USA VS Lithuania - Spolier!

[jbeecham]

USA loses 94-90

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5781170/
Boxscore

Lithuania rallies to defeat U.S.
Americans lose for second time in Athens Games

ATHENS, Greece - Sarunas Jasikevicius led a stunning fourth-quarter rally Saturday as Lithuania defeated the United States men's basketball team 94-90.

Jasikvicius scored a critical four-point play with under three minutes left in the game to give Lithuania the lead for good. He had 12 points in the fourth quarter and 28 for the game. He made 7-of-12 three-point shots.

The U.S. team, which lost its preliminary-round opener to Puerto Rico, remains in contention to advance to the medal round despite the loss.

Richard Jefferson paced a balanced offensive attack for the United States with 20 points. Tim Duncan had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Allen Iverson and Lamar Odom had 11 points each.

Saulius Stombergas played tough inside for Lithuania, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

The U.S. team played some of its best basketball of the Olympics in taking a 49-44 halftime lead. The Americans took advantage of turnovers by Lithuania to take leads of as many as 10 points.

LeBron James, who had sparked the Americans off the bench in previous games, played just six minutes and didn't score.

 

[scoutmasterdave]

Man - that dude was absolutely on fire the whole game. I wonder what it would take to get Jasikevicius in a Suns uni next year! Oh wait - we already have three shooting guards...

 

[devilalum]

we already have three shooting guards...

I think the term "Shooting Guard" should be banned from discussions about the NBA.

Off Guard or 2 guard is reasonable

maybe Slashing Guard

or Highlight Guard

or Brick Layer

 

[George O'Brien]

It was an exciting game. It seems pretty obvious that the refs are not going to call the holding and hacking of Duncan, so if the USA team doesn't learn how to hit jump shots they are going to be in trouble

I have a question though: are moving screens/picks legal in international basketball?

 

[Joe Mama]

I do like Marbury. I think he wants so badly to be successful not only in the NBA but in the Olympics as well. I'm not questioning his effort at all. He just does not belong on this Olympics team, and Larry Brown is getting him far too many minutes. I believe Marbury should only be used as a backup to Allen Iverson with Dwayne Wade and LeBron James getting most of the minutes at the other guard spot.

Joe Mama

 

[Joe Mama]

It was an exciting game. It seems pretty obvious that the refs are not going to call the holding and hacking of Duncan, so if the USA team doesn't learn how to hit jump shots they are going to be in trouble

I have a question though: are moving screens/picks legal in international basketball?

I was thinking that if team USA is not willing to take or unable to make the outside shots they should give the ball to guys like Wade and Iverson to attack the basket. I believe they could pick up foul calls almost every time. I've been very surprised at how little respect Tim Duncan gets from the referees. I'm not saying he should get more than any other player, but he is constantly hacked.

Regarding the moving screens... it's clear that the referees do not call them like they do in the NBA. Hell, Jake Voskuhl might never get into foul trouble in the international basketball.

Joe

 

[jw7]

Exciting game. Jefferson played really well.

It boggles my mind, tho, how bad US basketball is in shooting. Missed free throws, can't shoot 3's at all.

It seems like every time an international team puts up a 3, it goes in automatic. And they NEVER miss free throws.

 

[hafey2]

regarding free throw shooting, they're not quite automatic....Serbia and Montengro lost to Argentina cause they missed a bunch of free throws down the stetch.

 

[elindholm]

So basically, the U.S. has to win four straight games now -- Angola, and then the three medal rounds.

Is it possible? They do seem to be improving.

 

[jw7]

So basically, the U.S. has to win four straight games now -- Angola, and then the three medal rounds.

Is it possible? They do seem to be improving.

They are not eliminated yet?

 

[binkar]

It is just weird to me that these are supposed to be the BEST basketball players in the entire world. You would think that we could shoot the ball a little better then we do.

Also, the way that jack ass looked at Odom after that 4 point play really pissed me off.

And our free throw shooting was a joke.

 

[elindholm]

They are not eliminated yet?

No, they're still alive. The top four from each six-team bracket advances to the medal rounds, which are single-elimination. At 2-2, the U.S. will advance automatically if they win their final preliminary game, and could even get in with a loss. Just think of the NBA playoffs -- with most teams getting in, you don't even have to be at .500 to have a chance at a spot.

 

[Chaz]

Pretty disappointing finish for the USA. The lack of any confidence shooting the ball is killing this team.

Lithuania was daring the US players to shoot. I would think the USA team could work the ball around for a 15-18 ft shoot that should be makeable.

Much better defense today but the offense is horrible. If they are not getting easy baskets off turnovers they wil really struggle to score.

