2012 Olympic Games 87
Meeting of Dream Teams as Dude Perfect hangs with Team USA
Before the USA-Argentina game last night, Olympic host city London played host to a meeting of Dream Teams, as ultimate basketball trick-shot artists Dude Perfect set out to – and achieved – get interviews with every single member of Team USA. Fans of the ‘Perfect ones may be slightly dismayed to hear that “Hot Tubbing […]
Spain 67, Russia 59: Gasols et al earn gold-medal try as Reds go Serbia cold in second half
Okay, so maybe Team Spain was playing possum. Or perhaps they merely hit the snooze on the alarm clock a tad too late in London. No matter: In the end, all history will remember is the final result – Spain 67, Russia 59 – and that it will be Los Rojos and not the Reds […]
Vincere ego sum: Team France in women’s basketball gold-medal game
BallinEurope doesn’t even have to wait for the gold medal game on the women’s side of Olympic basketball to offer congratulations to Team France, who, in reaching the semifinal round, automatically topped their best-ever finish in Olympic play. An upset of Russia yesterday earned them a date with the USA tomorrow night, but the philosophical […]
2012 Olympics: Five reasons Russia will beat Spain (and one other Fearless Prediction™)
Now that BallinEurope’s personal Olympic bracket has been shot to hell, BiE will revert to the cumulative readers/contributors’ podium picks of USA-Russia-Argentina. Followers know that BiE’s ridden Russia since the opening ceremonies and the quarterfinals, despite a Spain win, only strengthened this convinction. Below, then, are five reasons why Russia will overcome the 4.5-point favorites.
2012 Olympic basketball: Cold War clash to be repeated?
From the newswire this morning comes a bit of nostalgia for those who remember and perhaps a tiny bit of history for those who don’t remember Team USSR of the old Olympic Games … BiE’s telling ya, it’s USA vs. Russia in the finals…
Fearless Predictions™ by BallinEurope readers, contributors: USA, Russia, Argentina will medal
Right, things will be tipping off shortly in London with eight teams remaining in bids for a podium spot. And with the votes in and brackets fashioned, let’s see what BallinEurope contributors (including David Hein, Enrico Cellini and Sam Chadwick) and readers find in their own crystal balls… Gold medal: USA (with 86% of votes) […]
2012 Olympic basketball: Rising and falling stock after the first round
While we’re a little ways away from actually awarding medals for 2012 Olympic basketball, the first round showed international hoops fans quite a lot. Though the fat lady hasn’t sung yet, reputations have changed over the past five games to cause some individual and/or teams losses beyond these Olympics. BallinEurope today takes a look at […]
Block of the night: Guilherme Giovannoni hears the Thunder against Spain
Who else would perpetrate the rejection of last night’s Olympic basketball slate but Mr. I-Blocka himself? Below the break, check out Gilherme Giovannoni’s shot barely leaving his hands before Serge Ibaka’s hearty swat triggers a Spain fast break in last night’s loss to Team Brazil.
Brazil 88, Spain 82: Allegations of tanking predictably begin
Well, it had to happen. In the wake of the shocking (not!) defeat handed to Spain by the boys from Brazil yesterday, you knew allegations of tanking in order to avoid an earlier date with Team USA would be forthcoming; heck, Sergio Scariolo did. Los Rojos’ coach was quoted in a wire story as saying, […]
BallinEurope’s Official Olympic Basketball Tournament Bracket (So who do you got?)
In hopes of stimulating healthy discussion (and of starting a Twitter trend), below runs the Official BallinEurope Olympic Basketball Tournament Bracket. So who do you got? Post predictions here or, if you tweet, hashtag it #OlympicBracket and BiE’ll retweet. Happy bracketing!
2012 Olympics: Is Spanish dominance over? (Plus Official Fearless Predictions™)
BallinEurope may be pulling the trigger a bit early on this one, but has to ask: Was the loss to Russia on Saturday a harbinger of things to come from Team Spain? Not to put too fine a point on it, but is the marathon (by today’s standards) golden age of Spanish basketball in international […]
Sarunas Jasikevicius: “I don’t get” why Team USA players’ traveling uncalled
European fans (and many others) have often noted that NBA players appear to be traveling on many a routine or highlight-clip play, and Team USA backers are certainly shocked at the number of such turnovers their side has been guilty of through four games – seriously, have Lebron James and Kobe Bryant ever racked up […]