2019 FIBA World Cup Game Thread

DJnVa

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That article mentions his initial plan was going to involve Tatum.
 

Jimbodandy

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He's significantly smaller than both, and doesn't rebound or pass as well as either of them. I think of him more as a rich man's Monta Ellis with a three ball.

On topic: that was pretty messed up by Giannis' little bro. Glad Jaylen told him off, and relieved HB is okay.

View: https://twitter.com/BasketballHigh8/status/1170341455296180224
I didn't think that it was dirty, but it was certainly reckless. When you're down too much to come back, and there's like a 1% chance that you stop that basket, you shouldn't do that. Especially in an exhibition game. Glad everything turned out ok.
 

InstaFace

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Amazing, 20-point lead for Spain now. Would not have expected that.

Serbia will face Argentina in the QFs, who was not expecting to get them. Which also means that if we beat Brazil, we'd get Serbia in the semis rather than the gold medal game. I suppose we could tank the Brazil game if we want to avoid that, not that Pop would ever do such a thing.

edit: aaaaaaand Jokic is ejected with a second tech, for talking a lot of shit at the refs after just getting a tech.

View: https://twitter.com/Kungu_NBA/status/1170695263905898496
 
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InstaFace

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Final is a 12-point win for Spain.

The amount of contact that FIBA refs will let go is truly staggering to any NBA fan. I've been watching for a week now and still haven't fully adjusted my expectations.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Wow, that Serbia team isn't unbeatable.
Not unbeatable at all but I'm ecstatic that they laid their egg in a meaningless game prior to the QF. It's exactly what they needed after probably thinking that getting to a Gold Medal game was going to be a cakewalk.

The amount of contact that FIBA refs will let go is truly staggering to any NBA fan. I've been watching for a week now and still haven't fully adjusted my expectations.
My primary reason for fading this USA team at the ridiculous price they are favored is their overall lack of international experience. It truly is a different game played under different rules on a different continent.
 

Jimbodandy

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Not unbeatable at all but I'm ecstatic that they laid their egg in a meaningless game prior to the QF. It's exactly what they needed after probably thinking that getting to a Gold Medal game was going to be a cakewalk.


My primary reason for fading this USA team at the ridiculous price they are favored is their overall lack of international experience. It truly is a different game played under different rules on a different continent.
Yeah, you hit the nail on the head about the rules. At the beginning of the tournament, I was thinking that the 2-3 (no def 3 second) and wider line weren't going to be a big deal. If anything, the wider lane probably helps a team like us that's basically playing almost all wings. But clearly the foul-calling is an adjustment for these guys. Lots of stuff that gets called in the NBA is not being called, and stuff that doesn't get called is. And the easy go-to ISO plays just aren't as automatic.

I hope that Pop and Kerr have some transition offense magic in their back pockets. This US team would have a much easier run if they didn't have to grind every good look.
 
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InstaFace

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Marcus Smart with some great defensive play there to take us from 32-33 down to 38-33 up. And now Joe Harris hitting the floor.

Brazil giving us all we can handle in the first half. Kemba, not Mitchell, appears to be the featured scorer today.
 

InstaFace

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edit: if Brazil beats the US, somehow the Czech Republic advances? Yeah Brazil advances with a win, but with a loss Czech Republic owns the tiebreaker on point differential among games with tied teams.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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edit: if Brazil beats the US, somehow the Czech Republic advances? Yeah Brazil advances with a win, but with a loss Czech Republic owns the tiebreaker on point differential among games with tied teams.
Yes, too bad that Czech didn't win as Brazil would have needed to win by 22+ points to advance; maybe they would be packing it in.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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I read somewhere that if US wins they qualify for Tokyo.

Internet also says that Nigeria and Iran have qualified for Tokyo.

Have no idea whether this is true.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Australia up 2 over France with about a minute left. Gorbert fouls out. Mills has at least 30. Apparently Baynes has taken three charges and hit five threes (all from Twitter so no guaranty on accuracy).
 