I was puzzled with LB substitutions today. Anthony came in and did nothing at the expense of James' minutes when James has been playing very well.

 

[Evil Ash]

Pretty disappointing finish for the USA. The lack of any confidence shooting the ball is killing this team.

Lithuania was daring the US players to shoot. I would think the USA team could work the ball around for a 15-18 ft shoot that should be makeable.

Much better defense today but the offense is horrible. If they are not getting easy baskets off turnovers they wil really struggle to score.

I was puzzled with LB substitutions today. Anthony came in and did nothing at the expense of James' minutes when James has been playing very well.

Although I agree that the substitution pattern of Brown is incredibly puzzling, Anthony actually did pretty well while in the game.

What really ticked me off about this game was that they went away from what worked, namely driving the ball to the basket at the end of the 3rd quarter. I don't know why they did that considering that they had Lithuania in the penalty with around 7 minutes left in the quarter. Then at around 3 minutes left in the quarter they tried being a jump-shooting team, which hasn't worked for them thus far. Why the big change?

BTW The US team has already clinched their spot in the gold medal tourney regardless of how they do against Angola. However in saying that, if they want a decent seat in the tourney (4th or 5th maybe), they have to win that game.

 

[Joe Mama]

It is just weird to me that these are supposed to be the BEST basketball players in the entire world. You would think that we could shoot the ball a little better then we do.

Also, the way that jack ass looked at Odom after that 4 point play really pissed me off.

And our free throw shooting was a joke.

Aren't we way past believing that these are the best basketball players in the world? I mean I don't think anybody that has paid attention really believes that. At best some people believe that these are among the best NBA players in the world. Only a few of these guys are even perennial All-Stars.

I'm becoming increasingly frustrated by Larry Brown. At first I was not nearly as concerned with his own the court decisions as his off the court comments about the players and their efforts. Now I'm really starting to question his substitution pattern. In fact there is no real pattern. You really didn't bother me that Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire didn't get very many minutes today. Neither of them played particularly well with the minutes they did get. As I said before Marbury is getting far too many minutes. If I had to pick a goat today it would have been him or Larry Brown for playing him so much.

James' lack of minutes was incredibly surprising, especially because those minutes seemed to have gone to Anthony. Contrary to what somebody else wrote I did not think Anthony played well. His defensive effort was a little better, but it still wasn't nearly as fiery as the defense James and Shawn Marion have been playing. Offensively he's a mess like many of these guys because he's afraid to take an open shot. And frankly I don't think that's because he's afraid he will miss it. Really if he is in the game I would prefer he just takes the open shots he likes without thinking about it too much.

Angola has played some tight games with some of the other teams in the bracket. Let's hope this team USA doesn't take them for granted. I would really like to see them destroy at least one team in these Olympics.

Joe Mama

 

[Gaddabout]

At 40+, I bet Eddie Johnson could still be the leading scorer and star of this team. There were many times in the second half when there wasn't anyone within 10 feet of a USA shooter behind the line. EJ could knock that shot down.

How about we send our old-timers to the Olympics?

 

[JS22]

This is my "Retired but still probably able to win gold if you threw them out onto the court today" olympic team.

Stockton
Jordan
Majerle
Malone
Robinson

Richmond
Hornacek
Pippen (didnt he retire this year?)
Barkley
Ewing


PS: Look at these stats from the original dream team.

1992 USA RESULTS (8-0)
USA 116 Angola 48
USA 103 Croatia 70
USA 111 Germany 68
USA 127 Brazil 83
USA 122 Spain 81
USA 115 Puerto Rico 77
USA 127 Lithuania 76
USA 117 Croatia 85

 

[Chaz]

\I would really like to see them destroy at least one team in these Olympics.

With the offense they have showed so far I would not count on it.

 

[Billythekid]

Also, the way that jack ass looked at Odom after that 4 point play really pissed me off.

Jeez mate, maybe they learnt that sought of taunting from you.

 

[Joe Mama]

Jeez mate, maybe they learnt that sought of taunting from you.

no doubt. In fact in one of the recaps of the game I read that he looked at Lamar Odom like that because Odom had been yelling and making a bunch of the noise when team USA was making big plays. I have no problem with that stare down. I do have a problem with the way he and the rest of his team were yelling and berating the referees the whole game and never received one technical foul.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

For three Olympics the USA team could win inspite of the refs. However, even in 2000 it was clear that the differential between the USA team and the rest was small enough that poor officiating could beat them. Lithuania is simply too good to be given the extra help from the refs.

Obviously if the USA team could learn to shoot this wouldn't be an issue, but it certainly seems like the USA players have let it get too them.