European review: Olympics day 1

August 11, 2008

 

Beijing Basketball 2008 Olympics

Beijing Basketball 2008 Olympics

Day one is in the books and Team USA still unbeaten – this is the good news for Team USA I guess. After reading from the great guys in US blogging, I feel I am not alone with that. Team China was fighting much harder and caused much more problems than Team USA thought. Why do I mention this within a post called “European review”? Let’s be honest – European teams and fans want to beat Team USA and send out a message. While the message a few years a go was “Hey we are here too” now it sounds more like “Team USA – WE play better team basketball and want to throw you off your throne”.

 

So what about those European Teams? Team Russia made it pretty clear with a 71-49 victory over Iran that they want to be one of those teams to beat Team USA – especially JR Holden with 19 points and Andrei Kirilenko with 15 points.

Talking about sending out messages: Germany beat Angola, Team USA’s next opponent on Tuesday, 95-66 with three guys stepping up: Euroleague newcomer Jan-Hendrik Jagla (10), Dirk Nowitzki (23) and American-German Chris Kaman (23). This was a must win for team Germany, if they want to qualify for the medal round.

Another team, that sent out a strong message: Team Croatia. With Euroleague players like Roko Ukic (now a Toronto Raptor), Davor Kus, Zoran Planinic, Marko Popovic and Marko Tomas, Europeans already knew what to expect in their first game against Australia. Up by us much as 30 points the game ended 97-82, against an Australian team that held up pretty well against Team USA.

Let’s get to the big games: Spain vs. Greece and Lithuania vs. Argentina, teams that have been heavily favored by some experts in the fight against Team USA. Considering this, it was pretty surprising to see a blow out game of Spain against Greece by as much as 15 points (81-66). Topscorer of the game: Rudy Fernandez, the new Portland Trailblazer with 16 points.

With the the games being pretty easy wins for each team, Team Lithuania had to fight for their win against Argentina (79-75) – another team that was named as a team to beat the US of A.

Watching Team USA vs. China this morning was fun. I did like the LeBron blocks (this is just mean, I understand why Olympiakos wants him in Athens – just to do THAT to each player of Panathinaikos), but it also revealed to some US commentators that there might be a bigger chance that the US will not go home with the gold medal in Beijing. I still got Team USA on top of my list, but I can’t wait for the game of Spain vs. Team USA. I am sure it will be more exciting than Team USA destroying Angola on Tuesday.

A special “THANKS” to the guys over at FIBA.com for letting us use this picture. Thanks Nic!

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This post was published on August 11, 2008
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Comments: 12
  1. 16 years ago

    Your absolutely right about the Euro teams wanting to send out a message, but I think it’s even deeper than that, I think they want to generally decimate that sense of arrogance that the US Team and media have around them. This idea of the “Redemption Team,” is sickening as if they own the sport and that gold medal, can you imagine China calling its Table Tennis team the “Unbeatable Team?” It would stir a whirlwind of controversy.

    I view these Olympics as Europe having an 8 point lead. If the U.S. doesn’t win Gold we’ll have a 12 point lead going into the 4th Quarter, but if the U.S. does win then they cut that deficit to 4 points and all that hard work goes to nothing.

    The saddest thing is that the media will spin a U.S. loss and make the team out to be the persevering heroes that overcame losses and early falls to claim what was theirs to start with.

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  2. 16 years ago

    Actually you know what would be fun? If Spain, Greece and Lithuania joined forces getting their best players together to play the U.S, at least then it would be a little bit fairer because how can you compare the talent pool and players of a country with over 300million people to a country like Lithuania of 3.5million?

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  3. Nikola
    16 years ago

    Nik, I definately feel you. Arrogance is going to be the biggest enemy of the Team USA in these Olympics. Last night I watched USA vs. China game and thought that this Team USA has changed their view on the Olympics, their mentality. But my thoughts vanished, when I saw how the bench was reacting to what’s going on on court. They were not into the game, they were laughing and making stupid jokes. The Team USA doesn’t respect opponents at all. For them it’s like a regular tourist trip to China.

    And that James ritual before every game is just wack.

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  4. Eric
    16 years ago

    I really share the same feelings: Team USA is on a promo-merchandising tour to China.

    In France, the game was on public TV, the 3 commentators….it was just a pity. It seems that they find their comments on a media guide sent by David Stern.
    “NBA, by far the best league in the world” // “USA has won 12 of the 15 Olympics, that shows the donimation of this country on this game” // “No one sees this team not winning he Gold Medal”
    It was just a shame, I push the “Mute” bouton on the TV remote.

    Personnaly, I didn’t see any maturation in the US game : they are still arrogant; and he ref’ were really nice wih them : a lot of travelling on he first step.
    By he way, I do no understand why this game was so important : China is not their biggest rival in the group. There was some buzz arond this game, because USA and China compete for the most medals in the competition; but basket-wise everyone knew that China can not compete with USA.

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  5. Nikola
    16 years ago

    Yup, I hope Americans will get some top european referees in the next games, cause like Eric noticed there were lots of travelling. And some offensive fouls also.