InstaFace

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Jaylen Brown with a monster dunk, left basically uncovered at the elbow. Would've been a +1 in the NBA, but FIBA plays by "no blood no foul" philly street ball rules.
 

DJnVa

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US has pushed it out to a 19 point lead.

Kemba with 16 and 5 dimes
Smart with 9 points
Jaylen with 7 points, 4 boards, 3 assists
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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According to twitter, USA extended its league going with a lineup with Harrison Barnes at the 4 and JB at the 5. JB was tasked with guarding Varejo.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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According to twitter, USA extended its league going with a lineup with Harrison Barnes at the 4 and JB at the 5. JB was tasked with guarding Varejao.
Here's an article describing what happened: https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2019/09/boston-celtics-jaylen-brown-plays-center-helps-team-usa-pull-away-from-brazil-89-73.html. Also points out that JB made some nice passes in transition.

Here's on after a steal on defense:

View: https://twitter.com/ASherrodblakely/status/1171057191585026050
 

HomeRunBaker

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Argentina 54
Serbia 49
Halftime

3-point barrage with all the defensive schemes of an Oct 3rd Sacramento/Atlanta game in Mexico City.

C’mon Joker don’t let the HRB dream die in horrific fa$hion!!!
 

InstaFace

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Don't even know who to root for in Spain vs Poland in a few minutes. Poland's definitely the underdog but I like how Spain plays.
 

benhogan

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Bunch of highlights in this twitter thread. ARG seemed to be passing the ball well. USA will have work cut out for them assuming they advance.

View: https://twitter.com/JulianMozo/status/1171404923814236161
Without watching have to think Serbia had an off night?

Argentina (Scola vs Jokic) is probably a better match up for USA's productive smaller lineups. Speaking of which, I like what I've seen from Brown defensively and am curious to see him play the 4/5 the rest of this tournament. I could see him gaining some confidence playing a major role on a gold medal team.
 

lovegtm

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Without watching have to think Serbia had an off night?

Argentina (Scola vs Jokic) is probably a better match up for USA's productive smaller lineups. Speaking of which, I like what I've seen from Brown defensively and am curious to see him play the 4/5 the rest of this tournament. I could see him gaining some confidence playing a major role on a gold medal team.
I’m just here for this new version of benhogan who’s all-in on Jaylen as a 5.

Agree that Jokic would have been a bad matchup for this particular US team. Also getting a bit lower on Myles Turner—the theory of him doesn’t quite match what I see on the floor, but that could be a FIBA vs NBA thing.
 

The Social Chair

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I know the team doesn't have Tatum (or Hayward) but this experience isn't making me very optimistic for the Celtics chances.
 

lexrageorge

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I know the team doesn't have Tatum (or Hayward) but this experience isn't making me very optimistic for the Celtics chances.
In a game where most of the team was negative, Team USA was a +7 with Marcus Smart on the floor (led all players). Smart also missed 4 free throws. Where have we seen this before?

Kemba had a bad game, and Brown was meh -- shit happens sometimes, especially in single elimination FIBA tournaments. France is a decent team, and even the best NBA teams have WTF losses every now and then.
 

bigq

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Basketball is a great sport. The world has caught up. No shame in that.
Agree with this. And in my green tinted view if Tatum was healthy and had suited up he would have helped the team to a victory today. In any case, this has been a great team building exercise for the Celtics.
 

Captaincoop

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Maybe the world has caught up a little bit more than the previous times the US sent second- or third-tier players to a major tournament and lost. But if the US sends its best, it wins. Just as true now as it was 30 years ago.
 

ifmanis5

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Agreed with the above. This is not the tournament to make the world catch up argument. For the most part, the other countries sent their best players. We did not. If Team USA had sent LeBron, Davis, Kawhi, Harden and Curry, every game would have been a blowout and we would not be discussing anything other than that.
 

benhogan

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Celtics avoided major injuries. Brown/Smart/Kemba got high-intensity run together for first time. Brown could possibly be the Celtics answer at the 4.

It worked out fine for the Celtics IMO...not so well for Team USA :(

Go Baynes and Team Oz