is a great great person to chat with and have a beer with off the court. On the court he's the type of player everyone hates(if not on his team). Him, Draymond, Dellavadova, Beverly, etc.
Those last two games will be awesome. I can't see France beating Spain. I gotta go with Croatia over Serbia and Australia over Lithuania.
