USA playing Russia

[thirstyboots18]

NOW on ESPN

[thirstyboots18]

Looks to be a dangerous game.  Win or go home....and the Russians are playing good team ball, and Defense!

[Amonkey]

It used to be that USA would beat everyone by 40 points.  Then some teams would play around the 10-15 margin.  Then there were a few close games and eventually USA lost a couple to some of the best teams playing like their lives dependended on it.  Now USA is struggling against even a little above mediocre teams like Russia, Brazil and Croatia.  I actually likem that better.  It resembles a more even and realistic game like scenario.

[thirstyboots18]

I think it is a combination of the US not sending the A team to the worlds, and the rest of the world catching up as far as basketball is concerned.   Just like the US is catching up as far as soccer is concerned.  Not there yet...but competitive...

Look at all the international stars now in the NBA.  The popularity of the sport has a lot to do with it, and whether or not you like Stern, he has done a good job globalizing basketball.

[twinbree]

This is the first of our games I'm watching. The team seems a bit disjointed. They don't seem to have built much more chemistry from the last scrimmage I saw.

[Atzar]

This ESPN3 broadcast is actually pretty good.  I like the announcing crew, even though some of the camera angles leave something to be desired (that Westbrook dunk, for instance). 

I really like what I've seen from Iguodala today.  He plays well as a power forward in international ball - better around the basket than I thought he was.

Westbrook is taking over right now.

[fairweatherfan]

Russia is starting to press...USA can put the game away over the next 5 minutes or so.

[Who]

The commentators are lulling me to sleep ... dull and boring.

[Who]

Russia are a weak team ... this is a poor game of basketball.

USA's ability to force turnovers should see them win this tournament handedly enough.

[Atzar]

The commentators are lulling me to sleep ... dull and boring.

I think they're pretty good.  They're informative, they know the game, they know the teams, and they don't seem to have an obvious bias.

[Redz]

Durant is pretty special

[aporel#18]

Durant is pretty special

more than that... he's the best scorer in the game. He's still to develope clutchness, but he's the main reason to watch team USA.

The game was over when they called Mozgov's 4th when he clearly blocked a shot. The Russian team doesn't have the players to stay in the game with team USA. Argentina (if they beat Lithuanians) will be tougher to beat. As much as I'd like to see Serbia and Argentina rematching the 2002 finals, I think Turkey and USA will play the final game. It will be fun to watch. Good luck

[Atzar]

Durant is pretty special

more than that... he's the best scorer in the game. He's still to develope clutchness, but he's the main reason to watch team USA.

The game was over when they called Mozgov's 4th when he clearly blocked a shot. The Russian team doesn't have the players to stay in the game with team USA. Argentina (if they beat Lithuanians) will be tougher to beat. As much as I'd like to see Serbia and Argentina rematching the 2002 finals, I think Turkey and USA will play the final game. It will be fun to watch. Good luck

What, you mean the play where Mosgov jumped into Rose to contest the shot?  He didn't foul with his hands; he fouled with his body.  I thought that was a good call, in a game where the refs were inconsistent at best.

[aporel#18]

Durant is pretty special

more than that... he's the best scorer in the game. He's still to develope clutchness, but he's the main reason to watch team USA.

The game was over when they called Mozgov's 4th when he clearly blocked a shot. The Russian team doesn't have the players to stay in the game with team USA. Argentina (if they beat Lithuanians) will be tougher to beat. As much as I'd like to see Serbia and Argentina rematching the 2002 finals, I think Turkey and USA will play the final game. It will be fun to watch. Good luck

What, you mean the play where Mosgov jumped into Rose to contest the shot?  He didn't foul with his hands; he fouled with his body.  I thought that was a good call, in a game where the refs were inconsistent at best.

yup, the refs were consistently inconsistent, but I can't see where's the foul. It's in the 8:15 mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwpmSkTN1AM

By the way, Mozgov was blocked by Durant (5:50 mark) in a very similar fashion --> clean block.

And no, team USA doesn't need the refs to blow out Russia. Travel should be called, and hard defenses should be allowed both ways.

Peace

[grace02]

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