Are you even from Sydney... The Kings folded!! Saville and Barlow and Bruton were all once Kings - but that team don't exist no more bro I don't think the Aussie basketballers are under the illusion that they are better than Team USA... They did pretty well to secure 5th place in the Olympic games though!
Nobody needs to have drama to want to watch the Americans play their home country. If anybody had even the slightest interest in the sport they'd be sure to tune even if it was just to watch how ridiculously talented the US is. But let me get this straight... Their attempt to build drama for the game - was to not mention Australia lose? I don't see how that works... Building drama for a game would be more along the lines of; "Mark Worthington states that Australia has shot to win the game - yet believes they need to get under the Americans' skin and he will do anything possible to do that" Eh i'm over this topic. Australia always has been, always will be a pathetic basketball nation internationally. Kind of shot themselves in the foot with losing to Croatia. But that's what you get when you think you're an elite team - when in fact - you have no right placing yourself on that pedestal.
I knew there would be one moron on this board that would mention something like this. When in fact did i EVER state ANYTHING in ANY relation to the Sydney Kings? I used the term king... Geez... Went out on a limb to try to make someone look stupid then didn't you. I'm well aware who wasn't and who was a King. Neilsen was too. What's your point? Do you think i even care about Australian basketball? I would be happy if the entire NBL disbanded.
I have lost just lost any and all respect for you. How can you not care about Basketball in Australia? If all you care about is NBA or whatever, do you realise that if Basketball in Australia is not represented by a National league, then the lack of interest will eventually result in less and less coverage of the NBA itself. Or Euro ball. To say you don't care about Aussie Ball is as good as saying you don;t care about Basketball. Go play Wogball. Heaven knows that's what all of our kids will be playing if the majority of Hoop fans decide to adopt your attitude. Said before and i'll say it forever - if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.
Heaven forbid i lose respect from a guy i've never met in my life - nor will ever meet. Couldn't really care less about anything to do with the NBL - i will however follow the new Sydney team when my friend plays there - so ok i give, i might have a little interest. But interest in basketball is not going to get the coverage in the long run anyway. Why kid yourself in thinking otherwise? I'm not happy about the few games a week on ESPN & Fox Sports. But when else are they going to show it - realisticly? Every other day is Baseball or some other sport - and they can't just do replays at night because there's no chance it's going to be put over AFL, NRL or whatever. I don't mind being part of the 'problem' Because it's never going to be solved. And well no saying i don't care about NBL doesn't mean i don't care about basketball whatsoever. I LOVE the NBA.. i HATE the NBL.. See - i like basketball.. I don't like Australia's version of it.
rocketsfanatic, all the aussies did was talk the talk. The walking part of their plan failed miserably. Sure a few hard slaps and staredowns to players you know wont do anything because of the intense scrutiny they are subjected to may look tough, but its all just a way to distract thr opponent. Worthington and his other boomer buddy mouthed off and hit some 3s, and were probably smirking until they looked up and saw that they were being systematically destroyed. In the end they were just like you. They talked a lot then had it blow up in their faces. Now you're just struggling to retain what's left of your dignity. Just. Admit. Defeat. Ok thanks!
Haha those stupid Australians should stop bouncing koala bears and dingoes and try bouncing basketball if they ever want to keep up with the good old red white and blue. USA FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOO NATIONALISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
isn't the internet great, you can tell people 180 degrees around the globe from you how much they and their country sucks
I just watched the first half of the game last night. They kept it very competitive for the first twenty minutes, but I guess that they just got worn out. Newley did really well in the first half. He was working his tail off. All the Aussies were. I actually think they could beat Spain or Argentina in a one and done, but the US was just too deep.
I doubt that very much. They don't have enough talent. If jawing were an Olympic sport, the Aussie basketball team would win gold easily.
In a one time thing, I think they could do it. Best of 7 they couldn't, but much like China challenged Spain I think the Aussies could do it if they played their best.
After watching the Aussie's collapse like a house of cards against Argentina in Shanghai (and believe me, it was a sight to behold), they would have to play their "A" game while Spain or Argentina played nearly their worst. The talent gap is huge and the Australian team can really lose their nerve.
I think A3P0 is on the money too - the Aussies choke when the pressue is on them (Nielson, Bruton, Anstey and Anderson being the main culprits) Unfortunately (for Australia) they choked in that first game against Croatia - had they played in that game like they did in their other 4 they would have actually won their pool (they didn't play that badly against Argentina in game 2). Funny old game - and you just can't afford to be mentally absent in any Olympic basketball game! The Aussies have a pretty young squad - hopefully by next Olympics the key peices will be more assertive - and adding Jawaii at the PF spot will be huge!!
Excuse me? All I spoke about before the game was what we had to do, to have a chacne aginst USA. I never spoke about we were going to win and were superior or any of that crap you are referring too. All I did was support my country and examine the game. And I don't remember the Aussie team doing any smirking on the court. Face it., The AUssie team doesn't look at you guys in awe and treat you as equals. That is what pisses you off. And 'Sydney Rocket', get over it man. Please. Australia never mentioned themselves as being a elite team. We, Just like with any sports team or person put everything behind them. Regardless of if we win gold or get smashed. Finally, the build up was in the Australian media. For AUstralian audiances. And the more you mention defeat the less interest. They need to make Aussie's feel as if in a sport the general public doesn't take interest in, that we had a chance of winning. And yes, the NBL does suck. However the rate of kids we having playing the sport froma young age is amazing. We have as many youngste's playing Basketball as any other sport in this country. And I'm telling you this know. I a young 10 year old kid saw driving through team USA and Kob draing his jump shoots, with Wade's highlight reel dunks, alot of them might continue with it. Our sport in this country needs as much publicity as it can get. Unfortunatly Australia didn't get to see us go basket for basket with team USA in the first 25 minutes of that game for softball.
