Olympic basketball discussion

[spacejammer]

Well whilst I didn't think the game was as good as the Serbia Semi Final, I'm glad France persevered until the end.
With Steph Curry proving why he is probably the greatest 3 point shooter of all time.

Whilst France hung around it felt like one of those games where no matter how tight it was they were never in any danger of losing.
France whilst they had some fantastic performances from Yabulse.

They ultimately made to many unforced errors and had missed opportunities like missing free throws when it counted in order to bring themselves back into the game.

Whilst it was frustrating to watch some of the showboating antics from USA at the end, I suppose you can't deny they deserved the win.
Although if I have learnt anything watching this Olympic games I think Los Angles 2028 it wouldn't suprise me to see a new nation on top once LeBron and Steph decide to hang it up.
But atleast they got another 4 years now to figure out who the new guard will be before then.

Overall thought what a great 2 weeks of Olympic Basketball! 🏀🥇🇺🇲👏

[SamH]

Yeah, no doubt it was LeBron and Steph who really pushed through and did most of the work for this gold. With both likely gone by 2028 it'll be interesting to see what happens, but of course usa will have home advantage then so it's hard to imagine they won't deliver.

More of the same tomorrow in one of the final medals to go, although I expect the US women to win by 20+.

[sm11]

Its days like this where i just feel embarrassed to be a basketball fan, and to have spent my youth playing the sport.

USA wins gold number 17, out of 21.

How many football world cups are Brazil on.

Ive spent so much time playing and watching basketball, its part of my soul no matter how much i could try (not that i ever would try) to dis attach, i wouldnt be able to dis attach. But its heart breaking to watch my sport and hobby be dominated by one country. Its why the sport isnt taken seriously in the world, its a horrible cycle.

Who else feels the similar.

[massiveridersfan]

Aug 10, 2024 21:55:26 GMT sm11 said:

Its days like this where i just feel embarrassed to be a basketball fan, and to have spent my youth playing the sport.

USA wins gold number 17, out of 21.

How many football world cups are Brazil on.

Ive spent so much time playing and watching basketball, its part of my soul no matter how much i could try (not that i ever would try) to dis attach, i wouldnt be able to dis attach. But its heart breaking to watch my sport and hobby be dominated by one country. Its why the sport isnt taken seriously in the world, its a horrible cycle.

Who else feels the similar.

I hardly think that because the USA won gold again it shows they dominate the other countries - they almost lost to Serbia in the semi-final and France ran them damn close: if the French had made their free throws then it could have been a very different result.  Dominating would mean the USA won easily but I hardly reckon anyone watching tonight would think that was the case. Certainly don't think the American coach or the players felt that was a walk in the park.

[sm11]

On one hand i agree with you, close game, close in the semis as well.

But again 17 out of 21, how many other sports is it that embarrassing.

Lets stop burying our heads in the sand, they always find a way.

Its time fans and this sports community truly reflects on that.

[sm11]

Ive read a lot of the bed wetting on the BBL folding threads on here, the subject has been blown way out of proportion in many ways. I remember one passage of conversation that sticks out. One in which people were as usually bemoaning the dismal state of basketball in this country. I think IRF says something like, 'why cant we accept British Basketball for what it is'.

I agreed with IRF (i think who said that, maybe im wrong), i accept the BBL, team GB, etc as to where they are, Strangely as that sounds. Im not concerned. right now

But i just cant believe and am slightly embarrassed that some country, somewhere, hasnt managed to eat into USA's dominance. And i mean truly beat them , consistently, not world headline news like.

Im not concerned GB and the BBL arent any good, because at the end of the day, lets be honest, nobody but USA is any good.

[spacejammer]

Aug 10, 2024 21:55:26 GMT sm11 said:

Its days like this where i just feel embarrassed to be a basketball fan, and to have spent my youth playing the sport.

USA wins gold number 17, out of 21.

How many football world cups are Brazil on.

Ive spent so much time playing and watching basketball, its part of my soul no matter how much i could try (not that i ever would try) to dis attach, i wouldnt be able to dis attach. But its heart breaking to watch my sport and hobby be dominated by one country. Its why the sport isnt taken seriously in the world, its a horrible cycle.

Who else feels the similar.

Yeah I disagree, whilst the USA one and expectantly so, I think what Serbia and France showed is that the rest of the world ain't far behind them.

I mean Devin Booker was great but you look at who USA relied on and it took the greatness of LeBron James, KD, Steph Curry all who are talented but ageing veterans in order to win that gold.
And not only that they had to also acquired the services of Joel Embid who was enlisted as their naturalised player.

Whilst the commentators went on about how this team was the perfect blend of youth and veterans.
I did question if they had gone without the mega stars would Team USA have been as fortunate?

I mean lets be honest I think one thing for certain is that Lebron and Curry won't be playing for USA in 4 years time so they wont be coming to team USA's rescue again?

Another thing as well is look at the Fiba World Cup last year that was won by Germany but was with a decent but weaker USA team?
You can't say US dominated there as it was losing that world cup that caused team USA to summon James and Curry to play for the team at the Paris Olympics.

Whilst no doubt America should be happy and glad to have won the Olympic tittle.
I imagine after this games their will be questions about the future and if their future stars can really live up to the likes of James, Curry or even MJ level.

Given that France have young talent such as Wembey and I think I heard the commentators say they had 6 players recently drafted to the NBA.
It wouldn't suprise me if poetically France were to get their revenge in 4 years on Americas home soil this time.

Or if not them another country who develops and invests in their basketball talent comes through.

[SamH]

Lots of sports are dominated by one country. Usa also always wins by far the most athletics medals. China always wins everything in table tennis and diving. South Korea always wins at archery and if they'd only put darts and snooker in the Olympics GB would dominate them.

