08-11-2016, 02:40 AM
(08-11-2016, 01:07 AM)laj link Wrote:It was a terrific game, still just 4pts in it with 36 sec to go when Ingles missed a shot to bring it back to two. Had a feeling it'd be a tough game. How often would the USA have faced a side with 3 NBA championships rings in it albeit not quite the same depth. Aussies went hard at them physically, which changes things for a side that doesn't care much about defence. Aussies had the good old "Carlton" honourable loss...lol.
Pity Kyrie Irving, who had a brilliant last quarter, choose the USA given he as born in Australia and considers himself Australian, but, then again, who wouldn't. It was a tough decision for him though. Hearing him interviewed after his accent is half Australian and half American. If he was on our side I'd say we win.
Irving was great in the last quarter but we probably ran out of depth, reffing was fairly technical and we probably just over did the physical stuff a bit at the wrong time and got pinged although I found many of the fouls could have gone either way and probably should have been let go.....our second string bench players dont equate to what they have coming of the bench and we tired and couldnt keep up the pressure.
re: Irving....I thought we got great service from Delly and Mills for most of the game, where we struggled was the size mismatchups when they were on with the likes of Mills having to pick up Anthony, Durant etc.
USA fans would probably argue Lebron, Curry etc didnt play these games and with them playing we would have been smashed but I was proud of the way we played especially how we constructed our baskets compared to the USA whose game is based around one on one NBA style basketball unlike us who play more the Euro type game based on sound defense and running offensive plays.
Still a big medal chance though and I'd love us to play the USA in the finals ...just way to cocky are the Americans and they may get tested vs teams like Lithuania/Russia who have some bigger guards and deeper benches...cant help feeling though in the back of my mind that the USA always get the champions calls when it comes to 50/50 ref decisions....