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  6. 16 years ago

    It’s funny though they are all complaining about the “questionable refs.” It’s pretty much whatever the commentators of the games think is what the rest of the media and people think also. If the commentators say the refs are known for being a little off, then voila that is the accepted norm and it comes out of ignorance and just a ridiculous need to victimize themselves so they can seem like they came out on top. If nothing else think about how they keep complaining about the rule differences when in fact the NBA is the only league on the planet with different rules, even the NCAA and High Schools follow the same rules pretty much as FIBA so why all the senseless complaints?

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  7. Scott
    16 years ago

    The NBA is, in fact, by far the most superior league in the world.

    Take a look at how many “stars” of the euro leagues can’t make it in the NBA. Marginal NBA players (or those who can’t even make the NBA) become stars in the euro leagues.

    Yes, the NBA is more geared to individual stars and more one on one play than europe. It is part of the american mindset and how the game is marketed. The U.S.’s failures over the last decade is thankfully changing it (slowly).

    But the athletes in the NBA are just worlds apart.

    Also don’t be sow blinded by percieved american “arrogance”. They are much more humble than past versions of Team USA, and frankly it is hard to be humble when you are in their position. The wealth, the power…everything handed to them. The Euro stars are not much different.

    Here is a good example:
    http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2008/08/11/spain-bring-racism-to-the-olympic-games

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  8. 16 years ago

    -Scott

    You can’t use the example of a campaign organized by the entire Spanish Federation as example of arrogance. There is a major difference between not having the respect to know the names of your opponents and doing what you’re told to do by your federation. But you are right they are less arrogant I do agree with you there, but i will never forgive them for not staying in the Olympic Village. 10,000 athletes, all superstars everyone is there expect these 12 men who are in a private hotel. Why?

    As for the NBA. Well first off noone is attacking it, obviously it is the best league on Earth, but to say that NBA minors become stars and that Euroleague stars can’t cut it is just absurd. I can’t name on NBA minor who has become a name in Europe, the only people who make a name are those that earn it on the European courts, Childress and Boykins are the first ever to come to Europe with a star status. Others like Holden, Landgon, etc, etc never even played in the NBA while guys like Tractor Traylor couldn’t do anything when they came over. The euroleague stars don’t cut it because there is no space in the NBA for undersized pure shooters. All the Euros that have failed have been exactly that from Saras to Djodjevic to whoever you want to name.

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  9. migala72
    16 years ago

    From a 100% NBA lover and a USA team fan (second to the Spanish team, of course):

    Is this for real?

    http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2008/08/11/spain-bring-racism-to-the-olympic-games

    You truly think this is racism?

    I don´t say that Spain (as a country, with its pros and cons and flaws) is not a totally non-racist country like other blessed nations like the UK or USA, but to call Spanish people racist because of that picture is just… lame… Probably the result of bitter envy and too much time looking at your own genitals.

    There is a nice expression in Spanish language: cogérsela con papel de fumar> someone who “se la coge con papel de fumar” is a person extremely picky, choosy, very very very particular about something to the extreme (even to a ridiculous extreme), paying attention to irrelevant details.

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  10. migala72
    16 years ago

    It´s like I have to complain when we (the Spansih) are pictured and portrayed in commercials as having dark hair, being short or loving paella and bullfighting. God knows political correctness is not my forte.

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  11. Scott
    16 years ago

    All I know is I am very thankful that is not the US team posing with slant-eyes. They would be crucified and this picture would be the talk of the games.

    As for NBA wash-outs becoming stars in Europe?

    I am not american, but do live currently in California. I admit my current knowledge of euro ball is not up to your levels – it is tough to get coverage here.

    But it is very apparant the NBA is the holy grail for any american basketball player. They would only consider playing in europe if they could not “make it” in the NBA (at least historically). Many do start out in europe and then return to the NBA and have successful careers.

    I am fairly certain that any american star in europe would rather have played in the NBA if they could.

    Sure some had their minds changed after living and loving euro ball after a few seasons – but most would even try to go to the NBA mid-career is they had a legit chance. I know they are different games (euro and american) and different types of players find success in each leagues.

    I do admit that this may have turned around recently due to currency issues and the nuances of the NBA salary cap. Guys like Childress and Boykins are legit NBA players who have chosen europe freely over the NBA. Maybe the first fo many?

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  12. migala72
    16 years ago

    I really appreciate your comments, Scott. For me NBA is first, Euroleague is second and ACB (spanish domestic league) is third for obvious reasons. I have attended more NBA games (in Memphis, Toronto, Houston, New Orleans…) than Euro games… So you don´t have an enemy here, you know…

    But I still don´t see the problem with the Spanish team posing with slant-eyes? Is that really offensive? How would someone consider offensive to have slanted-eyes? I mean, my girlfriend is from Taiwan and she even thinks it´s funny. And I have talked to some Chinese people in Madrid and they don´t see what´s the problem with that! I guess it´s a matter of having the same sense of humor I like to display when I watch a British advertisement of the Spanish football (soccer) league featuring guys with a bullfigher costume?

    It makes me think of cab drivers asking Goverments to ban “Grand Theft Auto” because they don´t think they are fairly portrayed.

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