The gap has narrowed in basketball since the 92 dream team. Its narrowed a lot. The best 3 players in the nba in the last 5 years have all been non Americans (Embiid may play for usa but he's no more American than I am). These things take time.

Sm11 I would strongly urge you not to watch the women's gold medal match if you're this cut up about the men. Because the gap there isn't closing at all, if anything it's getting wider. I'd say the women's basketball is the most guaranteed gold for any country in the entire Olympics. 😵‍💫

[notoriousbigz]

Aug 10, 2024 22:35:27 GMT sm11 said:

lets be honest, nobody but USA is any good.

Have you watched any of these games whatsoever? The standard has probably been the best I've ever seen it. Most teams had at least 3 NBA players and the actual quality of basketball across the tournament was fantastic. I genuinely don't understand how you can have watched that tournament and said that.

Gone are the days the USA can stroll up like its an exhibition and just blow past everyone without even trying. They've had to dig deep at times and credit to them they've made some monster plays/runs at big times of games. Which you'd absolutely expect given that most of that team is made up of the go to men on their respective NBA teams.

[massiveridersfan]

"...at the end of the day, lets be honest, nobody but USA is any good."

I couldn't disagree more. What you assert denies the Herculean effort that it took for team USA to secure the gold this year. If you watched their reactions to the victory then you'd surely understand their sense of elation but also relief because you only get that when you defeat worthy opponents.

[irf]

I felt French fans would leave gutted they couldn't get the win but privileged to witness the Curry masterclass at the end



Which USA needed to take the pressure off for sure

That was one hell of an entertaining game for them despite not getting the result they wanted

[sm11]

Yes, i booked the week off work to become a couch potato and watch all the games, like i did in 2019 and 2023. I didnt bother with USA Brazil and over slept the Bronze game, but watched all the rest of the mens. I watched most of the womens, got the bronze on right now and hold out hope Johannes can pull off a miracle later. I never felt at any point that France had it in them yesterday. Serbia definately did, they were superb, all of there players were but USA still found a way, like they always do.

Would you be heralding how close a 4-0 sweep was in the NBA finals was if all 4 games were close. Im not sure everyone would. Its still a sweep. USA are on 5 in a row now and 17 out of 21. Should countries be heralding close losses like there victories.

I hold out hope that maybe they finally slip up next time out. Surely Lebron wont be there next time, and hopefully Durant and Curry have slowed down. Who do they have next, im not sure they have someone of that level coming through. But lets face it somebody will emerge. As spacejammer eluded to earlier France have more coming through, but does anyone else. I hope so.

I am glad nobody seems to feel the same as me, spirits are still high amongst basketball fans. Which is great. I still love it too. But imagine a world where other countries regularly won, and there players came home and played for there domestic clubs. The sport would be huge. It may even raise the profile here too.

I blame the euroleague and its closed system. I feel that has stifled talent development across europe. Has the demise of Rytas (thanks to euroleague awarding zalgiris a permanent licence) slowed down Lithuanian basketball.

[hayesboy]

Sm11. When I first read your post I thought what a load a nonsense!
In reflection I can sort of understand why you feel like that.

The story is very much about who can beat the USA or who managed to upset them in a way that we are not so used to in other team sports.

However the standard of play at the Olympics has risen to an incredibly high level due to their dominance both prior to 92 and since.

Whilst basketball remains such a popular and lucrative sport in a
Country the size of the USA they will always be a dominant force.

I think basketball globally is in great shape and the dynamic of the more organic process of building teams for most countries versus the All Star approach of the USA is a great story and creates the drama that keeps me watching.

Discovery plus was a game changer for me!!

[notoriousbigz]

Aug 11, 2024 9:42:32 GMT sm11 said:

I blame the euroleague and its closed system. I feel that has stifled talent development across europe. Has the demise of Rytas (thanks to euroleague awarding zalgiris a permanent licence) slowed down Lithuanian basketball.

See this here may be the best observation this boards ever seen.

I definitely think there's something in it, same for Greece to an extent too as they weren't as comparatively competitive as they've been in earlier days.

[irf]

[quote author="SamH" source="/post/21495/thread"

Sm11 I would strongly urge you not to watch the women's gold medal match if you're this cut up about the men. Because the gap there isn't closing at all, if anything it's getting wider. I'd say the women's basketball is the most guaranteed gold for any country in the entire Olympics. 😵‍💫[/quote]


Maybe not!!

[johnjack]

Double gold for the USA. However not as dominant as I thought they would be. Both men and women needed a bit of luck to win.

[irf]

I think the Chinese in the diving are more dominant then USA in basketball

[SamH]

Wow yeah, definitely didn't expect that. Is that the first time the women haven't won by double digits?

[cosbyrider]

Aug 10, 2024 22:15:05 GMT sm11 said:

On one hand i agree with you, close game, close in the semis as well.

But again 17 out of 21, how many other sports is it that embarrassing.

Lets stop burying our heads in the sand, they always find a way.

Its time fans and this sports community truly reflects on that.

China won all 8 medals at diving at this edition of the Olympics

[cosbyrider]

Aug 11, 2024 13:04:12 GMT notoriousbigz said:

Aug 11, 2024 9:42:32 GMT sm11 said:

I blame the euroleague and its closed system. I feel that has stifled talent development across europe. Has the demise of Rytas (thanks to euroleague awarding zalgiris a permanent licence) slowed down Lithuanian basketball.

See this here may be the best observation this boards ever seen.

I definitely think there's something in it, same for Greece to an extent too as they weren't as comparatively competitive as they've been in earlier days.

But we could say the same for Serbia. Two teams dominate their talent from a young age due to the EuroLeague licenses. They are producing more NBA talent than ever