[ZEUS]

This is the setup for the quarter final matches. What are your predictions?

I'm going for Russia, France, US, and Argentina. I obviously hope France can punish Spain for being hypocrites, plus the French do have a talented squad who deserves the right to fight for an Olympic medal.

[TeoTheGreek13]

Damn! Three beast matchups!

[skangles]

Zeus, you summarized my feelings about the France Spain game perfectly.

I'll go with Lithuania, France, Argentina and USA.

Russia is a more logical choice but they can be beaten as they've played several close games thus far and Lithuania has played better than their record shows (with the exception of thheir first game against Argentina when they frankly got a whalloping). I'd probably give Russia a 60% chance of beating Lithuania but there's no way that my pride and bias will allow me to predict a Lithuania loss!

[Kenneth23]

I'll go with Russia, Argentina, USA and Spain.

France has a very talented team, they deserve to play for a medal and Spain deserves a little punishment but I think that Spain will play better and really start to play hard and step up their game.

Even though Russia as been beaten a couple of times, I think that they will beat Lithuania. But it will be a close game. I hate to see Brazil lose to Argentina but Argentina is more experienced and that will give them an advantage but this will also be close game

[ZEUS]

skangles, on 07 August 2012 - 09:39 PM, said:

Zeus, you summarized my feelings about the France Spain game perfectly.

I'll go with Lithuania, France, Argentina and USA.

Russia is a more logical choice but they can be beaten as they've played several close games thus far and Lithuania has played better than their record shows (with the exception of thheir first game against Argentina when they frankly got a whalloping). I'd probably give Russia a 60% chance of beating Lithuania but there's no way that my pride and bias will allow me to predict a Lithuania loss!

Unfortunately skang, France couldn't make it, Spain lost on purpose to Brazil, and hasn't weakened. I was extremely angry at Batum's hooligan punching of Navarro, even if Navarro is a flopping little b*tch, that was totally uncalled for, and Batum's horrific behaviour made him look like a punk n****r in my eyes He should be punished by FIBA for what he did, just absolutely despicable.

Unfortunately Russia has been on good strong form in this tournament, and Lithuania was definitely in major problems with Valanciunas and Kavaliauskas at the center position (i.e. no one there ). I really didn't give Lithuania much chance at all. Argentina will get the better of Brazil, just as long as they get some rest first! They can't play with such passion all the time you know.

And well, poor old Australia will have a mammoth task just not getting destroyed by the USA. Can they do it?

[straight forward]

Fivepack, on 12 August 2012 - 10:37 PM, said:

Wow my posts must've offended some pansies in here, hence removed. I'll send you a box of Kleenex. Worst tournament in history, the US of Something made more travels than I have with a plane, and Spain well who really cares about Spain.. I'd love to see what type of PEDs and masking agents this average team from across the pond is taking. France and Russia were totally crap.. umm.. no one else to make some critique on..

Just boring and glad this rigged tourney is over.. Hell I was in NO way captivated but what I saw..

So the tourney was boring because there was no Greece right? It wasn't peace of cake for me as well while Lithuania sucked as well, but that doesn't mean tournament was bad. The finals were amazing for example.

[ZEUS]

Things are close now for the US to win games, but they are not close enough for other teams to beat them. Still, it's pretty annoying to see annoyed looks on the faces of every US player when he gets called for a foul, EACH AND EVERY SINGLE TIME Still, I have to say I didn't notice any favouritism or observable travelling (at least from what I watched from the final) from the US. The US is at a benchmark that other countries can only hope to reach one day. Kinda like Hungary with water polo

[skangles]

Manu Ginobili hasn't ruled out playing for Argentina in 2014. I hope that he does, a 37 year old Manu is still the best player on Argentina.