Lithuania did a great job trying to denied Duncan from the inside so it makes the US shoot more from the outside. They know what their doing. Jefferson finally show up and if he didn't it would've been an ugly lost at the end.
He sure does. Man the USA looked pathetic out there. We suck at the FT. Hell SF could of done better! I mean, turning it over 2 times in a row late when it counts. And then he blew the layup at the end (which would have only padded his stats). Sounds a lot like SF.
This guy won't settle for a backup PG on Rockets. I think he's a star in the Euroleague and makes millions.
Well, they do need some stars. Like Shaq, Kobe, Tmac....etc. Not babies like James. Or out of control freaks like Marbury.
US will play Argentina in the medal round, then Spain if they win that one. It's going to get tough. When Marbury shoots he isn't that good, the team didn't play well when he was off the floor. He ran the fast break very well today, and pressured the ball well. US has to hit FTs. Someone said Duncan should go home. That person should watch the games, he's clearly the best player on the team and you want him to go home b/c a Lithuanian was on fire and hit a shot off a pick and roll. Yeah right. US just needs to get hot, you could see Iverson and RJ starting to this game. If they can just get any momentum they'll run away with it.
They're gettin it together slowly but surely. By the time the medal rounds come around, they should be a lot stronger.
I don't think the refs did a good job. They call a touch foul on Marbury that decides the game, then he drives and gets knocked down and nothing is called. Lithuania set illegal picks almost every possession, they were never called. I'm not sure if it's poor officiating or the entire world hates us (thanks Bush), but the calls never go their way (it's been like this the entire exhibition games and this entire Olympic games).
You forgot Puerto Rico... The USA basically need players with basics instead of athletically gifted fan favorites that sell jerseys. The way Team USA was selected might have worked out if the real superstars like Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd and T-Mac wanted to play.
I agree. I think it's a well-officiated game. USA finally played great against a true contender. francis for prez. Lithuania could play better. They had too many turnovers and bad 3pt shooting for 3 qts this game. They are a Mavs clone with much effective zone.
That's true. You have to give Team USA credit for a good game, especially defensively. And they also hit a couple of shots. That's why they had a chance to win this game. Nobody would have expected that after the first games of both teams. BTW: Yes, Lithuania can still play better.
After watching nearly all games at the Olympics, I have to say that the top 5 teams apart from US are as follows: 1) Spain 2) Argentina 3) LTU 4) Italy 5) Serbia 4 of the 5 teams are in group B which means that after the preliminary games, US has to beat 3 tough teams to advance. Guard play (note: 3 point shooting) wins the international games while big men win the NBA. Tim Duncan cannot even dominate the Olympics while surrounded by some of the best players US can offer. The interntional games are dominated by guys like Giacomo, Surunas, Pregrag, and of course, Peja.
I think the refs did well up until last few minutes. they called a few tacky calls down the stretch in favor of lith. If they were letting USA play that defense early on in the game, then all of a sudden change, it makes a huge difference. But for the most part it was a well called game.
Forget the game, I wanted to shove one of those air horns up those idiot Lith fans ass! Damn they were annoying in terms of watching the game on TV! I cant imagine how annoying they would be in person. Then throw in the actual whistles. I am talking about the metal whistling object not free form whisling. Players coudlnt even tell if it was a ref doing it or a fan! As a TV viewer that was very annoying to sit throw. It is one thing to boo, or even have cow bells, but those air horns? C'mon! If I was in the stands and someone next to me blew one of those air horns I would have taken it from then and blown it in their ear repeadly!
I would not mind paying him 6 million/year and start for the Rockets. He would have made a killing of shooting 12 open 3s/game from kickouts by Yao/Tmac. I bet that he makes at least 50% of those 3s.
The biased refs won the game for Lithuania today. Period. It is 5 vs 8 out there in every game (USA vs Opponent team + 3 referees). We better stop thinking about a medal if the situation continues in the medal round.
Oh, but didn't you know, the fact that he is not in the NBA yet proves that he sucks - just ask Sham Fisher...
it was very nice for 3 quarters. we went inside and, wow, they actually let us go to the line when they fouled us. it was refreshing. lithuania helped us go to the line by purposely fouling us a lot of times we even got close but it was nice to get those calls, too. but the 4th quarter. duncan can't get his arms above his waist b/c they're being held and they not only don't give him the call, they call it out on us. then the very next play songaila drives in, doesn't get touched as he blows a layup, and boozer gets called for breathing too hard. add in 3 straight fouls for that one guy (two just driving baseline), the 1 second foul, not calling our foul at the end, and, even though it didn't matter, marbury getting crushed on the last layup w/o a call and it was a terrible 4th for us. snowmt and daNasty saying it was well officiated lets me know it was bad for the americans at the end. snowmt01, lith shot bad on 3's for 3 quarters? they were like 7 for 15 on 3's fairly deep into the game, which is right on their tournament average. then they tore it up in the 4th. it's weird when hitting your average is bad. and no, i don't think duncan should actually go home but that was mind-numbingly pathetic defense on his part to watch the hottest shooter on the team drain two straight 3's without so much as raising a finger to stop him. i will say, that one big guy on Lith may have the worst hands i've ever seen. how many gift wrapped turnovers did that guy give us? at least 4 or 5. his hands make cato's look like hakeem's.
didn't they say 7 guys on the Lith team have been in NBA camps? i guess they just blew everyone away in camp then got rejected by the team for no reason or went home for no reason after trying to get on an NBA team. that's probably right.
