Hoops

Boomers impress against Spain in closed-door scrim

Disagree Luuuc.

The gap between the mens' USA team and the rest of the world has blown back out to what it was in the 90s, the non-American sports media just hasn't recognised it because they are slow to catch up and don't really care about basketball.

What has changes is that the gap between them and, say, the eighth best team is closer than it ever has been, but the USA are miles ahead of the second best team.

This team will romp to gold, and there are probably only three or four guys going to Rio that would even be on the roster if the best Americans had made themselves available.

The Americans are now the best shooters in the world, you can't get your guns out and beat them in a shootout like you could in the early-mid 2000s, you'll end up seeing Klay and KD go for 25 each and the game will be over at halftime.

Yes, fair call.
The women do definitely punch above their weight, and Opals medals in the last 5 Olympics is a superb achievement, but the gap between #1 and the rest has never been bigger. (though having said that, the USA has picked a team that leaves the door open ever-so-slightly for an opponent that can rain down 3 pointers for 4 quarters - which we know is a big ask at any level)

At least on the men's side there is reasonable hope (and historical proof) that on a good night one of the top teams could knock off the USA.

If anything the US women's team are more certain of gold than the men's team.

Doesn't Australia punch above its weight in women's sports, tho?

Yeah but newspapers today are all about "equality". Have a look at how many mens sports they note as highlights. I'd be surprised if it were many at all.

Bit of a shame (but probably realistic) that the Melbourne Age lists every women's game as a highlight but no men's until the quarter-finals.

Positive signs is all it amounts to. Of course it can't come close to a win against Spain in a meaningful game but it says that there may be potential there.

If we're being told to take the Olympic warm up games with a pinch of salt then a closed door scrimmage result is essentially meaningless.

every American basketball player is clearly a PG, especially if they play NBL

Probably because half of USA can carry the ball up the court that aren't PGs

So.. Starting lineup?

Delly
Mills
Ingles
Anderson
Bogut

Lisch
Goulding
Broekhoff
Bairstow
Baynes

Martin
Motum


How come USA only brought 2 pgs. Could hurt them. Harrison Barnes out for a cg.

Good signs at the very least.

Mind you, can't imagine Spain took it all to seriously given the age of some of their players and the burnout potential. Gasol, Navararro and Reyes are 36 and Calderon is 34. Fernandez is 31 and has had bad back issues.

But good signs re: Bogut

No Bogut = no chance.

Clearly there is a little bit of excitement with his return!

SO, are THESE Spaniards all intellectually impaired?

Bogut makes a big difference to any team. But I would reserve getting too excited until Sunday morning. If the Boomers win or pull close to France, then it'd be fair to say they're a shot.

A lot of people are underrating the Boston Celtics, despite them having a pretty solid offseason by adding Shaq, JO, Wafer, and West. They have a very solid bench once Delonte serves his suspension. They obviously have the experience factor of winning an NBA Championship in 2008 and making the Finals last season and taking the 2x defending champion Lakers to seven games.

Then there is the Rajon Rondo factor. Rondo has quickly become the Celtics best and most dynamic player due to the decline of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. While those three are all still all star caliber players they aren't superstars anymore. Rondo has played great in the playoffs with the exception of the 2010 Finals. He absolutely demolished Mo Williams in the playoffs and I think he would do the same to the inexperienced Mario Chalmers. If I was Miami I would do what the Lakers did and put Wade on Rondo to try to disrupt him. I would put Chalmers on Ray Allen and have Mario try to bother Ray on those screens Boston runs for him.

The Celtics have also shown the ability to contain LeBron James and other stars as well. In the 2008 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals LeBron James shot below 40 % from the field. He had one monster game which was game 7 and it was somewhat offset by Pierce's explosive game 7. In 2010 LeBron shot much better. He shot 44 % but in the last three games of the series he again shot below 40 %. He didn't have near the energy or impact he usually does.

KG and the Celtics have gave Chris Bosh all he can handle in the past, who is often considered soft a hard time with his physicality and length. You add in Shaq, JO, and a healthy Perkins and I think Bosh can be contained. One of the reasons Bosh is considered soft is that he often resorts to jumpshots and fadeaways instead of posting up, getting to the free throw line, and driving hard to the rim. Against a team like Boston Chris will be more of a jumpshooter. He'll still get his numbers but Boston will make him work.

Wade and LeBron definitely have advantages over Pierce and Allen, but Ray and Pierce will definitely compete on both ends and give Wade and James all they can handle. Allen should tire out Wade or whoever guards him with all those screens he comes off of. Pierce much like Artest has the size to go up against LeBron, however he lacks the quickness to defend him. Boston's team defense is great and will have to continue to be great against Wade and LeBron.

Now look at the bench. Boston has Delonte West, Nate Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Glen Davis, and Von Wafer all solid offensive players. Miami has Eddie House, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem, and Zydrunas Illgauskas. Imo I'll take Boston's bench all day, more firepower offensively and their bench frontline is decent defensively as well.

Coaching wise you have to take Rivers over the inexperienced Sploestra. More experience obviously, defensively he's argurably as good as it gets and runs very solid offensive sets.

I would take Boston in seven games. Due to their age I don't think they will aim for homecourt advantage. They can and have won on the road in the playoffs in previous postseasons. They aren't antimidated by anyone. I see their physical play, depth and experience winning out. Miami will have to wait another year before they rule the East imo.

Who would you take ?