Team USA Men's Olympic Basketball 2012
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Re: Team USA Men's Olympic Basketball 2012
Something to consider when it comes to this pool play business.
Spain could intentionally lose its final game of Olympic pool play in order to avoid a semifinal matchup against Team USA.
Spain (3-1) is set to closeout group play against Brazil (3-1) on Monday.
A win over Brazil would give Spain a second place finish in Group B and a spot in the upper bracket, along with the United States.
If the Spanish were to lose to Brazil, then they would finish in the lower half of the bracket and would not have to face the Americans until the final.
Sergio Scariolo could conceivably rest Juan Carlos Navarro and Marc Gasol, both of whom have been bothered by injuries.
Via Ian Thomsen/Sports IllustratedComment
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Re: Team USA Men's Olympic Basketball 2012
It's no different than a star QB/WR/RB sitting out the regular final regular season game when they've already clinched the playoffs.
It's a close enough difference ,to me anyways, that it might as well not be one.Comment
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Re: Team USA Men's Olympic Basketball 2012
SMH @ Spain.
And that's not the same as a team resting it's star QB/RB/WR either.#RespectTheCultureComment
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Re: Team USA Men's Olympic Basketball 2012
If you can get them even an extra days rest that could be a good thing in the long run.Comment
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A page out of the ole Popovich book eh Spain?
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2Follow me on Twitter@DrewGarrisonSBNComment
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Re: Team USA Men's Olympic Basketball 2012
I have nothing against Spain even if they decided to rest their starters.
Blame the system not the players.
If you have a choice to play the United States in either the semi final, or Gold medal game, the decision is easy.Comment
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Re: Team USA Men's Olympic Basketball 2012
It will be interesting to see how "hard" USA and Argentina play today. I don't know where they stand really in terms of who they would face in the medal round, but obviously both will advance.
I wonder how long both coaches will play their main guys. Especially Argentina, since they are the oldest team in the pool and have the shortest rotation.Comment
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Re: Team USA Men's Olympic Basketball 2012
It will be interesting to see how "hard" USA and Argentina play today. I don't know where they stand really in terms of who they would face in the medal round, but obviously both will advance.
I wonder how long both coaches will play their main guys. Especially Argentina, since they are the oldest team in the pool and have the shortest rotation.Comment
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Re: Team USA Men's Olympic Basketball 2012
Yeah I doubt they would rest at all. Or actually I think they will start off extremely motivated and focused, get out to a large lead, and then both Argentina and USA will put in their reserves for the rest of the game.
Looks like USA v Australia is already set for the first game of the medal round. They are not a team that I expect to really challenge America.
It looks like Spain has started off as normal and are not tanking. Should they beat Brazil today, it could be Australia, Spain then Russia for the USA.
If Spain loses to Brazil, then it would be Australia, someone, Spain or RussiaComment
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Re: Team USA Men's Olympic Basketball 2012
This is most likely how the medal round will play out
Bracket 1
Brazil v Argentina
USA v Australia
Bracket 2
France v Spain
Russia v Lithuania
That is a very interesting road for all teams involved.Comment
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